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CARVOEIRO GETTING EXPENSIVE
Thanks kteee, yes I have and I do have some prices and availability, should I get a better deal on flights.
The post was about looking at the difference rather than attracting tempting offers or whatever, I am hardly a candidate for sympathy, most people on here know how often I go holiday
The business man who posted the topic originally, appeared to me to be genuinely concerned if prices could drive people away or limit new custom and my recent research appeared to show that some prices had risen way over inflation or exchange rate differences (say upto 20% on the Euro for us brits since last year).
It seemed to be worth mentioning.
The post was about looking at the difference rather than attracting tempting offers or whatever, I am hardly a candidate for sympathy, most people on here know how often I go holiday
The business man who posted the topic originally, appeared to me to be genuinely concerned if prices could drive people away or limit new custom and my recent research appeared to show that some prices had risen way over inflation or exchange rate differences (say upto 20% on the Euro for us brits since last year).
It seemed to be worth mentioning.
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Guest
Maybe Carvoeiro and other places have been quiet because the Tour Operators havent allocated enough accommodation this year? 
I usually book less than a month before I go and usually achieve a half price holiday but this year when I rang to check with regular Tour Operator for Sept.,I had no problems getting the time of flight etc. but they told me that there were only 2 apts left on various dates in September when usually there are more and specifically said that it was because they hadn't made as much accommodation available. Booked immediately in June and it still worked out cheaper than booking through this site.
Think the allocation reason was because of the uncertainty with the Iraq war looming? but the thing I have noticed is that when I want to book a holiday for late September each year then the Tour Operators can still do me a cheaper deal in excellent apartments but if I were to try and book direct through this site and then pay for flights, transfers etc.,insurance seperately it can be up to £300 extra so finding apartment owners are charging quite a lot still for that time of year?? Apologies if that isn't fair because I know you have to cover yr outgoings etc., but wanting to book direct has not been economical so far for me.
I usually book less than a month before I go and usually achieve a half price holiday but this year when I rang to check with regular Tour Operator for Sept.,I had no problems getting the time of flight etc. but they told me that there were only 2 apts left on various dates in September when usually there are more and specifically said that it was because they hadn't made as much accommodation available. Booked immediately in June and it still worked out cheaper than booking through this site.
Think the allocation reason was because of the uncertainty with the Iraq war looming? but the thing I have noticed is that when I want to book a holiday for late September each year then the Tour Operators can still do me a cheaper deal in excellent apartments but if I were to try and book direct through this site and then pay for flights, transfers etc.,insurance seperately it can be up to £300 extra so finding apartment owners are charging quite a lot still for that time of year?? Apologies if that isn't fair because I know you have to cover yr outgoings etc., but wanting to book direct has not been economical so far for me.
Dear Guest
What size of apartment are you looking at? How much do you expect the tour operators to charge?
We charge £400 per week in Sept, but our place sleeps at least 6, more if you count the cot and chairbed.
I'm really interested to know how we compare to tour operators and I'm sure other owners will be too. It's helpful to get feedback on this type of thing.
What size of apartment are you looking at? How much do you expect the tour operators to charge?
We charge £400 per week in Sept, but our place sleeps at least 6, more if you count the cot and chairbed.
I'm really interested to know how we compare to tour operators and I'm sure other owners will be too. It's helpful to get feedback on this type of thing.
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Guest
Hi Ktee, Hope you dont think I am criticising property owners just confused that I haven't found a more economical way to book direct
The reason where the Tour Operator has always come up trumps so to speak is that they throw in free Insurance and transfers to/from UKAirport 25 miles from our home address - maybe I am just lucky in having a good independent Travel Agent but even when I have booked direct through Holiday Company for this Sept., they immediately threw in the Insurance and £ 100 discount then £20.00 off per person for 4 people.
Even taking into the annoying supplement cost for under occupancy, if I had tried to get the Saturday early a.m. flights, Insurance, transfers etc. seperately it would have worked out slightly more expensive and obviously more time consuming.
