The Good Property Guide March/April 2010

MARCH/APRIL 2010 • £3.25

Luxury Homes and Travel Magazine FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP

CHARMING MONTENEGRO The jewel of Europe

BBC TV’S JAMES CAAN From Brick Lane to Dragons Den

A high class alternative

MALTA

Superb Luxury homes

Air Europa Advert

2 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

Welcome

property THE GOOD

GUIDE

THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE Perfect Publishing Limited Jubilee House, 3 The Drive Great Warley, Brentwood Essex, CM13 3FR Tel +44 (0) 01277 725677 Fax +44 (0) 01277 725001 Web: www.thegoodpropertyguide.net Email: info@thegoodpropertyguide.net Editor Rita Karia rita@thegoodpropertyguide.net Production Manager Jonathan Chew production@thegoodpropertyguide.net Editorial Designer David Horton david@janddmedia.com Advertising Manager Kate Hurford advertising@thegoodpropertyguide.net Web Developer Scott Hartfield scott@thegoodpropertyguide.net Published by Perfect Publishing Ltd (6 times yearly) (Registered office Jubilee House, 3 The Drive Great Warley, Brentwood Essex CM13 3FR ) Reprographics by J&D Media Ltd Jubilee House, 3 The Drive Great Warley, Brentwood Essex, CM13 3FR www.janddmedia.com

Welcome 2010 feels like a good year already!

After an emotional but wonderful trip to Goa with my family, I return to a very cold but bright and cheery UK. The property market is finally back on its feet and the good news is that investors are now looking for opportunities to invest and of course those of us merely looking for that dream holiday home, are now searching to buy that piece of paradise.

I took a personal trip to Malta. The beauty of these Islands never ceases to amaze me. Only a short flight away, the positively mythic Maltese Islands are presenting some of the world’s most beautiful apartments overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. With its superbly sunny weather, expansive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history there is a great deal to see and do. Our premium collection features several of this year’s finest luxurious homes on the market. Could this be the Brits new favourite?

Why not look into the new alternative way of investing in your own property?-Fractional Ownership. From Urban developments like 47 Park Street in London’s Mayfair, we take you on a Luxury Homes and Travel Magazine journey to Cadiz in Spain, where you will be pleased to know that these places are now presenting world class amenities.

Such companies are promoting fabulous opportunities to take part in the latest way of building up your property portfolio or simply having your own holiday abode for up to six weeks a year BBC TV’S JAMES CAAN From Brick Lane to Dragons Den hassle free.

Last but not least, those of you wanting to take a break in the sun or here in the UK. The Good Travel Guide will provide you with all the ideas you need for that sumptuousness spring break.

Treat a loved one...

MARCH/APRIL 2010 • £3.25

FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP

Printed by Broglia Press Enterprise House, 52 Holton Road, Holton Heath Trading Park, Poole, BH16 6LQ Distribution by Gold Key Media Ltd, 53/54 Brooks Mews, Mayfair, London W1K 4EG www.gkml.co.uk Special thanks goes to everyone who has contributed to this issue of The Good Property Guide

CHARMING MONTENEGRO The jewel of Europe

A high class alternative

MALTA

Superb Luxury homes

All rights reserved. Except for normal review purposes, no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers.Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the contents are only meant as a guide to readers. The proprietors of this magazine are publishers not agents or sub-agents of those who advertise therein. They cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of information gained from this publication. The publishers of The Good Property Guide recognise that the security of the reader’s financial investment is of the greatest concern when buying a property abroad. Great care is therefore taken in the preparation of this magazine. However, it must be accepted that there is an element of risk in undertaking overseas commercial transactions. We therefore strongly advise readers to obtain reliable professional advice before signing any documents or making payments to somebody hitherto unknown to themselves. Copyright 2009 Perfect Publishing Ltd.

Visit The Good Property Guide online at www.thegoodpropertyguide.net

All the best, Rita Karia EDITOR The Good Property Guide March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 3

Contents

Contents 06 Property & Travel News 10 The Premium Collection Fractional Ownership, Luxury London Homes, Montenegro, USA, Seychelles, Malta, Peru, & Scotland.

18 BBC’s Celebrity James Caan 48 Properties Direct From the Owner 54 Rosetta Stone Reader offer

55 The Good Travel Guide UK’s best holidays

56 Destination Malta Brits favourite

62 Bright Lights of Brighton 66 Jet Airways India’s number one airline

72 On Home Soil Isles of Scilly, Newquay Golf Holidays

78 Legal Services Law, currency & finance

82 The Last Word

by London Legal International

4 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 5

Property & Travel News

Caxton FX helps overseas property owners demolish their fees

B

anks and online currency companies overcharge for making simple overseas payments. One provider is bucking the trend by offering free transfers and bank-busting rates.

Overseas property owners spend a bundle for the upkeep of their property. Local taxes, ground rent, service charges and utilities bump up monthly transfers and online payment systems (as well as your high street bank), want a piece of the action.

Not only do banks and some online payment services often charge around £25 pounds or more just to transfer your money, they can also charge commission, normally adding around 1.5% to the already uncompetitive exchange rate given. This means you’ll find your hard earned money being whittled away for no good reason.

For example, using your high street bank account/online payments service to transfer multiple monthly bill payments could cost you an extra £1062 per year. That’s the cost of eight return flights to Valencia or paying the

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mortgage off earlier on your home abroad.

FastPay allows you to make payments around the world with no fees or commissions and offers bank-beating exchange rates. Use it day or night, 7 days a week; it’s an easy and cost effective way to transfer money overseas.

Caxton FX FastPay offers competitive exchange rates and no fees or commission for transfers of £100 to £10,000. FastPay enables currency payments to be made at any time and live rates offer an opportunity to take advantage of currency volatility. FastPay customers are also able to track progress of their payments online, meaning you can see when the beneficiary receives their payment.

As 96% of all FastPay customers would recommend the system, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that your money is travelling better.

For more information, visit www.caxtonfx.com

French property market buoyed by global appeal

S

ome of the holiday home markets currently taking the biggest tumbles have one thing in common - they’ve been dominated by a single nationality of expat buyer. Just look what happened when the Brits ended their love affair with Spain. France on the other hand has remained reassuringly cosmopolitan and developer Arena Park France, specialist in Burgundy, is continuing to attract sales from across the globe.

Su Bishop from Arena Park France explains, “We’re well aware that the UK is a vast buying wasteland at the moment fuelled by a poor pound-to-euro exchange rate and an enduring recession. Apart from a cash-rich few hunting down a bargain, a category that our high-quality conversion projects do not fall into, enquiries from the UK are well down.

However, that isn’t to say that business has not been brisk.”

Su continues, “Over recent months we’ve secured three sales from Australian nationals, a country which is bucking the trend and posting strong annual house price increases, alongside a handful of EU nationals spending in euros, as well as a Swiss resident dealing in one of the world’s most stable currencies - the Swiss Franc. Arena Park France is fortunate that Burgundy has such international appeal and has never been dominated by one particular nation. In 2008 Brits formed a massive 58% of the European expat buyers in Spain. Now

they’ve exited, the Spanish housing market is in real trouble. Without such reliance we don’t have to face deep boom and bust cycles.”

Officially emerging from recession in the second quarter of 2009 and studiously avoiding the global property meltdown limelight, French house prices have remained resilient. October 2009 figures from the FNAIM (Association of French Estate Agents) reported only a 0.3% year-on-year fall in price per square metre for the Burgundy region and it’s widely expected that France in general will post an average house price gain in 2010.

Recovery is underway.

The nation’s lending strategy has also kept the property market moving with 100% mortgages still available – even to foreigners - providing the client can afford it. French banks do not allow borrowers to spend more than one third of their gross monthly income on finance payments which means that they have severely limited their exposure to risk.

And, of course, a 100% mortgage has great appeal to a solvent Britain who doesn’t want to be punished by the dismal pound euro situation.

On the market with Arena Park France: Detached Home in Puligny Montrachet Impressive three bedroom stone house now being completely restored to include a new roof, insulation, re-jointing of the stonework and treatment of the original oak

frame. On a quiet road, some 300m from Puligny Montrachet’s centre with its cafés and restaurants and just 12km from the town of Beaune, this home also enjoys some incredible views across the surrounding countryside. Set around a private southfacing courtyard, the living accommodation is bright and spacious with all bedrooms en-suite – the master with a Juliette balcony.

Ample storage and a vaulted wine cellar complete this perfect lock-and-leave. Clients can participate in selecting final finishings including flooring, tiling and the kitchen.

Price 495,000 euros (excl. kitchen)

For more information, visit www.arena-park.com.

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 7

Property & Travel News

Popular location for international property investors to host major industry event in Brazil

O

ne of the most popular locations for foreign property investors in Brazil is to host the country’s leading international real estate and tourism event which attracts representatives of the industry from across the globe.

Natal, which is also popular among Brazilian real estate investors and set to be one of the host cities for the 2014 Football World Cup, will see a huge influx for the three day Nordeste Invest event which kicks off on the 10th of May next year.

Those attending will include developers, investment funds, hotel chains and companies associated with the real estate and tourism industries. It comes at time when Brazil is entering a phase of massive infrastructure development not just for the major football tournament but also for the Olympic Games in 2016.

The Association for Inward Investment in Real Estate and Tourism in Brazil, one of the event partners, said there are major opportunities for foreign investors in Brazil.

‘The Brazilian economy clearly shows that Brazil is a country with great potential.

The economic and political stability and the fact that Brazil came out of the crisis

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before the majority of first world countries demonstrates that our country is ready to welcome foreign investments,’ said Felipe Cavalcante, president of ADIT. ‘Brazil’s middle class is another attractive factor for investors, since they also want to benefit from Brazil’s domestic market.

The Investment Grade Rating (investment index) that Brazil received from three agencies,

such as Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, which analyze and classify the level of risk, are also taken into account when speaking about foreign investments for Brazil,’ he added.

Sílvio Bezerra, vice-president of ADIT for Rio Grande do Norte, the region where Natal is the capital city, said it currently has a 130,000 housing shortage.

Overseas property attracting potential buyers A 14 per cent increase in the number of people searching for overseas property has been seen by Primelocation International.

The property portal found searches for property in Croatia had risen by 30 per cent in the last year, and interest in South Africa was up by ten per cent.

Primelocation discovered world events had caused a shift in where overseas home buyers were looking to purchase, with Croatia’s bid to join the European Union one possible cause for interest in the country. On the other hand, South Africa is hosting the football World Cup next year, which may have attributed to the increased desire to purchase property there.

And the ‘Obama Boom’ may well have been a causal factor in the 150 per cent growth in Brit desires to move to the USA in the last year.

Primelocations top ten search rankings in March this year were: Spain France USA Italy Portugal Australia United Arab Emirates Turkey Cyprus Bulgaria

Expert: Mortgage market will recover, but slowly

U

ncertainty remains in the mortgage market for several reasons, with recovery set to be slow, according to one expert.

Timothy Lambert, head of consulting at property investment consultancy Ducalian, explained that mortgage lenders are obliged to provide more loans, but are being very careful.

“With a change of government likely within four months, lenders are also wary of fixed-rate mortgages as interest rates can only go one way and inflation is starting to rise fast,” he continued.

Many people are also conscious of the possibility of a double-dip recession, Mr Lambert added, calling the mortgage market picture “artificial” because of these factors.

Mortgage lending will recover in time, but only when confidence returns to lenders, he concluded.

Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that gross lending fell to around £9.1 billion last month, a decline of nearly a third on December’s level of £13.4 billion.

Scottish house prices ‘will remain steady’ House prices in Scotland are set to remain “fairly steady” this year, it has been suggested.

The general trend of the last few months has been one of increasing activity, with consumer confidence returning and more mortgage products being made available, explained Dianne Paterson, property partner at law firm Russel + Aitken.

She predicted that prices will stabilise this year, pointing out that the current shortage of good quality stock will not last.

Figures from Lloyds TSB Scotland have revealed that the country’s average house price increased by 5.9 per cent to £160,074 in the three months to the end of January 2010.

Dundee property saw prices increase by 16.3 per cent over this period, while those in Edinburgh rose by 11.4 per cent.

However, house prices in Fife, Perth and Tayside decreased by 7.6 per cent and property in Glasgow also saw a fall, of 1.6 per cent.

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 9

The Premium Collection

Luxury Urban Fractional OWNERSHIP

By Kathryn Hurford

A

fter a short walk from a busy Oxford Street I entered the discreet entrance of 47 Park Street which offered a warm and welcome respite from London’s chilly January winds. The entrance is not imposing but welcoming with staff being both friendly and professional in equal measure.

I felt as if I was walking into my own slice of London Edwardian life, the furnishings are elegant with a rich decor seeming to retain many of the original features that would have graced the property in its heyday when first the London home of the 1st Baron Milford in 1927.

The 49 roomed private residence, the UK’s only urban fractional ownership development, offers members the home from home comforts which seasoned travellers must yearn for, so different from the impersonal accommodation offered by even the most highly commended hotel.

From your very first visit the staff are aware of your preferences anything from your favorite drinking water, to the family photographs on your bedside table, your favourite flowers and even the personal possessions that remind you of home and loved ones.

A particularly unique feature is that even though all the apartments have well fitted kitchens, members and guests have access to the two Michelin starred restaurant Le Gavroche.

Fine dining is accessed through an exclusive and private entrance or alternatively the restaurant will serve directly to your residence if you want to save your shoe leather or to host a private dinner party.

While in residence, members of 47 Park Street enjoy a range of exclusive benefits, through a network of partnerships with clubs and organisations in and around London. These include priority booking with The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, access to treatments at The Spa IIluminata and membership privileges at The London Golf Club.

“Living the millionaire lifestyle without spending millions” is a ringing endorsement by just one of the satisfied members of 47 Park Street Residences.

I am sure that there are financial reasons why you would decide to become a member but for me it would be the feeling of staying in a home as opposed to a hotel that would swing it.

For further information visit: www.47parkstreet.com

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MAKE YOUR HOME IN MAYFAIR LONDON RESIDENCE

With arguably the most exclusive address in London, this impeccably appointed, fully staffed private residence is perfectly situated in the heart of London’s West End. For an excellent blend of business and pleasure this is the ideal location.

47 Park Street is an innovative concept in residential club membership giving you a luxurious Mayfair residence at a fraction of the cost of second home ownership.

Membership includes: • Flexible usage to fit around your time in London • Privacy, security and services of a luxury hotel • Storage of your belongings between visits • 24-hour access to an in-house concierge • Attractive alternative usage options • A host of Member benefits • One- and two-bedroom residences from 549ft2 to 1,023ft2 • Managed by Grand Residences by Marriott One-bedroom residences from £111,000 Two-bedroom residences from £209,000

Discover why our Members are choosing 47 Park Street over outright property ownership.

Tel. +44 (0)20 7950 5528 Web www.47parkstreet.com Email info@47parkstreet.com

The Premium Collection

A Luxury FRACTIONAL LIFE

F

ractional property purchases are no longer a new concept in the European market. The benefits of buying into the luxury lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of whole ownership are becoming increasingly attractive to the fractional purchaser seeking greater value from their spend.

Financially savvy property owners in today’s competitive market are now accessing the top tier of property assets while only paying for the time they wish to spend at their luxury holiday home. Maintenance costs of the property and facilities are also shared between co-owners and, from the moment of arrival, the property is ready to enjoy.

The fractional purchase is also often asset-linked by being a deeded purchase and resale values tend to follow those of neighbouring whollyowned properties and enjoy the same gains in a rising market.

But a fractional purchase is more about investing in a luxury lifestyle.

Members of a luxury leisure property exchange service such as The Registry Collection benefit from a 24/7 concierge service which enables them to dial-up for any service they should require, from booking show tickets to enjoying a wine tour. The Registry Collection is the world’s largest exchange programme with more than 160 properties worldwide to choose from. Fractional owners can enjoy swapping usage time at

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their owned property for premium holidays in the most sought-after destinations.

