Croatia - Dubrovnik Escape to the Continent

The walls you can see behind me have protected this city for 1,000 years.

They even survived this country's worst ever earthquake.

So where in the world am I?

I will reveal all in just a few moments

as we Escape To The Continent.

The foundations of today's show are fuelled by the family -

with one half leaving and the other returning.

And we present prime properties that could make the transition

a little easier for both parties.

-I can picture my parents would have loved this.

-Would they?

-They would have loved this.

-This is exactly us.

-That is beautiful.

-The whole layout looks perfect.

But we also unlock one place where they won't want to leave.

Can I have the keys?!

Today, I'm in Croatia on the beautiful Dalmatian coast

and these magnificent fortified walls

were built to protect the city of Dubrovnik.

Now, at over a mile in length and in some place 6m thick,

this immense fortress system was built in the 13th century

as Dubrovnik began to flourish as a wealthy

and successful trading centre.

With 120 cannons in position, I think the message was very clear.

Just a two-and-a-half hour flight from London,

the city of Dubrovnik is affectionately known as the Pearl of the Adriatic

and lies within Croatia's southernmost county

called Dubrovnik-Neretva.

Sitting on the 350-mile stretch of the Dalmatian shore,

the city was founded on a rocky island back in the seventh century,

commanding a strategic position at the crossroads

of major trade routes.

A couple of hundred years later, it had developed into a fortified

powerhouse with a harbour and world-renowned merchant fleet.

Just 600m across the water from the old port

is the wooded island of Lokrum, one of some 1,200 Croatian islands

dotted in the pristine waters of the Adriatic.

First colonised by Benedictine monks 1,000 years ago,

legend has it that Lokrum was cursed

when they were evicted in the 19th century.

So today, the only permanent inhabitants

are a few families of peacocks.

Back on the mainland, a more complete 14th century Franciscan monastery

exhibits beautifully preserved Gothic and Romanesque architecture

as well as one of the world's oldest pharmacies,

still open for business after 700 years.

But the region's historic architectural elegance,

striking beaches, as well as its lush Mediterranean rural landscape

just outside the fortified walls, are really the only tonic you need.

So captivated was the playwright George Bernard Shaw that he proclaimed,

"Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik."

It's little wonder then with views like these that almost 85%

of property sales to foreign buyers are along the Adriatic coast.

But how does the market compare to the UK?

Overall, Croatia does represent good value for money.

However, if you want to live in the city of Dubrovnik,

expect to pay a premium.

Here, the average price of a detached property is £355,000.

That is almost £100,000 more than a similar sized property back home.

So let's meet today's buyers

and find out which part they want to move to.

It was a chance meeting in cyberspace where Rada

and her partner, David, first got to know one another.

And 11 years later,

Rada's multicultural ancestry has prompted the decision

to sell up their current Wiltshire home

and turn their backs on Salisbury plain.

My parents came from Croatia.

They came to the UK in the '50s so I was born here.

But it is still the motherland.

It is still what I perceive as my motherland and I just feel the pull.

And David loves it so I don't have to twist his arm, which is fantastic.

We would like to move, ideally, to Dubrovnik.

It just seems to have everything.

It's a city, it's beautiful, it's got culture, it close to the beaches,

it's close to the islands, it's close to the airport.

It just seems to be the best suited

for everything we are actually looking for.

It was the World Wide Web that cemented their history

and the internet will also determine their future.

In terms of work, we run a web agency, a digital agency.

We build websites and web applications for a whole range

of small and large clients in the UK and in fact throughout Europe.

We have a fantastic team.

We felt it was actually time to broaden our horizons

and moving abroad would suit that.

Going to Croatia will open up a new market.

Croatia is what I'm beginning to lovingly call a re-emerging market.

For Rada, the sights and sounds of this Croatian relocation

are a more familiar environment, leaving David to get up to speed.

HE PRONOUNCES CROATIAN WORDS

Rada will do all the introduction.

She speaks fluent Serbo-Croat so she is fine anyway,

so she can converse with the locals.

But at the moment I have no languages at all.

I can do the odd accent but that is pretty much where it stops!

Fortunately, David's interests should help him get accustomed to his new surroundings.

I run marathons and ultra marathons.

There are a lot of those sorts of events throughout Europe and there is a lot in Croatia.

I think the change of scenery from running on Salisbury plain

to running along the beaches will be just fantastic.

It sounds like a huge step or indeed a sprint for David,

particularly as he has treasured family he will be leaving behind.

The biggest thing is really going to be my children.

They are 20 and 23 now and both at university.

We are going to have to make a bit more of an effort to see them.

But they both love travelling so that isn't going to be too much of a problem.

So a high priority for the new property will be space for visiting family.

And then comes the look.

I love interior design

so there is no way I would go into somewhere and leave it as it is.

I would want to put my stamp on it.

We both like modern. We both like uncluttered.

The property needs to have some working space

so either a study or a large room we could use to work from

because that is going to make up a large part of our day.

We would like to be able to shut that off.

On a personal level, the most important thing for me is parking spaces.

I love my cars and I want to make sure they are close to me.

I don't want to be parking down the road.

I don't want to be fighting for a parking space at the end of the day.

I can't drive so it would be really important that we live

close to shops, services and amenities.

Their current home is already on the market so all that remains

are the finances forecasted for this move to Dubrovnik.

Our budget for this move is £450,000.

It's vital for David and Rada's business and family needs

to be near Dubrovnik Airport.

So our property search will focus on both the countryside and cityscapes,

all within an hour's commute.

And now they have touched down in Croatia, we are all getting

together in an elevated spot at the top of Dubrovnik's Srd Hill

to chat more about the grand plan for their continental move.

-So are you excited about this move, this change of life?

-Very.

-Yes.

It's something we have thought about for a long time, isn't it?

-It is, yes.

-How well do you know this part of Croatia?

