One of the main reasons many choose to buy an overseas property is so that they have a place they can escape to when the everyday aggravation of life in the UK becomes too much.

If this is your reason for wanting to buy an overseas property, you'll no doubt want to make the most of your well-earned spare time in the intervals you get to spend there. So why not buy a property overseas in a resort purposely designed to afford you the leisurely lifestyle you've dreamed of for so long? From a gentle round of golf in the morning to an afternoon spent soothing away your aches and pains in a spa, these following resorts offer you these options and far more...

Portugal
Camporeal
Why buy property overseas here?
Located a 30-minute drive from Lisbon, the CampoReal Golf and Spa Resort offers apartments, townhouses and villas in a rural setting. Among the resort's main attractions are a Donald Steel golf course, an equestrian centre and a 900-square-metre spa centre which is due to open in mid 2007.

Property price: £238,000 for a four-bedroom townhouse; £335,000 for a 'luxury' villa.
Premier Resorts

Caribbean
Punta Perla
Why buy property overseas here?
Situated on around ten million square metres of land, this overseas development located at the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic offers property owners the chance to play a round of golf, stroll along a private tropical sandy beach, hang out at a buzzing marina and swim with dolphins – all in the space of a single day!

Property price: Property prices in this development start from approximately £107,000
Punta Perla Sales 

Dubai
Sports City
Why buy property overseas here?
Fancy sitting back and watching some top-class sports action? Then property located in Dubai's Sports City development may well interest you. The world's first overseas purpose-built integrated athletics and sport venue covers an area of some 50 million square feet and is situated within the enormous Dubailand project. Boasting an 18-hole golf course designed by Ernie Els, a Manchester United Soccer School, a David Lloyd Tennis Academy and four state-of-the-art stadiums which aim to one day host world-class sporting events all year round, this resort will probably seem like heaven for many sport fans.

Price: Apartments in The Cube, a five-star condo hotel development overlooking Sports City's four impressive stadiums, start from £76,700.
Hot Properties Worldwide 

Florida
Citrus Hills
Why buy property overseas here?
Located 80 miles north of Tampa on Florida's Gulf Coast, the Citrus Hills development offers property owners plenty of ways to spend their leisure time wisely. Three championship standard golf courses should ensure that those who love to hit the fairways are well catered for, but if golf's not your forte there are plenty of other ways to idle away your spare time. An activity centre situated within the resort includes a fitness centre, a media centre, a billiards room, a card room and a 400-seat community cinema, while outside there is a fully-heated swimming pool and jacuzzi, basketball courts, numerous fishing lakes and even croquet facilities.

Property price: Property prices range between $181,500 to $697,500 (roughly £96,000–£369,000), depending on size.
World of Florida 

Spain
Condado de Alhama
Why buy property overseas here?
Only recently approved for property development, the Condado De Alhama will be Europe's first leisure-based township. Located between two regional parks in Murcia, this development will be built around a giant purpose-built lagoon, and will feature three Nicklaus signature 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, football and gym facilities for sports fans and 200 acres of public parks and gardens. There will also be a town centre, El Oasis, designed as an island in the middle of the lagoon, which will contain all of the town's facilities and services including all of its restaurants and bars.

Property price: Apartments will start from 119,800 euros (approximately £81,000); two-bedroom villas from 248,900 euros (£168,000).
Polaris World 

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Article published in December 2006