Nick Turner, VP, The Registry Collection, Europe, says: “Fractional has arrived in Europe. We are seeing a significant surge in interest in this market and have signed up eight destinations to our programme in the last 12 months. I believe that over the next five years fractional ownership will become the accepted alternative to whole ownership in the second home market.”

Additionally, member owners are assured of the consistency of quality by the stringent due diligence their holiday homes comply with in order to become part of this exclusive, ‘by invitation only’ property collection.

The Premium Collection

Arcos Gardens March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 13

The Premium Collection View of the historical village of Arcos de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz. Photograph taken from Arcos Gardens, just 3km away.

To reward its achievements The Registry Collection programme has received two awards in the last four months – The OPP Industry Awards 09 Best Fractional Service and the Fractional Life Award 2010 for Services to the Industry.

Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate is newly affiliated to The Registry Collection and offers fractional four bedroom frontline golf villas.

Located among the rolling hills of Andalusia and next to the famed white village of Arcos de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz, the Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate is an exclusive low-density golf community designed for upscale luxury living. The 440-acre development in a former olive grove has been transformed into a leading golf destination featuring a championship 18-hole course that was recently named one of Europe’s Top 100. Among the resort’s facilities are a brand new club house with day spa and a restored 17th century cortijo, reflecting the goal to combine top quality service and world-class amenities with the area’s natural beauty and traditional Spanish charm. Also underway are plans for tennis, paddle and equestrian installations that will enable owners and guests to enjoy a Venice on water For more information visit: www.ecurie25.co.uk

broad array of outdoor activities that take advantage of the area’s natural beauty and year-round mild climate.

Owning a one eighth fraction of a four bedroom villa at Arcos Gardens costs €199,000 (approximately £180,000) and entitles owners to six weeks usage per year and a number of benefits which would appeal to most golf enthusiasts. Owners receive two complimentary golf memberships which enable them to holiday and play with a golf buddy, and two sets of Calloway golf clubs which alleviates problems when flying. And when the ‘golf widow’ tires of the Andalusia Hills there is a whole choice of other exciting worldwide destinations to visit….

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The Premium Collection

Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate in Spain

…One of which is Venice On Water. Venice on Water offers a unique holiday experience, allowing guests to visit the waterways of the iconic Italian city staying in luxury two-bedroom houseboats. Berthed at Marina Darsena DEC in Mestre, only five kilometres from the centre of Venice, the boats are fully furnished, equipped to the highest specifications and can accommodate up to six people. Venice on Water membership entitles members to stay in their houseboat for one week each year.

The perfect location offers easy access to all the attractions of the historic city of Venice with its galleries, museums, palaces, churches and piazzas. The boats can be used for limited navigation inside the lagoon (no license required), while more experienced sailors can take them further along the famed Venetian waterways. Owners will be given training, to helm the vessel or can hire a captain on a daily basis. A 25year membership entitles owners to a one week usage over 25 years which starts at €12,000 (approx. £10,800), and rises depending on season to €25,000 (approx £22,600). This price is based on six people sharing and includes VAT. Fractional ownership and asset-sharing can be an ideal way to get the most out of your investment and fractional assets are not just available in property and boats. The fractional lifestyle concept extends from private jets, wines, designer handbags… …to super cars écurie25 is the UK’s largest and longest established supercar club, boasting over 200 members across 4 locations throughout the UK. Membership costs from as little as £550per month and gives you access to a fleet of over 30 superb cars, regularly updated and added to, and fully insured throughout Europe. In addition, members are offered a programme of exclusive motorsport events which serve to bring together like-minded individuals in stunning surroundings.

Fractional Life is a radical new web portal providing a one-stop site to assist consumers in making sense of the currently expanding fractional ownership marketplace. The specialist website and associated events provide the most comprehensive virtual market place for consumers and businesses alike to meet and explore the possibilities and offerings of this rapidly-growing market. Last month FractionalLife.com broke all its records when it attracted a total of 1,419,282 web hits for the month of February 2010 or an average of 50,689 a day which is a measure of the growing popularity of fractional product and services in Europe. See: If you’re looking to find out more about Fractional Ownership and would like to talk with a multitude of operators within the sector, visit the Fractional Life Expo 2010 at Broadgate Event Venues, EC2A 2BQ in the heart of the City of London 13 – 15th September. For more information log onto www.fractionallifeexpo.com.

Contact Details For Arcos Gardens: www.arcosgardens.com Tel: +34 (0)956701694 Contact Details for The Registry Collection: www.theregistrycollection.com Tel: +44 (0)1536536222

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 15

The Premium Collection

AIR EUROPA

Provides New Passage To Peru Latin American specialist Air Europa officially launched a new London to Lima (via Madrid) service on the 22nd February 2010.

F

ollowing the successful introduction of a twice daily London Gatwick to Madrid route in March 2009, Air Europa is expanding its route network in South America with three weekly departures to the Peruvian capital.

Prices will start from as little as £507.70 per person, including all taxes and charges.

The new route will provide British passengers with what is now one of the quickest and most cost effective ways to travel to Peru from the UK. “Following a positive 2009, we are happy to have established this exciting new route from London to Lima, via Madrid” says Colin Stewart, UK General Manager, Air Europa.

16 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

“Competitive pricing and a commitment to excellent customer service has facilitated the expansion of our destination portfolio in South America. Something we hope to build on in 2010”.

Additionally, Air Europa offers passengers routes to a range of Latin American destinations, including Buenos Aires, Caracas and Salvador de Bahia.

Passengers looking for some respite from the icy British winter can also take advantage of daily flights to several Caribbean destinations such as Havana, Cancun, Punta Cana and Santa Domingo.

With flights to 37 destinations in 16 countries, and offering some of the most competitive fares in the market, onward travel to South America and the Caribbean are more affordable than ever before for UK passengers.

Air Europa is proud to offer a well trained team who are available to speak with customers during office hours regarding bookings and enquiries.

For the latest offers call 0871 423 0717 or email uksales@air-europa.com. Bookings can also be made online at www.aireuropa.com.

The Premium Collection

Home, Office, Paddock, Heated Pool and Fishing* All In One Package!

A rare opportunity to change your lifestyle - working from home in the fabulous Wye Valley Nestling in ~ ½ acre of the Wye Valley AONB just along from Goodrich Castle, Stoneway House – south-facing four bedroom extended cottage overlooking the River Wye. Separate Office and double garage in the grounds with mains electricity & water Paddock (1 acre with planning permission for stables) Heated swimming pool with barbecue patio

Hobby workshop *Possible Fishing Rights available Monmouth and Ross on Wye within 15 mins The existing owners have completely re-built the kitchen/ breakfast room and added a pool (sauna stpp) room plus workshop and utility store. Cheltenham, Hereford, Cardiff, Newport and Gloucester are within easy reach by car.

For more details, plan views and pictures browse: www.stonewayhouse.co.uk or tel: 07831 395 345 for a brochure

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 17

The Premium Collection

18 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

The Premium Collection

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 19

The Premium Collection

James Caan FROM BRICK LANE TO DRAGON’S DEN We met dragon’s den star, James Caan, whose book the real deal, from Brick Lane to Dragon’s Den, is now available in the shops and doing very well.

HOW WELL IS THE BOOK DOING SO FAR? I’m delighted to say the book’s doing extremely well. I received an email Virgin to say it’s just made the top ten in the Sunday Times top list. I’m thrilled because I didn’t think it would do that well so quickly bearing in mind it’s only been out for a week today. So I’m delighted with the response that I’ve had on the book.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOUGHT THE BOOK, WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK YOU’RE GETTING FROM THEM THOUGH? I’m getting a lot of really good feedback. I think there’s a section on the Amazon website where people have bought the book and taken the trouble to come back and comment. And I think essentially what the general feedback has been, that it’s been very useful for people to really understand my journey on how I suppose I went from Brick Lane to Dragon’s Den, , and some of the key events that have happened in my life, and how those events have helped… shaped some of the successes that I’ve been fortunate enough to experience. So I think it’s been… there’s a lot of how in the book, which is what I think most people have found quite valuable.

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WHY HAVE YOU CALLED THE BOOK THE REAL DEAL? I suppose the reason the name The Real Deal came to mind when I was writing the book was I really wanted to take the opportunity to reflect back on my life and look at some of the businesses that I’ve created.

And what I really wanted to do was to focus on real issues, real events, and I wanted the book to be very open, and in a way for somebody to kind of understand the journey. You know, this is not a sort of… the book doesn’t have a lot of fl annel. It really focuses on what I believe to be, you know, some very important lessons that I’ve certainly found extremely valuable in my life. So when I was thinking about it, it sort of inspired the title; you know, Real Deal, i.e. no flannel.

YOU HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE. THE FIRST VENTURE WAS BACKING YOUR WIFE. COULD YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? My first venture was backing a very attractive girl I met many, many years ago, 26 years ago, you know, a lady who approached me with a fantastic idea to launch a fashion business. And I found her intriguing and decided to back her in her venture, and managed to get the

The Premium Collection business to do really well. And within 12 months of meeting her, fell in love with her and proposed to marry her. So she was my first investment.

IS YOUR WIFE STILL INVOLVED WITH YOUR BUSINESSES? My wife was originally involved with me in the beginning when we had our fashion business, and then I launched a company called Alexander Mann, and she was involved with me for that business for nearly 15 years, and then I sold that company. And then I sort of took a sabbatical and my wife took up art, she’s now a painter, and she’s very much focused on building her own art portfolio while I’m now developing Hamilton Bradshaw. So currently today, we have two very distinct careers.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIME FOR RECREATION AND FAMILY? HOW DO YOU KEEP A BALANCE? To me, having a balance in life I think is really, really important, because I think in order to be able to do the things that I do and spend so much time focusing on some of the opportunities that I spend so much of my life in, you do need to have that opportunity to kind of relax. And I suppose I’m very fortunate enough that I have a yacht in the South of France, and I really try as much as I can once a month to get away and spend three or four months, just kind of refl ecting on the boat. And I just fi nd it so therapeutic, because when you’re on the boat, you really are away from the world. You know, you’re just sort of cruising around the French Riviera, the weather’s fantastic, it’s very peaceful. It gives me time to read, listen to music, and those three or four days I fi nd so relaxing. And when I’m back, I’m kind of almost back fully charged.

YOU SEEM SO CALM AND COMPOSED ON DRAGON’S DEN, ARE YOU REALLY ALL THAT CALM ALL OF THE TIME? A lot of people say that I come across fairly calm in the Den, and for me, that is my normal persona. By nature, I’m a fairly calm type of individual. I don’t really have a temper. I very rarely lose it. You know, if things don’t work out, my philosophy is they probably weren’t meant to be, so I don’t get very excited very quickly.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE INVESTMENT YOU HAVE MADE ON DRAGON’S DEN? Most of the investments I made in the Den I’ve certainly found really quite exciting because they’re so different, and I think it’s hard to pick one that stands out, because ultimately, I invest in people, and I think each of them in their own way are doing really, really well. Sammy French, and the investment I made in dog treadmills is probably the one I’ve been ribbed about the most, but what I’m really pleased with is that Sammy’s done remarkably well. That business is performing exceptionally well. Choc Box [?] I think is one that everybody talks about because within four weeks of coming out of the Den, we managed to get Peter a really fantastic contract. I think it was a three year deal worth nearly £25 million, and we’ve now got a very, very… currently kind of an exciting opportunity with Raptstrap , which was my recent investment where we’ve got a potential customer looking at a five year deal that could be worth nearly £36 million. So I think in their own way, each of the deals are doing really well. I suppose the one that I’m probably having the most fun with right now is D for M [?], which is Julia Charles, with the event management business that she came along and presented a tree and a human table, which is just a great deal of fun. And we’re getting invited… you know, after doing

the show she won an opportunity to do Madonna’s after event party which was really good fun. And we just did a launch in a nightclub in Cavendish Square last week. So that’s really looking… you know, it’s a lot of fun, and my kids really get involved with some of Julie’s events, so that’s really good. I think Blind in a Box , we’re just about to secure a fantastic order with one of the largest kind of department stores across the country. So that’s doing really well. So I think in their own way, all the investments I’m pleased to say are delivering better than I originally thought they would do.

WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST IDEA YOU’VE EVER SEEN ON THE DRAGON’S DEN? I do get asked the question a lot; you know which one got away? And I suppose the one that comes to mind is the couple who came in in this series who’d invented the bed sheet with a line down the middle. You know, I nearly got tempted to invest in that, and then I think I came to my senses and realised that people like to be close to each other when they go to bed at night rather than needing a line in the middle to defi ne their territories.

ARE YOU PARTICULARLY FRIENDLY WITH ANY OF THE OTHER DRAGONS FROM THE DEN? I get on really well with Duncan Bannatyne in the Den. Duncan and I have made a number of investments together, and I’m really pleased to say that it’s been a very successful relationship for both of us , because we’ve both been able to bring our own experiences and contacts to each opportunity. So I would say probably Duncan has been the one person I’ve probably invested the most with.

YOU’RE INVOLVED IN EDUCATION HERE AND IN PAKISTAN. WHAT DOES THAT INVOLVE, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? I suppose one of the ways that I choose to give back, the area for me that’s probably the most important, is to give back in education, and as a result of that, I set up the James Caan Foundation. And one of the projects that we’re involved with right now is where we’ve bought some land in Pakistan. The reason is because Pakistan has the lowest literacy rate in the world. And what I thought would be really rewarding is to provide a top quality education to children who otherwise have no access to education. So I built a fabulous school with a really amazing sort of campus with libraries and IT labs, and beautiful grounds, and we’re currently educating 428 children, where the Foundation provides all the funding for the entire cost of education for the whole school. And it gives me a great opportunity every two or three months to physically visit the school, meet with the teachers, meet with the children, and I must admit, it’s been a really rewarding experience because one of the things that I think people sometimes may not have realised that you do get a lot more from giving than you do in receiving. And my experience with the children and the education that we provide them I think has been a fantastic experience for me too.

YOU’VE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FATHER BEING INFLUENTIAL IN YOUR LIFE. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTE TO YOUR SUCCESS TO THIS SITUATION? Alot of people have asked me who’s influenced me in my life so far, and the one person that constantly stands out for me has been my

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 21

father. A lot of my sort of grounding in life and in business is very much revolved around the experiences that I shared growing up. My father was an entrepreneur, had a business himself, and was incredibly focused, very determined, and very driven. And I think that sort of DNA has really been transported to me, and I think a lot of the values that I have today, and the calmness and my business approach and style, I think is very much emulated on him.

HOW DO YOU FIND THE PRESSURES OF FAME? Certainly I think since doing Dragon’s Den, one of the things that obviously has changed in my life is clearly I get noticed probably more today than I have done in the past, and I think to a large extent, it hasn’t really affected nor changed anything I do. I mean, … funnily enough, when I was arriving in the studio today, as I was walking down the street somebody stopped me and said, oh my God, that’s James Caan. I can’t believe you’re walking down the street. And that probably sort of illustrates that just because of the fact you’re on television, it doesn’t really need to change the core way that you live. So whilst I think it’s really quite enjoyable, and I do find it quite humorous sometimes the comments that you get as you’re walking down the street, or people you meet, but fundamentally, it hasn’t really changed my life, and I pretty much do what I was doing before. I live the same way, I go to the same restaurants. I don’t… I haven’t really changed much as a result of it.

HOW COMPETITIVE ARE THE DIFFERENT DRAGONS? THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE STUFF IN THE PRESS ABOUT THE DRAGONS AT WAR. The Den is a very competitive place. I mean, you’ve got, you know, the country’s probably top five entrepreneurs who in their own right have all done extremely well. And I think it’s fair to say that we all love a good deal. And when an opportunity comes in, clearly, everybody wants to compete for the right opportunity at the right price. So yeah, I think the Den is definitely a very competitive environment.

