By: Phil McDonald

London
London's ritzy Mayfair area is home to foreign embassies, five-star hotels and a multitude of fashionable shops, restaurants, and galleries. Bond Street, Oxford Street and Park Lane are all a stroll away. Behind the imposing, pillar-fronted facade of the building at number 15 Grosvenor Square is a mixture of large family apartments and smaller flats, including this "gentleman's pied-a-terre"; a 60 sq m, one-bedroom apartment on the 5th floor. It has been renovated to a high standard and decked with new kitchen and bathroom equipment and fittings. A generous reception room with three large windows allows for natural light to stream into the apartment. The double bedroom has an extensive range of wood-fronted and inlaid wardrobes with an en-suite bathroom. There is also a separate cloakroom. The apartment building's communal areas are spacious and elegant, and 24-hour porterage is offered. The vendor also wants to sell the furniture, allowing for a ready-to-move into and secure London base.

Price: $1.025 million

Agents: Sothebys

Like the Mayfair apartment, this three-bedroom garden flat at Queens Gate in the heart of the South Kensington, benefits from a prestigious and convenient London address. A short walk gets you to Hyde Park, the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, Royal Albert Hall and Harrods, while Gloucester Road and South Kensington underground stations are nearby. The flat, on the lower-ground floor, is housed inside a converted period terraced house of substantial dimensions. From a private entrance, the flat opens to a hallway that leads to all rooms, starting with a bright, airy reception room. The master bedroom has an ensuite bathroom. An appealing feature is the rear courtyard, which can be used for entertaining.

Price: $1.055 million

Agents: Faronsutaria
 

Manila
One Roxas Triangle is a complex of 182 condo apartments, reaching 50 floors and taking up a vast 12,000 sq m in Makati's central business district. A driveway into the complex sweeps to the landscaped arrival area and into an opulent grand lobby decked with a cascading waterfall, indoor gardens and art work. High-speed elevators then whisk residents non-stop to their floors and a private elevator lobby. Huge 600 sq m plus, bi-level, four-bedroom condos are the prime apartments. Poggenpohl cabinets, GE Profile appliances and granite-top tables enhance the kitchen. The floor is laid with rich-textured Brazilian cherry planks, which along with the double-glazed glass curtain walls, keep the noise out. Bathrooms are fitted with Dornbracht fixtures, a Dorf titanium bathtub and a separate shower stall. Facilities include a lagoon-style swimming pool the size of a small lake, an outdoor covered tennis court, an air-conditioned squash court, a fitness centre and a 24-hour concierge.

Price: $1 million

Agent: Philippine Properties
Contact: Gerry S Cruz +(63) 917 947 7345
Email: gerrysc@philippine-properties.com

Umbria, Italy
Amid the bucolic splendour of the northern Umbrian countryside, halfway between Florence and Rome, you'll find this ochre-washed, postcard-perfect villa. Sitting in 1,250 sq m of landscaped gardens, the villa has three double bedrooms, three bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and three separate living areas enhanced with large windows and high ceilings. Beside the barbeque and elevated outdoor dining terrace is a heated 10x5 m swimming pool with hydro-massage jets and automated retractable cover. Turn the water up to spa temperature and the pool can be used in the cooler months. The property is offered as a going concern, fully furnished right down to Egyptian cotton sheets and gilded Venetian glasses. A number of valuable antiques are included in the sale. Rental income for similar villas is in this popular up-market tourist region run at $6,000 a week.

Price: $856,000 (880,000 euros)

Agents: Abodes Abroad & Associates.