Cadiz, Spain Get Away for Winter

-Paradise!

-Absolutely.

What if you could live abroad in winter for the same cost

as living in the UK...

This is priced at 595 per month.

Is that all?

..by renting a piece of paradise?

Unbelievable. Wow, this is amazing.

You could swap sleet and snow...

..for sun and sand.

-Right, let's go and have a look at some properties.

-Absolutely.

Get Away For Winter teams up sun-seekers

with a local property expert...

-Can you see yourself in there?

-I can, yes.

..to find their perfect rental retreat.

It's like you're on holiday all the time.

Together, they will leave no stone unturned...

This is unbelievable, isn't it?

..in order to find and fund their dream winter getaway.

This is what I was dreaming of, and didn't even think existed.

Sandhurst in the south-east of England.

This sleepy Kent town is prepping for the cold winter months,

and two residents looking to sidestep those chilly days

are husband and wife, Norman and Sally.

-Have you made the stock, love?

-I've got the stock over there.

Going in in a couple of seconds' time.

We've been together, let me see...

-51.

-..51 years.

And we have been married 47 years, is it?

47, yes.

Not a lifetime, quite.

I won't crack the old jokes about life sentences.

-No.

-Never a wrong word.

Indeed. And don't we both look happy?

Their children have long since flown the nest,

and Norman and Sally want to enjoy their life in retirement,

but with a love of the outdoors,

they find the cold, cold winter months tough going.

-You're not at your best in winter, are you?

-I'm not at my best, no.

I don't like getting up in dark mornings and having

a miserable day ahead.

The winter months, I can't get out on my bike,

Sally can't get out in the garden, we can't go for walks.

We like to go down to the coastal areas.

Norman's passion for being on his bike

is matched by the couple's love of travelling, and now

they're determined to get away for two months over winter.

It's something they've been thinking about for a long time.

For years, we did toy with the idea of buying a property abroad.

But then, you know...

It restricts you,

because you're only going to that one place every year,

whereas to actually rent, you can do a month,

six months, in one part of Spain, and next year you might think,

"I want to go to Miami, or, "I want to go to Italy," or wherever,

so you can rent and you get the whole benefit of living there.

Norman and Sally will primarily be using money from their pensions

to fund their trip. However, to make their time abroad more cost neutral,

they could think about renting their own house while they're away.

Their three-bedroomed detached house is in the highly desirable area

of Kent, because it's commutable to London,

and local estate agents estimate they could make £1,700 per month

in rental income. For now, this is not an avenue that Norman and Sally

want to go down, but they do estimate they will save £80 a month

on utilities and petrol while they are gone,

which, together with money from their pensions,

means they have set their winter sunshine budget at £1,800 a month.

£1,000 a month of this will be allocated to renting a perfect

property in the sun, and they know exactly where they want to go.

Ideally, we'd like to go to Cadiz, to the Old Town,

which is an absolutely beautiful city, and it's very old.

There's the cathedral and everything else there,

but there's also the port,

there's the beaches,

there's just everything in the town itself,

-and it's a beautiful part of the world.

-It is.

And not a bad place to try and spend the whole of January and February.

Located at the southernmost part of continental Europe,

the very popular province of Cadiz is a jewel in the Spanish crown.

The provincial capital is the historic city of Cadiz,

and Greek legend proclaims it was founded by Hercules himself.

It's viewed as the oldest inhabited city in Spain,

and every February, hosts one of the biggest street parties in the world.

It's known as the Cadiz Carnival.

The city is surrounded by Andalusian countryside, and

boasts world-class beaches, as well as whitewashed hilltop towns

and villages dotted along its coastline.

It's a place that has drawn people in,

including property expert Ali Zartash Lloyd.

Cadiz itself is an amazing place.

It's a strip of land that juts out into the sea,

literally a narrow strait,

and that is why property in Cadiz is very difficult to find.

Originally from Iran, Ali moved to Spain from Cambridge

with his wife and business partner Caroline back in 2006,

and after running a successful hotel for ten years,

decided to start their own property rental company.

-Cable TV.

-Yes.

-And internet.

We love the Spanish way of life.

There is a misunderstanding about Spanish life,

which is that everyone thinks it's laid-back and nobody does much.

The fact is we work differently.

We work in two shifts, but we do the same hours everybody else does.