IS THERE ANOTHER SERIES BEING PRODUCED? DO YOU KNOW THE LINE-UP? I think Dragon’s Den, certainly this series, did do amazingly well. I think it was… some of the episodes were the highest watched and highest rated for the show. I think every year goes from strength to strength. So certainly, I would expect there to be a new series coming out next year, and we won’t know what the line-up will be probably until the New Year. Your book’s going to be the first to be available as a download on a mobile phone. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

One of the things that I’ve been really excited by is that T-Mobile have approached me and they would love to offer the book as a download to mobile phone users. And I think… I’m told that that’s probably going to make me the fi rst author to be able to release an autobiography that will be accessible on your mobile phone, which I think is quite sort of trendy , because I think there’s a lot of people nowadays that listen to their MP3 players or sit on the tube listening to music on their mobile phone, and to be able to access a book I think is really, really quite smart. So I’m really excited by that, and I think that’s going to be available in the next few weeks.

22 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

DOES YOUR BOOK GIVE READERS AN INSIGHT INTO HOW TO MAKE A MILLION? CAN THEY TAKE DIRECT INSPIRATION FROM YOUR WORDS? There’s a lot of really good material in the book that really I think gives people a genuine understanding of how business works. And I think that when you look at my background, I didn’t start with a silver spoon. I didn’t have any real capital. I left school at 16. So it wasn’t that I had an amazing education or I had a huge amount of money to start with, or there was anything that you could say was unique in my background that’s given me the platform to do some of the things that I’ve done. And I think there’s a lot of insights that people can glean from the book that I’m sure would be really useful and give them some really good pointers.

WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE? I think one of the best tips I would give somebody starting a business today is to really understand and appreciate that business is not just always about the idea. I think a lot of young entrepreneurs come up with an idea and immediately feel that that’s going to make them successful. And I think the biggest lesson I can share with entrepreneurs… can I start that question again?

WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE? I think the biggest tip I could give to entrepreneurs who are starting a business today is, in business, the idea itself is only 5% of success in that business. I think a lot of entrepreneurs who come up with a new idea believe that the idea itself is where success lies. My experience over the last 20 years has taught me the idea is 5%, and 95% is execution.

And when you take this current economic climate, the way in which you implement and execute your idea, you know, the people that you get, the price that you sell at, where you get it manufactured, what your cost base is going to be, I think those are the key ingredients to success.

You know, so if you’ve got an idea, don’t just stop there. Look at how you’re going to implement it and how you’re going to establish the business, because that is the journey that defi nes success or failure.

APPARENTLY, PEOPLE WHO INVEST WHEN THERE’S AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN REAP VERY BIG REWARDS. WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS TRUE, AND WHY? A lot of people ask me what my sort of investment strategy has been, and I think the book really focuses on this point a lot, and the key phrase that I could probably use to sum that up is, observe the masses and do the opposite. I think to be an entrepreneur, you’ve got to be able to take risks, and I think this is probably a great example of that. You know, while everybody else is bailing out of the stock market, frankly, now’s the time to get in. So as you see everybody leaving, that’s where the opportunity lies, because right now, valuations are probably lower than they’ve been for such a long time. So if you have the stomach or if you’ve got the nerve and if you’ve got the confi dence, now’s a great time I think to be putting money to work. You know, property prices are predicted to come down quite signifi cantly, but if we look back over the last 50 years, the one thing that is absolutely clear, that the

economy goes in cycles. You know, we have cycles where prices go up, and we have prices where cycles go down. Clearly, we are experiencing an environment where prices are coming down, so clearly, now is the time to be investing, not when the prices have shot straight back up again, which inevitably at some stage they will do. So the lesson I would say is, observe the masses and do the opposite. So over the next six to 12 months, that will be the window of opportunity where we should be looking for those opportunities to be investing money.

YOU’VE HAD PLENTY OF SUCCESS. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A BUSINESS THAT HAS NOT DONE QUITE AS WELL, AND IF SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REASONS FOR THAT WERE? Certainly in my background, not everything I’ve touched has turned to gold. I think just like any entrepreneur, I’ve had my fair share of disasters too. There have been a number of businesses that I’ve invested in that haven’t done as well as I’d hoped they’d do. I did invest in a business last year which was a chain of sandwich shops in London, and I invested in a business… it had about 65 shops and 150 sort of franchised vans, and had this quite large factory employing 300 people, and the business was offered to me, and it looked so cheap. And the key question I forgot to ask myself is, why was it so cheap? Businesses are sold at a price for a reason, and on that particular deal, I just didn’t do my due diligence. I rushed the deal, I didn’t think it through, I had too much else going on, and inevitably six months later, the inevitable happened and I lost my entire investment; you know, a terrible experience. And I suppose the lesson I learned from that is sometimes you learn more from your disasters than you do from your successes.

So looking back on that again, just because somebody approaches me with a deal that on the surface looks really cheap, that’s not a reason to be investing.

WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN RULES FOR SUCCESS? I suppose my main rules for success is very much I invest in people first. You know, products do not succeed within themselves. Ultimately, when you have a successful business, it’s because you’ve backed the right management team.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE CREDIT CRISIS WILL GO ON FOR? I think the current economic climate in this country I don’t think is a blip this quarter. I think we’re going to see things get probably worse before they get better, so my current anticipation would be that the next six to nine months we’re going to see a very rocky ride, and then I think we’ll start to see a recovery thereafter. But I think the recovery is not going to be a sort of quick bounce. So I would say the next six months be very wary. Things are probably going to get worse before they get better, and then I think middle of next year you will start to see things stabilising, and then I think they’ll take two to three years before you’ll start to see real evidence of a recovery.

WHO IS INVESTING IN NEW IDEAS IF THE BANKS ARE NOW RUNNING SCARED? DOES IT MEAN THE DEATH OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP? I think because the banks are not lending any money at the moment I don’t think is the death of entrepreneurship, because I think entrepreneurs by nature have to be people who can think outside the box. You know, there are still opportunities to make money. I think good ideas will still fl ourish. And , historically, when things get tight, more businesses are created than in a buoyant market. So , I don’t think this is a negative opportunity for entrepreneurs. I would say the opposite. This is where entrepreneurs should really come to life.

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 23

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Wexford PLANTATION

W

exford Plantation is a private, residential community, founded in 1983, located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Wexford is dedicated to the enjoyment and pleasure of its owners and their guests. Wexford’s greatest amenity, its friendly and caring people, can only be experienced and understood as a property owner - whether it’s a full-time or partial-year resident or as a non-resident lot owner.

Wexford is a fully developed golf, yachting, and tennis community with all amenities in place: 24-hour gated security, an 18-hole championship golf course, 37.5 acre harbour, six Har-Tru clay tennis courts, swimming pool and miles of bike trails. Wexford will soon unveil the $3.5 million dollar renovation of the Clubhouse, featuring expansive views of the Harbour and adjacent Broad Creek.

Membership is reserved exclusively for property owners, families and their invited guests and ownership entitles you to use of all club facilities and amenities.

Wexford encompasses 500 acres of land,

24 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

marshes and water blended into a community attuned to the beauty of this pristine island.

Embracing the British Colonial style of architecture, Wexford has been designed to ensure each home has a view of at least one special feature of the Plantation: a lagoon, the marshlands, the harbour or the golf course.

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There are no crowds here, no public resort facilities. . . just a distinctive private lifestyle in the heart of an island paradise.

Wexford’s championship golf course is meticulously maintained and carefully supervised to ensure a first class golf experience for players of all skill levels. The challenging design of the par 72 course winds through the Plantation, providing a scenic tour of Wexford’s beauty. The full-time professional golf staff offers year-round teaching clinics for

all levels of ability, as well as ensuring a full calendar of golfing tournaments and events including weekly men’s and ladies’ days.

Wexford’s 37.5 acre inland Harbour, with direct access to Broad Creek and the Intracoastal Waterway, features deep canals that make a beautiful, watery ribbon through the community and afford owners the ultimate pleasure of docking their boat in their own backyard. Our innovative lock system - one of only three on the entire Eastern seaboard controls the effects of tidal fluctuations, as well as ensuring a private haven to the more than 250 boat slips located inside the Harbour. A full-time Harbourmaster and support staff are on duty to service the needs of the boating community and ensure that the Harbour is maintained in excellent condition.

Wexford’s championship Tennis Center is beautifully situated between the Harbour and the Golf Course. There are six Har-Tru clay courts, four of which are lighted for night play. The Tennis Center features upper and lower viewing decks as well as a handsomely

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appointed clubroom for hosting courtside social events. The full-time professional tennis staff offers year-round teaching clinics, as well as ensuring a full calendar of both men’s and ladies’ inter-club tournaments and events as well as participation in statewide competitions.

The Wexford Clubhouse serves as the central hub of Wexford’s active social scene. Whether its lounging on the veranda watching the boats pass by, taking a refreshing dip in the pool, or engaging in a serious match of croquet, there’s no better place to be than the Clubhouse.

The Clubhouse calendar features frequent social activities, with at least 5-6 events per month including weekly happy hour socials, cookouts, dinner dances, children’s events and theme nights. A private lounge and restaurant serves members and their guests cold libations, gourmet meals and culinary delights. The restaurant features an extensive wine list and a constantly changing a la carte menu featuring the freshest and most innovative cuisine in the Lowcountry.

PO Box 4100, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938, USA Telephone: (843)686-6950 Website: www.wexfordplantation.com Email: memberservices@wexfordplantation.com

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 21

22 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

Set in exclusive, gated Wexford Plantation, with more than 5,000 heated square feet, is this stunning 4-bedroom, 4-full-and 2-half-bath home. Amenities abound, from a chef’s kitchen, game room, exercise room to an office and home theatre. Entertain outdoors in grand style with 2 fireplaces, a waterfall, pool and spa.

Cindy Creamer$1,695,000

Wexford Plantation

Luxury Estates at its finest Hilton Head Island | South Carolina

This Mediterranean-style luxury home was just completed by one of the finest home builders on Hilton Head Island. The residence encompasses more than 6,800 squre feet with 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half baths, customized millwork, a gourmet kitchen, office, theater, gameroom, and a pool with expansive outdoor living area. All this is set in Wexford Plantation, a private luxury golf and yachting community. $2,995,000

Premier Island Properties

Cindy Creamer offers many years of experience specializing in luxury homes. She possesses a keen understanding of South Carolina’s Low Country and has the knowledge to serve the discriminating buyer or seller.

Please contact her at: Cindy@CindyCreamer.com or www.CindyCreamer.com / 843.298.2356 March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 23

Intracoastal Point Estate

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Royal Palm Deepwater Residence

Palacio Del Sol offers the finest in luxury waterfront living.

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Nestled privately on the serene New River close to the beach, shopping and dining of Las Olas, this Mediterranean-inspired residence captures the widest and most mesmerizing views. $6,495,000 | £4,345,103 | € 4,794,063 | Web ref: F923799

Enjoy this deepwater estate in a gated, secured ocean-side community with private marina and surf club. Unparalleled waterfront living awaits in this fabulous open residence.

Floridian sunshine and amazing views abound. $9,495,000 | £6,686,575 | €7,377,469 | Web ref: F1047952

Located on a majestic isle of palm trees, this residence depicts the Floridian lifestyle. Dock your vessel at the private dock and let sunshine filter through every elegant room. $4,195,000 | £2,806,421 | €3,096,396 | Web ref: F932799 *Luxury Broker Preview

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Two superb options exist in a top oceanfront community. Bring just your tooth brush to a designer decorated penthouse or bring your own design team working to your specifications. $4,250,000 | £2,843,216 | €3,136,993 or $2,795,000 | £1,869,832 | €2,063,034 Web Refs: F1028758 or F941653 *Luxury Broker Preview

Enjoy a private, walled and gated enclave of three villas.

Exciting and innovative floor plans showcase wide-open ocean views and vibrant location close to all the action. $5,495,000 to $5,890,000 | £3,676,111 to £3,940,362 €4,055,947 to €4,347,503 | Web Ref: F1056140

Sophisticated contemporary interiors complement a condominium retreat with incredible views and 5-Star resort style amenities. Enjoy the convenience and carefree lifestyle of fine condominium living. $1,650,000 | £1,103,836 | €1,217,891 | Web Ref: F1016172

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24 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

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March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 25

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Sveti Stefan Island

Montenegro THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF EUROPE?

I

recently had the pleasure of visiting Montenegro, a small country of approximately 700,000 people and which can only be described as one of the most stunning and charming places in the world. Lord Byron described Montenegro as “the most beautiful merging of land and sea” and The Telegraph recently described it as having the peace of the Italian lakes, the rocky shoreline of the Greek islands and the climate of St Tropez – all in one.

There is little wonder that Montenegro was chosen as the setting for the recent James Bond Film Casino Royale; or that millionaires from around the world are literally queuing up to buy property there. What is surprising is that this small independent country is in fact in Europe; the local currency is the Euro; and Thomson and First Choice have listed it as one of the top 10 holiday destinations for 2010. There is little doubt that Montenegro is fast becoming the jewel in the crown of Europe.

Located on the Adriatic coast of Southern Europe, Montenegro is about the same distance from London as Marbella and is within 2.5 hrs flying time from most European capital cities (about 360 miles from Rome). With 175 miles of stunning coastline which includes 178 beaches, the country is dominated by dramatic mountains, 5 National Parks, the second largest canyon in the world, and is rich with wildlife including bears, eagles and wolves. This picturesque landscape is punctuated

18 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April January/February 32 2010 2010

with small medieval towns and, with much of the country protected as a UNESCO world heritage site, this impressive land is one of the few places in the world where you can bathe in the warm Mediterranean sea and then be skiing in deep snow within just a 2 hour drive.

During my visit I was lucky enough to meet one of the most respected architects in Montenegro, Dusan Jovanovic. Having completed a number of high profile projects in Europe he is now focusing his attention on coastal Montenegro where he is keen to ensure that the coastline retains its traditional charm and character. We met for lunch in a small seafood restaurant in the town of Kotor. Before sharing my fascinating discussion with Mr Jovanovic, it is worth pausing to mention Kotor itself, a small town located at the end of the Bay of Kotor. The bay is often described as Europe’s southernmost Fjord and is a picturesque natural harbour indented 30 miles into the Adriatic coastline. The town of Kotor retains much of its medieval character with Venetian architecture and church steeples shielded by a sheer mountain backdrop. It is perhaps the most beautiful of a number of small towns that surround this stunning bay.

We selected a quiet little seafood restaurant just off one of the many squares in Kotor. We were welcomed and shown to a quiet table from where we could take in the gentle pace of life in the town. After ordering our starters and main courses from a surprisingly wide menu selection

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we went on to discuss the Venetian architecture and many other aspects of Montenegro’s impressive history and culture. Jovanovic was clear and methodical in his descriptions and he was extremely knowledgeable about the various aspects of life and tradition in Montenegro. We had almost finished our main courses before we came to the main subject of our meeting – the property market and the investment opportunities in Montenegro.

I started by asking him about his own work. He modestly described some of the projects he has been involved with, including the high profile project to update the interiors of the luxurious villas on the famous Sveti Stefan island. This is a truly exclusive residential island that has been frequently visited by Sophia Loren and numerous other actors, artists, musicians, kings, queens and princes from many different countries. The outstanding beauty of Sveti Stefan continues to make it one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Montenegro.

The property market in Montenegro has remained strong in recent times with prices increasing by 100% in the last 5 years. Even with this impressive track record, prices are still cheaper than in neighbouring Italy and Croatia. Meticulous planning prevents the construction of tall apartment blocks and this has limited the supply of new properties on the market.

Supply is also limited in the coastal towns because the mountains rise steeply from the coastline, thereby restricting the amount of land available for development. From an investment point of view this will ensure that demand continues to outstrip supply and will reward the people fortunate enough to enter this market early.

As I had walked along the shoreline earlier I could not help noticing the number of large luxury yachts that now populate the 4 marinas in Montenegro. Many were previously moored in Monte Carlo and it seems that now the owners of these yachts are keen to claim their own share of this paradise. The first phase of a new marina has now been completed and already some of the largest private yachts in the world have made this their home.

The majority of property buyers continue to be British and Russian with increasing interest coming from Germany and Scandinavia.

Investors are attracted by the prospect of high returns as well as the favourable tax regime – Montenegro has a dual tax treaty with the UK, and it has no capital gains tax.

