• Key-ready holiday properties with 5% cash discount for festive buyers (Taylor Wimpey España)
• UK residents spent 611.5 million nights overseas in 2013 (ONS)
• Spain is UK’s favourite destination, attracting 11.7 million visitors last year (ONS)

When you’re a kid, Christmas is packed with the promise of sleigh bells in the snow, feasting on chocolate and the wonderment of seeing that Santa has delivered the presents when you wake up on Christmas morning. As a teenager, it’s a time for no school and for asking your parents for over-priced goods that you wouldn’t normally get. When you become a parent, it’s about making it perfect for the little ones and starting the cycle again.

But what about those whose children are past the age of believing in Father Christmas or even so grown up that they have flown the nest? While the holiday period is still full of excitement, it can be tricky to find the perfect gift after so many previous Christmases (and birthdays!) of having done just that.

All is not lost though. This year, Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, has the ultimate Christmas gift in mind – a second home in Spain. He comments,

“Surprising your partner and family with a Christmas gift on this scale has to be the ultimate present! You’re giving them the gift of years of happy holidays and memories to come. I’m not sure there’s anything to top that. The towns along the coast here are twinkling with Christmas lights and all manner of festive events are planned to run from now through until the New Year.”

Spain is the UK’s favourite travel destination, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with 11.7 million visits last year (an increase of 5.8% over the 2012 figure). In mainland Spain, on the Costa Blanca, Taylor Wimpey España’s La Vila Paradis – Villajoyosa resort is offering festive purchasers a discounted price of €225,000 for its well thought out two bedroom apartments. The gated development boasts swimming pools, communal gardens and stunning sea views over Paraiso beach.

Alternatively, on the Balearic Island of Mallorca, the CalaMagrana III development has key-ready apartments from just €230,000, with a 5% cash discount for any buyer who legally completes before the end of the year. Porto Cristo marina, CalaAnguila beach and some of Mallorca’s best golf courses are all close to these contemporary apartments.

ONS figures show that visits abroad by UK residents increased by 3.5% in 2013 over the previous year, with 611.5 million nights spent overseas. Why not pick up the ultimate Christmas gift this year by buying a house in Spain and push this figure even higher in 2015?