3 TIPS TO BOOK YOUR SUMMER HOLIDAY

January isn’t the most exciting month - Christmas is over, and the dreadful January diet is already marked up on the calendar to start on Monday! Fortunately, Casas do Barlavento has the perfect antidote for those post-Christmas blues! Put a hold on your New Year’s Resolutions, which are a struggle in the wet and cold weather, and put new plans into action. This is the perfect time to think about your holidays in the sunny Algarve.

If you’d like to book your 2019 summer holidays to the Algarve but are still smarting from all the costs incurred at Christmas, then this article is for you. Be smart and exchange the wintry sky for a sandy beach by following these three hacks that will allow you to significantly reduce costs:

For a good deal, book early in the year

If you don’t already know this yet, the first quarter of the year is when you can find excellent bargain flights. Airline companies’ trend is to launch special deals in flights in their “January sales”, so this is the best time to be checking out your flight options. The nearer you get to your departure dates the more expensive it gets, as prices drastically rise the closer it gets to summer. Booking early also means that you can spread out the cost of your holiday. At Casas do Barlavento you only need to pay a 30% deposit to secure the booking of your chosen property. Another option is to check the last-minute flight deals, which can offer great value but don’t give you much room for flexibility and can limit your choice.

Friday is a no go.

Flights leaving on a Friday are by far the most popular which, consequently, are often more expensive than the ones on other days of the week. Flying out on a Friday could increase your costs.

As for the return flight, we recommend you avoid travelling on a Sunday because it’s a hugely popular day to fly back on. Choosing to return home on a Monday or a Tuesday, could very well be less expensive. Play around with the available options to try to find the best combination of days for your flights, which can make a difference in your overall cost. The key is to be flexible and to check all possible booking choices.

Be creative in choosing your accommodation

Being open-minded about where you want to spend your holiday could also save a lot of money.  A different way to enjoy a holiday break with your family, while still offering you privacy, is to ditch the hotel and choose a self-catering property to rent. Whether it is an apartment or a villa, you will have far more space than spending your time in hotel rooms. By selecting a property instead of a hotel you can accommodate all of your family which will be more cost-effective.

Here are some of Casas do Barlavento suggestions for your perfect summer getaway, in the Western Algarve:

Casa Katja
For a group of golf and nature lovers, this stunning four-bedroom villa can be a great choice.

Mira Luz
If you want to wake up to an ocean view this 3-bed villa, at Praia da Luz, is the right choice for you.

Carry out the search, check the availability, put down the deposit and start counting down the days to when you’ll be packing your bags for sunnier shores!

We hope these 3 saving hacks will be of good use. If you need any assistance with your next holiday in the Algarve, we are here to help you find the best choice for you.