Some investors are buying traditional homes and modernising them but these are in short supply, particularly in coastal areas. Others are snapping up properties in the small number of off plan developments but even these are in short supply.

Among Jovanovic’s current plans are a new signature development of luxury villas on the coast near Kotor in conjunction with the UK based developer Simply Montenegro.

The villas will be built in traditional style but with the very latest 21st century technology and comforts.

Each villa will come with its own 4 bedroom mountain chalet which will serve as a skiing, hiking and fishing lodge to the main villa and will be located on the edge of a national park less than 2 hours away.

He also has plans for a development of luxury sea view apartments and is drawing up plans for a Carl Maes tennis academy with clubhouse, swimming pool and other top class facilities. Carl Maes is the former Head of Women’s Tennis at the LTA (British Lawn Tennis Association) and a former coach of the 2005 and 2009 US Open champion Kim Clijsters. He was also the captain of the Belgian Federation Cup team in 2005/6 which featured both Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters. By opening a high profile tennis academy in Montenegro he hopes to generate new interest in tennis in the region and this is likely to attract many big tennis names to what is likely to become a popular winter training ground for some of the top European tennis players. For more information on both projects visit www.simplymontenegro.com or phone (+44) 020 8545 2852) The government is also investing heavily in the country’s infrastructure with the new European highway now planning to extend into Montenegro. Tour operators have also spotted the new opportunity and are introducing new flight routes into Montenegro in 2010. With more flights, roads and yachts all heading for Montenegro; and with the stunning scenery and genuine warmth of the people, I am left in little doubt that this is indeed “the jewel in the crown of Europe”.

January/February 2010 THE THEGOOD GOODPROPERTY PROPERTYGUIDE GUIDE17 7 March/April 2010

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Your Very Own KEMPINSKI

T

o own a Kempinski residence is to live in a world of care-free living. Within your own home, you can avail yourself from services designed to make life as carefree as possible.

Facilities include porter and concierge services; 24-hour security; spa and sports facilities including tennis and squash courts, a fully-equipped gym, three outdoor and one indoor swimming pools and steam baths.

You may also benefit from a number of a la carte services and facilities, such as housekeeping and laundry service, private chef and room service, restaurants, spa treatments, authentic Ayurveda treatments, babysitting and childcare amongst many. A doctor is on call and first-aid is readily available. The staff at Kempinski San Lawrenz will be on hand at all times to respond to residents’ requests and enquiries.

The Residences have been awarded with Special Designated Area status, meaning that the development is in compliance to specific rules related to size, quality and amenities. All restrictions normally imposed upon foreign buyers are lifted, making it more attractive to foreign investment. Property investment in Malta & Gozo is heavily popular due to its tax benefits.

The Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz has been voted Malta’s Leading Spa Resort as well as Mediterranean’s Leading Hotel in the World Travel Awards 2009, which are widely regarded as the “Oscars” of the travel industry. During its ten years of operation on Gozo, the resort has propelled the “Mediterranean’s best-kept secret” into the A-list of destination choices for those in search of an elite, yet contrastingly naturally simple retreat.

Founded in Germany over a hundred years ago, Kempinski has gained a reputation for being one of the world’s most luxurious hotel names, reflecting the finest traditions of

34 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

European hospitality. For leisure and business guests alike, the name Kempinski has long been synonymous with style, nobility and efficiency.

Kempinski Residences developments can be found in well-known cities and stunning resorts around the world, and offer you the opportunity to own or rent a luxurious 5-star home with extensive facilities and services.

For more information, contact the Residences office, Tel: 2211 6990, or email: residences@sanlawrenz.com

NEW WEBSITE OF KEMPINSKI RESIDENCES SAN LAWRENZ LAUNCHED The developer behind the Kempinski Residences San Lawrenz has officially launched their upgraded and improved web site. “Our goal is to provide our visitors with a virtual experience that is as compelling as a visit to the actual Kempinski Residences San Lawrenz – the first luxury serviced residences on the Maltese Island. Of course, the digital world can never match the actual experience of living within a serviced home, enjoying a good book by one of the various pools, or being oilmassaged by an Indian Ayurveda masseur,” said Dorothy Baldacchino, Project Manager. “Our intention was not to try to replicate these experiences. Instead, we designed our web site to complement and enhance our international marketing and spread the word around that Gozo is becoming an elite destination for luxury living.”

The updated site features at www.kempinski-gozo.com/residences.

your very own private residence

San Lawrenz

The first luxury serviced residences on the Maltese Islands.

To own one of the Kempinski Residences San Lawrenz in Gozo is to experience all the luxuries a five-star hotel has to offer, within the privacy of your own home. A fine heritage of providing luxury hospitality and services to the most discerning is the hallmark of the Kempinski brand. The most exclusive of comforts combined with Gozo's serenity and beauty make Kempinski Residences San Lawrenz an ideal choice for elegant living.

San Lawrenz Leisure Resort Ltd Triq ir-Rokon San Lawrenz SLZ 1040 Gozo Malta T +356 2211 6990 F +356 2211 6950 E residences@sanlawrenz.com www.kempinski-residences.com

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Island of Gozo

G

ozo is known to provide a tranquil haven for a tempo and scene change. The charm of Malta’s sister Island is immediately apparent; it’s greener, more rural and smaller, with life’s rhythms dictated by the seasons, fishing and agriculture.

Steeped in myth, Gozo is thought to be the legendary Calypso’s isle of Homer’s Odyssey - a peaceful, mystical backwater. Baroque churches and old stone farmhouses dot the countryside. Gozo’s rugged landscape and spectacular coastline await exploration with some of the Mediterranean’s best dive sites.

The Island also comes complete with historical sites, forts and amazing panoramas, as well as one of the archipelago’s best-preserved prehistoric temples, Ggantija.

Gozo also possesses a nightlife and cultural calendar all of its own, with some great dining out.

ISLE OF COMINO Between Malta and Gozo lies Comino, a paradise for snorkellers, divers, windsurfers and walkers. The Isle’s Blue Lagoon, with its safe bathing in turquoise waters, makes an idyllic day out by boat. Carefree and car-free, Comino is a favourite escape all year round.

36 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

MALTA, GOZO

A unique and high quality project just 100 metres from the sea in the main fishing village of Malsaforn on the small island of Gozo

“The Hillock Residences” is the latest project in an extensive list of high class developments both in Gozo as well as in Malta. The developer will bring to the project what they have been consistently achieving in their other developments – an elegant and superior design, coupled with exceptional quality in construction.

Gozo is a small island, just nine miles by four, with a population of under 25,000 inhabitants. It enjoys a breathtaking countryside and a coastline of spectacular cliffs interrupted with small sandy, crystal clear bays and charming coves. It forms part of the Maltese archipelago, sitting right in the middle of the Mediterranean, just 94 km south of Sicily.

The project enjoys the double benefit of the proximity of the bustle of a seaside resort, and the quiet and calm atmosphere of a residential area with surrounding country and sea views.

The complex will be split into a number of differentiated blocks each with its own entrance serving only a small number of apartments.

There will be a choice of one, two, and three bedroom units, most with ensuite facilities, with a typical three bed apartment covering a floor area of around a hundred square metres. The project will also have a property management service on the premises that would be able

attend to your maintenance needs and also look after your property in your absence.

Prices start from €89,000 up to €375,000 for a penthouse in shell form and there is a choice of 3 different levels of finishing to your apartment.

Gascoignes International 5 Church Path Woking Surrey Gu21 6EJ Tel: +44 (0) 1483 226868 Email: info@gascoignesinternational.com Web: www.gascoignesinternational.com

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 37

The Premium Collection

Sunseeker MALTA S

unseeker Malta, based in the 1,000 year old Grand Harbour, is at the forefront of this fast growing market. Providing sales of new and used boats as a service package, we are the exclusive dealer of the Sunseeker brand, Avon ribs and Opacmare gangways. We also organise paperwork, legal requirements, insurance and registration along with transport and delivery. Our clients and captains enjoy comprehensive after sales and support leaving them stress free to explore this quiet paradise.

Our head office is in Birgu, within a Medieval Treasury, the offices used 500 years ago by the knights of St John to pay their galley captains and then 300 years ago by Napoleon, then Nelson to pay the sailors of their Mediterranean fleets. We are part of the newest Marina in Malta with the moorings under the 1,000 year old castle walls of Fort St Angelo and a waterfront lined with amazing restaurants and Casino beautifully built into the old bastions.

Eddie Woods, the managing director started the business in 1992, and drawing on a life time of yachting experience, has developed a professional organisation that is at the forefront of this developing market.

He heads a team dedicated to providing the highest quality service to an ever expanding client base. Ongoing support and advice for boat management, charter sales, cruising guide for local and Sicilian waters or delivery of your boat to a new cruising ground when you fancy a couple of months elsewhere, are supplied as a matter of course by Eddie and his team who’s knowledge of the Mediterranean is second to none.

Sunseeker Malta has developed a turnkey service operation that, as Eddie states “takes our owners from purchase through to delivery and then on to enjoy their boats without worry or stress and with reduced costs” There are several benefits why one should consider to berth boats in Malta.

Geographically Malta is in the middle of the Med, thus making it easy to cruise East or West. Berthing fees are very competitive in relation to other popular marinas in Europe.

38 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

By registering with a Malta flag you can also benefit from the leasing system, which reduces the VAT element according to a scale based on the larger the boat the less you pay.

For yachts that are commercially registered, or whose next port of call is a non EU country Duty Free Bunkering is available.

The Premium Collection

The new Sunseeker Manhattan 70 Grace and power, in perfect harmony

Sunseeker Malta Ltd. The Treasury, Vittoriosa Seafront, Vittoriosa, BRG 1721, Malta Tel: +356 21 821883/4 Email: ewoods@sunseekermalta.com Sunseeker designs and builds a range of luxury motoryachts up to 54 metres.

www.sunseekermalta.com

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 33

The Premium Collection

Buying PROPERTY Malta and Gozo are becoming increasingly popular locations for the purchase or rental of second homes.

M

editerranean Sea, with easy access from all major cities in Europe, North Africa and neighbouring states, the islands have many advantages to offer, including the following:

WHY MALTA An excellent climate with pleasant all year round weather.

Genuinely friendly and hospitable people who will make it easy to integrate within the local community.

Very low levels of crime which make Malta one of the safest places in the region.

A member of the European Union since 2004, Malta is an independent republic enjoying political stability.

English is one of the two official languages of the Islands and is spoken fluently by everyone.

The island boasts a high standard of hospital and medical services, both private and public.

Excellent schooling, often exceeding international standards, with a choice of English-speaking schools and University.

A relatively low cost of living.

A stable property market offering a wide variety of properties in all price ranges, and good prospects for capital growth.

40 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

These, together with an abundance of historical and cultural attractions, crystal clear seas, a variety of sporting facilities (including world class diving) and a lively calendar of events, make these islands a favourite for those seeking their dream ‘Place in the Sun’.

Moreover, the residency conditions are very attractive and include a favourable tax regime and the absence of Rates or Council taxes.

PURCHASE OF PROPERTY BY NONMALTESE BUYERS It is quite easy for a non-Maltese to purchase property in Malta and Gozo. Naturally, some conditions apply including certain restrictions regarding the minimum value of property that can be purchased and the use that the buyer will make of the property. Some buyers may also require a special permit.

MORE INFORMATION For further information and assistance, we recommend that you contact one of the excellent local Estate Agents who can offer professional guidance and advice to help you make the best choice.

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THE TREND, SLIEMA SEAFRONT - MALTA Choice of spacious and highly finished apartments in this prestigious new block, presently under construction. The block consists of seafront 3 bedroom apartments and a choice of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with side sea views or town views all having good sized terraces. Optional underlying garages available.

1 bedroom apartments starting from €110,000 2 bedroom apartments starting from €210,000 3 bedroom apartments starting from €280,000 104998 – CONVERTED FARMHOUSE IN XEWKIJA – GOZO 300-year-old designer converted farmhouse with top finish including fully fitted kitchen + breakfast area, sitting/dining room with fireplace overlooking good sized pool and very attractive garden/deck area.

Three large airy double bedrooms, two ensuite, one single bedroom, four bath/showers. High standard of restoration, indoor and outdoor stairs, patterned tiles throughout, views from terraces, full of charm and character, quiet area.

Price: €379,515

23080 – HOUSE OF CHARACTER IN QRENDI – MALTA Tastefully converted house of character retaining lots of original features including arched ceilings, mill room, flagstone floors and much more. Located in a quiet village of Qrendi, one enters through a welcoming entrance hall leading onto a good sized courtyard, large sitting room, dining room, fitted kitchen/breakfast room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, ensuite, spare toilet, back yard and work shop, washroom and large sunny terrace. Lovely family home.

Price: €399,000

FRANK SALT REAL ESTATE MALTA Tel: (+356) 2379 4794 or 0207 486 7540 Email: fs@franksalt.com.mt – www.franksalt.com.mt

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 41

The Premium Collection

About Malta & THE MALTESE PROPERTY MARKET OVERVIEW

M

alta is an island where the sun shines most of the time, the people are friendly, the sea is clean and it is safe to walk in the streets at any time of day and most of all, people speak good English.

Being a small island nowhere is so very far from anywhere else. It is not hard to appreciate why a steady stream of people has chosen to retire and buy a second home in Malta over the years.

The fact that there are no foreign ghettos in Malta ensures that everyone integrates. Many foreigners consider this to be the fun part of living in Malta, as there is great rapport between locals and foreigners.

It is a very sociable island with lots of culture, art exhibitions, theatre and concerts. Twenty minutes to a restaurant is a long way.

Eating out or stopping for a coffee is an excuse to meet up with friends and bump into people you know.

Gozo, the sister island is Malta several years ago, where the pace of life takes a long step back and many Maltese go to Gozo for the weekend to wind down. Old traditions are still very much alive on Gozo and neighbours find it no problem looking after vacant properties when the owners are away.

Generally speaking, Malta competes with similar countries in terms of weather and relative size. Other aspects worth mentioning which clearly make Malta stand out are the following: Driving on the left just like in the UK EU member country offering political stability Although Maltese is the national language, English is widely spoken and all Maltese speak fluent English. Other languages are commonly spoken.

Excellent national and private hospital and medical services.

Easy to get help and services Abounding with history Excellent social life for all age groups and a large selection of top quality restaurants and cafes with diverse cuisine.

Surrounded by crystal clear seas and several sandy beaches.

Very good sporting facilities. World class diving, sailing and other water sports.

Excellent schooling to above UK standards in English speaking Schools and university.

Low cost of living and a wide variety of properties available in all price ranges.

Very stable property market offering steady capital growth.

Daily flights to all major European and North African airports with low cost airlines also offering a regular service Excellent residency conditions with very low taxation No rates or council taxes are charged in Malta.

Over the last couple of years, the market has been growing constantly. The introduction of the Euro in Malta led to increase liquidity in the market and increase buyer confidence to invest in property. Malta has never attracted hoards of buyers. There are only about 4,000 to 5,000 Brits and Irish expats out of a population of over 400,000. This is why the property market has proved to be so resilient

42 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

in the face of the recession. This does not mean that Malta was not affected – to some extent it was. Malta’s property market experienced a slowdown in 2009 when compared to previous years – but relatively speaking, the decline has been minimal. Infact, we can already see signs that the property market is once again picking up, at a steady rate. This is because the domestic market in Malta has remained healthy with one of the highest rates of home ownership in the world. Those who have invested in Malta in the past, have seen a significant return on their investment.

Property normally appreciates annually at an average rate of 8% to 10% (with the exception of 2009 where property appreciated at a much lesser rate due to the recession). Another contribution to an increase in property demand was the introduction of low cost airlines to/from Malta, making it easier for people to visit, while increasing letting and investment. The number of people who buy for investment purposes is relatively high, mainly due to a healthy rental return, at 4% to 5%, as well as capital appreciation adding to the value of the property.