With many years in the property game, Ali is looking forward

to sharing his local knowledge with Norman and Sally.

They are standing by to video call Ali, and as only one of them will be

joining Ali on the search, they will be letting him know what

they're both looking for in a rental property.

Hi, Norman and Sally. Good to meet you at last in the flesh.

Yeah, hi. Good to see you, Ali, yes.

-Nice to meet you.

-Jolly Ali gets straight to work.

Let's start with places you like, in the cities,

or villages, or the kind of thing that really interests you.

-We prefer Cadiz province...

-Mm-hm.

..and ideally, we would prefer Cadiz Old Town, and if not,

one of the other towns, but a reasonably sized town.

And easy walking distance to amenities.

-OK, so you don't want somewhere isolated?

-No.

And from the point of view of the property itself,

what are you looking for? What are the things you are looking for?

Two-bedroomed, a good kitchen - we both like cooking.

-OK.

-Some outside space, even if it's just a balcony or a small courtyard,

-something like that.

-OK. And do you mind apartments?

As long as it's not too high up in the building,

-unless there is a lift.

-OK!

-If there's a lift, that's fine.

So a pretty clear wish list, and time to talk budget.

What kind of budget do you have?

1,000 British pounds.

OK, if you want to be in the old town, which is absolutely beautiful,

it is difficult to get the kind of place you are looking for at

around this price. Also, the other challenge you have got is, between

the 8th and the 18th of February, we have the Cadiz Carnival.

-Yeah.

-Now, that is a beautiful event,

but it does mean people have booked their places a year before,

so it will be quite challenging to find you something in Cadiz.

-We will try!

-Right.

-But just be aware of that,

particularly the time you are coming for.

Who is coming out for the search?

That will be me, Ali, yes.

You'll have the pleasure of my company, I'm afraid.

I will be delighted to host you!

Leaving the young ladies at home, you see.

OK, I think we have got everything we need.

Hopefully, we can find you the right places.

Thank you very much for all your information, and I'm sure I'm now

leaving Norman in good hands when he comes out to see you.

So you'll have to look after him for me.

We will look after him, don't worry.

We will send him back home safe and sound.

Thank you.

A successful first chat, and a helpful uncovering of

certain realities for Norman.

I thought he was very interesting and very knowledgeable, and I think

the points he came up with were very valid, to be honest with you.

I think we had realised there was a fiesta on at that time of year,

which we thought would be brilliantly interesting for us to go

to, but we hadn't actually looked on the other side of the coin in terms

of how busy it might be, or that it would attract that many visitors.

So for Norman and Sally's £1,000 budget,

they're looking for a two-bedroomed property,

with good kitchen facilities and outside space.

They'd like to be in Cadiz itself, or one of the surrounding towns,

and they would prefer a lift if there were a few flights of stairs

to climb up.

Time to see if Ali can get them exactly what they want in Cadiz.

Norman has made the almost 1,500-mile journey to Spain,

and is preparing for the search ahead.

I am excited, but at the same time, a little bit in trepidation

as to how things will be.

Ali is making his way to meet Norman

to get their property search under way.

The area that Norman and Sally have chosen is very interesting,

because it's not well known as a tourist area outside of Spain.

The Spanish come here a lot,

so therefore you are always competing with the Spanish,

but also you are competing with people who own properties here

themselves, so they want to come here and spend wintertime.

So that always challenges us when we are looking for properties

in this time of the year.

It's a very popular area, so no wonder Norman and Sally

want to return, and with Ali's help, spend a lot more time here.

How are you doing? Good to see you.

-I'm seeing you in the flesh at last.

-Yeah, absolutely!

Well, we've set you the challenge, Ali,

so have you come up with some interesting properties for me?

Well, it has been a challenge, yes.

Yes, we have got a nice range of properties for you.

We thought we would get a good mixture of properties, you know,

so you can have different options.

But I think you will be pleased with them. I hope at the end of it,

you find it difficult to decide which one to go for.

But I'm sure you'll find something.

You think it will be difficult for me to say no?

Well, I certainly hope so.

But it's not just Norman making the decisions.

At each property, he will video-call Sally back in the UK

to make sure that they get what they both want

from their £1,000-a-month budget.

So I guess we're heading out of town?

We're heading out of town, across the lagoon, if you want to call it.

