Avid A Place in the Sun watchers, Michael and Sarah, have travelled all over the world but now with two sons (aged 9 and 13) they’ve decided they’d like future family holidays to be spent in a second home rather than hotels. Here Michael tells us their story so far…

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you began looking for an overseas home?

We are originally from the UK but have lived and travelled all over the world.

We are now happily settled in Canterbury, Kent with our two children Robert and Adam where I work as a chartered accountant and Sarah as an industrial pharmacist. Our jobs often require us to work long hours so the idea of having a home somewhere warm to escape to has always been very appealing.

We were tired of forking out large amounts for a two week holiday in a hotel or rental villa, so we started to look into how feasible it was to buy a holiday home for ourselves and to rent it out when we weren’t using it.

What was it about Cyprus that captured your imagination?

We had been to Cyprus twice on previous holidays and had fallen in love with the island, its people and the atmosphere – all this made it seem like a sensible place to start looking! After that we began researching properties and the buying process (including attending A Place in the Sun Live exhibitions).

Our search was focused on Paphos and its surrounding areas because it seemed like the most suitable location especially with its easy access from the UK. Almost straight away the Aphrodite Hills resortbecame our favourite – it’s well developed, well run, profitable and has all the amenities that anyone could ask for. Personally, I think it ranks up there with most American golf estates following the same concept.

So what did you decide to buy?

We bought a four bedroom,three bathroom villa situated in the heart of the Aphrodite Hill resort. It overlooks the lake on the 17th green of the western plateau golf course. Originally it was on the market for €1,150,000 but was gradually reduced due to the stagnant market and we were extremely fortunate to get it for €670,000!

The villa is situated in a prime position with incredible views over the golf course, close to the village square and all of the amenities on the western plateau. It’s located on an 1800 sq metre plot with landscaped gardens and a large heated pool.

There’s also some great local amenities including a five star hotel, a luxury spa, five restaurants, a shop, 18 hole championship golf course, tennis academy and even a football school.

Your purchase very nearly fell through at the last moment, didn’t it?

Yes, it did! I would advise any person buying a property in Cyprus to be very careful using a Cypriot bank.

We were offered in principal a very competitive mortgage, we spent 5 months being credit checked by the Cypriot bank only to be told that they would offer us the money with a 46% deposit at an interest rate of 10%.

That actually happened in the final few hours of negotiation and the deal nearly collapsed – which would have cost us a lot of money as we had already put down a non-refundable deposit.

Thankfully, the UK banks came to our rescue and we didn’t lose anything but we were lucky to have the equity in the UK to finance the purchase as things could have been a lot worse.

Other than that, what advice do you have for other people thinking of buying in Cyprus?

One thing for anyone thinking of buying in Cyprus to consider is the cost of water. We wanted a large garden but were unaware that water on the island is quite inhibitive cost wise. We pay around €1,200 per quarter for water which includes topping up the large pool – we didn’t expect this extra cost at all so bear it in mind.

We also can’t emphasise enough the importance of doing your homework prior to offer. At least try to get to grips with the various stages of the buying process and bureaucracy, as this can remove some of the stress.

Fortunately for us, we had a good agent who helped us along the way, tried their best with the banks, recommended an excellent solicitor and were honest with us throughout. We can’t recommend the A Place in the Sun Live exhibitions enough either, they’re a great place to meet agents/lawyers and to get free advice.

So what does the future look like for the Tobin family holiday home?

The plan is to use the house as much as we can for our holidays and to make as many memories as we can.

Other than that there will be plenty of time spent gardening, playing golf, swimming, trying local restaurants and just relaxing. Cyprus is one of the best holiday destinations that we have ever been to and we want to make the most of our time there!

Although we bought the property at the bottom of the market, we believe that we’ll experience considerable capital gain in the future. Alongside any rental income to pay for the property’s upkeep.

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Rental apartments in Albufeira

Albufeira in Portugal is one of the best tourist places to visit beautiful places. If we are going to visit that place for that we need an apartment rental in Albufeira for that we need to contact the owner or manager of the apartment and we need to get the details of that apartment that which they are going to provide facilities for us. So that we can pay the cost depends on their facilities. Because in some of the apartments they will give all appliances to us and then they will say us to cook our own. Because some people they don't like eating food outside so that they need to prepare their own. Like that only the different facility that they will provide is that they only will prepare food for us as per our order. So that we need to check before this type of things.

Algarve market area

For simply Algarve will market are always popular and there are great bargains to be had. The biggest and best known are the Saturday morning gipsy market in Loulé and the Wednesday morning market in quarters where you can buy everything from lace to pots and pans! Most towns and villages have their own local daily markets for really fresh local produce at very good prices as well as a monthly gipsy market, so there is nearly always somewhere close by if you can't resist a bargain!

