Rentals

[Rayeileen]

Just wondered how rentals were going for the summer as things seem very slow,lots of enquiries but very few bookings

[andara]

Whereas last year my villa was virtually fully let between May and end September, this year is proving to be more difficult.

I still have 9 weeks vacant over the same period. Clearly the credit crunch and the poor exchange rate are having an effect.

[suziebear]

Just a thought, have you tried advertising on here and other listing sites - it may cost you a few pounds but it could be money well spent. You could also consider advertising for long term lets too, there are plenty of people out here who are looking for long term accommodation? Who knows, maybe having your property let out long term at less money is better than having no lettings at all, plus in these tight times, no changeovers, no additional costs and no not knowing who is coming in every two weeks? Just a thought ........

Post edited in line with forum advertising rules

[Sandy]

The tour operator that handles our villa has taken it on for three months only this year.

[Gary/Gaynor]

I rent out my property in the UK for holiday makers and my agent tells me she has never had so many enquires Looks like the Brits are staying home this year swings and roundabouts
Cest la vie

Maybe we should invest in the company that makes kiss me quick hats


Gary

[EMM]

I rent out my property in the UK for holiday makers and my agent tells me she has never had so many enquires Looks like the Brits are staying home this year swings and roundabouts
Cest la vie

Maybe we should invest in the company that makes kiss me quick hats


Gary

Don,t think that the Uk is cheap, just look at the prices/person for a cottage in Cornwall in high summer, No pool , no guarantee of sunshine and then compare it to an owner rental ( not villa rental or tour company ) for a VILLA with pool in the Algarve.

There is no contest.

[Gary/Gaynor]

EMM

The whole point is that there is a contest and today its all down to affordability. The UK may not get the weather but it sure is a beautiful country and the sea down Dorset way is warmer than the Alantic. You can get a very good pub meal with a beer still for less than a tenner. As I said swings and roundabouts.

Gary

[EMM]

For affordability even with the euro at the current level the Algarve is still better value, BUT the real difference is expectations,
We have got used to thinking that holidays in southern Europe are CHEAP.
They have not been cheap for years, However when the press is full of stories about higher costs it results in what we are seeing now.
If we have a bad summer in the UK just watch the bookings in the Algarve rise.

Yes you can get pub food at reasonable prices in the UK, freezer packs, portion control, the ping of the microwave etc but if you look you can find betterfood at similar prices in the Algarve , Its not difficult.( drinks cheaper as well )

We should spend more time and effort on the forum PROMOTING Portugal, the Algarve and Carvoeiro its important to many of us , people we know and business,s we use that we do our best to keep the visitors coming.

[widge]

This is a very interesting discussion. We have sold 14 weeks so far this year, normally we max out at 18 by around Easter, so there's still a couple of weeks to go.

There are quite a few changes this year over last, the exchange rate, the economy, job security, flight costs and schedules to name most of the important ones. However, above all this i think is confidence and due to lack of it many families are holding back on commiting to a summer vacation just yet.

On the positive side i've read of people who's mortgage repayments have dropped by several hundred pounds a month, but I'm not sure if they're secure enough to want spend it on a holiday abroad.

I do think that villa owners, restaurateurs, taxi drivers etc. need to review there pricing to maintain volumes even at slightly reduced margins!

[jaybee]

I do think that villa owners, restaurateurs, taxi drivers etc. need to review there pricing to maintain volumes even at slightly reduced margins!

As in a little bit less of biting the hand that feeds...

[Gary/Gaynor]

EMM

Well one thing is for certain you are not on this forum to promote the great things about the UK. I dont know which establishments you go to eat there but me I think some of the pub grub is really good and its fresh and they dont use microwave ovens. ITS ALL DOWN TO AFFORDABILITY so a week in a cottage peak season will cost about 700 - 1000 pounds plus petrol etc for a week for a family of four. Now I wonder what the same would cost in CVO. As to bad weather well they have had two shitty summers in the UK but that is not detering many. I have a cottage in Swanage and an apartment in CVO and love them both. So please remove your rose tinted specs and get off your high horse.

Gary

[EMM]

You are right we are not here to talk about english pub food the vast majority of which is not worth discussing.
Ask anyone in the convenience food manufacturing industry.

When its fresh and good its very good, When it come out of a freezer or in a portion sized vacumn bag much less so.

As for costs what you have to compare are the facilities , how many UK holiday homes come with a pool or access to a pool, almost assured warm/hot sunny weather from May - Oct.

Yes this year will see a downturn but as soon as confidence returns we Brits will return to our love affair with the sun.
Sensible property owners will discount as necessary and there will be little availlibilty in high season in the private sector.
Hotels and large developments will suffer more as they rely much more on the package tour sector.
But even here large discounts have started, in Spain companies have slashed prices to the equivalent of £0.84 ( headline price ) /night./person.
Others are giving vouchers for food and drink.
Holidays in The Algarve in early summer are on offer from £250/person/week.( flights and accom ).

Our bookings are virtually the same as last year. There is one big difference, the irish have disappeared its obviously much tougher in Ireland than the UK.

[Gary/Gaynor]

EMM

Your right the Irish are suffering and now the rest of the UK are about to endure the same big time. Anyone who thinks this will be over by Christmas lives in La La land it has not even started. Many places villas apartments etc will drop by at least 50% this will not be your usual recession its already a depression which is why you can get a place in Spain for 84 pence a night how ridiculous does that sound. Im glad your doing well this year but cannot understand why you run the UK down continually. Reality will set in soon especially if the UK does go bankrupt which is more likely by the day the pound will plummet and interest rates will go sky high then we will all be wearing kiss me quick hats.

Anyway Im out in CVO next week to spend my hard earned euros deep joy

Gary

[widge]

Dear Gary,

Why spoil a lovely spring morning with such a doom ridden prediction? Nobody can explain what's happening or when it's going to end and as there is nothing much that we can do individually to change it ...............just stay happy and why not try to talk the economy up not down!!

If everybody talks it down it's sure to fall !!

[Gary/Gaynor]

Well we certainly have enjoyed a lovely spring day here in Holland. Gary decided to give the Vespa a run and the doom and gloom a rest so we went into Delft, watched the tourist arrive by the bus load and had a nice hot miky coffee outside at one of many outside cafes in Delft.
I know he can be Mr Doom and Gloom but he does have his moments so lets enjoy the many sunshine moments to come in CVO, Holland and the UK and try make the best of it all.
Gaz is now watching his team Pompey play Everton, now there could be a bit of doom and gloom there!
He's off to CVO next Friday, wifey here still has to stay at home and work tut! Still there May for 10 days coming up
Gaynor