Quite well, actually. We are getting to know it quite well now.

Let's get down to business. Let's talk about the properties.

What ideally are you looking for?

We are looking for something probably oldish but contemporary.

Certainly contemporary. Open living space, very social, bright and airy.

Quite open to having an old house and doing some refurbishing

internally so that we get the open plan space we want.

So you both don't mind taking on a little bit of a project, then?

-No, that's fine, actually.

-How many bedrooms ideally do you want?

We certainly need two. Three would be good.

But we are really interested in the downstairs space.

-That is the key for us.

-So let's talk money. Remind us of your budget.

Our budget is around the £450,000 mark.

It is always wise to keep about 10% by for fees and taxes.

Is that included in your budget or do you have a little bit more?

-We could go up to £500,000 and that would include everything.

-Great.

I mentioned the Old Town just down there.

I think that could be the perfect place to start, don't you?

-But rather than walk, why don't we take the cable car?

-Fantastic.

-Come on.

-Let's go for it.

For a flexible budget ideally around £450,000,

Rada and David hope to find a modern, open plan property

with at least two bedrooms, a study and car parking.

They would consider refurbishing an older property

and want a location close to shops and amenities.

We have located a diverse range of fantastic properties

that will offer our buyers all manner of Croatian lifestyles.

But I'll be keeping them waiting

before I reveal the attached price tags.

And one of these houses will become David and Rada's home

before they have to dig deep in their pockets.

Then, to end the property tour, we will be weighing anchor

and marooning ourselves at the mystery house.

Our first property stop is right in the heart of Dubrovnik Old Town

and thank goodness we're travelling via cable car to get there

as the descent is over 400m.

On a clear day, you can see up to and over 30 miles away and it makes

for a fantastic opportunity to take in this beautiful city

panorama from one breathtaking view.

How is this for transportation?

-It couldn't be any better, really, could it?

-Fantastic, isn't it?

David, I've got to ask you, when you make this move,

how are you going to cope with the language? Do you speak any Croat?

I can pretty much get by with "pivo", which is a beer.

-That's good, I like that.

-That does me to start with.

But I think we've got the tapes at home so I will learn.

-Are you keen to?

-Absolutely.

The history of the Old Town is written all over its walls

and across the bright orange roof tiles,

which were recently replaced after the 1991 siege of Dubrovnik

during the Croatian war of independence

when half of the Old Town was destroyed.

The historic centre has now been painstakingly restored

to its former glory and the pristine streets are still lined

with many original buildings that date back to the 15th century.

-So how beautiful is this?

-It's amazing.

-Stunning.

This is hailed as a particularly romantic, picturesque

and intimate city and so attracts hordes of sightseeing tourists.

Every kind of shop, boutique and restaurant is right on the doorstep,

which should be welcome news for non-driving Rada.

Only 700 residents are lucky enough to live here on a permanent basis,

so let's see if we can make that figure 702.

How would you feel about city living?

-No problem at all.

-Great. No distance to crawl home!

-Really?

-Those steps don't put you off?

-No. That will be fine.

-Really?

-Absolutely.

-So you like to be in the heart of things, do you?

-That would be great.

-We do.

-Especially until I learn to drive.

Exactly. Well, then, this property could be in prime position because it is right in front of us.

-Fantastic.

-Crikey!

-That is superb.

-Wonderful.

-It could not be any more different from Wiltshire, could it really?

-No. Absolutely not.

We are going to look around our first property, but I'm going to leave you here.

-You're actually going to stay in this apartment tonight.

-No?

Fantastic! That is really cool.

-You said you like the idea of being in the city.

-That is really cool.

-Amazing.

-Definitely. Brilliant.

-Great.

We have got your cases hidden away and they are going to be following us in a little while.

So let's start the house tour and see what you think when you step inside.

-Terrific, lead the way.

-Fantastic.

Being right in the thick of things, this property doesn't have

dedicated parking, but there are spaces available to rent nearby.

All the same, the super central location

seems to be just the ticket for Rada and David,

who will be living in the third-floor apartment of this

elegant and historic building for the duration of the property search.

Once part of a former 16th century palace, their new temporary home

embraces its medieval roots but has been beautifully

renovated and given a modern twist which is just what they requested.

Welcome to city living.

I love the stonework. It's beautiful. Stunning.

The beams. The kitchen is amazing. Really nice.

-So you like the idea of open plan?

-Yes.

Perhaps not the biggest of kitchens, but we know that you have got restaurants on your doorstep.

-Exactly.

-Exactly.

The longer I am standing here, the more it's growing on me.

-Which is a good thing. This would be ample for us.

-This is OK, actually.

-This is OK.

-Great. If you want to follow me.

-OK.

The living areas offer an enviable outlook over the square.

Then there are two bedrooms served by a large, stylish bathroom.

One bedroom is currently presented with twin beds,

leaving the other one as the master.

That's not too bad. It is smaller than we're used to.

-But it's workable and it's the location. The location makes all the difference.

-Yes.

I think that is the trade-off, isn't it?

Had you considered perhaps being right in the centre?

It is apartment living. It is very different. Space is at a premium.

But it wouldn't be too small?

I think it would feel like we were living in a hotel all the time, I think.

And that has got its perks.

I think we could get around that. I really do.

Despite the cosy proportions, I am thrilled that Rada

and David are enthusiastic about this apartment.

But I'm about to reveal another apartment right next door,

which is also included in the sale,

that could make this a perfect proposition for working from home.

So we kept this little gem from you.

This is another self-contained apartment.

Right. Look at the bed up there. That's fantastic.

This is more of a studio. Obviously, next door is the two bedroom.

But then you've got your kitchenette behind you,

you've got your own shower room and separate toilet

plus if you had guests, and the children came to stay.

-But again, as an office, plenty of space.

-Plenty of space. Two desks.

-Overflow for guests. That works. That really works.

