Monthly Archive for October, 2009

The introduction of an identity card scheme could prove beneficial to those who holiday within Europe, it has been claimed.

According to Sean Tipton, spokesman for ABTA - The Travel Association, identity cards could be used for travel to the EU and would remove the need for a passport for such breaks, which could be of interest to those who own either a Spanish property or a French property.

"If you look at it, when we go abroad the majority of our holidays are within the EU," said Mr Tipton.

He also pointed out that to travel within the EU, British people do not "strictly need" a passport, which those who own overseas property may already know.

His comments followed claims from the government that scrapping the identity cards scheme would not help to save cash, as the initiative will be "self-financing".

However, the Conservative party said that this statement was based on the idea that huge amounts of people would buy the card.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Spanish property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

The average price of a home in the US is continuing to rise, new figures have shown, which could be of interest to those who own Florida property or are considering investing in the state.

According to Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller figures, house prices in the US increased by 1.3 per cent in August.

However, house prices in the country are still 10.6 per cent below the level which they were in 2008, which could still imply that there are Florida property bargains to be had.

Commenting on the figures, Annette Reeve, director at Mayfair International Realty said: "The overwhelming feeling from agents and the public - both American-based and Brits going to the States - is that the bottom has probably been hit and they are starting to go up the other side again and that it is a good time to buy."

Those interested in buying Florida property could find that now is a good time to make the move into US property.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Florida property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

Those who own French property could find themselves spoilt for choice over the number of festivals and events set to take place in the country this autumn.

All through November, those with French property who have an interest in culture could head to the Festival d’Automne in Paris, which is set to feature ballet, film, music and opera.

Also in November, the 10th biennial Contemporary Art Fair is being held in Lyon.

Foodies with French property could be interesting in visiting the International Gastronomic Fair in Dijon, which France Guide noted is due to attract more than 560 exhibitors and around 200,000 visitors.

The food fair is due to run from the beginning of November to the 11th and could be a great chance for Brits to stock up the cupboards of their France property before Christmas.

France was recently voted the best place to live in Europe, according to a survey from USwitch.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of French property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

A traditional puppet festival set to be held in Spain could be a great place to visit for those taking a Spanish property holiday to the country this winter or at the start of next year.

According to the official Spanish tourism website, the Tolosa International Puppet Festival is an event which attracts people from around the world who puppeteer professionally and can help give visitors to the country a real taste of traditional Spanish culture.

"It provides a showcase for young and adult audiences to enjoy a wide range of performances: stories based on classic texts combined with colourful, modern and innovative dramatisations," the website said.

The puppet festival is due to be held between November this year and June 2010, so those with Spanish property have plenty of time to arrange time away to coincide with the event.

The town of Tolosa is in the Basque region of Gipuzkoa in Spain.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Spanish property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

Those with property in Florida who are due to take a trip to their overseas home in November could be interested to hear about a seafood festival due to take place in the state.

On November 6th and 7th, the Florida Seafood Festival will take place in the small city of Apalachicola, which is a port area on the Apalachicola River.

According to Go Florida, the event will feature "delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits and seafood related events and displays" which will be held in the city’s Battery Park and in the downtown area.

Set to be part of the event schedule is the Red Fish Run, noted the website, and Florida property owners with big appetites could also take their chances in the festival’s oyster eating contest.

Also running until November 8th is the Riverhawk Music Festival, which could appeal to those with Florida property with an ear for a tune.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Florida property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

Choosing which region of Spain to visit for a holiday could be difficult for Brits, as the country has long been a favourite of the UK holidaymaker and offers many different regions for breaks.

However, those planning a Spanish property break with the whole family in tow could consider a trip to Lanzarote, as one writer has called it an ideal place to holiday with children.

Writing for the Mirror, Margaret Jones said that the resort she visited in Lanzarote is "one of the most sought-after resorts for half-terms and school holidays - and being in the Canaries has the advantage of year-round sun".

Ms Jones also noted that the beaches on the island are ideal for holidaymakers and are long and sandy, with low-priced umbrellas to rent for people to shade themselves from the heat of the Spanish sun.

Figures recently released by the Housing Ministry showed that falling Spanish property prices are stabilising, so now could prove a good time for Brits to invest in the country.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Spanish property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

The Spanish island of Lanzarote has been praised for being aesthetically pleasing as well as "surprisingly" rich in culture.

Speaking to the Times, editor of the Lanzarote Guidebook Nick Ball commented that the island is beautiful and talked about his own Spanish property on the island, which is partially run on solar power.

Commenting on the best parts of the island to invest in Spanish property, Mr Ball said that prices in areas such as Puerto del Carmen are lower than when he first arrived on the island some eight years ago.

"Studio flats there go for less than £50,000, while two-bedroom villas with pools start at just under £200,000," the newspaper noted.

Brits may also find that a Spanish property on Lanzarote proves ideal in terms of ease of access, as low-cost carrier Ryanair flies to the destination and airlines Monarch and Jet2 is set to launch new routes in the future.

As well as this, easyJet is set to introduce flights from Liverpool to Lanzarote this winter.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Spanish property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

Brits looking to save cash on their holidays are increasingly looking to take long-haul breaks, it has been claimed.

And as well as taking this step, Brits could find that looking for passes to museums and other places in the cities they visit could help them save cash.

While forking out for the initial flight to a destinations could be expensive, taking advantage of opportunities to save money while on holiday could still make a break affordable.

Director of product management at Expedia EMEA Jonathan Cudworth said: "Look at trying to get city passes. A lot of major cities do these where you can get free or discounted access to museums and various events and activities."

Visitors to Florida property could find that buying passes which allow them access to all of the area’s well-known theme parks and water parks helps them to save cash.

The trend for long-haul holidays could see more Brits jetting off for getaways in Florida property.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Florida property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

Those who own Spanish property could be interested in visiting the city of Seville in the run up to Easter, as one travel writer has described the area as astonishing at this time of year.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Phil Argent said that during Holy Week, the Spanish city is an interesting place to visit.

"To say Seville is extraordinary in the run up to Easter is an understatement. The Palm Sunday procession I negotiated as I left my home in North London on my way to the airport seemed a sadly desultory offering by comparison," he said.

To ensure that they get the best deal when heading to Spain, Mr Argent advised Brits to book their break months in advance - but this may not be necessary for those who already own Spanish property and can jet off at any time.

While April may be an ideal time to take a Spanish property holiday, Mr Argent noted that as the fourth biggest Spanish city, Seville has plenty for holidaymakers to do all year round.

Seville is the capital of Andalusia and is in southern Spain.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Spanish property. Stop dreaming, start searching!

The region around Lake Como in Italy is a beautiful area, one recent visitor has written.

Writing for The Star Online news source, Dr Amir Farid Isahak said that on a recent visit to the area - which is popular with Italian property owners - the weather was impressive.

"As it was autumn and the weather was perfect, the area was also full of tourists from all over the world," he said.

As well as this, the writer noted that Lake Como is a playground for the rich and famous, with many well-known faces owning Italian property on the waterfront.

Hollywood actor George Clooney, star of films such as One Fine Day, Batman and Intolerable Cruelty, has a home on the shores of the lake, as has Westlife manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh.

Earlier this year, Clooney was photographed zipping around the area on his motorbike after taking an Italian property holiday with his partner.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of Italy property. Stop dreaming, start searching!