Most people's idea of packing for a summer vacation in Europe involves packing swimwear, shorts, and plenty of sunscreen into a suitcase.
When she visits her holiday home in France, Lebby Eyres does all that - but she also adds waterproof clothing and walking boots.
Lebby, 53, and her husband Fred Guetin, 48, bought their 1780s stone house in the village of Orgelet, close to the borders of France and Switzerland, in 2011 as a family base close to Fred's parents, who live in Burgundy.
Temperatures in Orgelet, 136 kilometers north of Lyon, reach a comfortable average of 24 degrees Celsius in summer, while hotspots like St. Tropez average 29 degrees Celsius. "I really love that it has four real seasons," Lebby said.
When Brits buy property abroad, guaranteed sunshine is traditionally at the top of their wish list.
But global warming is starting to make life uncomfortable in many southern European hotspots as water supplies in the golf paradise of Sotogrande, Spain, are cut off overnight due to water shortages, spring and summer forest fires in France and Spain, and flooding in Venice, Italy. .
The reality of climate change means that, looking to the future, savvy second home buyers should start considering more northern options as destinations where they can relax without such inconveniences.
Lebby, a freelance journalist, Fred, a TV producer, and their two teenagers still visit their €175,000 (£150,000) home up to four times a year. In summer they can have fun on one of the beaches around the nearby Lac de Vouglans. Later in the year it's all about fresh forest walks and skiing in the Jura Mountains in January and February.
Despite the latitude, Lebby has noticed over the past 13 years that the temperature in the Jura is changing - heat waves are becoming more frequent, the ski season is getting shorter. "But it never gets really bad," she says. "These stone houses are built to protect you from the cold in winter and from the heat in summer."
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Even the fact that the region experiences an average of 125 days of rain per year does not bother Lebby, who appreciates the coolness and lush surroundings. "You just have to remember your rain gear," she said.
Whether you're looking for a traditional seaside retreat, a sophisticated city break or an island getaway to get away from it all, Northern Europe has a fantastic choice of second homes for buyers who don't want to spend all summer living. sojourn. .
Island life: Gotland, Sweden
Film director Ingmar Bergman lived and worked on this beautiful Baltic island. For Swedes, it represents a timeless and wholesome escape from the real world, with its sandy beaches adorned with dramatic rock formations, beautiful landscapes, delightful pastel-colored houses and a surprisingly sophisticated range of bars, beach clubs and restaurants.
Think of Ibiza, but with fewer partying holidaymakers and less sunshine.
In the twelve years she has been selling property in Gotland, Sofia Erlandsdotter Dinneny of Home by Dean has only sold a handful of holiday homes to foreigners. "I think that's starting to change, though," she said. "I recently sold a house to a European couple who gave up their holiday home in Spain because it was too hot for them and decided to buy on Gotland instead.
"Gotland has the most hours of sunshine in all of Sweden. It is a bit milder than the rest of the country, but the average temperature in the summer is around 25 degrees."
Getting to Gotland is not for the faint-hearted, with a flight to Stockholm followed by a three and a half hour ferry ride to Visby, the main town.
Most second home buyers opt for houses, Dinneny said, and a three-bedroom house with sea views would cost around £220,000. A view of the Baltic Sea would push the cost up to around £300,000.
Most owners offset the costs by renting out their properties during the summer. A three-bedroom house would fetch around £1,000 a week in the summer. Winter is a harder sell because it gets dark around 3pm every day.
Although temperatures on Gotland remain comfortable all year round, even this location is not unscathed by climate change. A lack of rainfall has led to water shortages and a ban on watering gardens or filling swimming pools. In the longer term, seawater desalination is being investigated as a solution.
Culture lovers: Bruges, Belgium
Known as the Venice of the North, Bruges is a spectacularly beautiful medieval city full of culture and history. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed city is the perfect place for a stroll and to admire sights such as the Gothic Belfry of Bruges, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the everyday splendor of Bruges' brick gabled houses.
It's great for people watching, cafe hopping, is extremely walkable with excellent museums and art galleries, and has an evolving gastronomic scene.
"It is really authentic and we also have many tasty restaurants and a fun nightlife," says real estate agent Wout Nechelput of Immax Immobilien. "It is also very safe. We don't have the problems that big cities have."
It is also easily reached by train (Eurostar to Brussels and then a local train) which takes about three and a half hours.
When it comes to the weather, Belgium is a lot like Great Britain. The mercury rises to an average of 21 degrees Celsius every year in August.
The most expensive place to live in Bruges is the Golden Triangle, the heart of the city full of palaces, churches and designer shops. The area bustles with tourists in summer and December, when the city's Christmas markets are in full swing.
Nechelput suggests that shopping for a house along one of the city's many canals is a more pleasant and economical option. You can buy a two-bedroom apartment for around €450,000, or a three-bedroom house for between €700,000 and €900,000.
Based on past performance, Bruges appears to be a solid real estate investment. Since 2011, prices have risen year on year, and although that growth came to a halt in 2023, prices have risen 2.75% in the past three months, according to real estate portal Immoweb.
Less encouraging news for second home owners is that Bruges authorities have cracked down on holiday rentals to protect their tourism industry. Permits for renting homes within the city's ring road are no longer granted, Nechelput said. "They're really strict," he says.
The best of both worlds: Rotterdam, Netherlands
A three-hour train journey from central London takes you straight to the heart of the Netherlands' second city.
Cool in every sense of the word, the average temperature in Rotterdam peaks at 22 degrees Celsius in July and August and it's a great option for second home owners who love the city vibe.
The city was heavily bombed during World War II and has been rebuilt with modern architecture with a wow factor, world-class museums and galleries and a highly efficient public transport system (metro, trams and water taxis) to get you around.
According to Remko Schrijver, owner of Re/Max Totaal Makelaars, the best district to invest in at the moment is Katendrecht, a spit of land near the center, surrounded on three sides by water. Katendrecht, once the city's red light district, has been thoroughly cleaned up - King's Cross style - and is now full of restaurants and bars.
"It is an area that is booming," says Schrijver. "The city has spent a lot of money on improvements and they are working on preparing a huge urban beach that will only make it better."
If you prefer more natural beaches, Rotterdam can offer that too. A 40-minute metro ride will take you to Hoek van Holland - Rotterdam Beach. This vast expanse of sand, surrounded by dunes, is ideal for walking or cycling, beach volleyball, surfing and simply relaxing.
Schrijver estimates that a two-room apartment in Katendrecht costs approximately € 400,000. House prices in the Netherlands have doubled since 2008, but a series of interest rate increases in 2022 have reversed price growth. However, prices have started to rise again since late last year, and a severe shortage of inventory means buyers are having to compete for the best homes.
If you want your vacation home to earn its keep when you're not on site, you need to be careful about what you buy. "In the Netherlands, apartment buildings have Owners' Associations, and they do not like people renting out via Airbnb," Schrijver advises.