The north of the Island, Gozo, Sliema and St. Julians, and some areas in the South are particularly popular with ex-pats. Localities in the north of Malta, namely Qawra, Bugibba, St. Paul’s Bay and Mellieha are mostly sought after for holiday homes, since there are many seaside properties, and are considered very popular with British tourists. A landmark development in Mellieha is Tas-Sellum which is situated a few minutes away from Malta’s largest sandy beach.

Sliema and St. Julians are considered the fashionable district with the main centres of employment and main entertainment hub located here. It is considered as one of the up market areas for property. It is very popular with British nationals who are seeking an investment, with high-end Developments such as Portomaso, Pender Gardens, Tigne Point and Fort Cambridge taking place. These developments are all situated in Special Designated Areas which means that a foreign national can purchase more than one unit. There are also a good number of seafront luxurious developments available for sale and to let.

Gozo is very sought after as a retirement destination, with its charming and quaint farmhouses available with pool.

Accessibility to/from Malta is not a problem. There has been a growth in the availability of flights, which has had a downward effect on costs. Ryanair now operates a daily service from Luton and has scheduled flights from Edinburgh, Bristol, Leeds and Bournemouth.

Air Malta, Malta Bargains and the charter lines have regular flights from most UK airports, including Glasgow. Easy Jet also operates scheduled flights to Malta from Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle.

Frank Salt Real Estate Malta Tel: (+356) 2379 4794 or 0207 486 7540 Email: fs@franksalt.com.mt Web: www.franksalt.com.mt

The Premium Collection

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 43

The Premium Collection

‘Portomaso

Desirable Addresses IN MALTA The Tumas Group a leading developer in Malta, offer you a lifestyle choice of the highest standard – from the award winning Portomaso Marina Development to the tranquil out-oftown seaside Tas-Sellum Residence in the north or Ta’ Monita Residence in the south.

PORTOMASO Portomaso, the standard-setting project at St. Julian’s in Malta, was wholly conceived and developed by Tumas Group. It is today considered to be the Island’s most exclusive residential, leisure and business address having won, amongst others, the Gold Award in the Best Marina Development Category and Silver Award in the Luxury Development Category in the 2005 International Property Awards, the “Oscars” on the International development world.

This seafront project comprises of 420 luxury apartments, the 5 star-deluxe Hilton Malta, recently extended to a 406 room hotel, a yacht marina, a 23-storey business tower, a major conference venue, an underground car park, restaurants and a shopping mall. These components have been integrated into a superbly landscaped coastal area of around 128,000 square meters resulting in a tranquil haven in a busy central area. A limited selection of 1 and 3 bedroom apartments are still available for sale. Limited office space is also available in the Portomaso Business Tower.

TAS-SELLUM RESIDENCE – MELLIEHA The Tas-Sellum Residence is yet another Tumas Group initiative and sister project to Portomaso. This is an architectural gem comprising clusters of luxury apartments built on a steep hillside which graduates gracefully to the seashore.

The project is designed in 3 phases totaling some 130 villa apartments planned in 11 clusters set in an approximately 17,000 square meters area of landscaped grounds and gardens.

This tranquil, commanding position is complimented by outstanding features which include superb views of Mellieha bay, low density development, sensitive landscaping, totally car free zone (all vehicle circulation is underground), individual underlying lock up garages and 3 communal swimming pools, easy access to the foreshore and proximity to sandy beaches.

Construction is now complete and 90% of the apartments have been handed over. A number of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments are still available at prices starting from Euro 175,000for 1 bedroom and Euro 270,000 for 3 bedroom apartments.

44 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

TA’ MONITA RESIDENCE – MARSASKALA Ta’ Monita Residence, a new lifestyle standard –setting development in Marsaskala was launched in the local property market in Summer 2009 and this launch was an unqualified success with sales exceeding projections. In the same way that Portomaso set standards for the St. Julian’s area and TasSellum Residence set new standards for the north. Ta’ Monita is expected to have a similar positive impact on Marsaskala.

Ta’ Monita Residence covers an area of over 16,000 square meters and its redevelopment shall result in apartment ranging from studio flats to 3 bedroom apartments and penthouse. The facilities include a swimming pool, a piazza and underground parking with most flats having seaviews.

Low building density, lavish and sensitive landscaping and unusually attractive elevations shall go long way in upgrading the locality.

All three developments are in low building density, lavish and sensitive landscaping, and unusually attractive elevations shall go a long way in upgrading the locality. Completion is scheduled for 2011.

Special Designated Areas giving foreigners a high level of flexibility and favourable conditions when purchasing property in the complex.

Tas-Sellum Residence - Mellieha

For further details, and high definition photos etc contact Maurice Tabone, Sales and Marketing Director on Tel: 00356 21386802 / 256 23102310 or Mob: 79427676.

Web: www.portomaso.com.mt, www.tassellum.com or www.tamontita.com.

M A R S A S C A L A – M A LTA

setting

stan�ards

NOW ON THE MARKET!

GET IN EARLY! Pre-construction prices apply to the first few sales only!

Aiming to set new standards for development in the south of the island, Ta’ Monita Residence in Marsascala shall offer studio flats and 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses along with a swimming pool, a piazza and underground parking.

The low building density, lavish sensitive landscaping and unusually attractive elevations shall go a long way towards upgrading the locality.

Ta’ Monita Residence is a Special Designated Area which means that foreign purchasers buy under the same conditions as Maltese Nationals, i.e. no government permits are required and one may let out the property and buy in the name of individuals or companies.

Ta' Monita Residence is being developed by TumasGasan Holdings Ltd; a joint venture between two leading Maltese developers.

Detailed models and plans are available for viewing at our Sales Office.

For more information, visit our website or call our sales office:

TA’ MONITA RESIDENCE SALES OFFICE, 1052 Portomaso, Malta PTM 01 tel: + 356 2138 6802/2310 2310; fax: + 356 2135 1798. e-mail: mtabone@tumas.com www.tamonita.com

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Sports fishing enthusiasts HOOKED ON MADEIRA

Palheiro, the multifaceted resort development on the Blandy family estate in Madeira, is offering a unique property package for sports fishing enthusiasts.

R

enowned for some of the world’s finest sports fishing, Madeira has become the second home destination of choice for sportsmen in general, offering golf, tennis, walking and watersports as well as sports fishing.

More Atlantic blue marlin weighing over 1,000lbs are caught in Madeira than anywhere else in the world, attracting visitors from across the globe hoping to catch one of these elusive fish.

Located in an elevated position overlooking the Bay of Funchal, the 130 hectare Palheiro Estate has grown from an early 19th century hunting lodge. The estate now boasts a world famous 18 hole golf course, the five-star Casa Velha do Palheiro hotel with a spa, award winning Palheiro gardens as well as Palheiro Village - a private development of 79 luxury villas and apartments.

Property prices range from €325,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to €1.15 million for a three-bedroom villa complete with a private swimming pool.

46 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

In addition, Palheiro offers a property management service and an established rental programme which is available to prospective purchasers.

M.Y. Balancal, owned by the estate, is a Lochin 333 Gamefisher well known in Madeira’s sports fishing community. Captained

by Anibal Fernandes, one of Madeira’s most experienced fisherman, owners will enjoy honing their fishing skills on her each season.

Within the property prices, sports fishing enthusiasts buying at Palheiro will enjoy: 10 days during the peak-season on the estate’s sport fishing boat M.Y. Balancal.

All purchase completion costs paid for (excluding legal fees).

All development charges paid for the first three years.

For more information on property at Palheiro, please contact: Palheiro Real Estate, Tel: + 351 291 794 015 or visit: www.palheiroestate.com

Palheiro Estate, Madeira Island Today starts with: Him

Her

✔

A round of golf on the Palheiro Golf course A walk around Palheiro Gardens Lunch at the Clubhouse Big game fishing on the Balancal

✔

Relaxing at Palheiro Spa A swim at the Village Forum Stay at home and appreciate the view

Paleiro Advert

Located on a prime hilltop site overlooking Funchal, the 130 hectare Palheiro Estate has grown from an early 19th century hunting lodge and summer retreat for nobility into a sophisticated resort destination.

We invite you to stay with us, either at the hotel Casa Velha do Palheiro, a member of Relais & Chateaux, or in the award winning Palheiro Village, with its magnificent views over the Bay of Funchal – or let the beautiful island of Madeira become a more important part of your life by investing in a home here.

Freehold property prices from €325.000 Attractive offers available for investor and lifestyle buyers.

B eSt D e v e loP m e n t P o R t uG a l

T. +351 291 794 015 F. +351 291 794 022 real.estate@palheiroestate.com www.palheiroestate.com Golf · Hotel · Spa · Restaurants Gardens · Big Game Fishing March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 41 Property Sales · Property Rentals

20878 AdS

Palheiro Estate, the only thing we can´t do for you is choose.

Rosetta Stone® unlocks new language levels in FRENCH, ITALIAN, GERMAN, SPANISH Competition:

WIN A LEVEL 1 ROSETTA STONE CD-ROM WORTH £169!

R

osetta Stone, the leading language-learning solutions provider, has announced the release of additional levels in French, Italian, German and Spanish (Spain). To celebrate, we are offering readers the chance to win a Level 1 Rosetta Stone CD-ROM in the language of their choice, worth £169.

The award-winning company has responded to strong demand for more advanced content in these popular languages by adding levels 4 and 5. These levels were previously released in English and Spanish (Latin American), from a portfolio of 31 languages available from Rosetta Stone.

The company has hailed this an important step in the application of interactive learning tools in modern life and in affirming the success achieved by existing customers using previous levels.

Sylke Riester, Managing Director, Europe, for Rosetta Stone: “We are delighted to be releasing levels 4 and 5 in French, Italian, German and Spanish. This really says a lot about the success learners are having with the interactive language-learning solutions from Rosetta Stone and is further proof to learners that we continue to work to help them achieve their goals.”

Native French speaker Roger Beyssat had encouraged his wife to learn his language for years. Thousands of pounds and many different methods of learning later, she still could not take to it, even though she loved how it sounded and thought it much more romantic than her native English.

Roger gave his wife Rosetta Stone French and her learning really changed.

He said: “I have bought every single language learning book, CD, DVD, computer games and even evening classes but none have worked or interested her more than 30 minutes. With Rosetta Stone, it’s a different story. She finished the first level within a week. I was and I am still impressed.”

48 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

“If I had given her Rosetta Stone to begin with, it would have saved me hundreds and hundreds of Euros,” he said, adding: “I will recommend this product to anybody with no doubt as we tried everything else and it really works. In our house, we say ‘Rosetta Stone is the Rolls Royce of language learning’.”

Rosetta Stone® is an interactive software program that provides the fastest, most effective way to learn a language—using technology to create an environment of complete immersion in the language.

Rosetta Stone distinguishes itself from other language learning solutions by helping learners develop language proficiency naturally, the same way they learned their first language as children—by connecting new words with their meaning, in real-life contexts.

The company was founded in 1992 on the core beliefs that learning a language should be natural and instinctive, and that interactive technology can powerfully replicate the immersion experience and activate the natural language-learning ability in learners of any age.

Rosetta Stone has teamed up with The Good Property and Holiday Guide to offer readers the opportunity to start learning a language of the choice. For a chance to win a Level 1 Rosetta Stone CD-ROM, worth £169, answer this question: How many languages does Rosetta Stone offer in total?

Send your answer to The Good Property Guide, Jubilee House, 3 The Drive, Great Warely, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3FR by 30th April 2010.

The winner will be contacted by Rosetta Stone and will be able to choose from Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English (British), English (American), Filipino (Tagalog), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Swedish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

HOLIDAY HOME AND GOOD INVESTMENT! Country Villa only 5 minutes from the historic town of Ronda. A park like garden of 2.5 acres (10,000sq.m) with water fountains, stone figures, pavilion,bandstand, guest cottage, garage, pool, tennis courts (being built).

• Main house: 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, spacious living room with open fire, fully fitted kitchen, dining area, central heating, double glazing, satellite TV, broadband internet.

• Only 45 Minutes from famous Marbella, 1 hour to Malaga and Jerez Airport.

• The property is in a quiet situation, south facing with wonderful views towards mountains and Ronda.

• REDUCED PRICE £990,000 - POUND STERLING DIRECT FROM OWNER

Tel: 0034 699800677 or Email: udoart@hotmail.com

Europe

Property Direct FROM THE OWNER

I

f you are thinking of renting a private villa or apartment anywhere worldwide for your 2010 holidays then why not visit www. propertydirectfromtheowner.com and search for holiday homes direct from the owners. With no expensive booking fees or commissions to pay the Property Direct From The Owner website is a great way to find your ideal holiday rental and book direct with the owner. From luxury apartments in Spain, Portugal and France to stunning villas throughout Europe and further afield.

Perhaps you are looking to purchase a 2nd home or a holiday home? If so then why not search through the hundreds of properties available on our website advertised directly from the property owner. www.propertydirectfromtheowner.com features properties worldwide for sale with no sales commissions as we are not an estate agent and therefore we do not charge sales commission so both the buyer and the seller saves money. Search for any type of property in any location worldwide – from luxury villas and penthouses to more modest apartments and bungalows.

ATTENTION PROPERTY OWNERS! Due to enquiry demand we are actively looking to increase the number of properties we have available for SALE AND RENT. If you are an owner of a property and you would like to advertise your holiday home for rent to increase your current bookings or perhaps you would like to advertise your property for sale to reach a wide audience and save on sales commissions then visit www.propertydirectfromtheowner. com and begin the simple registration process or contact us for further information and a copy of our E-Brochure. We only advertise property direct from the owner – no estate agents, no rental agents, no sales commission or rental booking fees!

Advertise your overseas property for sale or rent for only £99 for 12 months!

50 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

Holiday Homes For Rent or Sale Direct From The Owners www.propertydirectfromtheowner.com

FOR RENT Audieme, France £495 to £550 per week

FOR SALE Fethiye,Turkey £68,000

FOR SALE Cyprus, Coral Bay (nr Paphos) €55,000

FOR SALE Boa Vista, Cape Verde €109,000

2 bedroom apartment 2 mins walk from beach & 5 mins walk to centre of Audierne.

2 bedroom ground floor apartment with communal pool. Sale price includes furniture.

1 bedroom ground floor apartment with communal swimming pool.

Brand new 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. Frontline beach with fantastic sea views. Bargain price.

Reference: 16866421 Contact: apartment4let@live.co.uk

Reference: 20652432 Contact: ricke038@planet.nl

Reference: 23374906 Contact: petermarbrow@hotmail.com

FOR RENT Bansko, Bulgaria £320 to £700 per week

FOR RENT Larnaca, Cyprus €375-€450 per month or €195-€275 per week

FOR SALE Los Montesinos, Alicante €76,000

3 bedroom chalet close to ski resorts in Bansko. Modern & luxurious – great location!

2 bedroom apartment close to Larnaca.

Communal pool & furnished to a high standard.

Reference: 23025174 Contact: alistair.fox1@hotmail.co.uk

Reference: 21328397 Contact: sonnet45@aol.com

FOR SALE Kyrenia, Cyprus £60,000

FOR SALE Laguna, Philippines

Large 2 bedroom garden apartment only 200 yards from the sea. Communal pool, Jacuzzi, tennis courts & gym.

Reference: 25375028 Contact: db.property@virgin.net

FOR RENT Hacienda Riquelme, Murcia £150 to £250 per week

2 bedroom brand new apartment on an 18 hole golf course – fantastic views & many amenities.

Reference: 25862699 Contact: sessionsiow@yahoo.co.uk

2 bedroom apartment fully furnished. 10mins from beach and close to Torrevieja.

Luxury 3 bedroom holiday villa with large communal pool – fantastic holiday home.

Reference: 25862699 Contact: rose.bridget@gmail.com

FOR SALE Peyia, Cyprus £130,000

For Rent Benahavis – Costa del Sol £495 to £800 per week

2 bedroom townhouse with garage.

Communal pool. Close to beach & amenities.