-It does.

So it is time now to ask you how much you think these apartments,

remember they are sold as one, how much it is on the market for?

I would say it's near the top,

pretty much at the top of what we are looking at.

I would say £450,000.

OK. I'm going to go slightly less.

I'm going to go for 425.

Actually, it is considerably more.

It's right up there at the top of your budget.

The asking price is just over £496,000.

OK. Is there room for a bit of negotiation?

I believe there is. It has been on the market on and off for two years.

Why don't you have a wander around on your own?

Have a think and think about that price, if this could work for you.

It is very much a change of lifestyle

but you are moving to another country, so why not?

And then give me a shout when you have seen enough.

-Lovely. Thank you.

-Thank you.

Interesting and a really, really positive start.

As I mentioned, I think we are pushing them quite a lot with this first property.

It is so different from the way they live their lives at the moment

but that's the beauty of moving to a new country.

Sometimes, you just want to change everything.

Kicking off right at the upper end of their funds,

this characterful apartment gives Rada

and David a central location close to facilities,

open plan receptions and kitchen, two double bedrooms

as well as a separate self-contained studio apartment.

I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised and impressed.

For the first one, it's not far off.

There are a lot of things that are right with it

and the second apartment makes all the difference, it really does.

Both from a living and working point of view.

How often do you get the chance to come in

and view a property that you might potentially be buying and yet come

in and stay and try and see how you like it and does it work for you?

Do you feel at home here? Is it comfortable? That's amazing.

So far, so good. It seems they like the Old Town.

-Have you seen enough of the apartment?

-I think so, yes.

You're going to see even more now because I was absolutely serious.

Here is your case. That is heavy. I will let you take that one.

You are going to stay the night here, so enjoy.

Go out, walk around Dubrovnik.

I know you know it already but enjoy it tonight.

Not too late out on the tiles.

And I'll catch up with you in the morning. How does that sound?

-Lovely.

-Off you go. Enjoy your first night here.

-Thank you.

Mind your back with all those steps!

David and Rada waste no time getting settled in,

unpacking their belongings and preparing to send the bugs packing.

-OK, David, don't forget to plug in the mozzie machine.

-OK.

-Thank you.

After freshening up, they decide

to hit the town and find somewhere nearby for an alfresco supper.

Na. Yeah, on.

-Zaru.

-Grill.

And after a glass or two of wine and sampling some of the local

specialities on offer,

it's a peaceful stroll back to the apartment to get some shut-eye

before the property search picks up pace again tomorrow.

It is the second day of our property search

and our buyers are up and about bright and early,

familiarising themselves with Dubrovnik's Old Town

before we get back to the business of house-hunting.

Our next property lies a 20-minute drive south of Dubrovnik,

in the rural hamlet of Smokovjenac.

in David's absence, Rada will need to tackle

public transport to get around,

as the nearest shops are a ten-minute drive away

in Cavtat.

One of the main yachting harbours on the Dalmatian coast,

the cosmopolitan Cavtat

offers plenty of shops and restaurants

as well as a daily market.

But in a quieter Croatian village, yet still by the coast,

the next property we have chosen is a detached house built and decorated in a traditional style.

So, for our second property, we are

showing you something completely different

from that city centre,

-and here it is.

-Oh!

Lovely!

what do you think of the location?

-What a view!

-Fantastic.

Amazing, isn't it?

The house itself, built over a number of years.

The ground part, which I will explain as we walk around,

was built in the 1980s,

-but was actually finished in 2000.

-OK.

And really built on this aspect, so that you get to that view.

-Looks nice.

-Looks good! Very modern, compared to the last property.

Lovely!

-I like the stone.

-OK, shall we start?

-Great.

-Come on.

'Welcome relief for David is that this property does come with parking

'in the form of a car port where there is space for two vehicles.

'And we are starting the house tour in a lovely open-plan reception room.'

So come on in.

-Beautiful and cool in here.

-It is.

So we have gone through a little courtyard, a terrace,

which leads us straight into a large sitting room and dining area.

And the set-up is very traditional, isn't it?

It is. Very much so.

It's a nice-sized room, though. It's a good room.

It's certainly big enough.

It's big enough, it's got good dimensions, hasn't it?

And you have this step there, so it is

sort of two-level, which is nice as well.

Taking us off to the kitchen or somewhere.

On this floor, you have also got

a very large bathroom through there,

a huge family bathroom.

You've already intimated you think you know where the kitchen is.

-You would be right, so let's keep going through here.

-Lovely.

So here is your kitchen.

-OK.

-OK.

Not the biggest kitchen in the world.

Again, done in... I'm not going to say an old style,

but a traditional style.

But kitchens now have moved on so much,

we really just have to look at the space, haven't we?

We would need a new kitchen, I would have thought,

-because you're sort of under ground level.

-Yeah.

It makes it quite dark.

At the moment they have the living accommodation down here,

their sitting room, dining room and kitchen.

Upstairs are two large bedroom suites which I am going to show you.

-OK.

-I just want to plant in your mind

the potential of having the bedrooms perhaps downstairs

and then making use of the area upstairs.

-You said you don't mind a project.

-No.

-That is just what we call an upside- down house.

-Yes.

Up on the first floor, the layout gets more unconventional

and has been split into two bedroom suites,

divided by a simple stud partition wall.

In both cases the beds are up on mezzanine levels

with a shower room and spacious living area below,

each with huge picture windows

overlooking the sea.

-This is nice.

-Oh.

It's big and bright, isn't it?

This house is far bigger, isn't it, then you would think?

-Yeah.

-This was a surprise.

-We are actually on street level now.

-Right, OK.

-Oh!

OK.

But this huge vaulted ceiling, it feels to me like a local's home.

Is that how it is to you, Rada?

Yes, I can picture my parents would have loved this.

Would they?

This would have been their style, absolutely.

The views here are fantastic.

