We are often asked how far in advance you should book a Portuguese holiday, and there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer. There are a lot of things to take into account. For example, travelling alone makes booking a last minute trip a lot easier. If you are travelling as a family or as a large group, you will need to start booking accommodation and flights further in advance. It also comes down to how organised you like to be as a person; some people enjoy the thrill of doing things at the last minute and seeing what happens, whereas others take solace in the fact that everything is organised ahead of time. So, when it comes to booking a holiday to Portugal, when should you start booking things?
The Benefits of Booking Your Portuguese Holiday Early
It is good to book your holiday to Portugal in advance, as this is how you will get the best prices for flights and accommodation. Plus, booking in advance ensures that you have a place to stay. After all, you don’t want to be left choosing between the handful of options left a week or two before your intended arrival date. However, there are some things that you should consider before booking your Portuguese holiday too far in advance.
- One thing that you should consider is if you have enough time to save for the cost of the trip. The cost of any holiday quickly adds up, and you don’t want to leave yourself short. If you don’t have a large budget, it might be best to book your trip closer to when you want to go on holiday instead of booking it months or years in advance.
- Another thing that might be important to consider is if there are any other major events happening around the same time as your planned visit to Portugal. For example, if there’s a big conference or festival happening at the same time as your holiday, then it might be better to not book so far in advance. People will already know about the event and prices are likely to rise, but last minute deals are always an option.
- Going on holiday is not only a great way to relax and unwind, but it also has a number of benefits. Studies have found that people who take time off are more productive than those who don’t, so going on holiday could actually make you more productive at home and at work. This is because you feel less stressed and have more energy after having some time away. If you plan your trip ahead of time, this gives you adequate time to look forward to your time in Portugal.
As you can see, there are a number of benefits that come with booking a Portuguese holiday in advance. The earlier you book it, the more choices you are going to have. This isn’t usually such a big deal to someone travelling alone, but travelling with children or as a group does make booking at the last minute a little more difficult. This is because finding last minute accommodation for one or two people is a lot easier than finding accommodation for five or six people.
Is it Cheaper to Book a Holiday Far in Advance?
For the most part, it is usually cheaper to book a holiday far in advance. This is because you can take full advantage of deals and offers, many of which are not available closer to the time of travel. A lot of hotels and accommodation providers also begin to increase their rates closer to the date of stay, as they know that people who are booking last minute are somewhat desperate to find somewhere. There is a sense of urgency that isn’t there when you book ahead of time. When you book in advance, it’s likely that you will find lower costs are there to entice you.
Flights are also usually cheaper if you book them early; with more seats available, airlines keep their prices low. As the date of travel gets nearer, the cost of flights rises significantly. Again, this is because they know that there is high demand for the last remaining seats, and people are desperate to travel on those dates.
Are There Last Minute Deals for Portuguese Holidays?
Though it’s always recommended to book a Portuguese holiday in advance, that’s not to say that there aren’t deals available if you book at the last minute. If you suddenly find yourself with some additional time off work for example, booking a last minute trip is a fantastic way to spend your time off and booking in advance wouldn’t have been an option.
When you are looking for last minute holidays to Portugal, you will notice that there are fewer options available to you. This is because holidays to Portugal are popular, and therefore things book up quickly. However, if you are flexible – as in, you don’t mind what time you fly and you’re not too fussy about where you stay – then you shouldn’t struggle to book a Portuguese holiday that ticks every box.
As we have said, holidays do tend to be more expensive closer to the time of travel, but there are also last minute deals available. Accommodation that isn’t yet booked could go down in price, as it’s better for the owners to receive a small amount of money for someone staying there than nothing at all. The same can be said for hotels, villas, apartments and campsites. Flights also occasionally go down in price at the very last minute, especially if the flight is a long way off being full.