Market twice a month in Caliços on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month

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Important points before finalising the trip

To plan a trip, we have to look for a perfect destination, climatic conditions and most important is budget.  We also have to arrange tickets, hotels to stay and a detail information of the place. Holiday rental Algarve is the best option for booking tickets and making arrangements for the place. It offers many packages which provide all kind of facilities. There are luxury hotels and villas available as per the need and budget. But it is very important to find details and choose the best option before finalising hotels. Always read terms and conditions carefully to avoid problems in travelling.

Weather makes trip momentous

Portugal is blessed with pleasing place name Algarve. Weather of Algarve is that of Mediterranean. Tourist likes to visit places which have mild weather. Many people avoid beautiful places for the sake of their children because of unsuitable climatic conditions. But Algarve is the best place which has perfect weather, lovely beaches, flowery hills and historical places. So, to find holiday apartments and accommodation Algarve is very important. It also has stunning nightlife, attention seeking bars and restaurant. So, look for online bookings but be careful as many sites are fake. This will lead to loss of money. Travelling to Algarve is expensive. But new hotels and restaurants with low rate will definitely boost market of Algarve. It’s time to take advantage and plan trip to Algarve to give your family a momentous trip. Also, keep in mind the comfort level of your family before selecting hotels for stays.

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Best place for holiday villa Algarve in Portugal

Algarve is an important tourist place of Portugal. The place is spotted with old historical palace, castles, classy hills and colourful birdlife. Algarve is also well known for fresh breathing place of Portugal as, its mesmerizing beaches and oceans has attracted massive people to visit the place. UK people are the prime visitor of Algarve as it is close to UK. Summer is the best time to travel Algarve as beach activities like surfing and hiking are available. Number of people look for cheap rental accommodation in Portugal. Find a best option is not as easy as many sites are fake. Always take time for detail search to look for original site.

Simple tips for low rentals

Many sites offer combo pack and special offer to travel in lower rent but holiday villas rental Algarve is the best among them. It will not only save your pockets but will also guide to travel best region according to climate. Always make good research about place, facilities provided in the sites. Before booking hotels for stay, it is very important to check feedbacks of different hotels with full image details. Also, look for different hotels at same rate but with good facilities. Book places which are near to market and restaurant. It will save money and time both. All these simple tips will make travelling comfortable and memorable. So always follow these simple tips which will help you to travel best places at very lower rent.

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Make trip pleasant through apartment rental Albufeira

Are you planning for the trip? Here’s an amazing destination called Albufeira. Albufeira is a place situated in southern Algarve. It has beautiful beaches, stunning nightlife, historic places and old town. Beaches are the main attraction of tourists. Couples and teenagers plan to Albufeira just for a party. Even people with family and kids enjoy exciting waterpark and theme park of Albufeira. Peaceful coastlines of beaches attract peoples who like to spend time alone. Shopping malls with huge variety are also grabbing traveller’s attention in Albufeira. Online booking is now available with seasonal offers. Apartment rental Albufeira gives best options in the given budget. It also looks for visitor’s comfort level according to their needs.

Importance of booking before hand

An exquisite place where people all over the world come for fun and entertainment.  We come to know about different kind of foods of a different country. People who are foodies will definitely enjoy delicious sea fish. Simply Algarve will be a memorable trip. Always make good arrangements before going to trip. Booking tickets and hotels for a stay should be beforehand. It saves time and makes a trip more pleasant. Native people are earning a huge profit as tourist demand for the apartment have increased. But do not forget totally rates which help to lower expenses. Transportation is also an additional thing which kills pockets. So, look for a stay in near to main street areas. But detail information regarding destination before moving for a trip is a must.

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Luxurious Apartment in Albufeira as similar to as found in Algarve

Albufeira is one of the most beautiful destinations in Portugal for tourists. People enjoy their life while staying in an apartment rental Albufeira. It has many excited place to visit in Albufeira. There green mountains, sea and beach which can be view from apartment gives amazing view while having dinner and breakfast. You could have a delightful life while residing in such a luxurious life in an apartment in Albufeira. The famous old town has excited packages for you while spending your holiday in Albufeira. You could have great time with family over there. The apartment in Albufeira reflects same features and character as it is found in Algarve. Holidays in Algarve are generally visits in summer but in Albufeira you can visit the place throughout the year. Albufeira is one of the famous tourist places in Portugal. 

        

If you want to pack your bag for spending holiday in Portugal then simply Algarve will be best choice. The famous luxurious villas in Algarve will impress you a lot. The stunning beauty of beach, coast and golf courses alert you for spending great time there. Algarve is located at south door of Portugal. It has so many beaches to entertain you. Beside that you could an accommodation within a distance of 30 minute from the sea. It is the perfect place to spend great time with your love ones. You can have a romantic breakfast in your apartment with your life partner while viewing the sea or mountain.   

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