I see what you mean about turning the house upside-down,

because although it's cool downstairs,

you don't get the views, and you do here.

-Amazing views, aren't they?

-They are.

And you get the light.

This would be the main living space in that case.

And you could bring your kitchen up here, have your bedrooms downstairs.

So those mezzanine bedrooms do give you plenty of space,

-and also the potential to convert them, perhaps, into offices.

-Yeah.

Because we haven't really discussed that option as yet, have we?

-No, no, no.

-But there is something more I've got to show you,

so let's head back outside and I'll explain down there.

-OK.

-OK.

Outside, there are range of terraces and patios and the garden

covers a decent-sized plot with a variety of mature fruit trees.

-I LOVE this outside space.

-Yeah, this is nice.

-Isn't it lovely?

-Very pretty.

-Is that pomegranates?

Yeah, you've got pomegranates, vines, olives, lemons,

you've even got figs in this region.

Fantastic.

-So it is quite secluded, the garden.

-It is.

-Would this be enough for you?

-Yeah.

-I think so, yeah. Absolutely, yeah.

-It's not a bad size.

But, more importantly, you've got a huge outhouse there.

It is quite basic, not going to lie, but it has electricity.

-And we were thinking, potential for your business.

-Oh, yes!

-That's true.

-And it's separate space again.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, that could work.

-That could work.

So a little bit further out of Dubrovnik,

-but we know there is a premium to all around here.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

How much do you think it is currently on the market for?

I'm going to go in at £425,000.

Which was what I was going to say!

OK, in that case, the fact that it is not in the city and out here,

I think I'll go in at 410.

OK, you're both relatively close, actually. Yes.

The price is just over...

-£433,000.

-Oh!

-OK.

-OK.

That doesn't include your taxes and your fees.

And you can see there's a footpath just winding down there to the sea.

-Lovely.

-Guess where I'm going to meet you? Down there.

-So, take your time, come and find me when you're ready.

-OK, thank you.

-See you in a while.

Comfortably under budget,

this property is a spacious, traditional detached home

with open plan living and dining areas and two lofty bedroom suites.

As well as off-street parking, the large garden has a roomy

powered outhouse and a private path down to the sea.

-Well, we certainly wouldn't need to go to the market to buy any figs, would we?

-That's true.

OK, erm, I suppose the only consideration is

whether or not we want to take on this much work.

Mm, yeah. It would be a lot and if we were to turn it upside down...

Mm. It could look nice.

It could look good, but it is a huge undertaking. It really is.

The garden space, it's quite a nice size.

The only thing it lets down, I suppose, is it doesn't give

-you the view of the sea, so you're missing that from here.

-True.

-Which is...which is a pity.

-True.

You can see it over there, but I think you can make more of that.

I think the thing is, when you see something like the city house,

we could just move straight into it and have a new life immediately.

And redecorate, perhaps, that's all.

Yeah. At the moment, that's more positive to me, I would say.

You see, I thought Rada and David would love this village

right by the sea, but I think the city has won the hearts so far.

-How are you two?

-Hi.

-All of this on your doorstep.

-Mm.

-This is amazing.

-Beautiful. So have you seen enough?

-I think so.

-Yes, I think so.

-Shall we make a move? Come on.

-OK.

-OK, then.

When Rada and David make the move to Croatia,

one of the biggest challenges for David will be integrating

with the locals without an understanding of the language,

but with a wife who is fluent.

So, we have arranged for our couple to meet expat

and journalist Mark Thomas, who was in that very position

when he moved out here with his Croatian wife 15 years ago.

Now, you've organised something special for us, haven't you?

That's right. You'll see some traditional dancing from this area.

It is in fact from Dubrovnik, so I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

-It's great fun.

-Well, have we got our dancing shoes on, guys?

-Ooh!

-Oh, not so sure!

-We're certainly going to enjoy it, though. Mark, thank you very much. You lead the way.

-I'll lead the way.

Mark has invited us to the village of Osojnik

deep in the Dubrovnik-Neretva mountains,

where he is researching an article on a native dance

unique to this area.

We're joining Mark's wife Boba front row for an exclusive performance.

Hello.

-I would like to introduce you to my wife.

-Hello, hi.

-Hiya.

-Hello there.

-Hi, guys. Hiya.

So, Mark, what are we going to see this evening?

We're going to see a dance that is from the Dubrovnik area.

You will see a young lady playing the traditional instrument

called the lijerica, while the group dances around her.

-I'm looking forward to this!

-Yeah.

-Yeah, what a treat.

MAN CHANTS TO MUSIC

I can see we've got plenty of different generations here performing for us.

-Is that typical?

-Yes, they start very young, three or four years old, they're already dancing.

And dance as long as they can.

So what does the dance signify? Does it have a meaning?

Well, the dance, it is like a courting dance, you can say.

The dance started 300, 400 years ago,

so there weren't discos to meet your future mate, let's say.

So they courted like this.

I do notice the men are more colourful than the ladies.

-The peacocks.

-Yes.

-They are the peacocks.

-Yeah, the peacocks.

See, wherever you go in the world, they're always going to be the peacocks, aren't they?

-Ah, thank you!

-Well done, guys.

-Well done.

As well as sampling some centuries-old music and dance,

two of the villagers have kindly prepared us some traditional

Croatian coffee, which I have been warned is rather potent.

-It smells so good.

-It's fantastic.

My mother used to say they don't give it to children

because it's bad for children. It is too strong.

My mother used to say, "You'll grow a tail."

-Thank you.

-I'll grow a tail.

-Grow a tail!

Rada and David, I'm sure you're desperate to ask some questions,

get some local knowledge. So, fire away.

How long do you think it took before you would say you were fluent?

I never had a formal lesson. I never sat down and learnt Croatian.

I learnt Croatian as a baby learns a language.

So I would say it took me five years before I could speak fluently.

