Ben Hillman is house hunting with Steph and Ian, who are looking for their dream holiday home on the Central Algarve for an ideal budget of £280,000. With retirement fast approaching, the couple would love to find an apartment with a pool that’s also in easy reach of the stunning sandy beaches of Albufeira, so that they can enjoy lots of time in the sunshine with their four grandchildren. Ben has five great options lined up, but will any turn out to be the perfect property for them and their family?
About the area
The Algarve is the beautiful southernmost stretch of coastline in Portugal. You can fly to its main city Faro directly from the UK with flights taking three hours. Thanks to its stunning sandy beaches and crystal blue waters it’s always been a hugely popular tourist destination; the population here triples in the summer.
And the celebs love it too with Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney owning properties here. But it’s not just for the footballers - it’s also a real golfer’s paradise with nearly four dozen courses – many world renowned and backed by the Atlantic Ocean.