Driving to Algarve, Portugal

McMouse | 15:58 Wed 10th Oct 2012 | Travel

7 Answers

Planning to spend 3 weeks in March 2013 and hope to rent a self-catering apartment. Anyone know if it's essential to book accommodation in advance, or being out of season there will be plenty available on spec?

What are the essential things you would need when moving in to your first apartment?

i give up.....please help

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joggerjayne

Gosh, it's a long way to drive if you don't have a definite booking.

You can usually find places "on spec", but I'd be tempted at least to have something prebooked for the first couple of nights ... just in case.

I do understand that it's actually quite exciting to turn up in a town with nothing booked - I did it a bit with my other half this summer - but it's a bummer if you can't find anywhere. Also, you might find that the only place available is the most expensive place in town.

McMouse

Question Author

We've driven down a couple of times in the summer and have booked ahead. If the worst comes to it, will book into hotel for a night or so and look around. The drive down is great as you can stop off at interesting places and soak up some of historic battle sites of the Peninsular War where we duffed up Napoleons lot.

joggerjayne

Well, it does give you a great feeling of freedom when you dont have anything booked ... because you don't have to be at a specific place at a specific time.

But there's still the risk that you have to fall back on the hotel option, and the only room they have available is the penthouse suite for €1.000,00

jno

not my part of the world, but I wouldn't bet that it's totally out of season: it's one of those place northern Europeans go (often for weeks or months) to escape winter.

ferret69

Did this 3 years ago, Stayed at Porto, Lisbon then Lagos, last stay was at Faro then back via Seville, took my laptop and booked via laterooms, holidayrentals, etc on the way, stayed at some amazing places and always got a good deal and never had any trouble, some of the big roads where empty, just a few cars here and there, reminded me of England in the 60's, you will find plenty of places to stay, especially in March, enjoy.