But, like I say, I learnt in a completely unorganised way,

just following life and seeing what people...

how they speak and interact, and that was my lead.

Culturally, well, for both of you, because Boba,

you lived in the UK for a little while, what are the differences?

-I would say we're little bit more relaxed.

-Really?

-Yeah.

We're kind of... We think we're working hard, but we don't, comparing with England.

We are very easy here.

"Let's have a coffee," we don't have diaries like you have.

We are, "OK, let's meet, let's have lunch somewhere," work a little bit, and that's it.

-Sounds appealing, doesn't it?

-DAVID: It does!

It's very different, isn't it, going somewhere on holiday

and then deciding to live there.

Because it is going to be a new experience for you both.

So what advice would you give them?

The biggest single thing that I did when I moved here,

that changed my life here the most, was learning the language.

Absolutely, learning the language.

By learning the language, you understand their sense of humour,

their culture, their traditions, their way of doing business.

You learn so much more than just communication, yes.

And it's giving respect to the local community.

-If you give them respect, you will get respect back.

-Absolutely.

-OK.

I have a feeling that I don't want to be part of, like, an expat-type community.

I would like to be involved in the whole culture and the country...

-Integrate.

-..and integrate properly.

That's just as well, because there isn't a big expat community!

-Is there not?

-No, there's about, I don't know,

five or six Brits who actually live in Dubrovnik.

There's maybe 100, 150 expats, not British,

who live in Dubrovnik all year round.

That number swells, of course, in the summer,

because people have bought summer homes here.

But an actual British expat community, don't worry,

-you're not going to be part of anyone.

-No.

-Excellent.

I mean, obviously, you have a very happy

and healthy life over here, but are there any drawbacks,

anything you wish you had known before you made the move, Mark?

I wish I'd have known how complicated the red tape

and the bureaucracy is, and it is.

And it takes a long time to wade through it all.

Bureaucracy, is that to do with work or is that to do with buying a house, for example?

-With buying a toothbrush.

-Right!

-Wow!

It's that complicated!

Well, they want to buy a home and run their business from here.

Good luck.

But it is achievable. Give them a ray of hope.

Yes, yes, of course it is achievable.

In many ways, Croatia and Dubrovnik are like a land of opportunities.

If you can take the business sense that you had before in the UK

and bring that here, then you will succeed. Just be determined.

-Yeah, we are determined.

-Yeah.

-Application.

-Yeah.

-I think you've inspired them. You both have.

Thank you very much. I must admit, the hospitality, the drinks...

-what a wonderful evening.

-Thank you.

-Thank you so much.

-You're more than welcome.

-Thank you.

Fortunately for our couple, one half of the partnership does have those

crucial Croatian language skills, so they do have the upper hand.

And since the country's 2013 entry into the EU, it has become easier

for non-nationals to purchase property here

under the same terms as Croatians.

However, do bear in mind that both the vendor as well as the purchaser

have to pay estate agent commission, and buyers

are also required to pay a 10% deposit in advance of the exchange.

One of the major stumbling blocks in a sale can be proving

the ownership, as older estates can sometimes be split

between multiple family members. Therefore, it is vital

to get professional advice before proceeding with any sale.

Moving to another country can involve blood,

sweat and tears, but David is channelling that sweat

and wholeheartedly embracing his new surroundings with an early morning

run through Dubrovnik's beautiful historic streets.

An ideal way of familiarising himself with his potential new home territory.

So, it's a new day and we're halfway through our house hunt in Croatia.

Now, David and Rada seem to be really taken with our city apartment

which didn't need anything doing to it.

However, when we showed them a house in the Croatian village -

a little bit more of a project - I think that might have put them off.

Luckily, there's plenty more to show them along this beautiful coastline.

We have still got two more properties lined up, so it's

high time we hit the highway, as I want to show David and Rada

what their money can get them if they move away

from the highly desirable Dubrovnik area and further along the coast.

The next property is in the village of Slano, which is

about a 45-minute drive northwards from the airport.

Once again right on the water, the picturesque Slano is

frequented by tourists but on a smaller scale than Dubrovnik proper,

so the location should give Rada and David a quieter pace of life

that's rich in Croatian culture.

There's a minimart as well as other essential amenities

and plenty of restaurants.

And en route to the next property, we're making a pit stop

in the town centre to soak up more of the environment.

So we are nearly at our next property,

but we have to stop here because this is your local town.

The house isn't that far from here. We are actually in Slano.

Slano means "salty".

And guess where we are? Right by the sea.

See, it's handy having someone who is fluent in Croatian, isn't it?

I mean, this is your local town. What do you think?

It looks fantastic. I love the bay. Really, really nice.

-It's very pretty. It seems quite serene, which is nice.

-Yeah.

So we all love the location, let's see what you think about the house.

-OK.

-Let's go.

-Great.

So I really do think this is a beautiful setting.

Your own little jetty there. If you just turn around and take a look...

-this, potentially, is your next property.

-Fantastic.

-Wow!

-Unbelievable.

-That's really impressive, isn't it?

-What a location!

-What a prime location.

Can you imagine opening those shutters

and looking out to that view every single day?

-Wouldn't be a hardship, would it?

-It wouldn't be a hardship.

-It really wouldn't.

-Just amazing.

-Wouldn't be a hardship.

-So what do you think of the property?

-It's lovely.

-It looks really good, really good.

-I love the style, the shape of it.

-Yes? So, shall we get started?

-Can we?

-Yeah, great.

Built recently in 2006, this modern property lies in a small gated development of just 12 houses.

-So, the good news is, you do have parking.

-Fantastic.

-Covered parking.

And here is our property.

So, come on, straight in.

-Want you to see this view.

-Fantastic.

-Wow!

-Not often I can offer a kitchen with THAT view.

-No.

-This is exactly us. This whole layout...

-That's beautiful.

