Pandemic or not, the Algarve is still one of the most popular holiday destinations in the World. You do not have to be rich to have a wonderful time here, there is something for all lifestyles. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic travel can be uncertain and often involves additional testing adding to cost. When you are on holiday with children it can be tricky if you have to stick to a budget. You will be buying them souvenirs, going out for dinner and from time to time taking them to a theme park. It is all part and parcel of a family holiday. Here are some tips to save money whether you are on a budget or not. The best tip which can literally save you hundreds of Euros before going on holiday, we have saved for last.

In the Algarve there are many theme parks, from Zoo-marine to the various water parks and they all have promotions to attract visitors. It is just a matter of knowing how to benefit from the discounted offers. You can pick up flyers with a discount coupon on arrival at Faro airport, if available. But you can already plan this while still at home. Local newspapers like The Portugal News and The Portugal Resident also have online versions where you can find promotions so you do not need to wait until you are at your destination to take advantage of promotional offers. Your family will have the same experience, it will just cost you less.

Booking a hotel offers the benefit of access to their facilities. However, this often is a more expensive option versus private self-catering accommodation. The latter may have your preference because of Covid as there are less shared spaces and no maids coming into the property to make the beds every day. In addition you have the benefit of your own equipped kitchen & facilities so you do not always have to dine out and you can prepare lunch for your family when you go to the beach. Make sure you make plenty. You do not want your kids to go into a tantrum which could end up in overspending just to keep them happy.

When you are at the beach you will notice that some bars have happy hour at different times of the day, which means with a bit of planning you can save 50% on drinks. When it comes to eating out, as they say when in Rome, do as the Romans. You do not have to go out for dinner every night, but when you do go out for lunch or dinner see where the locals are going. Sometimes these places may look a bit different than what you are used to, but here is where you will find genuine Portuguese cuisine at the lowest prices. Moreover, if you are planning an inland journey make sure you have lunch and/or dinner in the area before heading home. This is an opportunity to mingle with people from the area, sample delicious Portuguese dishes while supporting both the local economy as well as your wallet as prices are noticeably lower than in coastal areas.

There is a great variety of self-catering accommodation in the Algarve to choose from. Some with private pools or communal pools, located near the beach, in a sea side town or on a beautiful countryside location. Your choice depends on your preference and most likely your budget. This is where you can save hundreds of Euros and depending on the length of your stay and type of accommodation possibly over a thousand Euros without compromise! How is this possible?

It is becoming increasingly popular to book accommodation online via holiday rental portals like Booking, VRBO, and Airbnb etc. As a renter you need to be aware that the portal charges the owner a commission, which is included in the rent you pay. In addition, some portals charge the renter a service fee too. These additional costs can easily be 15 to 25 % percent of the price you are paying to the portal.

In the end, whether an accommodation is booked via a portal or direct, you book exactly the same property with the same service provided by the friendly staff of the local property management company who will meet you on arrival and will be on hand during your stay. When hotels offer discounts, you may end up in one of the less desirable rooms with no view or next to an elevator. This is not the case with private, self-catering accommodation; what you see is what you get. That is the reason why many families have chosen to book their family holiday with Happy Homes Algarve and have become repeat customers. When they make a booking they rest assured that their funds are safely held in an escrow account separate from the company day to day operations. It is what some call a third party account. Homeowners do not have access to these funds until after your holiday.

You may ask why we are making an effort to point this out to you.
Well, it is the best tip for you and your family to save money when planning a holiday. Equally important to us is that you are aware of your options.

You may not be aware that the revenue of portals are taxed in tax havens like the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg and Switzerland. The local economy does not benefit from this at all. By booking directly with Happy Homes you have more money to spend while on holiday which supports the local economy and it will give you that uplifting feeling of righteousness knowing that you are contributing to the well-being of all the friendly faces that you will meet during your stay.

In addition you should also be aware that some portals allow for dynamic pricing, if the homeowner agrees. It is a practice that airlines and hotels have had in place for many years and is now implemented by holiday rental portals. What does this mean to you? The portal suggests that if there is little demand that the price for the property is lowered for a certain period, but if there is more demand they will increase the price. Their argument to homeowners is that it will increase their rental income. Schemes like these are never for the benefit of the consumer. When searching for accommodation on a portal, these properties show up on the top of the list. If you are new to the area you may not be aware of the going rate and book. So the portal who for years convinced you that they are looking after your interest is actually doing the opposite.

Happy Homes Algarve has always strived to get homeowners and renters the best possible price. Over the years we have also supported various charities and will continue to do so. During the pandemic Happy Homes Algarve has not asked for government support nor fired or furloughed any personnel. Our staff continued to work full time, either from home or in the office, offering stability and continuity for their families. They are all much appreciated members of the Happy Homes team. You can help by booking direct and spending the money you saved from not booking via a portal in the local economy during your vacation. It is a win-win situation for you and your family and does not cost you a cent/penny more. It does not get any better than this!

For us at Happy Homes Algarve booking direct is the biggest cost saving we can recommend to you. We keep prices fixed so you know what to expect. Having said this, should you prefer to book the same property via a holiday letting portal we are just as happy to welcome you on arrival and assist you during your stay!  How you book your holiday makes no difference to us nor the home owner. The choice is yours and we respect this.

We wish you a pleasant stay in the Algarve and we would love to personally meet you in the future at the check-in of one of our fine holiday homes.

Robert Bijker
Director

* Happy Homes Algarve is a sister company of Land & Houses Algarve based in Tavira