Just as an example last year we stayed at Monte Dourado for 2 weeks in Sept.,in 2 bed apartment, Upper Level and the price of the whole holiday, flights, insurance,transfers by taxi came to less than what you are charging this September. The booking took less than 10 minutes over the phone and less than 3 weeks later we were having a great time at our favourite place. I think the convenience of all booked thru one phone call has definitely won out and everything ABTA bonded in case of any probs.
The reason where the Tour Operator has always come up trumps so to speak is that they throw in free Insurance and transfers to/from UKAirport 25 miles from our home address - maybe I am just lucky in having a good independent Travel Agent but even when I have booked direct through Holiday Company for this Sept., they immediately threw in the Insurance and £ 100 discount then £20.00 off per person for 4 people.
Even taking into the annoying supplement cost for under occupancy, if I had tried to get the Saturday early a.m. flights, Insurance, transfers etc. seperately it would have worked out slightly more expensive and obviously more time consuming.
Just as an example last year we stayed at Monte Dourado for 2 weeks in Sept.,in 2 bed apartment, Upper Level and the price of the whole holiday, flights, insurance,transfers by taxi came to less than what you are charging this September. The booking took less than 10 minutes over the phone and less than 3 weeks later we were having a great time at our favourite place. I think the convenience of all booked thru one phone call has definitely won out and everything ABTA bonded in case of any probs.
It would appear that you have been unusually lucky in the past - or does anyone else have equally cheap deals to tell us about?
Late deals are fine if you can go at short notice and don't mind exactly where you stay, but if you need to plan in advance I still think booking direct is cheaper.
Personally, I haven't booked a package holiday for about 18 years, no matter where we go in the world I always book everything myself and find it works out much cheaper.
Late deals are fine if you can go at short notice and don't mind exactly where you stay, but if you need to plan in advance I still think booking direct is cheaper.
Personally, I haven't booked a package holiday for about 18 years, no matter where we go in the world I always book everything myself and find it works out much cheaper.
Hi kteee
I have done both, and used to find booking everything seperately cheaper but that certainly isn't the case anymore especially during the school holidays. The low cost airlines are not at all low cost during the peak weeks, cheapest I could find today for August was £208 ish. Accommodation is also charged at peak, say £500 -600 per week for a two bed aprtment. Obviously car hire runs at more like £120 per week in the school holidays, taking a family of four that is a total cost (without insurance) of £1420 - £1520 for a week, £2020 - £2120 for a fortnight.
Have a look at sites like ATM, I can go to Tunisia for a fortnight s/c this weekend for £79-00 per person, Skiathos, Thassos, Halkidiki, Volos are coming up at £99-00 for a week and between £139-00 and £169 for a fortnight, even if I didn't want to go until 21 August I can get a week in Portugal for £269 which is £1080 for a family of four (£400 - £500 cheaper than booking it seperately).
But where there are worries about the lack of people about, a some businesses struggling, short seasons, etc, just compare the two, £400 for a week on a greek island compared to £1080 in CVO.
For those of us who love CVO we get there when we can, for me it would be more often if it compared and for people thinking of Portugal for the first time, the other options must look very attractive.
Maddi
I have done both, and used to find booking everything seperately cheaper but that certainly isn't the case anymore especially during the school holidays. The low cost airlines are not at all low cost during the peak weeks, cheapest I could find today for August was £208 ish. Accommodation is also charged at peak, say £500 -600 per week for a two bed aprtment. Obviously car hire runs at more like £120 per week in the school holidays, taking a family of four that is a total cost (without insurance) of £1420 - £1520 for a week, £2020 - £2120 for a fortnight.