-This is us, yeah.

-..looks perfect.

-Love everything about it.

-Do you?

Open-plan, its white, it's bright and airy, got a fantastic view.

-Good! I'm loving this!

-Really like it.

I must admit, if you had walked into this part of the house

and your faces had dropped, I think I would've gone back out the door.

-So I'm really pleased.

-No chance, no chance.

-Yeah.

-It's beautiful.

-It's open...

-Spot on, isn't it? And the views...

-Yeah.

-Just amazing.

-Are you itching to see more?

-Oh, yes! Lead on, lead on.

So that open-plan feel continues.

You've got your dining area here and your sitting area here.

-It's a nice size, really nice size.

-It's a great size.

-It's just spot on. It's not dissimilar to the size that we've got at the moment.

-No.

-Is it not?

-It's very similar. It feels...

-Similar sort of layout.

Home from home, except the vistas, obviously, are very different!

So you do have access onto that terrace out there.

You can open those doors,

-you're going to get more of a breeze coming through.

-Yeah.

-You know, it is a blank canvas.

-Oh, gosh, yeah, absolutely.

But I can picture our furniture, our way of life, our way of living.

-I can see it here.

-It's not too big a...

-Pretty much everything we've got would fit here perfectly.

-Yes.

-Wonderful. Right, OK, going to continue.

-OK.

Back off the hallway, there is a fully tiled shower room

and stairs that take us up to the first floor.

-This is your master bedroom.

-Ooh!

-Fantastic. This is lovely.

-This is lovely. Fabulous.

-Dual aspect as well, it's light...

It's fabulous.

-There's a door there that actually leads out onto a little terrace.

-Oh!

The table and chairs, you can sit out there. Got an en-suite here.

-Lovely.

-Great.

-There's another bedroom, that's en-suite as well.

-Right, OK.

-So, both bedrooms have their own separate...

-Perfect.

-That's amazing.

-..shower rooms.

-Love this room.

-Stunning.

-Yeah?

-I love it.

-It's excellent, isn't it?

-It's perfect.

-Yeah?

-Spot on.

-Can I have the keys?

-Well, this is all part of the dream, isn't it?

-It is, it is.

-Yeah.

-You know, the dream, is it becoming a reality?

-It's lovely, this one.

-Everything we've got would fit perfectly.

-It would, wouldn't it?

-It really would.

-It would.

Well, let's go outside and take another look at that view,

-cos you can never get bored with it, can you?

-No, no.

Stand on that wonderful terrace, take it all in,

and let's talk about our options, shall we?

-OK.

-If you want to lead the way, thank you.

-Off you go then.

Oh, my goodness, they absolutely love it.

I could so see them living here. Just a little bit of paradise.

The feedback couldn't get any better. So much so, that Rada

and David seemed prepared to overlook the fact that this property

doesn't have a home office, as they haven't even mentioned it.

And here is your own veranda.

-Fantastic.

-Lovely!

-Enough of a garden for you both?

-Ample.

-Perfect.

Yeah, perfect size, perfect.

And what I can offer you instead of a little office space is perhaps the

potential of having your own boat moored in front of your property.

-That's a thought!

-That would be cool. That would...

-Yeah, we could sail into Dubrovnik.

-Get some sea legs.

So let's talk money.

How much do you think this villa is on the market for?

OK, bearing in mind it is a two-bed, I'm hoping...

375,000.

I would say...

It is definitely the lower part of our budget, but I think,

-because of the premium of the waterfront, I would say £400,000.

-OK.

The asking price for this villa is just under £300,000.

-No!

-Under? That is fantastic.

-Gosh.

-Well, that would leave plenty for...

-Office rental.

-..for office rental.

-A boat.

-For the boat! Oh, that is...

-Fantastic.

-That is fantastic. That is really good news.

-Wow.

-Are we getting a step closer, guys?

-We are.

-I think we are.

-Why don't you wander around on your own round the villa?

-OK.

-Now you know that price, everything looks a little bit more rosy, if it didn't before.

-Absolutely.

-And, yeah, give me a shout when you're ready.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-Perfect.

-OK, off you go.

Has to be the icing on the Croatian cake, doesn't it,

with a price like that? And they already loved the property.

What it does do is give them so much money to play with.

If they do want to find somewhere else for the business,

to rent a little place perhaps in the town, they have got enough left in their funds to do it.

It's all going rather well, I think.

Oh, this is amazing. Look at this.

-This is a lovely little use of space, isn't it?

-Look at this.

-And what a view.

-Wow.

-What a view.

See me running along there in the mornings.

You could see me coming back, put the kettle on. It's beautiful.

I could live here.

-Definitely.

-I could live here.

Surprisingly over £150,000 under budget,

this modern terraced villa is set right on the seafront

and comes with an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room,

two en-suite double bedrooms, a garage

and terraced verandas with outstanding views over the bay.

I loved it the minute we walked up to it.

I think when we looked over the wall and saw the outside,

it looked fantastic, looked new and modern, sharp.

It's similar to what we've got at the moment, which is contemporary-modern,

but it has been picked up and put in a fantastic new setting.

It's amazing.

I asked Nicki for the keys, and I don't know where she is,

but I still want them!

Living somewhere like this, this close to the water's edge,

you'd have to get a boat. And, yeah, I think...

Yeah, I would get a speedboat.

I would absolutely get a speedboat here. It would be just fantastic.

-I wondered where you two had got to!

-Hello.

-Are you taking in the views?

We are, it's amazing.

Seems a shame to drag you away, but that's it, I'm afraid.

-You don't want to leave, do you?

-Not really.

THEY LAUGH

-I'll have to persuade you! Come on, then.

-OK.

-OK.

It's another beautiful day on the Adriatic Coast,

and despite his lack of language skills,

no-one could accuse David of not getting stuck right in.

-Hi, there.

-Ah! Hi, welcome back. How was it?