Ali is taking Norman across the lagoon to property number one...

..located in one of Norman and Sally's preferred locations...

This popular area is located 12 miles east of the Old Town of Cadiz.

Everything you need is around you,

so you can very quickly get to restaurants and to...

bars.

El Puerto de Santa Maria has certainly got a lot going for it.

Apart from its excellent bars,

restaurants and shopping facilities, the town is steeped in history,

wonderfully expressed by its museums and many monuments.

About ten minutes' drive from the town centre,

Ali and Norman reach their destination.

So what we are seeing today is an apartment.

-Right, OK.

-It's a top-floor apartment

with great views of the sea.

And does it have a lift? Because...

-Oh, yes, it does.

-Phew!

This two-bedroom apartment has everything Norman and Sally

would need for modern living,

with the most beautiful views over the Bay of Cadiz.

-OK, here we have the kitchen.

-Right, OK.

It's a galley kitchen, you'd say, would you?

Yeah. It's a smallish kitchen,

but that is normal in Spanish apartments.

The bathroom and bedrooms are all of a good size.

-Storage...

-Built-in cupboard.

-Yeah. A nice big bed.

For Ali, the best room in the apartment is the living room.

This is the piece de resistance of the place.

"This is the piece de resistance."

You have your balcony there, that you can have your breakfast.

Internally, I think the space is good.

I think it's a little bit dated.

But the apartment does have one timeless quality -

the view.

-There certainly is a view.

-It's amazing view.

I'll give you that, Ali, this is a view.

A spectacular view.

But does it have the rental price to match?

This is, including the bills,

910 a month.

£910 is well within their £1,000 budget.

And, back in snowy Sandhurst, Sally is hoping that Property 1

is fitting the bill.

One of the most important things to me, and to Norman, really,

is the kitchen.

Time for Sally's virtual tour with Norman.

Hi, Sally, how are you doing?

I'm all right. How are you, sweetheart?

-You're looking well.

-Have you missed me?

-Of course I've missed you.

Nobody to make my morning cup of tea.

Well, listen, here we are.

It's an apartment building.

It's on the 11th floor.

-The what?!

-The 11th floor,

but there's a lift, so I think we should have a little look around,

-shall we?

-Oh, yes, please.

First up, the all-important kitchen.

It looks very well-equipped.

It looks as though it's got everything we need.

Then, a peek at the bedrooms.

Yes, I think it looks fine, and there's plenty of storage space.

After the conversation they have together,

it will be interesting to see what becomes that.

But, you know, depends. Individuals look for different things,

so I'm looking forward to see what Sally says.

Oh, what amazing views!

The problem is the balance between the budget and the...

time of the year and what they want.

It's going to be a tough Rubik Cube to try to get around and get it right.

Can I ask - you haven't told

me yet - how much that one is?

It's £910 per month, fully-inclusive.

I think it's a lot of money

for where it is.

I think you're right. And I think it gives us a benchmark as to whether

we're expecting too much for our money, or not enough for our money,

or whatever it happens to be.

So what did the boss say?

What did the boss say? Well, I think we're both...in agreement, really.

I think what we thought was, in terms of space, it's great -

there's loads of space inside -

square footage, square metres, or whatever.

But I think there are a couple of negatives,

which are it's on the 11th floor,

and if there was a problem with the lift, etc.

I think the apartment really wasn't bad.

I mean, dated, yes, but, you know, let's face it,

a lot of these rentals ARE dated.

Location-wise,

a little bit too far from the centre of civilisation, and to be able to

go to the markets and amenities and such as that.

I think the actual apartment, it...

it would suit us, you know, if it was in, probably, a better location.

So Property 1 has offered much food for thought.

Available to rent for £910 a month,

inclusive of bills,

it offers the internal space they're looking for,

with breathtaking views.

But being on the 11th floor and not

in the centre of town has added

a little uncertainty to their overall feelings for the place.

It has, however, given them a benchmark to work from

in terms of just how far their budget will stretch,

and has given Ali a better idea of

what's REALLY important for both of them.

While Norman is looking for the perfect winter home,

back in the UK, Sally's thoughts are turning to

ways of minimising their expenditure.

I think there are few areas where we will save money whilst we're away.

There's the obvious ones of heating and lighting costs.

