Second-Home Escapes

A guide to finding your new getaway

If you’re looking for a true getaway and hunting for the perfect second home, obscure is often better than the obvious.

In this special five-day series, Mansion Global will take you around the world to Trancoso, Brazil; Waiheke Island, New Zealand; Ambergris Caye, Belize; Diani Beach, Kenya; and Folegandros, Greece, to find the right second—or third, or fourth—home.

Join us as we explore the draws of these destinations and the local culture and as we spotlight some amazing homes in these markets.

The area appeals to celebrities and wealthy Brazilians alike.

The area appeals to celebrities and wealthy Brazilians alike.

The Simple, Unspoiled Beauty of Trancoso, Brazil

Trancoso, Brazil—Known as the Saint Tropez of Bahia— offers laidback living, unspoiled sandy shores, and historic charm at its heart.

The best weather in the region falls between December through March, when rainfall is minimal, and the temperature is its warmest, making it the perfect winter escape for those located stateside. Thanks to its quieter, yet-no-less-vibrant vibes than other Brazilian hot spots like Rio and São Paulo, Trancoso is an idyllic and low-key place to buy a second home ...Read More

Waiheke Island, New Zealand, has a slower pace than the mainland but is close to the major city of Auckland.

Waiheke Island, New Zealand, has a slower pace than the mainland but is close to the major city of Auckland.

Vineyards, Boating, Beaches: Life on Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Living on an island sounds like a dream until you think through the logistics of getting there and back. For people with these concerns, Waiheke Island in northern New Zealand is an answer. It has a slower pace than the mainland but is close enough to the major city of Auckland for working professionals to commute.

The island also has a large number of local and overseas second-home owners who visit at certain times of the year and, in some cases, rent their homes out when they are away ...Read More

The area is Belize’s most exclusive, and attracts many second-home buyers from the U.S. and Canada.

The area is Belize’s most exclusive, and attracts many second-home buyers from the U.S. and Canada.

Ambergris Caye is Getting a High-End Bump With New Resorts Opening

All eyes are on Belize this year. This may have a lot to do with the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio’s eco-resort Blackadore Caye, on an 104-acre island just west of Ambergris Caye, is expected to launch later in 2018, complete with a hotel and 36 luxury villas available to buy.

But that’s not all that’s happening in the Central American country with raved-about Caribbean beaches, Mayan ruins tangled in jungle, and the world’s second biggest reef after the great barrier reef ...Read More

The area has attracted celebrities and high-net-worth individuals looking for a piece of paradise.

The area has attracted celebrities and high-net-worth individuals looking for a piece of paradise.

Diani Beach, Kenya: At the Junction Between Blue Skies and Crystal Waters

A scenic 12-mile stretch of sand and sea along the coast of the Indian Ocean, Diani Beach, Kenya, is a quiet patch of paradise where lush greenery and sparkling shores unite.

Located about 18 miles south of Mombasa, on the East Coast of Africa about 310 miles from Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Diani Beach is just over an hour flight from Mombasa or a 4.5-hour train ride on the newly operational Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway ...Read More

Second- (and third-) home buyers here come for the privacy, and for a “picture-perfect oasis.”

Second- (and third-) home buyers here come for the privacy, and for a “picture-perfect oasis.”

The Old-World Charm of Folegandros, Greece, Awaits

Tucked among the southern part of the Cyclades Islands of Greece, Folegandros is a tiny, rocky Island—12 square miles to be exact—that makes a big impact on first sight.

The juxtaposition of its cerulean waters against a rocky cliff line punctuated by whitewashed houses is staggering. Together with Sikinos, Los, Anafi, and Santorini, Folegandros completes the Southern Cyclades. There is no airport or cruise ship to be found here, which also means no throngs of tourists. The easiest way to reach the island is by flying to Santorini or Mykonos and then taking a ferry. Just one road, roughly six miles long, connects the Karavostasis port to Chora and Ano Meria, the only three villages on the island ...Read More