-Yeah, it was great.

It was excellent. It's lovely out there.

-Stopped at the market...

-Mmm!

-..got some peaches...

-Yeah?

..and pears and just got bits.

-It's really good down there, there's loads of stuff.

-Yeah?

Did you buy it in Croatian or did you buy it in English?

Did a lot of pointing.

So, while I was having my lie in and you were out running

round the walls, was it busy or was it quiet?

It got busier, yeah, while I was out there.

-In fact, it's quite busy down there now.

-Already?

-Already.

-OK.

-But it's still quiet up here, so...

-Yeah, that is true.

-You don't hear anybody downstairs, do you?

-No, not at all.

It's the last day of house-hunting and we have one final property to show David and Rada.

And with our mystery house, I am really pushing the boat out.

Our buyers want to be a maximum of an hour's drive from the airport,

but for the mystery property, I'm taking them right

out of their comfort zone, away from the mainland, and over to an island.

Our final destination is Korcula, which is not only a two-hour

drive from Dubrovnik, but it also involves a 15-minute ferry crossing.

-It is planes, trains and automobiles on this trip, isn't it?

-It is!

So you've probably guessed, we are heading for that island, Korcula,

which I think you two know already, don't you?

Yeah. Funny enough, it was the first place we discussed when we talked about moving over here.

We saw a big property online and thought,

"That would be great, living on an island."

So the whole idea of potentially being two hours away from an airport, not an hour,

we've got to find out if that is a compromise worth making.

But it's great you've already been receptive to it.

Completely encircled by the crystal-clear waters

of the Adriatic Sea,

Korcula is the second most populous island in Croatia,

with around 16,000 inhabitants.

At just under 30 miles long, there's a mix of landscapes,

from a town with a good range of essentials

to lush rural countryside, vibrantly patchworked with farmland.

But the final property we've lined up is just a ten-minute drive

from the main town and right on the sea edge.

-So you've got a beautiful harbour here.

-Yeah.

-Really exquisite.

And your mystery house, or should that be apartments,

-is right in front of us.

-Oh!

-Right, OK.

As you can see, it's terraced, and that's the whole property.

-Fabulous!

-Shall we start?

-Shall we?

-Our final property?

-Exactly.

Come on.

This property is divided up into three,

so you've got an apartment at the top,

you've got another apartment here,

and you've actually got a third studio apartment

right on the water's edge.

-Oh, OK.

-That's interesting.

There's space for just one of David's sports cars

in the twin garages,

as half has been converted into a studio flat,

which could make a good office.

But the bulk of the property is up on slightly higher ground

where a large, sunny terrace takes us straight into

the open plan reception of the ground floor apartment.

What do you think of this space?

We'll explore a little bit more, but just as you walk in the door?

-It doesn't actually look very big, to be honest.

-No.

It's a bit darker as well.

So...

-Doesn't flow that well, does it, somehow?

-No?

-First impressions aren't hitting you?

-No, not quite.

It's slightly raised. You've got your dining area there.

You've got two double bedrooms on this side.

-Neither of them are en suite.

-OK.

Bear in mind this is just one of the apartments.

You might want to put in a staircase and make it into a house.

Personally, if I was looking around this apartment,

that's what I would consider doing.

-OK.

-I agree.

All right, well, let's go through, check out the kitchen.

So this is going to be the intimate kitchen,

because we've got to cuddle up to all get into it.

I've got to say galley kitchens aren't our style, are they, really?

This is a very narrow galley kitchen.

Behind us is the family bathroom.

I think we should go upstairs and see that second apartment,

-because then it gives you a bigger picture.

-OK.

This unusual mystery house actually offers David and Rada

the largest internal footprint of all our properties,

so if they can keep focused on the potential,

they could create something really quite large

and special here in an exquisite setting.

So...

A little hallway here with storage.

This leads us into a much bigger kitchen.

-That's much brighter, isn't it?

-Isn't it, yeah?

-That's much better.

-And there's a hall.

-Yes.

-Which helps.

But I think if you're looking at knocking the two together,

then you would probably have an upside-down house here.

Have the kitchen and lounge and do the bedrooms downstairs.

That would actually probably work better, wouldn't it?

I've shown you two bedrooms already downstairs.

You've got a double bedroom just behind you

and if you want to follow me into the living room in here...

..you've got an additional double bedroom, family bathroom.

So far, I've shown you four bedrooms, all of a good size,

but then you've got this.

At the moment, it's a sitting room,

but imagine that living space downstairs,

but then having all of this as well.

I think you'd spend a lot more time outside,

so I think staying in an upside down house, I think it probably would work

a traditional way - keep the bedrooms up here and keep the flow outside.

I'm glad David and Rada are really considering

how they can make this property work for them,

as they did they say they would be up for a project.

However, the extent of any proposed alterations will, of course,

depend on the price.

You see, any excuse to bring you out here again to see this view.

How much do you think the mystery house is on the market for?

I'd say it's...

I'd say it's actually around the £425,000 mark.

I could be way out, but I'm going to go for 325.

OK, David, you're the closest.

Asking price is just over £450,000.

-Ooh.

-Right, OK.

I don't think it does any harm having another look around, do you?

Go on, off you go. I'm still going to stay here, taking in this view.

Just tipping over into the higher end of our buyers' budget,

the mystery house is a seafront villa

that has been carved into two self-contained apartments,

but as a whole, it offers four bedrooms, two reception rooms,

a studio flat and a garage,

all with uninterrupted views across the water.

My first impressions were great.

We rounded the corner, saw the bay, which was stunning

and I thought, "Great, I like this."

Turned on our heels to view the property

and whilst I liked the stepped garden,

it doesn't do anything for me and I think for it to be turned

into anything remotely resembling a home would be a tall order.

The location is really good.

I think being this close to the sea again is fantastic.

