Spain and Portugal: Buy from the best of two sunny worlds

A golfing villa in Andalucia

Property: Villa at Las Brisa, Nueva Andalucia, Spain (pictured left).

Price: €1,550,000 (£1.1m)

Agent: Cluttons Spain: 00 34 952 907 200; 00 34 952 816 644; www.cluttons-spain.com

Agent's details: This single storey four-bedroom frontline villa has a plot size of 1,122 sq m, while the property is 403 sq m. Occupying a prime position on Las Brisa Golf course, the house has three bedrooms and stunning views across the lake and to La Concha beyond. The property is perfectly situated to take advantage of the many amenities within Nueva Andalucia yet it lies within a quiet cul de sac so ensures maximum privacy. The house has heating, air conditioning, a private swimming pool and gardens. There is also a two-car garage attached to the property.

Accessibility rating: Only 55km from the well-served Malaga Airport.

Home with a view on the Algarve (picture 2)

Property: Architect-designed house in Luz, Algarve, Portugal.

Price: €1.45m (£1m)

Agent: Winkworth Portugal: 00 351 913469016; www.winkworth.co.uk/portugal

Agent's details: This four-bedroom architecturally designed property sits above Quinta da Belavista in Luz and commands inspiring views. The main entrance opens onto an inner courtyard, which leads into the main house as well as the guest annexe. Designed with space, light and comfort in mind, all furnishings and fixtures are included in the sale. The property has some interesting design features such as the open gallery, vaulted interior brick ceilings, and is within walking distance of Luz and all its amenities.

Accessibility rating: The property is less than an hour's drive from Faro airport.

Portuguese townhouse (picture 3)

Property: Spacious townhouse in Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal.

Price: €295,000 (£209,000)

Agent: Quadrant Overseas Property: 01276 507513; www.quadrant-property.com

Agent's details: This charming townhouse has two double bedrooms and two bathrooms and is set on a corner plot with gardens containing a fishpond, rockery and communal pool. Located in a quiet, up-market residential area close to all amenities, this is an easy-to-maintain permanent or holiday home with excellent rental potential. The ground floor has a spacious lounge, a fitted kitchen and a dining area with patio doors opening onto a covered terrace for exterior dining. Outside is a built-in barbecue.

Accessibility rating: Within half an hour of Faro airport, 12 minutes drive to Vilamoura Golf Course and five minutes to the beach.

Luxury on the Costa Blanca (picture 4)

Property: Large villa in Denia, Costa Blanca, Spain.

Price: €750,000 (£535,000)

Agent: Spain and Property: 00 34 647 787350; www.spainandproperty.com

Agent's details: This two-storey villa incorporates a wealth of luxurious features and is situated in the city of Denia, midway between Valencia and Alicante. From its elevated position, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom villa offers stunning Mediterranean views that can be enjoyed from any of its terraces and large pool area. In addition to the pool, there are two Jacuzzis, and two outdoor barbecues. Internally the house is made up a large fitted kitchen, dining room with French doors opening onto the upper terrace and two living rooms. All fixtures and fittings are of a high specification.

Accessibility rating: Midway between Valencia and Alicante, Denia boasts over 20km of sandy beaches and is a great base to explore the Balearics.

A hillside retreat (picture 5)

Property: Custom-built villas at Altea Hills near Alicante, Spain.

Price: from £354,795

Agent: Parador Properties: 0800 083 8658; www.paradorproperties.com

Agent's details: Buyers can choose from 14 villa designs set on a variety of plot sizes at the luxurious Altea Hills Estate or work in conjunction with an architect to design their own dream home. With plot sizes covering a minimum of 800 sq m, all of the villas are detached and built to the highest standards. Altea Hills overlooks both the town and the dramatic Mediterranean coastline stretching south. All properties have sea views while Mascarat beach, the marina and Don Cayo golf course are all just minutes away. The development has a club with a choice of swimming pools, squash and tennis courts, as well as its own excellent nine-hole golf course.

Accessibility rating: A comfortable 40-minute drive from Alicante airport.

African views from Spain (picture 6)

Property: Villa Almenara, near San Roque, western Costa del Sol, Spain

Price: €2.3m (£1.6m)

Agent: Carrington Estates: 00 34 952 810 868 (UK Local Rate 0845 094 1168); www.carrington-estates.com

Agent's details: This five-bedroom, five-bathroom villa is frontline to the fairways of the Almenara Golf Course with fabulous golf, lake and sea views. This new property has been designed to offer maximum comfort and has spacious terraces and an inviting 48 sq m swimming pool set in automatically irrigated gardens. Inside, the SieMatic kitchen contains a large range of Siemens appliances and there is also hot and cold air conditioning throughout the property. This western part of the Costa del Sol is characterised by peaceful cork tree forests, beautiful countryside, dramatic sunsets and views of the rock of Gibraltar as well as the peaks of North Africa.

Accessibility rating: The villa is near the white sandy surf beaches of Tarifa and is just 15 minutes from Gibraltar airport.

Gated Marbella property (picture 7)

Property: Villa in Monda, near Marbella, Andalucia, Spain.

Price: £1,359,801

Agent: Savills: 020-7016 3740; www.savills.co.uk

Agent's details: Just 20 minutes from all amenities on Marbella's Golden Mile, this modern yet rustic villa is set on a large 14,000 sq m plot with uninterrupted views. Approached by a long drive through electric gates, the property contains four ensuite bedrooms and a magnificent vaulted-ceiling living room. A large, fully fitted kitchen leads to well-proportioned terraces perfect for outdoor entertaining. The grounds contain a large swimming pool and a traditional Casita that can be adapted for many uses.

Accessibility rating: Just 30 minutes from Malaga and only 20 to Marbella.

A magnificent mansion (picture 8)

Property: Portadas Amarelas, Herdade do Funchal, Lagos, Portugal.

Price: €1,395,000 (£990,000)

Agent: Knight Frank: 020-7629 8171; www.knightfrank.com

Agent's details: This magnificent villa is made up of 647 sq m of accommodation built on a one-hectare south-easterly hillside plot on the Herdade do Funchal Ridge. The property has six bedrooms and impressive 180-degree views of Lagos to the south-east, Lagos Bay, Portimao and Carvoeiro to the east and Boavista Golf course and Luz to the southwest. Internally the house includes a dining room, drawing room, kitchen complete with an island, and a utility room, a breakfast room, plus a family room containing a wood burning fireplace. A separate annexe holds an office, studio, laundry room. Outside, the irregular shaped pool has a cabana with dishwasher, fridge, sink and bar, and there is also an external bathroom which has a shower, WC and basin.

Accessibility rating: A mere 50-minute drive to Faro airport, the villa is just 6km from the bustling resort of Lagos.

British Airways flies to Alicante, Malaga, Faro, Seville, Gibraltar and many more destinations for as little as £29 one way including taxes. Book at www.ba.com

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