Slovenia became an independent state in 1991, becoming a member of the European Union in 2004 and has promised to convert to the Euro from its current currency of the Tollar in 2007.

It is bordered by Austria to the north, Hungary in the East, Croatia to the south and Italy to the west. Ljubliana is Slovenia’s lively capital and has a wealth of baroque-style and medieval buildings. It has a rich, cultural life with regular events during the summer months - for comparisons imagine Prague without the hordes of ‘stags”degrading the whole place.

Among Slovenia’s other attractions are the Julian Alps which attract winter skiers and summer walkers alike. And if you’re not up to such lively activities, Lake Bled, a two-km long emerald lake which you can walk around within two hours, is a more leisurely and romantic option. In its centre is a small stone church which you can row out to and ring its celebrated bell to ensure true love, or so the legend goes. The lake is bordered by an attractive village, where you can grab a meal and somewhere to sleep. Of course you can go one step by watching the sunset from a lofty restaurant high above the lake, but for those of you who are fragile, take a portable oxygen tent because the restaurant above the lake is beautifully gothic but tres high.

If the coast is what you want, why not head for Pirin, a beautiful, Venetian town at the end of the Istrian penisula - although if a beach is what you want, Pirin is not for you - rocks and slabs are as good as it gets. However the town itself is wonderful with wonderful seafood restaurants dotted among its historical stone walls.

Other coastal towns include: Portoroz with its sandy bay, and Koper, only 21 km south of Trieste.

The first step in buying a property abroad is to do lots of homework - narrow down the region or country where you want to buy, work out your budget, and it's worth buying some books. There are country specific, region specific and general books on buying a house overseas.

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It pays to be skeptical at all times when investigating purchasing a property abroad - get a keen eye for spotting whether people or articles are as independent as they may claim.

There may be investment prospects in Slovenia, but it is essential that you seek independent expert professional advice before undertaking any property purchase. There are lots of things to bear in mind, including local laws and regulations, taxes, surveyor's assessments of the building, financial currency exchange, dealing with interbank transfers, volatility of the housing market, etc. etc. In some countries there are various restrictions on foreigners owning land or property, so this needs to be checked out fully. Any property purchase is a major undertaking.

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