And then a major saving for us would be fuel costs.

We live in the country,

so if we have to go to the shops

or if I have to go to the gym, or anywhere -

just going out in general -

we have to get in the car.

And, of course, fuel costs a lot of money,

whereas, abroad, we perhaps would walk most of the way,

or even get a bus now and again.

And the other major saving would be food costs.

We are very, very keen cooks,

and we use a lot of local produce.

And the cost of fruit, veg, fish,

the usual things one gets in Spain,

are a lot less expensive,

as well as eating out is a lot less expensive in Spain

as it is in the UK.

As Sally manages the pennies at home,

in Cadiz, Ali has ditched the car

and is taking Norman on foot to see property number two.

It's in an area that will certainly please Norman -

Cadiz Old Town.

-Where we are going to is one of the older parts of the city.

-Right.

So this part of the town is the old merchant town...part.

Yeah, it looks very interesting.

Cadiz Old Town is located in the north of the thin stretch of land

that is Cadiz City.

This ancient city was founded around 1100 BC

and features over 3,000 years of archaeological remains.

So this is the kind of area you were thinking about?

-Exactly the type of area we had in mind.

-Oh, great!

-Exactly the type of area.

-So we got the area right...

The area is absolutely spot-on.

-OK.

-You just need to find the right property now.

Not an easy task in such a popular city.

Very few places offer such a mix of old and new.

History, art, architecture,

coastal walks, shopping,

parks, music and food...

..the beautiful city of Cadiz has it all.

The building on our left is where we're going to take you.

-Oh, right.

-OK? You can see traditional old Juliet balconies.

And we're on the fourth floor.

-Right.

-There's no lift...

-No lift?

-..but, trust me, it's worth going up there.

These old merchant buildings commonly had central courtyards and,

although extensively renovated, many still contain original features.

These will be the original stairways, the original architecture?

They are actually the very original materials.

Even though it's been renovated, it'll have been renovated with original...?

-Yes, the marble steps.

-Marble stairways.

-You can see they're rare from them.

-You can feel it under your feet.

-You can do, yes, absolutely.

This fourth-floor, one-bed apartment is the perfect modern hideaway,

wrapped up and held firm within hundreds of years of history.

-Look at this.

-Wow, eh?

A successful marriage of old and new can be seen

right throughout the apartment.

So you have a fully-equipped kitchen.

And you've got the hob and all the equipment you need.

-It's very modern. Very modern.

-Yes.

It's got a nice big shower, very well-appointed.

And then go on back, into the living area.

The open-plan living area is spacious and beautifully decorated,

with modern necessities, including Wi-Fi.

-Nice-shaped room, isn't it? Lots of space, lots of light.

-Lots of space.

And the spaciousness carries on into the bedroom.

-That's a good size.

-It's a good size...

-Excellent size.

-..and it's very nicely lit.

-It is.

-And we have got a magic cupboard there.

A magic cupboard? It looks like an Aladdin's cave to me.

It does - it's beautifully done.

Certainly has got some wow to it.

Norman seems a very happy man so far,

and there's still more to see.

-Here's your Juliet balcony...

-Yep.

-..which, in the evenings,

you can go down and get your guitar and serenade Sally.

-How did you know I had a guitar?

-Oh, well, there you go, you see...

-You've been doing your research.

-ALI LAUGHS

That's just amazing, that.

A very, very pleasing experience so far for Norman and Ali.

It's good. Excellent.

We've hit all the buttons.

Apart from one.

-No lifts?

-No lifts.

Oh, I have a solution for that.

When you want to bring things like washing machine and luggage

and so on, what you have to use is a bit of ingenuity, OK?

So you think I'm going to strap Sally on the bottom of this and bring her upstairs?

Yeah! And your luggage, and bring it up.

Clearly, Ali is having a lot of fun,

but the quirky details within these old buildings

add to their unique character.

The plus side of being on the fourth floor means there's a short walk to

the incredible roof terrace.

It's quite peaceful up here.

-It is.

-Very peaceful.

In terms of location, it's exactly what we're looking for,

-there's no doubt about it.

-So we've got the location right.

You got the location right. You got... The apartment is...

-is amazing.

-Bearing all that in mind,

and bearing in mind this is the centre of Cadiz...

-You're going to ask me how much I think the rent is, are you?

