Gay Open House: Wow factor summer homes

July 8, 2021 Queer Forty Staff 7 min read

With Europe welcoming fully-vaccinated foreign travelers this summer, it’s a good time to house hunt for the property of your dreams.

This month’s LGBTQ Real Estate feature is focused firmly on properties with the ‘wow factor’ from a boutique hotel opportunity and brand new design masterpiece in Spain to a truly magnificent apartment with sea views to die for outside Nice, France, all ready and waiting for your personal touch to transform them from beautiful houses to incredible homes.

Our monthly real estate feature sees us team up again with Welshman Rhodri Ellis Owen and Canadian Jameson Farn at LGBTQ Real Estate to bring you some of the finest real estate on the planet. Based in the south of France, but covering properties all over Europe, the guys at LGBTQ Real Estate pride dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ sellers, buyers and their friends find their perfect property match.

Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, Spain

Imagine waking up in this lavish estate – highly perched on its very own plateau with panoramic sea views.

This property is currently on the market for 4,200,000 EUR and offers many options.

Your own private boutique hotel? This estate offers enough space for 15-50 guests in an intimate, enchanting atmosphere with very appealing rooms and surroundings.

In addition to the existing rooms in the main house, architect plans suggest how the expansive garage building could be rebuilt and expanded with an additional 1st floor – in order to offer luxury accommodation for approx. 30 guests in 15 beautiful and well-appointed double bedrooms.

For years now the estate has exclusively been a private residence, but the owners previously ran the estate as a gourmet restaurant – peaking by achieving a Michelin star.

It could easily be transformed back into a restaurant – perhaps the area’s new innovative gourmet go to place to dine?

The kitchen facilities are designed for cooking and the creation of culinary surprises on a large scale. The various dining rooms provide the intimacy and tranquility guests expect.

The opportunities to develop and run the estate as an attractive restaurant or hotel are many.

What’s so hot about the Costa del Sol?

The Costa Del Sol is one of the most beautiful parts of Spain. The sun’s always shining, the food’s always beautiful, and the beaches are always golden.

The region doesn’t get much queer-er than Torremolinos. The area’s LGBTI district is basically catered for you. El Gato Beach is just ten minutes from the La Nogalera gay village – and it’s positively gay in itself. Find the rainbow flags and you’ll discover one of the most popular gay beaches on the Costa Del Sol. And when you’re not sunbathing and admiring the, uh, scenery, there are multiple gay bars surrounding it.

This includes the El Gato Lounge, which is a chilled out destination with tasty traditional Andalucian cuisine and drinks, right by the beach. Or, for something a bit more intense, there’s EDEN Beach Club.

Altea, Spain

The best of Spanish contemporary design packaged with the finest vista.

Elegant and magnificent newly built villa with beautiful sea views located in the best residential area of Altea….very private and quiet. You’ll find it nestled only a few metres from Don Cay Golf Club, close to the restaurants and shops of Altea La Vieja and 5 minutes from the sea.

The ultra-contemporary design is focused on spacious rooms, comfort, luminosity and the surrounding natural environment which make this luxurious villa a stand-out trophy home.

Built on 3 floors it boasts 5 bedrooms with designer bathrooms and en-suite dressing rooms.

The wow factor is in abundance on the inside too with its entrance hall featuring an impressive natural green wall. Outside you have a spacious terraces with infinity pool, garden with fruit trees and natural lawn and a garage for 2 cars and parking.

The hi-spec kitchen is equipped with Neff and Liebherr appliances.

Living Area: 453 m2

Plot Area: 1780 m2

Yours for 2,750,000 EUR

What’s up on the Costa Blanca

Altea is gorgeous in itself and attracts a very artistic crowd, but being only 10km from Benidorm you are a mere hop, skip and a jump from one of the most gay-friendly mega resorts in Spain. Unlike Sitges, further north, this is a year round gay destination with its many bars and clubs in the Old Town district. The Benidorm Pink Weekend in May and Gay Benidorm Pride in September are two musts for your calendar.

Nice, France

Life on the ocean waves… well as close as you can get whilst on terra firma.

Luxurious 3-room apartment on Cap de Nice in a waterfront residence of 90 m2 offering a breathtaking sea view.

Built in 1970, the apartment has recently been the subject of a major quality renovation and is elegant and refined in its decoration.

On the 3rd floor of the building, the apartment boasts a large living room which opens out onto a 15 m2 terrace.

The master bedroom opens onto a 2nd terrace with an enchanting sea views. 1 walk-in shower with sea view and 1 bathroom.

Large south-facing terrace of 80 m and a hi-end fitted kitchen are the icing on the cake but the wow factor is surely the private access to the sea, leading to a private beach.

Yours for 2,400,000 Euro

What’s happening in Nice?

The apartment’s ultra coastal location makes navigating the surrounding area’s a breeze. Travel up the coast, and you’ll hit Monaco, Menton, and eventually, Italy. You don’t need us to tell you how glamorous and LGBTQ+ friendly Nice is. Get packing!