WHEN it comes to A Place in the Sun most house hunters are on the lookout for a bargain along the Spanish coast.
But actually, there are plenty of affordable spots to be found outside of Europe – from beautiful Caribbean islands to cities less than an hour to huge theme parks.
Sun Travel got the inside scoop from A Place in the Sun presenters Laura Hamilton, Jean Johansson and Craig Rowe on where Brits should look in 2026 for cheap property outside of Europe.
Jean told us: “If you can stretch to the Caribbean, St Lucia has blown me away – and it’s quite cheap compared to Europe to eat out.
“If you want a paradise lifestyle, you can fly out this time of year and get beautiful weather. It’s so laidback too and everyone slows right down.
“The last time I was there for A Place in the Sun, one couple had a budget of £200,000 and they bought an amazing two-bedroom apartment on a little island that you have to get to via a water taxi – it was just absolutely idyllic.
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“If you’re willing to have that Caribbean way of life and something a bit different, your money can go far.”
Another destination that is becoming more popular with Brits as being an affordable holiday spot is Thailand.
Craig said: “I’ve not done any shows in Thailand yet – I think the show may have gone there a long time ago, but that’s somewhere else I think has great value property.
“It might be far, around 14 hours on a plane, but in terms of investment, and perhaps if you’re retiring and can stay there for months at a time, it’s a great option.”
Property prices can vary in Thailand depending on the destination with Chiang Mai being more affordable than the beachside property in Phuket.
Once you get there, the likes of food are so much cheaper – you can pick up a meal from as cheap as 150baht (£3.55).
But out of all destinations, there was one that every presenter mentioned as being one of the best places to invest – and for a good price next year.
Laura told us: “Florida is a place offering exciting opportunities and it’s always been a place we’ve visited on A Place in the Sun.
“I filmed there just before Christmas and it’s quite interesting. In Florida there are lots of properties that 20 years ago were prime luxury houses along the 192 route which is within 30 minutes to the Disney Parks.
“The location is still amazing, but the houses are a bit tired, so the rental opportunities are incredible. In terms of being able to make properties over and add value to them, I think that’s an exciting market.”
Jean added that she did some Florida shows last year where she headed to Fort Lauderdale.
“I think Florida’s always been popular and it’s nice for us to get away from Orlando and away from the Disney parks.
“Fort Lauderdale is a dream with the classic American lifestyle up there – locals start their day with a coffee on the beautiful promenades and there’s a lovely community feel.”
According to Palm Paradise Realty Group, some of the most affordable areas in Fort Lauderdale include Lake Aire Palm View and Flagler Village where the average property price is $343,000 (£255,543).
New episodes of A Place in the Sun will return from Sunday 21 December, and you can catch up on previous episodes on Channel4.com.
A Place in the Sun experts reveal coastline worth buying on NOW where you can ‘still get bargains’ – and flights are £15…
When we asked Laura Hamilton, Craig Rowe and Jean Johansson where exactly Brits looking for a holiday home should buy right now in Europe – they all had the same answer.
Laura Hamilton, who has been working on the show since 2012, explained: “There are still places in Spain which are great places to invest, especially around Costa Tropical.
“The area has increased in value and is still going up. It’s the opposite side of Málaga to Marbella and Puerto Banús, and it’s much cheaper.
“If you go out to a bar or a restaurant, the prices will be significantly cheaper but still great quality.”
Laura revealed that the Costa Tropical has accessibility to both the mountains and the beach.
She added that it’s marketed so that “you can be on the slopes in the morning and beach in the afternoon”.
To get from the beaches to the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains takes just an hour and a half in the car.
Laura continued: “I love that part of Spain and the scenery around Granada is spectacular. If you love the beach, skiing and hiking then it’s a stunning part of Spain – but prices are on the rise.”
Also in southern Spain is the region that presenter Craig Rowe recommended and like Costa Tropical, the region sits between the coast and Sierra Nevada mountains.
Craig told us: “Costa Almería in Spain is really good, especially for anyone on a lower budget.”
Jean Johansson, who has been working on the show for seven years, the same question, she agreed with her colleagues.
Jean said: “It’s got to be Murcia and the south of Spain because you can still get bargains there.”
“When I started on the show seven years ago the area wasn’t as popular at all, but now people are really understanding the value for money.”
For those jumping in to buy a property abroad, one woman who was on A Place In The Sun and bought her dream Spanish home for £45k – I have one regret and need to warn others of pitfalls.
And another presenter from A Place in the Sun took on her own renovation project on the Costa del Sol.