-Yeah.

I'm going to say...above the budget that we wanted to spend,

and I'm going at £1,200 per month.

You're amazingly close.

-It's £1,300 a month, OK...

-Right.

..but it's only available for six weeks.

From when till when?

It's for the carnival, it's being let.

Norman and Sally would like to spend at least two months in Cadiz.

However, this apartment is only available in January

and the first week in February

because it is booked for the February carnival.

OK, well, that's something we'd need to discuss with Sally. Yeah?

-Absolutely. OK, let's go and talk.

-Let's go and give her a call.

-OK.

-OK.

With properties booked up literally months in advance,

and rentals sky-high over festival time,

this property gives Norman and Sally a taste of living right in the

centre of Cadiz.

But will they decide it's worth pushing their budget for,

and will Sally be able to see past all those stairs?

Yesterday, I thought was very good, however,

I'm hoping this one is perhaps more central,

and perhaps a little bit more, not modern, but a bit more up-to-date,

let's put it that way.

OK, it's time for Sally's virtual tour.

Hello! How are you?

How are you, all right?

Are you ready to see this property?

I am, I'm waiting indeed.

I'll tell you a little bit about it first.

We are in the old part of Cadiz.

Super-duper. Come on, then - let's see.

It's all very, very modern.

Oh, wow.

I think it looks absolutely fabulous.

I can't really say enough about this. It's really, really nice

inside, beautifully done. But let's see what Sally thinks.

It's quite nice that it's two separate areas -

the dining area at one end, near the kitchen, isn't it?

And, then, the lounge area at the other end.

It looks very nice indeed.

I think this one is just the place they wanted to be.

The centre of Cadiz, amongst everything, you know,

close to beach, close to shops,

close to where life really happens.

And you can have a look out over the...

Oh, that is amazing!

It looks lovely.

What floor is it on? You didn't say.

Right, well, it is actually on the fourth floor...

Right. Is there a lift?

..and there isn't a lift.

I think the deal-breaker might be the lift.

It is quite a few steps to go up,

but I think it's worth it when you get up there. The views are amazing.

And that view is the next port of call for Norman and Sally.

The outside space looks amazing.

Sally is extremely happy with the rooftop terrace.

But how will she feel about it being over-budget?

It's 1,300 per month, all-inclusive.

That's very expensive, isn't it?

There is one other factor to take into account,

which is that it's only available

from he 4th of January to the 8th of February

because of the carnival, which is,

essentially, around about five/six weeks.

So that is something else we would need to factor in and think about.

The price is a little bit over what they wanted,

but that is the nature of Cadiz and the period of time they want to be

here. But given that the property is only available for six weeks,

that might actually make it affordable for them

because they are not staying here for the full two months.

I think it's a definite contender,

and it's something we've got to discuss.

Right, OK, well, we'll leave it at that for now, and we'll speak later.

-So?

-So, I've spoken to the boss.

-What did the boss say?

-Well, she's in agreement with me -

it's a beautiful apartment, there's no doubt about that.

Yeah, it really is lovely.

It's really well-kitted-out, it's in the right location.

It was absolutely wonderful to see something in Cadiz.

It's a city we love and that's where we'd, ideally, want to go.

So actually seeing a property there was fantastic.

The only fly in the ointment would be the eight flights of stairs -

-I think there's about 70 stairs altogether.

-The lift?

-The absence of a lift, yeah.

But, look, don't write it off yet...

-No.

-..because a number of reasons.

One is, this is the only property we've managed to find

in Cadiz centre itself,

and there's some compromises you have to make somewhere along

-the line.

-Absolutely. I think the other thing is, which, um,

you mentioned, obviously, is the fact that it is only available

between the 4th of January and the 8th of February.

But, also, the other option you have got is perhaps stay here

for a month, and then somewhere else for a month,

just outside of Cadiz, in other properties that we've got.

-Absolutely, yeah.

-So you've got options.

But this is, certainly...certainly very, very interesting.

-Great, so...

-You've done a good job with that one, Ali.

-A great job!

-OK!

Property 2 has delivered on almost everything.

Available to rent from £1,300 a month,

it offers a wonderful modern interior...

..and a fantastic rooftop terrace...

..right in the heart of Cadiz Old Town.

But I'm afraid there's no lift,

and its unavailability during the carnival could be a deal-breaker.