I think the fact that it's elevated slightly is perfect

and the plot is really good.

The house, however, just doesn't do it. It's too bitty.

It would need far too much work, unfortunately.

-Ah, here she is.

-I don't want to leave.

Looks like it's our turn to drag you away this time.

I think you're going to have to, actually. I just love that view.

Have you seen enough?

-I think so.

-Cos that's our four houses.

I think we need to go and have a chat.

I've got to find out whether I'm cancelling

that return flight or not, haven't I? Come on.

As well as the visual appeal of Croatia's Adriatic coast,

the purity and salinity of the sea here is also highly prized

for the essential food preservative and flavour enhancer, salt.

Founded for the sole purpose

of sea salt production in the 14th century,

the small medieval town of Ston is believed to be the oldest

and best preserved medieval saltworks in the Mediterranean.

Back then, salt was literally worth its weight in gold,

so a huge wall was built to protect the salt pans,

which was one of the longest defensive walls in the world,

second only to China.

Today, the saltworks are owned by Mario Pejic's family

and he's kindly agreed to give me a guided tour of the impressive site,

where salt production techniques have hardly changed

in over 800 years.

So, Mario, from that first pool of water, which is half a mile away,

to the end pool here, how long would that whole process take?

Usually it needs one month to 45 days.

So the salt that's in the final pool,

-is that ready to harvest today?

-Yes, that's ready to harvest.

-We can go there to see?

-Yeah? You think I've got good muscles?

-Yeah, I think so. We'll check.

-Thank you.

Salt is produced by gradually evaporating sea water

through nine interlocking pools.

As the water evaporates, the salt concentration in each pool increases

and when it hits around 25%, the salt starts to crystallise.

You want to see how it's done?

-Yes, please.

-OK, let's take off the shoes.

Let's go inside.

Is it warm?

-It's a little warm.

-Is it?

-And it's good for my feet, is it?

-It's good for the feet.

-OK.

-It's like walking on pebbles.

-Yeah.

Nicki, this is my friend Jovo, who'll help us.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi.

-So the three of us together, we're going to harvest the salt?

-Yes.

Put it like this.

-Yep.

-And just push.

Slowly.

Once compulsory for all Ston residents,

now the harvesting is done by local volunteers during the summer months.

-Look at the colour. It's so pristine, isn't it?

-Yeah.

And how good is the quality of your salt?

It's good because you see the colour.

The salt is white, it's not dirty.

And what's so special about Croatian salt?

Because this is the natural way. We only use the wind, sea and the sun.

At its peak in the 17th century,

these saltworks were producing some 6,000 tonnes of salt every year,

but today that figure is closer to half

and distributed for both industrial consumption as well as food.

-Here is the final product, isn't it?

-Yeah, this is the final product.

Mmm, nice, I must admit. It does taste really good.

And next time I put a little sprinkle of salt on my food,

sea salt, I'm going to really appreciate where it comes from

and all the hard work that's gone into harvesting it.

-Mario, thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

We've all fallen in love with Croatia,

but have any of our properties worked their magic

on David and Rada? It's time to find out.

David and Rada, it started off as a dream, wanting to move here.

Is it going to be a reality? That is the question, really, isn't it?

I think we've learned such a lot, we've seen such a lot,

and viewed it in a different way.

-It's been really insightful.

-And what about you, Rada?

I think more so for David,

but I think it was a really good road into him, as he said,

really starting to think about it, taking it on board.

This could now be real.

So let's talk about the properties that we've shown you.

Interesting mix, really.

You've got a healthy budget, what did you think?

They were very diverse,

in very different locations,

not something we would have picked up on or looked at ourselves,

so it's been great to do, it's a been a fantastic process.

Did we get close with any of them?

-You have.

-I think you have.

-You've got close with one.

Come on, put me out of my misery - which one?

It's the house in Slano.

-Right by the water's edge?

-That's the one.

And what was it about that property

that really resonated with both of you?

There was so many things.

The location was spot-on, right next to the beach, fantastic.

The amenities in the local area, the close proximity to Dubrovnik,

but the house itself is so similar to what we've already got,

but in a brand-new location, so that familiarity was fantastic.

I think we could see ourselves in there now.

But can that house deliver you the lifestyle that you want?

I believe it can, particularly because of the price,

which was a great surprise.

I think that will give us enough in our budget

to get an office or studio sorted out

and to have a separate home/work environment

like we have at the moment.

Absolutely, yeah.

So what is the next step going to be?

Well, we've actually decided we're going to come back out here

-in a couple of weeks' time.

-Are you?

-BOTH: We are!

We're going to go back and really think about this in more detail,

now that we've actually seen what it's like out here

as a home rather than as a holiday destination

and I think we're going to come back with a tape measure

and really go for it.

Well, hopefully, that property will be the right one for you.

You both sound so committed to this move.

There doesn't seem to be any doubts. Are there any doubts?

I think there'll always be nagging doubts there,

but I think this has really crystallised

that this is the next move for us.

-Yes?

-Yes.

Listen, I'm so delighted you're coming back

in a couple of weeks' time.

Somebody did say,

"I'm going to write the cheque, where are the keys?"

So I'm hoping when you come back in a few weeks' time,

you'll be in a position to do that.

-I would hope so.

-Hopefully.

-Let us know, won't you?

-Thank you both very much indeed.

-Thank you so much.

-It's been fantastic.

-It has, bless you. Thank you.

Well, that's it for our house hunt on the Dalmatian coast in Croatia.

Rada, she's always been desperate to return to her parents' homeland,

but for David, the last few days have really confirmed

that this is the right move for him too.

The fact that they're returning to Dubrovnik quite so quickly

and revisiting one of our properties -

well, I see that as a very good sign.

Moving to another country and wanting to change the way

you live your life is always a huge undertaking.

I'm thrilled we've banished some of those niggles and helped them

take that first step to a new life.

See you again.

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