It’s hard not to dream about being somewhere hot as you scrape ice off your windscreen… Perhaps one of these winter sun destinations will light up the December gloom. Each has some cracking properties for sale.…

Lanzarote, Canary Islands
When you marry an average December temperature of 20°C with fantastic beaches and good flight connections, it’s easy to see why this Canary Island is so popular with winter sun-seekers.

Lanzarote’s main resorts are Puerto del Carmen – the largest – followed by Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise. Puerto del Carmen attracts younger crowds and couples, thanks to its famous strip, fringed with bars and restaurants, which looks onto one of the largest and busiest beaches in Lanzarote, Playa Grande. Playa Blanca is more suited to families and its highlights include Papagayo beach, the smart Marina (Marina Rubicon) and the resort’s fantastic seafront promenade. Costa Teguise in the north is more family oriented, with its lovely sandy beach at Las Cucharas, and the windier conditions mean it attracts wind-surfers too.

Prices in Lanzarote are rising at the moment and do vary across the island, but as a guide, budget €80,000-€100,000,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, €120,000-€150,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, from €170,000 for a townhouse or duplex, and from €250,000 for a villa. This smart semi-detached villa in Playa Blanca has its own pool and is near Papagayo. For more information, click on the image.

Sal, Cape Verde
Compared to the Canaries, Cape Verde’s slightly longer five-and-a-half-hour flight time makes it hotter and more exotic. The average temperature of 25°C and laid-back Afro-Portuguese lifestyle make the archipelago off the west coast of Africa a fun place to be in December – it’s often compared to the Caribbean.

Cape Verde’s main holiday island is Sal, with the town of Santa Maria home to most of the action. Large resorts managed through travel operators who lease properties back from the owners are popular there but for those who prefer a more ‘local’ experience, there is also a selection of small apartment complexes in the centre of town. This two-bedroom penthouse apartment in Santa Maria has views over the pool and out to sea.

Paphos, Cyprus
The lively beach town of Paphos, which gets direct flights from selected UK airports and enjoys an average December temperature of 15°C, remains the island’s hottest spot for British homeowners.
Favourite areas include Kato Paphos and Paphos Harbour, Universal, Coral Bay and its popular beach, as well as the nearby villages of Peyia, Tala and Pissouri. A typical spend on a two-bedroom apartment in this area is €100,000 – could this one, which has mountain and sea views, float your boat?

Malta
This historically and culturally rich Mediterranean island enjoys similar temperatures to Cyprus in December. Most second homeowners purchase apartments, typically on small modern complexes close to the seafront – popular areas include Sliema, Marsascala, St Julians and around Valletta.

For those who prefer something more traditional, Malta’s countryside and ancient farming villages are home to some wonderfully restored houses of character, farmhouses and villas. Balzan and Naxxar are popular areas for these, being rural but still just a short drive from the seafront around Valletta.

Life gets especially chilled on the smaller Maltese island of Gozo, reached by a short ferry ride from Malta, where it’s difficult not to have a stunning sea view. Houses of character are popular here but a landmark residential project is the redevelopment of Fort Chambray development, where buyers can own part of a stunning historic building. Could you picture yourself on the balcony of this centrally located apartment in Sliema?

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