Norman and Sally are finding out what they can get for their money in

Cadiz. Due to the festival in February,

prices go up, and then availability goes down.

However, in winter, outside carnival time,

there are discounts to be had right across all budgets.

The apartment they viewed in the Old Town of Cadiz

is available for around £350 less

during the quieter months of March and April.

It is possible to stay in a one-bedroom apartment

in the centre of Cadiz for around £650 a month

in winter less than in the very busy periods.

Or, if you are looking for a roomier option,

take this beautiful six-bedroom villa

with an unbeatable seafront location.

It's set on four levels,

the master bedroom comes with a Jacuzzi,

and the outside area boasts a beautiful garden and infinity pool.

Sally would just love this place.

It even has a lift.

Available in the summer for £5,500 a week,

and in the winter for just under half of that price, at £2,600.

If you're willing to forego the famous Cadiz festival,

or indeed stay out of the city itself,

there are great winter deals to be had.

With the demand for rental properties within Cadiz so high,

and Norman and Sally's property wish list ever clearer,

Ali's hoping that Property 3, in the hills outside Cadiz,

may offer them what they want from a property, and a great location.

We thought maybe we'll bring you a little bit out of town to show you

what other options you can have and what you can get for your money.

Arcos de la Frontera is located around 45 minutes from Cadiz.

It's a town that is familiar to Norman and Sally

after visiting it a number of times over the years.

One of the area's most dramatically-positioned settlements,

Arcos was declared a national artistic monument in 1962

in recognition of its exceptional architecture.

The beautiful old town is a tangled labyrinth of cobbled streets that

leads up to a sandstone castle.

Now, it may not be Cadiz,

but Norman and Sally would be able to experience life

in an historic town at a vastly-cut price.

And if they enjoy a room with a view,

then this is THE place.

Well, here's a house.

-This is it?

-Nice, plain door, as you always have here...

-Quite impressive.

-..but the beauty is inside, OK?

-Shall we go inside?

-Absolutely.

-OK.

-Come on, let's go.

This spacious two-bedroom town house is perched high above the river and

comes with Wi-Fi and a garage.

You got a large, spacious kitchen here.

I think this is definitely the biggest kitchen we've seen so far.

-A proper kitchen.

-A proper kitchen.

This is a good working kitchen.

After you've made the fabulous food, you can serve it in here...

-Excellent.

-..with a dining room with a view.

Good gosh!

It's an amazing view.

The view dazzles from the inside as well as the outside.

Well, it's as good as it was from the inside, if not better.

The ground floor has a split-level outside space with dining areas

surrounded by a plunge pool, plants and...

well, a view to just die for.

That's a load of outside space there -

probably more than I would ever need.

Back inside, to the upper level,

and there are the two bedrooms that Norman and Sally are looking for...

-Nice, bright room with the sun coming through the window.

-Yeah.

..and two bathrooms.

Very useful. It is very useful,

especially if you have somebody staying.

The master bedroom in particular has got quite a lot going for it.

It's a good-size bedroom, and it's probably got the best views

I've ever seen from any bedroom I've ever been in, to be honest with you.

-It's unbeatable.

-And you're going to tell me those are patio doors

-as well?

-It takes you out to the terrace.

And this is what I was talking about earlier, about value you get

-outside of town...

-Yeah.

-..or outside of main city, versus in Cadiz.

Yeah, I can understand that.

Seeing this property has truly offered some food for thought for Norman.

It's a beautiful view. Beautiful.

Ali is hoping for a positive outcome.

So I think the all-important question is, how much is it?

This property is £1,000 a month,

excluding electricity.

-Right.

-Electricity is roughly about 100-150 a month.

I think that's a little bit steep,

for the time of year. But, listen, let's see what Sally says.

In Sandhurst, Sally is staying positive

as the attempt to find their

perfect winter getaway continues.

I think this search has been quite an eye-opener for us.

I thought we'd be able to find somewhere...

..in Cadiz itself.

However, we are open to all options.

And as long as we find the right property,

in the right location, we'll go for it.

-Hello!

-Hello! How are you?

Hi, Sally, how are you doing?

I'm all right.

Here we are at the property.

We're in Arcos de la Frontera.

-Right, yes.

-Lovely blue skies.

