Holidaying at home

Holiday homes – why you might get a better deal closer to home, writes Susan Welsh

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COMPARED with last year, twice as many Britons will be holidaying at home this year, according to figures produced by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

Furthermore, with the overseas property market looking less appealing due to a weaker pound, those looking for a holiday home might be better off purchasing one closer to home.

One couple from Thurso decided to do just that and have purchased a riverside apartment at Dandara’s gh2o harbour-side development in Glasgow to make the most of their holidays.

Last year, Douglas and Margaret Fraser and their two daughters bought the former two-bedroom show apartment at the development in Glasgow, and they couldn’t be happier.

Douglas said: “Buying a holiday home in Scotland is ideal as it means we can make the most of it every weekend.

“Had we bought somewhere overseas, we would only have been able to make use of the property once or twice a year, which didn’t make much sense to us.

“We can leave home straight after work on a Friday and be in Glasgow by 11pm and then have the whole weekend to enjoy there.”

Having decided that Glasgow’s waterfront would be their holiday destination, the family viewed a range of properties and decided that gh2o would be ideal.

Douglas said: “It was the outdoor space and views that we loved at gh2o. We have a wonderful balcony where we can sit out and take in the breathtaking views across the Clyde – watching the sea planes land really is something else.

“We wanted the outdoor space, but a garden would have been too much maintenance. The roof terrace is just ideal.”

As it was a former showhome, it came ready decorated and furnished, which meant all the family had to do was move in.

Douglas said: “It’s a great place to stay and really does feel just like a second home to us now.

“Most of the people at the development live here full-time, so it’s nice that we have neighbours who know who we are.”

Hugh McGuinness, UK sales and marketing director at Dandara, said: “The majority of people who have bought live there permanently, but there are also a number of apartments sold to investors and second home owners like the Frasers.

“With a huge amount of investment expected at Glasgow harbour over the next few years and leading up to the Commonwealth Games, the apartments here are proving very popular.”

Prices at gh2o start at £109,950 for a studio apartment. For further information, visit www.gh2o.co.uk, or call 0800 008 7 008.