Reference: 26399503 Contact: tonyofford@btconnect.com

FOR SALE Aphrodite Hills Golf Resort – Cyprus Price on application

FOR RENT St Vlas, (nr Sunny Beach) Bulgaria £100 to £270

Reference: 21342129 Contact: simon@sgfinance.co.uk

FOR RENT Antalya, Turkey £400 to £500 per week

Reference: 19658169 Contact: golsby.tms@virgin.net

£70,000 Spacious 4 bedroom house, communal pool, near amenities.

Reference: 20361600 Contact: +447923623822

3 bedroom luxury villa, off plan, fantastic opportunity!

Reference 20104947 Contact: trevor-888@tiscali.co.uk

Front line beach 1bedroom apartment, communal pool, many amenities close by.

Perfect holiday home!

Reference: 23847012 Contact: jordanpaul1@aol.com

E: info@propertydirectfromtheowner.com

|

Spacious 3 bedroom penthouse with rooftop solarium. Communal pool. Near Puerto Banus & Marbella.

Reference: 25093656 Contact: cjbatten@hotmail.com

FOR RENT Neffies, nr Pezenas £195 to £495 per week

Beautiful 3 bedroom townhouse with large sun terrace. Close to amenities.

Reference: 18963894 Contact: carol@bembridge.com

T: 020 8432 0726

Property Owners - Advertise with us

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 43

Visit the website for further information

Beckham heads

TO AC MILAN

D

avid Beckham is heading to Italy having signed for the footballing giant, seven times European champions, A.C. Milan. He is to reside in one of the most fashionable and chic regions in the world and already paparazzi are speculating as to where he will choose to buy a home.

One of the rumours has him house hunting around Lake Como and certainly you cannot get a more stunningly beautiful region in which to buy a property.

If Victoria Beckham enjoyed shopping in Madrid then she will, for sure, enjoy taking the children for an ice cream in La Galleria or strolling down the Via Monte Napoleone the designer shopping street in Milan.

Whilst Victoria may wish to stay in Los Angeles to ensure continuity with their children’s education, when they visit, hotel accommodation is not really and option, so it seems that Italy may soon get some new homeowners.

Also, if Victoria is hesitant, she may be influenced by Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, who has openly encouraged them to buy a home in Italy by suggesting that Victoria consider fronting a documentary on her move to Italy.

“Whatever they do makes news, “ says Linda Travella of Casa Travella, experts in marketing quality Italian homes to the British buying public for 21 years. “ In 2003 the Beckhams were seen looking for a villa on Lake Como and focused on the area around Moltrasio, Laglio where George Clooney has his villa, although in recent weeks I read in ‘La Provincia’, the daily paper of the Como region, that they have been looking for a penthouse in Milan.”

If the Beckhams want to be with the VIPs of the world then a property on the lakes is the perfect answer. Silvio Berlusconi, himself, has recently bought a stunning lakeside villa on Lake Maggiore, and spent a considerable amount of time looking on Lake Como before deciding.

Casa Travella can offer homes for the wealthy and also anyone who appreciates quality homes in awe-inspiring locations. This part of Italy is stylish, sophisticated and very chic. It offers skiing, water

52 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

Milan

sports, spectacular views and designer stores, Many owners tend to instruct us on the glamorous hotels, and top quality restaurants, understanding that sales are made discreetly. in Milan or the elegant city of Como. Juxtapose Having specialised in Italy for 21 years and this with its history and culture and you have speaking the language fluently, I am able to a utopia. offer the type of service clients in this price If you would like a luxury villa similar bracket, deem fundamental”. to something that the Beckhams may be “However you do not have to have millions interested in then Casa to purchase on Lake Como Travella can offer you If you want to be “where it’s at”, or Lake Maggiore. We have villas from €1.000.000 a newly restored town then start looking now. There house with 3 bedrooms to €15.000.000. A villa really has never been currently available a better time to buy with prices and three bathrooms for would be a 600 square €640.000 and you can be being extremely realistic. metre period villa with within five minutes walk of ancient murals and incredible oil paintings, George Clooney’s residence, Villa Oleandra”. together with a 100 square metre house If you go further along the Western suitable for guests or staff, all set in an acre shore of Como you could purchase a new of garden in a very private location. Price two bedroom apartment with a lake view for is available on request, and is in excess of €250.000 at Gravedona.

If you prefer Lake Maggiore then you can buy €4.000.000. a two bedroom property with terrace and lake “Despite the current world recession, view for €230.000. those with money are still buying”, says Linda Travella. “In fact, such has been the level of interest I have recently launched a For further information: new website aimed specifically at the top end visit casatravellapremier.com of the marketing spectrum, where we can or casatravella.com offer superior homes of the highest calibre.

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 53

Holiday home in a family friendly environment boasting own lake and year round facilities on site • Set in 300 acres on award winning homes overseas resort, a chance to purchase a luxury log cabin in the heart of the Laurentians.

• Spacious detached house over 3 floors (3275sq.ft) .

• Fully furnished 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, cloakroom, study and an open plan loungedining-kitchen area with fireplace.

• Basement includes plasma TV, DVD and pool table with a table tennis top.

• Outside in approx. 2 acres includes beautiful decking/balconies and a hot tub.

Further details available

54 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

• Managed resort with proven rental income.

• Nearby national parks, ski resorts and golf courses offer the perfect opportunity to explore the Mont Tremblant region in Quebec Canada. On-site activities include tennis, fishing, canoeing, ice-skating, children’s outside activity centre, outdoor swimming pool, indoor pool and hiking on private trails are just a few of the options available.

• 25 minutes north of Mont Tremblant ski resort, tucked away in one of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes.

• The resort is the proud winner of the Homes Overseas gold and silver medals for Best Canadian Development.

Price £475,000

Email: canadianlogcabin@googlemail.com or Tel: 00 44 7760170973

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 55

The one and only UK and International travel guide

The Worlds First

ALL-INCLUSIVE THERAPEUTIC SPA BEDROOMS

T

he Fortina Spa Resort Malta, is home to the World’s First All-Inclusive Spa Bedrooms.

On entering the therapeutic room you are enveloped by subtle elegance, with every detail designed to let guests enjoy the satisfaction of the spa experience, all within the privacy of their own bedroom. A bottle of champagne on ice awaits your arrival and residence in a Therapeutic Spa Bedroom provides you with limitless entry to the decadent Spa Sante.

There are a choice of Spa Bedrooms; Luxury Suites to Luxury Suites with private outdoor Spa, Jacuzzi bath and patio. All Spa Bedrooms have large balconies with sun beds and there are even Suites with private roof gardens equipped with concentrated seawater swimming pools with underwater massage, a BBQ grill and shower. Private Chefs are available at a supplement, as well as therapists, offering a variety of facials and massages in your own room or on your own private patio.

If you are feeling particularly decadent or want to make the ultimate romantic gesture, there is always the exceptionally luxurious Honeymoon Suite.

No expense has been spared on the brand leading facilities available in the Spa Bedroom.

On a raised plateau in the corner of the room and under what is reminiscent of starlight, is a Spa for two with several programmes. Relaxing in the heated, bubbling water, with a glass of champagne in hand is the perfect antidote to modern day living.

Within the bathroom is pressure massage shower and steam room designed for two people, a therapeutic bath providing up to seven different programmes and a stress buster machine which increases oxygen intake, lymphatic drainage and metabolism.

Every spa bedroom contains a Dermalife Machine, the most up to date technology for body detoxification therapy. It has a vibrating massage effect and a system that helps to draw out impurities.

Situated on the pristine coast of Sliema, the Fortina Spa Resort boasts dreamy views over the picturesque harbour and Valetta’s Bastion walls. With a choice of 7 pools (4 outdoor and 3 indoor) 4 Spas with over 200 different treatments from around the world, the Fortina

is the perfect place to unwind. There are 8 five star quality restaurants that offer ‘Dine Around the World’ experiences that have delights to suit every taste and the most refined palates.

The unique Qui Si Sana restaurant provides delicious health cuisine, besides catering for guest’s special dietary requirements.

Freephone 0800 917 3001 (UK) E-mail: info@hotelfortina.com Websites: www.hotelfortina.com www.fortinaspa.com

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 57

The Magic of Malta

By Rita Karia

An ideal holiday for a single mum?

I

s Malta small? My son asked...they say ‘small is beautiful’ my darling.

Malta…saturated in rich architectural heritage. Known as the Island in the heart of the Mediterranean has cherished all the traces of its extraordinary past.

Its breathtaking views, its clear blue skies and warm hospitality, ensure that Malta is a perfect location for a truly relaxing stay.

With 23 historical sites to visit, 3 temples, a harbour, fish markets and the beaches of Malta, I was beginning to think my five day trip to this naturally beautiful island was not going to be long enough.

Arriving at Malta airport, it was a long hour before reaching St Paul’s Bay situated on the North coast of Malta. The spectacular views and clean smell of the Island made for a relaxing taxi journey.

We arrived at the family friendly Hotel Grand Mercure San Antonio.

Clean white washed walls and a warm welcome was indeed appreciated.

The hospitality was second to none; the tourists were definitely mature couples quite happy to enjoy the fresh Malta climate with long strolls alongside the beautiful bays. Was this going to be an ideal place for my son and I? We headed out to the city of Valletta, a 50cent bus ride away. I don’t think my son had ever experienced a roller coaster ride as bumpy as our bus journey. Arriving at the City Gate we thought we would do the traditional walking tour of Valletta. Heading towards St Johns Cathedral, we walked past four of the ‘Auberges’ or national inns, as we know them. When the Knights of the Order of St John built Valletta, they

58 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

also built a number of these inns. These stately buildings belonged to the different languages that formed part of the order.

Our first stop, the Auberge de Castille,known to be the most impressive façade of all buildings in Malta. We were amazed at the beautiful coat-of arms on display there.

With running the risk of my son not getting too bored with the vast amount of site seeing, we made our way passing the Auberge d’Italie and the beautiful Barrakka Gardens to St Johns Cathedral.

Built in the late 16th century, this fabulous building is only minutes walk from the main City Gate. As we entered, the Maltese gentlemen on reception looked straight to my feet! ‘High heeled boots are not allowed’.

I was very politely given a pair of paper slippers to wear. At least they were considerate enough to give me carrier bag to carry my boots in I thought. It tickled my son; he found the whole shoe experience very funny. Inside there was a feast of rich colours in this amazing ‘House of God’ they were a site to be seen. The inlaid marble floor was precious and delicate, hence the slippers one needs to buy at 25cent.

For over 200 years it was the conventual church of the Order of the Knights of St John. Walking past The Sanctuary, which is the focal point of the Church, we headed towards the museum which was a treasure within itself. It held a vast collection of sacred vestments and choral books.

With only half a day left and my son’s concentration now diversifying to lunch, we left the Cathedral. Amongst all these spectacular Churches

Malta

and Museums in Valletta runs the main Republic Street, which is full of shops and restaurants. With food in mind my son spotted the ‘Big M’ sign. Yes, they do have a Macdonalds in this historical city. Our walking tour, took us past more exquisite buildings and eventually back to our bus terminus. I would like to have spent more time in Valletta there was just so much to see in one day.

The days were flying by, no time for Gozo, but another short bus journey took us to the island’s ancient capital of Mdina. It’s unusually narrow streets, churches and palaces made for a worthwhile trip. We visited The Domus Romana, the Roman Villa found in Rabat, dated 1881 the villa and museum has an unusual layout, giving families a fabulous insight into the aspects of Roman life in the city of Mdina. My son was fascinated by the real artefacts, such as clothes, marble statues and the amazing collection of glass bowls. It was a real treat for him especially as he was studying the Roman Empire as part of the national curriculum.

Back to the hotel for our final days, that evening we were invited to a cocktail party held by the management of the Grand Mercure, a truly enjoyable finish to our vacation in Malta.

The ‘small’ but perfectly formed island.

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 59

Tunisia aspects of

with

Wigmore Holidays & Travel Limited

Enjoy Tunisia with the leading

specialists

H o l i days t ailor-made to your requirements fly-drive city breaks boutique hote l s archaeology and Sahara tours  w ide choice of 4 and 5-star hotels thalassotherapy treats all-inclusive properties scheduled flights from Heathrow and Gatwick F o r f u r t h e r i n formation, please contac t W I G M O R E H O L I D A Y S & T R A V E L R e s e r v a t i ons 020 8994 1011 Website w w w. a s p ec t s o f t u n i s i a . co. u k Or see your Independent Travel Agent

54 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE January/February 2010

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 57

drakes hotel

S

ince opening its doors five years ago and immediately breaking into Condé Nast Traveller’s Hot List, drakes of Brighton has set the standard for boutique hotels - receiving accolades for design and continued quality.

This luxury hotel on the seafront combines breathtaking design with warm, friendly service and all the amenities you would expect from this four-star townhouse hotel, from the contemporary-designed bedrooms to the relaxed ground-floor reception bar, from the highly acclaimed “restaurant at drakes” to the unbeatable seafront location in the heart of Brighton. drakes aims to give an experience of intimacy and welcome completely unlike any other Brighton boutique hotel.

62 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

The interior mixes Orientalism into a doublefronted Georgian town-house, with a splash of Indochine French colonialism and a touch of decadence.

The aesthetic is mirrored in the philosophy of drakes – the highest service standards combined with the comfort, subtlety and discretion today’s luxury traveller expects, all delivered in a laid-back and relaxed style. drakes has 20 bespoke designed rooms, most with superb sea views. All rooms are en-suite, fully air-conditioned and finished to the highest standards with flat-screen televisions, satellite TV, state-of-the-art DVD/CD players and wireless broadband connection.

drakes the restaurant at drakes the restaurant at drakes the the restaurant restaurant at at drakes drakes

There There was was an an exciting exciting development development this this autumn autumn at at Drakes Drakes of of Brighton, Brighton, the the award-winning unique boutique hotel located in one of the best positions on There was an exciting development last year at drakes of Brighton, the coast, when the the hotel over management the south south when development the team team behind behind hotelattook took overofthe the management There wascoast, an exciting this the autumn Drakes Brighton, the the award-winning unique boutique hotel located in one of the best of the restaurant situated within the elegant building. award-winning unique boutique hotel located in one of the best positions on There was an development thisthe autumn at Drakesthe of Brighton, theover positions onexciting the south when team hotel took the south when thecoast, team behind the hotelatbehind took overofthe management There wascoast, an exciting development this autumn Drakes Brighton, theon award-winning unique boutique hotel located inthe onerestaurant of the the elegant best positions Previously trading as the Gingerman at Drakes, has been running the management of the restaurant situated within building. of the restaurantunique situated within hotel the elegant building. award-winning boutique located in one ofover the best positions on alongside the hotel since it opened in September, 2004. the south coast, when the team behind the hotel took the management alongside the hotel since as it opened in September, 2004. the restaurant has Previously trading the Gingerman at drakes, the south coast, when thewithin team behind the hotel took over the management of the restaurant the elegant Head Chef of twosituated years, Andybuilding.

MacKenzie, kepthas his been role atrunning the Previously trading as theaward-winning Gingerman atsince Drakes, the restaurant been alongside theathotel itbuilding. opened in September, 2004. of the running restaurant situated within the elegant newly-named “the restaurant drakes”. newly-named “the restaurant at drakes”. alongside the hotel since it opened in September, 2004.

Head of twohas years, Previously trading as the Gingerman at Drakes, theChef restaurant beenawardrunning Head Chef trading of two years, award-winning Andy MacKenzie, kepthas his been role atrunning the Previously as the Gingerman atSeptember, Drakes, the2004. restaurant He commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to be running the restaurant alongside the hotel since it opened in winning Andy MacKenzie, kept He commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to be running the restaurant at at drakes drakes newly-named “the restaurant at drakes”. alongside the hotel since it opened in September, 2004.

Head of two years, Andy kept his role atnew the fully inChef tandem with thisaward-winning highly-successful hotel.