Have a look at sites like ATM, I can go to Tunisia for a fortnight s/c this weekend for £79-00 per person, Skiathos, Thassos, Halkidiki, Volos are coming up at £99-00 for a week and between £139-00 and £169 for a fortnight, even if I didn't want to go until 21 August I can get a week in Portugal for £269 which is £1080 for a family of four (£400 - £500 cheaper than booking it seperately).
But where there are worries about the lack of people about, a some businesses struggling, short seasons, etc, just compare the two, £400 for a week on a greek island compared to £1080 in CVO.
For those of us who love CVO we get there when we can, for me it would be more often if it compared and for people thinking of Portugal for the first time, the other options must look very attractive.
Maddi
Perhaps the main difference is that I don't have kids and therefore don't have to travel in peak season, we do however plan most of our holidays in advance.
I enjoy doing my own research into places and choosing the accommodation that I think will suit us best, the few times we did book package holidays in the past we were disappointed in the accommodation provided by the tour operators. I know this isn't always the case, but in my experience the cheapest wasn't always the best, and this is one of the reasons that I no longer book packages.
I guess it all comes down to what you are looking for in a holiday, and how much you are able (or prepared) to pay
I enjoy doing my own research into places and choosing the accommodation that I think will suit us best, the few times we did book package holidays in the past we were disappointed in the accommodation provided by the tour operators. I know this isn't always the case, but in my experience the cheapest wasn't always the best, and this is one of the reasons that I no longer book packages.
I guess it all comes down to what you are looking for in a holiday, and how much you are able (or prepared) to pay
You are quite right Kteeeguess it all comes down to what you are looking for in a holiday, and how much you are able (or prepared) to pay
I think that those of us who are responding with some facts and figures from our personal experience are really doing what we can to answer the original question.
It makes little difference to me personally I have plenty of holidays, always scrupulously researched getting me where and what I want for the price I am prepared to pay for it. I do, however, have loads of friends who would struggle to book independently and who are yet to find out that somewhere like CVO is worth paying more for and whilst they can go elsewhere for half the price or have two holidays instead in one, perhaps they never will (but that doesn't make them lesser people).
For so many people I know, a holiday is a chance to try something new, soak up local culture and history, meet different people, eat out every night, drink more than usual, visit ruins and churches, beaches and waterparks but mainly . . . break their routine day-to-day life of employment and domestic chores . . . and they rather like to do it in the sunshine
, and all that is available at 1000's of resorts worldwide (certainly not all to my taste but I admit to being something of a snob 
).Maddi
Maddi, I appreciated your reply and cost comparison. As many here have said, it may be ok for one person and too costly for another. However the original concern was, did Carvoeiro get more expensive? And I think the responses showed a concensus that costs have risen quite a bit and it will surely be felt by the local merchants. That's why your comparisons showed what one could have had in previous years in CVO and what one can still get for ones money at other sunny places.
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Jojo
Dear Guest
It seems that the problem is that there are no late availability deals to the place you want to go rather than finding it cheaper to book direct, you have to make sure you compare like for like, ie brochure price and booking direct.
Some friends of mine are going out to Carvoeiro tomorrow, peak season, and because they booked their flights 9 months in advance they paid £150 each for BA scheduled flights out of Gatwick. Including their accommodation, the fortnight will have cost them about £300-£350 each.
I agree that the cost of eating out in Carvoeiro has gone up recently, whether because of the euro or other factors, it would be interesting for some restaurant/bar owners to let us know if they think this is the case and if so, why?
It seems that the problem is that there are no late availability deals to the place you want to go rather than finding it cheaper to book direct, you have to make sure you compare like for like, ie brochure price and booking direct.
Some friends of mine are going out to Carvoeiro tomorrow, peak season, and because they booked their flights 9 months in advance they paid £150 each for BA scheduled flights out of Gatwick. Including their accommodation, the fortnight will have cost them about £300-£350 each.
I agree that the cost of eating out in Carvoeiro has gone up recently, whether because of the euro or other factors, it would be interesting for some restaurant/bar owners to let us know if they think this is the case and if so, why?