-And we'll go inside, shall we?

-OK.

Right, through the big front door.

I'll just walk through from the dining room,

because it leads through into the lounge area, which also has...

Incredible view!

..incredible views over the countryside.

Blimey. It looks absolutely fabulous.

Those views are amazing.

They are amazing, aren't they?

The ground floor has impressed, but it's time to go upstairs.

Spin round into the first of the bedrooms, which is the smaller twin

-bedroom.

-That looks nice. Very nice.

For the same kind of money -

or, in fact, less money than we can get in probably one or two-bedroom

apartment in Cadiz -

here, you can get a huge two-bedroom house with lots of space outside,

fantastic views,

and...peace and quiet and tranquillity, really.

So it's just wanting him to see the contrast.

Hopefully, it hasn't really been too far out for him.

But it just shows how challenging it is to find places in Cadiz itself.

What are your impressions of the second floor?

Looks absolutely fantastic.

It's very big.

Big on the inside and plenty of space on the outside.

Very peaceful and quiet.

It's absolutely amazing.

A wonderful property in a beautiful place.

I think it would be absolutely fabulous and amazing in the summer.

However, I'm not so sure about the winter.

And it looks rather large just for the two of us.

But you still haven't told me the price.

It's 1,000 a month,

plus electricity,

which is estimated at being

somewhere around about another 150.

I think... If there was more of us, I think it would be ideal.

But I think it looks rather large for us.

OK, brilliant. Well, I'll speak to you later.

OK, you take care.

-What did Sally think?

-Well, surprisingly enough -

and you may be surprised at this - she actually agreed with me.

-Oh, my goodness!

-Oh, my goodness, I don't believe it.

Yes, she agreed with me.

She thought it was a fabulous property.

Loads of space.

If anything, possibly a little bit too big for just the two of us.

Property 3 has certainly been an eye-opener for Norman and Sally.

Available to rent at the top end of their budget, at £1,000 a month...

..its spacious rooms,

generous outside space and, best of all, views that are hard to top,

have left a big impression.

But it's also a negative for them.

Too much space for just two people.

And they have to decide if it's a little too far away from Cadiz.

As Sally's aware, once they're living abroad in the winter,

she and Norman will not only enjoy

a more outdoor lifestyle, but a cheaper one...

..with everything from utilities to shopping

around half the price of the UK.

And by renting a property for the winter months, they're able to live

abroad without needing a large lump sum to buy a property or making a

long-term financial commitment.

In Spain, Norman is back on the road with Ali,

trying to find that perfect winter getaway property

for himself and Sally.

The object of the exercise is to live somewhere

that we like, where we can experience more of the culture

and the climate, the people, the food.

Which is why the facilities,

amenities and access to them is important to us.

Ali has taken Norman 40 minutes along the Bay of Cadiz

to the town of Rota.

It's an old fishing village that goes back to the Phoenician times,

so it's got a long history.

Nowadays, this historic town is very popular with tourists,

with its population swelling in the busy summer months.

In winter, its beautiful beaches may be quieter but, due to the fishing

industry and nearby naval base, it doesn't shut up shop altogether.

But because of its nature, it doesn't sort of die in the winter.

And as being in the centre of the action is so important to Norman and

Sally, Ali has found an apartment

just five minutes walk from the centre of the town and the coast.

You can see the sea from here.

You can. I'll be able to run down there every morning.

-Yes, you can.

-Dive in.

The apartment is located in a residential area

with shops and cafes close by.

-So, here we are...

-Here we are.

-..this is the apartment.

-OK? Ground floor.

-Ground floor?

-One bedroom.

So shall we go inside?

This one-bedroom apartment has been recently refurbished with a very

modern finish.

-Well, it looks very, very...

-Nice, nice apartment.

-Very well-presented, isn't it?

-Yeah.

The main living space is open-plan, with a fully-equipped kitchen

and a light and bright lounge area.

You can't fault it for its style and cleanliness.

The bathroom...

It's excellent. Lovely, modern bathroom.

..and bedroom are finished to the same high standard.

That's a good-size bedroom - plenty of space.

Yep, loads of light.

Outside, there's a large private terrace.

You almost have the same amount of room outside as you do inside.

-Outside as inside.

-Yeah.

There's also a communal roof terrace.

Oh, the sea.

It's the sea view.