I have created exciting hisMacKenzie, role at the newly-named “the Head Chef of two award-winning Andy MacKenzie, kept his role atlocal the menus and to deliver finest experience to newly-named “theyears, restaurant drakes”. menus and continue continue toabsolutely deliveratthe the finest dining dining experience to our our loyal, loyal, local He commented: “I am thrilled to be running the restaurant at drakes restaurant at drakes”. newly-named “the restaurant at drakes”. customer base and our guests from all overI have the UK and overseas.” fully Within in tandem thismany highly-successful hotel. created exciting new thewith space of 6thrilled months, restaurant Within the short space 6 months, “the restaurant at drakes” has He commented: “Ishort amofabsolutely to be“the running the restaurant at drakes menus and continue to deliver the finest dining experience to our loyal, local He commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to be running the restaurant atnew drakes at drakes” has received a coveted 2 Rosette Award from received aMaat, coveted 2 Rosette Award from the AA for the quality fully intertandem with this highly-successful hotel.

I have created exciting Carla Marketing Manager at Drakes of Brighton added: “We were customer base and our many guests from all overI have the UK and overseas.” fully in tandem with this highly-successful hotel. created exciting new delighted to have taken over the management of the restaurant as part of and high standards of their food.

This is a true testament of Andy’s menus and continue to deliver the finest dining experience to our loyal, local the AA for the quality and high standards of their food. delighted to have taken over the management of the restaurant as part of our our menus and continue to many deliver the finest dining experience todelighted our loyal, local obvious talent and comments “The team and Iand are with customer base and–skill. our guests from all over the UK all and overseas.” much-loved hotel we He pride ourselves in offering our guests the very best this this is true testament of Andy’ satobvious talent skill.

He comments Carla teraMaat, Marketing Manager Drakes of Brighton added: “We were customer base and our many guests from all over the UK and overseas.” bespoke when We they stay with us now this same great service can award andservice recognition. will continue work towards a third Rosette before bespoke service they stay ustoand and now this restaurant same great can delighted to and havewhen over thewith management of the asservice part ofWe our “The team Itaken are all delighted with this award and recognition.

Carla terofMaat, Marketing Manager atlocal Drakes of Brighton added: “We were the end thetoyear, offering ouralso loyalwith customers and international guests of be extended the restaurant the additional benefit of in-room and much-loved hotel –work we pride ourselves in offering our guests the very best Carla ter Maat, Marketing Manager at Drakes of Brighton added: “We were will continue to towards a third Rosette before the end of the year, private experiences delighted to have taken over the management the hoteldining the finest possible dining experience.” of the restaurant as part of our private dining experiences bespoke service when they stay with us and now this same great service can delighted to hotel have over ourselves theand management of the restaurant part of offering our loyaltaken customers international guests ofthe theas hotel theour much-loved – we pride in offering our guests very best be extendedhotel to the– restaurant also withinthe additional benefitthe of in-room much-loved wepositive pridestay ourselves offering our guests very bestand Early examples of this change is that the restaurant is once again open bespoke service when they with us and now this same great service can finest possible dining experience.”

Early of this this positive change is that the is once again private dining experiences Early examples examples of positive change is and that now the restaurant restaurant isgreat onceservice again open open bespoke service when they stay with us this same can be extended toand the restaurant also the additional benefit of in-room and daily for lunch for the first timewith since opening, it the will is possible to once enjoy Early examples of this positive change is that restaurant is daily for lunch and now offers fabulous Gastronomic Packages which include be extended toexperiences the restaurant also withwith the aadditional benefit of in-room and Christmas lunch at Drakes of Brighton, splendid full festive menu created private dining Christmas lunchof at for Drakes of Brighton, with a fabulous splendid full festive menu created Early examples positive change is that the restaurant is once again open open lunch and offers Gastronomic Packages aagain luxury nightdaily staythis at the hotel, 5 now course Chef’s Taster Menu and breakfast the private dining experiences by Andy. daily forinclude lunch and for thenight first time since opening, itcourse will great is possible toaenjoy following morning.

A real must for those that appreciate food in relaxed which a luxury stay at the hotel, 5 Chef’ s Taster Early examples of this positive change is that the restaurant is once again open Christmas lunch atathis Drakes Brighton, with a splendid full festive menu created Early examples of positive change is that the is again open atmosphere with hintthe of of indulgence.

Menu and breakfast following morning.

A restaurant real must foronce those daily for lunch and for first time since opening, it will is possible tothat enjoy by Andy. daily for lunch and for the first time since opening, it will is possible to enjoy Christmas Drakes Brighton, with a splendid festive menu created appreciatelunch greatatfood in aofrelaxed atmosphere with full a hint of indulgence.

Christmas lunch at Drakes of Brighton, with a splendid full festive menu created drakes t.

696934 www.drakesofbrighton.com

by Andy. drakes of of brighton. brighton. 43-44 43-44 marine marine parade. parade. brighton. brighton. bn2 bn2 1pe.

1pe. t. 01273 01273 696934 www.drakesofbrighton.com

by Andy.

the restaurant at drakes

hotel - weddings - restaurant - meetings drakes of Brighton. 43-44 Marine Parade. Brighton. BN2 1PE. drakes of brighton. 43-44 marine parade. brighton. bn2 1pe.Tel: t.01273 01273 696934 www.drakesofbrighton.com Web: www.drakesofbrighton.com hotel weddings restaurant - 696934 meetings drakes of brighton. 43-44 marine parade. brighton. bn2 1pe. t. 01273 696934 www.drakesofbrighton.com hotel hotel -- weddings weddings -- restaurant restaurant -- meetings meetings drakes of brighton. 43-44 marine parade. brighton. bn2 1pe. t. 01273 696934 www.drakesofbrighton.com

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 63

80 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

Scilly

Golden Beaches OF SCILLY

F

or those with children, the Isles of Scilly offer a safe, fun packed holiday, short break or magical day trip. Whether your are looking for golden beaches with shallow azure waters, snorkelling, boat trips to spot seals, rock pool safaris, sub tropical gardens or stomping across heath land for a picnic these stunning islands are the place for you.

Cornwall’s longest serving airline Skybus, celebrates 25 years service and can offer great deals for families visiting for the day or longer. Flights are available 6 days a week from Southampton, Bristol and Exeter, during the main season and all year round from Newquay or Land’s End Airports.

Alternatively you can cruise to the islands onboard Scillonian III, the passenger ferry, which sails from 27th March to 30th October and departs from Penzance harbour 6 days a week to St Mary’s, the largest island of the group.

For kids there are fewer places better on earth to enjoy a fix of the great outdoors and roam free. Make the first set of footprints in the sand, grab your shrimp net for some world class rock poking and lower crab lines off the quayside Family fun on Scilly isn’t about theme parks and chicken nuggets; here you can fly a kite, skim stones across azure bays, build sandcastles on white sandy beaches and follow nature trails across the islands. Visit one of the galleries, studios or potteries of this shriving creative community.

A variety caters for all abilities from painting to going beachcombing and making your finds into works of art.

Discover the beautiful

Isles of Scilly escape for the day or stay a while

Cruise from Penzance

Fly from Land’s End Newquay Exeter Bristol Southampton

0845 710 5555 www.ios-travel.co.uk

66 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

When you have had enough of sea and sand, pack a picnic of fresh strawberries, local cheese and bread, hire bikes or horses and make your own trails across these wonderful islands. Or take a trip to the world famous Tresco Abbey Garden, a botanical paradise created around the ruins of a Benedictine priory in 1834. Dubbed “Kew with the roof off”, corridors of palms, topiary, flame trees and borders peppered pink and purple make this garden a “must see”.

Flights include spectacular views of the Cornish countryside and coastline and on the approach to Scilly you will see the islands, their white sandy beaches and the sparkling turquoise sea.

To book call 0845 710 5555 or for more information visit www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 67

Newquay HOLIDAY LETTINGS

C

ornwall has a range of over 25 golf courses all in stunning locations throughout the County from Cape Cornwall in the far West to the Easterly St Mellion almost on the border with Devon. Several courses can be found set right on the coast edge with panoramic open views of ocean and beach including Newquay, Perranporth, West Cornwall and Cape Cornwall. Each naturally defended by the sea breeze and sandy soil helping to keep them in top playing condition all year round. The slightly more sheltered south coast area offers Falmouth, Carlyon Bay and Looe with Carlyon Bay having an outward cliff top nine and tree lined parkland for the return nine. Moving inland Tehidy, Truro, Killiow, Lanhydrock, Bowood and Trethorne provide superb parkland courses

68 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

with rural views and differing landscapes.

Wrapping around Constantine Bay on the North Coast is Trevose, probably Cornwalls most famous course, designed by Harry Colt and recent host to the English Amateur open.

Also on the North Coast near Rock is the well designed St Enodoc course with unrivalled sea and estuary views. Sir John Betjeman, who wrote the poem Seaside Golf is buried at St Enodoc Church right beside the 10th green. St Mellion is set in 450 acres of glorious Cornish courtryside with 2 championship courses including the UKs first Jack Nicklaus designed ‘signature course’ and is host to international golfing events. Newquay has a wealth of new high standard accommodation to offer all year round and the area is conveniently reached by road and air links. A stay in Newquay

with Newquay Holiday Lettings could locate you overlooking the golf course in one of our many contemporary apartments with all other courses in the county easily accessible and no more than 50 minutes drive away at the most.

A visit to Cornwalls golf courses guarantees you a range of challenging aspects and changing climate conditions. Wherever you decide to go in the county, stay, play and enjoy!

Legal

Coastline at Newquay, Cornwall, England

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 69

Explore, Exercise And Enjoy London!

SUPERBREAK LAUNCHES LONDON SIGHTSEEING RUNS

H

eading to London on a short break and fancy something a little different when it comes to sightseeing? Want to explore London and its famous landmarks whilst keeping fit and meeting like-minded people? Well now you can venture out without a guidebook as short break specialist Superbreak (www.superbreak.com) has launched a selection of quirky new ‘London Sightseeing Runs’, which can be added to any hotel booking in the Capital.

Offering a new way to discover the city through exercise, these runs are informative and fun with guides ensuring participants learn more about the history and culture of the city whilst also getting a workout. All guides are qualified personal trainers and will tailor each run according to participants training needs. A selection of key routes are available that cover London’s essential sights and a variety of distances from 5 - 8km.

A range of different route are available including: Riverview run, Royal Parks and Palaces run, Historic East End run, Maritime Greenwich run and London Canals. Tours can also be tailored to include specific sights of interest if required. For the ultimate flexibility and because many people have their own preferred exercise time, runs can be booked at 7am or 3pm. For those who don’t consider themselves runner then it is possible to book a light jog or power walk tour.

70 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

London

SAMPLE PACKAGES INCLUDING A TOUR: Three star hotel with London Sightseeing run - £77.50pp staying one nights at the three star Imperial hotel on a b/b basis with a sightseeing run included. Based on two sharing and valid any day of the week until the end of April.

Four star hotel with London Sightseeing run - £87.50pp staying one nights at the four star Grafton Hotel on a b/b basis with a sightseeing run included. Based on two sharing and valid any day of the week until the end of April.

For more information or to book call Superbreak on 0871 222 3055 www.superbreak.com

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 71

Wonderful WALES

I

n many ways, Wales is just what you picture it to be: rolling moorlands, glaciated mountain areas, mellifluous male-voice choirs, tongue-twisting place names, Rugby Union, ‘Bread of Heaven’, romantic castles, people with querying lilts, cheese on toast and old mining towns.

But Wales is more than this. Apart from the fantastic walking and cycling that’s available in the country, there’s also a wealth of water and adventure sports, horse riding and fishing. Add to this some fine festivals and Cardiff’s nightlife, and you have a great destination awaiting you.

WHEN TO GO Wales is beautiful at any time of year but the soggy Welsh weather will probably play a major part in your holiday experience. To be honest, no one goes to Wales for the weather; it’s unpredictable and rain is a possibility at any time - even in midsummer. However, most of the rain is concentrated in autumn and early winter, with the worst of the downpours between October and January. Winter days are startlingly short, and although you may get a picturesque blanket of snow, many smaller attractions, tourist information centres (TICs) and B&Bs close for the entire low season (from mid-October to Easter).

After January the rain slackens off and, as temperatures pick up and days lengthen, it’s a good time to get out walking. Spectator sports, too, hit their peak, with both the rugby and football calendars coming to a close.

72 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

Wales In July and August, peak season for Wales and the major schoolholiday period across Britain, attractions, accommodation and roads get choked with visitors, prices rise and even the kindest of locals can get annoyed with the crush. However, this is prime time for a long, lingering night at one of Wales’ countless festivals or a concerted assault on its highest peaks.

In general, spring and autumn are the best times to visit, combining pretty good weather with glorious countryside, but avoiding the crowds, clogged roads and accommodation rush of midsummer.

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 73

Jet Airways First Class Cabin ‘PRIVACY AND LUXURY RE-DEFINED’

J

et Airways, India’s premier airline, offers a First Class product on its Boeing 777300ER aircraft that allows passengers the ultimate way to travel, creating a ‘suite’ in the sky; a ‘home-away-from home’ for discerning customers, offering privacy, luxury and comfort.

Each of the eight First Class suites provides more than 26 sq ft of usable space and features dual sliding doors that create absolute privacy. Each suite includes a 23 inch flat screen television and substantial storage areas that include a personal hanging wardrobe, dual credenza and an ottoman. In addition, travellers can enjoy dinner for two in the privacy of their own suite.

The seats, manufactured by BE Aerospace, convert to the world’s longest flat beds at 83 inches and offer variable lumbar support and an eight point massage system.

The state-of-the-art in-flight Panasonic eX2 entertainment system offers passengers over 200 hours of Hollywood and Bollywood movies, regional films, television and short programming, audio CDs covering every

74 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

imaginable music genre and much, much more; all on demand and all heard through Bose noise cancellation headphones.

For those wishing to work, laptop power and in flight telephones are available with the unique ability to send SMS and email.

The menu choices are extensive and served on hand-painted Bernardaud porcelain dinnerware. The finest of champagnes, including vintage Dom Perignon and Krug as well as the best wines from around the world and a library of single malt whiskies are served in Mikasa crystal glasses.

Jet Airways

KEY FACTS Jet Airways, which commenced operations on 5 May 1993, has fast established its position as a market leader. The airline has had the distinction of being repeatedly judged India’s ‘Best Domestic Airline’ and has won several national and international awards, including the recent award as the world’s second best airline by Which? magazine readers and also the same accolade in the US Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

Jet Airways is the only airline to fly to India with private suites in first class. The suite doubles up as a one-to-one meeting room, offers a private dining experience or just simply provides passengers with the ultimate in luxury, comfort and privacy.

Jet Airways’ in-flight menu is designed by Kensington’s Bombay Brasserie (part of the luxury Taj group). To enhance the Western element of the in-flight menu, Jet Airways has recently appointed Michellin starred chef Yves Mattagne, who has designed a new menu.

Jet Airways, India’s premier airline, has the largest domestic network and flies to 63 destinations across India and beyond, connecting to a destination every 5 minutes.

Jet Airways flies internationally to: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Brussels, Bangkok, Colombo, Dammam, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong,

Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, London, Muscat, New York, Riyadh, Sharjah, Singapore and Toronto.

Jet Airways flies daily to India from London Heathrow, with double daily flights to Mumbai and daily to Delhi, where it connects on to 44 other domestic destinations.

Jet Airways codeshares with Brussels Airlines, enabling passengers in the north of England to fly to India and beyond, via Jet’s Brussels hub from both Birmingham and Manchester airports.

Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 88 aircraft, which includes 10 Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, 12 Airbus A330-200 aircraft, 52 next generation Boeing 737-700/800/900 aircraft and 14 modern ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. With an average fleet age of 4.54 years, the airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleet in the world.

Jet Airways Konnect is Jet Airways’ no-frills Economy Class service on key domestic routes, designed to meet the needs of the low fare segment.

Jet Airways Konnect currently operates over 195 flights daily.

JetLite is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jet Airways India Ltd and was acquired by Jet Airways in April 2007. Positioned as an alleconomy airline, JetLite promises to offer value for money fares. JetLite currently operates a fleet of 23 aircraft, which includes 16 Boeing 737 series and 7 Canadian Regional Jets 200 Series. The airline flies to 28 domestic destinations and 2 international destinations (Kathmandu and Colombo), currently operating over 110 flights a day, on average.

