THE ONE

Searching for the perfect answer to a property conundrum? Three Savills agents suggest solutions

WE ARE A FAMILY OF FOUR LIVING BETWEEN NEW YORK AND LONDON, WITH CHILDREN AGED NINE AND 12. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A HOLIDAY HOME IN THE SUN AND MAY EVENTUALLY RELOCATE ON A PERMANENT BASIS. WE ARE AN ACTIVE FAMILY – OUR OLDEST IS TENNIS-OBSESSED – AND WE LOVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

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ALGARVE

JAMIE ROBINSON SALES DIRECTOR, QP SAVILLS jamie@qp.pt “Portugal is a wonderfully relaxed, laid-back country, so it’s perfect for families, especially those looking to switch off from city life and enjoy year-round sun. The cost of living is relatively low, so it’s easy to live well here – the quality of food and wine has always been a selling point. English is widely spoken in Lisbon, and in the Algarve it is even more commonly used than Portuguese.”

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Just outside Faro is theGolden Triangle, often referred to as the Beverly Hills of the Algarve. The resorts of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are always popular and offer solid returns on investment. Faro has seen huge investment recently, and offersgreat dining and transport networkswithout the bustle associated with city life.

Schooling has come on in leaps and boundsin recent years, as more people relocate here permanently. There are international schools throughout the Algarve, includingglobal education “brands” such as NOBEL(part of the Globeducate Group), with small class sizes and great facilities.

Tennis and padel are hugely popular– there are endless amenities, ranging from small, locally run facilities to internationally renowned tennis academiesthat host summer camps with multilingual teachers. Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy is one of the most prestigious. Like most clubs, it offers weekly and annual memberships.

The Algarve is home to more than 30 golf courses, so if you don’t play already, you soon will. Those who enjoy watersports are also in luck: there’s plenty of scope forkayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and surfingon the Atlantic coast; andalmost every village has its own football clubwith training sessions for children.

In high season, there are around 20 flights to Faro from London every day, while connections can be made from New York in Madrid, Lisbon or Paris.

Top: Vale do Lobo beach. Above: a five-bedroom villa in Quinta Das Raposeiras; €2.2m. Left: a three- to four-bedroom beachfront penthouse on Praia dos Aveiros, Albufeira; €1.495m

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MALLORCA

IRIS GRÜNEWALD MANAGING DIRECTOR, BALEARIC PROPERTIES (SAVILLS ASSOCIATES MALLORCA) gruenewald@ balearic-properties.com “In Mallorca you have such a great quality of life, and you really do get a lot for your money. There are wonderful mountain ranges and fantastic beaches, and you can always find lovely off-the-beaten-track spots. Throughout the island there’s a great balance of the traditional and the upmarket, which lends itself nicely to family life. And there really is a community feel in Mallorca – expats have always been welcome.”

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From Palma, you candrive to almost anywhere on the island within an hour. The capital’s Old Town is full of lively bars, fancy restaurants and high-end boutiques, but most of the island retains a wonderful authenticity.

There are several excellent international schoolsin Mallorca. Most are located around Palma, but inland you’ll find theMontessori School of Mallorca; the wonderful Mallorca International School in Pollença, which teaches a British curriculum; and the American International School of Mallorca, in the grounds of the Rafa Nadal Academy. As well as full-time schooling, the academy offers tennis camps for children and adults. Many of its alumni earn scholarships at top universities in the US.

Due to the hilly nature of the island, and the ever-changing landscapes,cycling is very popular. So too is sailing – there are ports big and small around the island (Palma’s is the largest in the Balearics), which helps when it comes to mooring your boat close to home.

Flights from London leave on average 34 times every day.And as of very recently there arefour direct flights from New York every week.

Top: a four-bedroom townhouse in Pollença; €2.95m. Above: a four-bedroom hilltop villa in Bonaire, Palma; €3.075m. Left: the view from the observation point at Cap de Formentor

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FRENCH RIVIERA

ALEX BALKIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAVILLS FRENCH RIVIERA abalkin@savills.com “The French Riviera would be perfect for this family. The climate is great all year round and there’s so much to do for parents and children. It’s a sociable, glamorous part of the world, but you can find peace and quiet, especially in the hills, with stunning landscapes to explore. The architecture is a major draw, from historic villas to super-modern beachfront properties.”

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The French Riviera has superb infrastructure, connecting St Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco and further afield. Travelling by road and rail is easy, but some prefer to use boats or helicopters for quicker journey times.

The region is full of great schools. The International School of Monaco is highly rated; the International School of Nice offers the International Baccalaureate; and in Sophia Antipolis, the Silicon Valley of the Riviera, Mougins School teaches a British curriculum.

Tennis is incredibly popular in this part of France. You’ll find clay, grass and covered courts in almost every town along the coast. And the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, founded by Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, is considered one of theworld’s foremost summer camps. It also offers full-time schooling, with many of its students earning scholarships at top universities in the US.

There are a number of national parks in the area, offeringwonderful opportunities for hiking, cycling and climbing. Kitesurfing and paddleboardingare also popular, given the miles of glorious coastline. And for skiers, the resort of Auron isn’t far away, nor is the Italian border.

Nice Côte d’Azur is one of the busiest airports in France, offering direct flights to most of the world’s major airports. On average there are39 flights between London and Niceevery day, as well as regular flights to New York’s JFK airport.

Top: the glorious coastline of the French Riviera. Left: a five-bedroom villa with a heated pool in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat; €5.6m. Right, a four-bedroom contemporary villa in a private domain in Mougins; €2.6m