The sea.

And for £1,000 per month, including all bills,

this apartment is within budget.

Oh, I'm excited.

We've seen some fabulous properties,

but I'm hoping this is going to be the one.

Norman's impressed with the look of the place, but will he and Sally

feel this is value for money for a one-bedroom apartment?

Well, here we are in sunny Rota.

So we'll go inside, shall we?

This is the galley kitchen area.

This is the shower room with a large walk-in shower.

It looks small but it looks very, very clean and very modern.

I think there's lots of positive things about this place.

It's near the beach - literally 200 metres from the beach.

It's near the shops and everything else.

So I hope Sally likes it.

I'm very impressed with the outside area.

It's excellent.

Hopefully, the roof space also gets a thumbs-up.

And, as you can see, there's the glorious seaside beyond.

Oh, yes. I see now, yeah.

With the final virtual tour over, Norman talks budget.

£1,000 per month, fully-inclusive of everything.

Right. Well, I think it's probably a fair price for later on in the year.

But I'd have thought, at this time of year,

I'd have thought it was quite expensive.

Do you know, Sally, I think we must have been married too long,

cos that's exactly what I said.

I'm a little bit concerned about expectations and their budget

and what their criterias are.

I hope we can find him something.

I think it's got a lot of positives.

It has - an awful lot of positives.

Food for thought.

Food for thought.

Superb place, brilliant apartment...

-Great.

-..good location.

I don't think the size entirely put me off it,

because it is such a lovely little apartment.

However, I think it is something that Norman and I would have

real discussions about.

Available to rent within their budget, for £1,000 a month -

of course, including bills -

this compact one-bedroom apartment is everything Norman and Sally need.

It's also close to the beach and local amenities,

but they're not sure if it's big enough for an extended stay.

And, more importantly, can Norman and Sally come to terms

with being anywhere other than Cadiz city?

The sun is setting on Norman's time in Cadiz.

With Ali's help, Norman and Sally

have seen four very different properties

in four very different areas.

Hello, how are you?

How are you doing? I've got Ali next to me.

-Hi, Sally.

-Hi, nice to see you again.

They've been searching for that rental property

that they can call home for two months.

They loved some of the properties...

I thought the apartment was absolutely fabulous.

It just goes to show you how difficult it is

to find something for Cadiz in February-time.

..and some of the locations...

What an absolutely beautiful house

in a fabulous location,

with outstanding views.

..which leaves them with a big decision to make.

We'd just like to thank you

for all of your help and wish you all the best for the future.

Take care. Bye-bye.

See you, Sally. See you later.

-Bye.

-Bye!

-Cheers.

-Cheers, all the best.

-Pleased to meet you.

-You take care.

Norman and Sally wanted to get away and decided that renting abroad was

the key to making it happen.

You can do a month, six months, in one part of Spain.

Next year, and you might think,

"Oh, I want to go to Miami, or I want to go to Italy," or wherever,

so you can rent and you get the whole benefit of living there.

The first property they saw, in El Puerto de Santa Maria,

offered some great views...

I'll give you that, Ali - this is a view.

..but there are some drawbacks.

It's on the 11th floor.

The what?!

The apartment in Cadiz Old Town made quite an impact.

-Look at this.

-Wow! Eh?

It was their dream location, but with a few stumbling blocks.

It's only available for six weeks.

Ali showed them something different, in size and location,

in Arcos de la Frontera.

It's probably got the best views I've ever seen from any bedroom

I've ever been in.

In Rota, they liked the location and the apartment but questioned its

suitability for a longer stay.

Food for thought.

Big question is, did they decide

that any of the properties were right for them?

-BOTH:

-Hi!

-Hello.

We're still here in Kent, unfortunately.

We haven't managed to make it out to Cadiz, as we wanted to do.

Ultimately, Norman and Sally decided

that the only destination for them is the old city of Cadiz.

Despite the fact we couldn't sort out something for this year,

I think it's cemented in our minds that Cadiz is definitely where we'd

like to spend the winter next year.

Though we intend to go out there late-autumn, early-winter

and give ourselves a little bit more time.

OK, the festival will still be on next year -

that won't go away - but we might...

If we give ourselves more time to find a property,

I think we'll have a better chance of being able to do a deal on one.

But we are definitely planning to go next winter.