PrimeLocation had been pondering this pub-quiz question ever since an invite arrived in our inbox last week, beckoning the team to join a select gathering at the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair. 

The RSVP invite mentioned cocktails and canapes and encouraged us to join upmarket Portuguese and Swiss property experts from agent Sotheby’s Realty International. A more unlikely mob is hard to imagine – clipped, tight lipped Swiss suits mixing with louche, heavily tanned ex beach bums.

The reality was very different. An eclectic mix of PRs, accountants and estate agents from London, Europe and even Miami gathered in a small back room of this posh hotel; there were some distinct accents and the odd good sun tan as well as a buzz from the excitement of being in London for the night.

Over Moet & Chandon bubbles and smoked salmon blinis everyone chatted and predictably shared the same view – it’s a must to own a property abroad. And if you can’t choose between the skiing in Switzerland or the sunbathing in Portugal, why not have a property for each season?

So what do one of Europe’s richest countries and one that’s nearly bankrupt have in common and why are we having a party for them? Apart from the obvious sales push from the agents about the luxury resorts and apartments for sale, it was a celebration of their favourable tax regimes; something of a hot topic for London’s big earners at the moment, as the UK’s higher taxes and regulation bear down on them.

John Duggan from PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Portugal office stands up at the end of a small, informal presentation and cliams that it’s not only Switzerland that has all the tax trump cards.

Despite Portugal’s catastrophic government finances at the moment, we are told it’s a great place for foreign buyers to invest – relocating residents enjoy a  10-year tax holiday plus exemption from tax on foreign pensions and exemptions on investment and rental income. At the mention of in-depth tax and finance we began to glaze over but Mr Duggan has promised to write us a guide explaining in more detail how to invest in Portuguese property, so watch this space.

A villa with private pool at the luxury Pine Cliffs Resort in Portugal

As well as the tax benefits, a tanned Artur Simes showed us his model village of his luxury Algarve resort, Pine Cliffs. Having washed down buckets of champagne and too many prawn skewers, we were somewhat impressed and fancied buying one. Simes is walking proof of the 300 days of sunshine the area gets and he claimed a guaranteed five percent return on investment for three years if you want to let out our property through them.

So what about Switzerland? Many a banker knows the benefits of relocating there. It has one of the lowest taxation rates of any western nation and its taxes are based on your expenditure and standard of living rather than income or assets. And if you’re looking for a property to suit the well-off lifestyle, Du Parc - an imposing Belle Epoque mansion, converted from a hotel to luxury apartments, on the shore of Lake Geneva is a great place to start.

Du Parc Kempinski Residences in Switzerland

But the time had come to go home. The last of the Moet bottles had been upended and the warm Spring evening’s air beckoned. Thanks to Sotheby’s International Realty for the hospitaltiy hospitality.

This Friday the Channel 4 TV show A Place in the Sun begins its three day tenancy at Earls Court in London and Primelocation International will be there, along with 160 companies offering overseas properties for sale and homebuying services.

Headlining the event will the show’s three most famous presenters – Amanda Lamb (who presents the show’s video, below), Jonnie Irwin and Jasmine Harman – who will be appearing on stage to give advice about buying foreign property and answer questions about their work as TV presenters and signing copies of A Place in the Sun magazine. But they will also be joined by other experts including LBC radio presenter, property investment guru and Apprentice TV show contestant James Maxx.

VIDEO: Watch Amanda Lamb introduce this year’s A Place in Sun Live show

Primelocation International’s property analyst Nigel Lewis will also speaking every day at the show on the main stage, revealing ‘ten things you didn’t know about overseas property’ including which country has the easiest buying/conveyancing process; which town the Spanish holiday home revolution started in, which country offers the best quality of life and which day was the best financially to buy a property in Europe over the past year. Catch him during the show at 11.45am on Friday, 12.30pm on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday.

And if you want a free ticket to attend the show – follow this link to claim yours.

If you’re interested in finding out more about buying a home abroad, and have got nothing planned this weekend, then head to Earls Court in London.

The largest overseas property event, A Place in the Sun Live, which is now in its 10th year, is taking place at Earls Court from 3-5 April 2009. It’s been cleverly scheduled to run alongside the Ideal Home Show, so both overseas and non-overseas buyers can pick up some great ideas and be inspired.

Based on the Channel 4 TV series presented by Amanda Lamb, A Place in the Sun is the show to attend if you’re interested in getting on the overseas property ladder. Over 40 destinations around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, America and France, will be represented under one roof and they’ll be plenty of help and advice on all aspects of the buying and moving process, from finding a home for sale, to sorting out a mortgage, dealing with legal issues, finding an overseas removal specialist and handling the emigration process.

The seminar programme will be hosted by overseas property experts and TV personalities such as Amanda Lamb, Jonnie Irwin and Jasmine Harman will be making special appearances. Seminars include advice about how to buy property during the credit crunch, letting your holiday home and investing in fractional ownership properties.

If you’ve ever fancied being on TV, then screen tests for the TV series, A Place in the Sun, will be taking place too… you never know, you could find yourself on the next series! When your feet are sore from walking around, then the Turkish themed area is the perfect place to head for to taste some Turkish food.

Tickets cost £10 each on the door and under-16s get in free.

If you live in Birmingham, cancel your plans for this weekend and get a ticket to the A Place in the Sun Live exhibition at the NEC. The UK’s best attended international property exhibition is set to attract plenty of people looking to move abroad, find their own holiday hideaway, or join the jet-to-let set. (And possibly plenty of people looking to ogle Amanda Lamb.)

Anyone interested in emigrating to the Australia & New Zealand, the USA, Canada or Europe will want to take a look at seminar programme in The Emigration Show- entry is free with your A Place in the Sun Live ticket. There are also live stage interviews with Channel 4 presenters Amanda Lamb, Jonnie Irwin and Jasmine Harman, as well as talks about buying during the credit crunch and paying the mortgage on your overseas property through holiday rentals.

A Place in the Sun Live starts at the NEC Birmingham today and continues until Sunday.

Meet Channel 4's Amanda Lamb at this weekend's A Place in the Sun Live exhibition

Tickets
To secure your spot, call 0871 945 9400 or book your tickets online. Tickets cost £5 for children and £8 for adults, or alternatively you can book early to purchase two adult tickets for £10.