Jet Airways, with the acquisition of JetLite, and along with its Economy Class Jet Airways Konnect service, today has a combined fleet strength of 111 aircraft and operates over 410 flights daily.

Ever since JetPrivilege (Jet Airways frequent flyer program) took off in 1994, it has grown from strength to strength. JetPrivilege was relaunched in July 2004 making it India’s first 5-tiered programme, each with its own unique set of privileges. The JetPrivilege program won Freddie Awards (FFP awards) in various categories including the coveted Program of the Year Award 2006 and 2007 for the Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia region.

For further information on Jet Airways, please visit www.jetairways.com or contact Katie Liddell on 020 7839 2140 or katie@keenepa.co.uk.

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 75

Classic Kerala Kerala.. Known as ‘Gods own Country’.

An untouched tropical paradise… . .

By Rita Karia

K

erala is located around 300 miles south of Goa on the West Coast of India. Untouched by mass tourism, it is ideally suited for people who would like to combine the experience of far eastern travel with luxury and rejuvenation. It is well known for its diverse geography and overwhelming greenery.

The beauty of Kerala comes from its glistening backwaters, palm fringed beaches and colourful villages. The hospitality here is second to none, together with the gentle atmosphere, which makes it an ideal choice for a relaxing family holiday. Or a perfect hideout for all you romantic couples…

Kerala has been recommended by The National Geographic Traveller as one of the 50 greatest ‘must see’ tourist destinations in the world.

The British Holidaymaker can indulge in one of the worlds most illustrious and enlightening experiences in Kerala.’The Ayurveda treatment’. This 5000 years old natural herbal health care system, that incorporates nutrition, massage, herbal medicine and meditation, provides total recovery for the mind, body and soul. An absolute ‘must’ when in Kerala.

Kerala Travel Centre has combined their expertise and experience to carefully design 7, 10 and 14 day Tours to ensure you can enjoy the very best of the beauty of Kerala.

Within the UK the ‘Kerala Travel Centre’ is fast becoming recognised as a leading ‘specialist’ Tour operator to this region of India.

A professionally managed operation, the Kerala Travel Centre is gradually evolving into becoming the single biggest ‘core’ Kerala operator in Europe. The Organization prides itself in being a cutabove-the-rest by providing the highest levels of customer service and unrivalled expertise on the region. The company offers a 24hour Customer Service number for the convenience of clients. Kerala Travel Centre has a comprehensive website (www.keralatravelcentre.co.uk) providing extensive information. It also includes a wide array of tailor made holidays and tours, together with a comprehensive range of selected hotels. The company’s website and Kerala brochures have been highly commended by both the Indian Tourist Board and the Kerala Tourism Development Board. Kerala Travel Centre is unique due to the

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Kerala

sheer passion, enthusiasm and zeal that every member of the customer service team has for Kerala.

To ensure an efficient operation, Kerala Travel Centre has built excellent relations with their groundhandling agents in Kerala. Upon arrival a representative, who ensures they are safely escorted to their hotels, personally greets their clients. Other exclusive services include a chauffeured vehicle with an English-speaking driver during tours and a 24 hour emergency contact number for clients while in Kerala.

KODER HOUSE HOTEL The was home to the well-known Jewish Koder family of Cochin How would it be to live in a room steeped in history? Well, reliving history can be an awe-inspiring experience and is possible now as three heritage homes in Fort Kochi open up as hotels, this coming season. Homes, whose walls encase more than 150 years of chronicles, the very homes that have given Fort Kochi its unique character, are now gearing up to open their doors to the eager and involved travellers. And as these old, historical bungalows undergo restoration and renovation they are set to offer the curious tourist a very unique experience. Imposing, stately and brick red in colour, the Koder House was an early nineteenth century Portuguese mansion before it was bought over by Samuel Koder in 1905. Its striking red colour was, for a brief period, changed to grey but it incurred much criticism and was reverted to its present russet-red. Says Sammy Hallegua, of the Koder family, “The Koder House had wooden balconies which ran around the two top floors but were changed later. The Hanging Bridge dates back to the 1920s and connects the house to the first floor of the adjacent shop, which belonged

to the Koders and was constructed in1868.

Says the present owner of the property, “We want to maintain its original character so we have made no changes at all. In fact, it will have just six spacious suites, with study and balcony, overlooking the channel, just as it was, two lounges on each floor, a library, a pool and the famous Hanging Bridge. We could have made it into a 12 to 14 room hotel but that would ruin its character.” So a room at the Koder House is 800 sq ft and the lounge is 1,500 sq ft of history. Renovated by local architects Jibu and Thomas, the main aim has been to retain its original elements.

CGH EARTH HOTEL GROUP CGH Earth is a four-decade long experiment in hospitality. Our properties both preserve and reflect the cultures they are born from. Nothing has been added that does not already belong. The result, we like to believe, are experiences as immersive as they are authentic. CGH EARTH, (formerly known as Casino Group of Hotels) owns & operates “experience hotels” in Lakshadweep, Kerala & Karnataka. Started in 1954 with Casino Hotel in Willingdon Island, Cochin, the group’s hotels include Bangaram Island Resort in Lakshadweep, Spice Village in Thekkady, Coconut Lagoon in Kumarakom, Spice Coast Cruises in Vembanad, Marari Beach Resort in Mararikulam, Brunton Boatyard in Fort Cochin, SwaSwara in Gokarna, Karnataka & Kalari Kovilakom in Kollengode. The Kalari Kovilakom, is a conservation of an 1860 built Keralan Palace which is converted into a Palace for Ayurveda. Projects are underway in Schwabisch Hall in Germany and Chettinad in TamiInadu.

The group’s business is experiential holiday and has adopted as core values, respect for the environment, community

and the local ethos. The group has been recipient of awards of excellence in tourism, environment and heritage protection, from the State & Central Governments as well as the Green Globe Awards from the World Travel Mart.

Kerala..Words alone cannot do it justice..

Kerala Travel Centre is ATOL protected and is affiliated to one of the largest groups of Independent travel agents in the UK thus ensuring that clients can enjoy a peaceful holiday. The British Holiday Maker can choose from any of the hotels mentioned or choose an alternative.

So what makes Kerala Travel Centre different? “It has to be the passion, enthusiasm and the local knowledge each of their team possess, together with the fantastic relationship they have with their ground handling agents who deliver customer service excellence consistently. This combination means that they provide quality tours, holidays and accommodation at competitive prices.

For further information on tailor made trips to Kerala, contact The Kerala Travel Centre on 01621 8504323 or visit their website at www.keralatravelcentre.com

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 77

Introducing Andara Resort & Villas Phuket;

A PRESTIGIOUS NEW ADDRESS ON MILLIONAIRES MILE

A

ndara Resort & Villa Phuket, a new luxurious hideaway owned

by Dr Allan Zeman, is Phuket’s prestigious new address on Millionaires Mile. The private beachside paradise is nestled in the lush tropical hillside above Kamala Beach on the pristine west coast of the Island, with breathtaking views over the Andaman Sea. With Thai-inspired design and dramatic landscaping, Andara Phuket has 26 magnificent pool villas and 37 stunning Residential Suites, most with a private pool or rooftop jacuzzi. Andara offers the ultimate vacation, whether for a romantic getaway or with family and friends.

POOL VILLAS / 3-6 BEDROOMS / 1200 TO 2500 SQUARE METRES Offering the finest views of the entire resort, these secluded feature exceedingly spacious bedrooms opening directly onto the breathtaking ocean vista. Lavish ensuite facilities include indoor and discrete outdoor showers and bathtubs, seamlessly blending interior space with the lush exterior. Living and dining areas are perfect for entertaining or just chilling out. Pool Villas have a private housekeeper and Thai Chef.

SPA Secluded and sensual, the immaculate Spa offers an exquisite range of treatments and therapies to help soothe away the stresses and strains of a buzy life, nourishing body, mind and soul. Treatments include traditional Thai massage, Ayurveda, Swiss, Javanese and Swedish massage, as well as a variety of scrubs, detox and body treatments. The Spa includes six luxurious single treatment rooms with private showers and bathrooms facilities and two couples rooms with Jacuzzi bathtubs; and a private steam room.

ANDARA RESIDENCE SUITES / 1-4 BEDROOMS / 240–890 SQUARE METERS

CUSTOMIZED PRIVATE MOTOR YACHTS

Residence Suites are incredibly spacious. Luxurious bedrooms are accompanied by beautifully appointed bathrooms with sunken bathtubs and rain showers. Complete with a western kitchen spacious living and dining areas enjoy stunning Andaman Sea views.

Andara has exquisitely customized two magnificent Italian-designed private motor yachts, of 28 and 35 meters respectively. Finished to match the Andara standard, the yachts offer the same level of luxury, comfort and service while cruising the crystal clear waters. Popular

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Phuket

excursions include sunset cruises to Phi Phi Island and overnight trips to the immaculate Similan Islands. The yachts can be chartered for romantic full or half day cruises, or to explore the coastline and visit nearby islands. For more information, please visit www.andarayachts. com has

SILK RESTAURANT & BAR Guests can indulge in sumptuous Thai cuisine at Phuket’s finest Thai restaurant, while gazing over the resort’s 40m pool to the beach and ocean beyond. Perfect for sunset cocktails before dinner, guests can lounge on opium beds and dine alfreso, or enjoy the elegant indoor area.

Well renowned from its previous location at nearby Surin Plaza, SILK Restaurant and Bar has become a top favorite on the Island, renowned for it’s exquisite cuisine, décor, ambiance and service.

Interiors are exquisite, with soaring ceilings, rich wooden floors, rich silk accents, full length windows to take in the views and stunning Thai artifacts, Under the watchful eye of now famous Chef Ooy at the helm, only the finest traditional Thai ingredients are prepared with a focus on authenticity of taste and texture with a dash of contemporary flair ensuring each meal is an unforgettable experience. The delicious creations are carefully concocted using local flavours, time-honoured techniques and the freshest ingredients. For more information, please visit www.andarasilk.com

FASTRACK AIRPORT SERVICE Andara’s exclusive, seamless airport service enables guests to bypass queues as they are whisked through the formalities by charming staff, to their limousine; enabling them to maximize their vacation time and stay that little bit longer on the last day, knowing their airport experience will be smooth and without delay After passing through the fast track Immigration Channel on departure, guests are invited to relax in the Coral Lounge and enjoy complimentary refreshments prior to boarding. A nominal fee applies.

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 79

Do Your Homework

BEFORE BUYING A LISTED BUILDING

L

isted buildings can be desirable places to live. But, according to Sussex solicitors Adams & Remers, they could also prove costly if you don’t do your homework before moving in.

“If you find out that the property you wish to buy is listed,” says Suzanne Bowman, solicitor at Adams & Remers, “it is essential to carry out a number of checks before you complete.”

Firstly, you will need to find out when the building was listed and confirm that any alternations undertaken since then have listed building consent. These alterations, ranging from major extensions to new outbuildings, will usually show up in your solicitor’s local searches or a full survey report.

“It is amazing,” says Suzanne Bowman, “how many listed building owners have a cavalier attitude to listed building consent.

They don’t seem to think it’s important despite the fact that, under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, they could face fines or even imprisonment if the local authority finds out they have carried out building work without permission.”

80 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

If you discover alterations without consent in the property you wish to buy, ideally the seller should be asked to put it right at their cost. If they will not or there is not time, the next step is to ask your surveyor to value the cost of either gaining retrospective consent or, if that isn’t likely, altering the property back to its original state. This estimated cost could then be held back from the price you are paying for the property until the work has been done.

“Local authorities have the power to ask for alterations to be put right in listed building regardless of timelapse and who actually made the alteration and fines can be levied for non-compliance,” says Suzanne Bowman. “So, if you want to avoid a huge bill, and potentially a criminal record, always make thorough checks before you move in.”

Adams & Remers is a full service law firm with an established reputation for its work in property, private client, litigation services, company and commercial, and employment law. This eight partner, 80 strong, firm is based in Sussex with offices in Lewes and Brighton and has clients throughout the

Legal country. The firm has a fresh, modern and commercial approach to resolving clients’ affairs, underpinned by traditional values and personal service.

To find out more about the law affecting listed buildings, contact Suzanne Bowman by email: suzanne.bowman@adams-remers.co.uk or telephone 01273 480616. www.adams-remers.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL WILLS If you own a property abroad, you will need a Will to represent you in that Country.

As British Intestacy Law will not apply, Entrust Legal Services can help with your Last Will and Testament to protect your assets but most of all, protect your family.

We can assist in Western Europe, in particular Spain, France and Portugal, all of Eastern Europe, Africa, USA and Canada.

Other Services we offer: Lasting Power of Attorney | Trusts | Long term care Funeral Plans | Repatriation | Comprehensive range of Legal and Architectural Services Please call or email for our free friendly advice.

Tel: 01277 725232 Email: info@entrustwills.com Web: www.entrustwills.com

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 81

The Last Word The most common available options are: Sole Ownership Joint Ownership Adding Your Children to the Title: This option may save your children from inheritance tax.

Putting the Property in the Name of Your Children Only: If you put the property only in the name of your children then the property is theirs. You can reserve a life interest for yourself which is the right to use the property for a lifetime. This device can save you large amount of inheritance tax, but it does have some drawbacks as well.

Forming a Limited Company: The option of owning a property via a limited company can be very attractive. In this example, you would own the shares in a company, not a house in Turkey. There are certain advantages to this –mainly because the company never dies and because when you sell the house you can sell the company (and so the house it owns) instead of transferring legal title to the property. These steps can save tax. However, you should carefully consider all possible implications both in the UK and Turkey before you decide to form a limited company.

The Last Word An Overview To Turkish Property Law by Av. Burcu Orhan

THE “PROPERTY” The most common types of Turkish property you might purchase will usually be either “off-plan” or it can be the re-sale of a finished property. The purchase procedure for an off-plan property is naturally longer and require you to check a few things before you decide to go ahead and also during the process. These will be explained below.

WHO CAN BUY IN TURKEY? Citizens of the countries with which Turkey has signed reciprocity agreements can purchase property in Turkey. Likewise, companies established in line with the Turkish Foreign Direct Investment Law can also purchase property in Turkey. Britain and Turkey has a reciprocity agreement which allows British citizens to purchase in Turkey.

WHO SHOULD OWN THE PROPERTY? There are many ways of structuring the purchase of a property in Turkey. Each way has its own advantages and disadvantages. The right choice can save you from tax and expenses both during your lifetime and also on your death.

82 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE March/April 2010

PURCHASE PROCEDURE Although the Turkish system is quite different from the British system, the purchase procedure in Turkey is not a very complicated one. In most cases, the basic procedure is: After choosing a property you sign a reservation contract. This takes the property off the market for a limited period – say 30 days. You will usually pay a holding deposit of say, £2,000.

You decide whether to have a survey done if the property is a resale or a completed new property. Your lawyer makes enquiries about the property. These will include a title search to ensure that the person trying to sell the property to you actually owns it and a planning search to ensure it has planning permission. Depending on the nature of your case, other searches may be needed. Your lawyer reports her findings.

If all is well, you sign a preliminary contract of purchase. This commits you to the purchase and you pay over a deposit, typically of 30 per cent of the price of the property.

If building work is involved, such as in an off plan property, stage payments are made. At the end of the building work a habitation certificate is issues, certifying that the property is fit to be lived in and complies with the terms of the building license.

The title deed transfer takes place at the land registry and your title is registered.

An additional feature of purchasing a property in Turkey is to obtain a military clearance certificate. Any foreign individual buying a property in Turkey must have the permission of the military authorities.

The application for permission is made once you have signed the preliminary contract, and a copy of the contract is attached to it. The application is generally made by the seller rather by the foreigner buyer.

Obtaining permission is not a difficult one or it is complicated. The process of obtaining military permission usually takes about two to four months.

64 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3Q Tel: 020 7749 9191 Fax: 020 7749 9190 info@londonlegalint.co.uk | www.londonlegalint.co.uk

London Legal INTERNATIONAL

March/April 2010 THE GOOD PROPERTY GUIDE 83

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