Algarve - Fewer bookings this year ?

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PPS
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Algarve - Fewer bookings this year ?

Post by PPS »

Is it that people have been believing the UK press and think that Portugal has closed down or are there just fewer bookings this year? Normally we are scratching for 'last minute' properties for late bookers but this year we have gaps during August in quite a few. Interested to hear the experience of others
Established for 23 years in the Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura area and still learning !
e-richard
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Post by e-richard »

Definitely a change in booking patterns with more people booking later, but I have not found any material drop in total bookings.

Having said that, even though we have some availability in Sept/Oct, its been nearly two weeks since I had an enquiry :cry:
** Richard
PIMS: Holiday Rental Management system
They say we learn from our mistakes. That makes me a genius !
stork
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Post by stork »

I feel that is had been a bit harder to fill up, but not much. Had to give a last minute discount early July, and I have a stubborn week late Aug/early Sep.

We are happy with our decision to increase our French exposure.

In July+Aug our nationalities are

DE: 4
UK: 3 (2 are repeats, and one of them 6 weeks!)
FR: 2
BE: 1
PT: 1
Armacao lover
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Re: Algarve - Fewer bookings this year ?

Post by Armacao lover »

PPS wrote:Is it that people have been believing the UK press and think that Portugal has closed down or are there just fewer bookings this year? Normally we are scratching for 'last minute' properties for late bookers but this year we have gaps during August in quite a few. Interested to hear the experience of others
We have had less bookings this year. None for May , only one for Oct usually full. However we were there ourselves for part of Oct so maybe could have let those weeks. But we could have let August 6 times over !
Marg
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Are ther fewer bookings this year

Post by Marg »

We were only slightly down on bookings for 2011 but I think 2012 is going to be hard. We have not had as many enquiries and bookings come in January and February for this year. Also people seem to want mid week changeovers rather than Saturday or 10 days rather than 14
Armacao lover
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Re: Are ther fewer bookings this year

Post by Armacao lover »

Marg wrote:We were only slightly down on bookings for 2011 but I think 2012 is going to be hard. We have not had as many enquiries and bookings come in January and February for this year. Also people seem to want mid week changeovers rather than Saturday or 10 days rather than 14
Yes I would agree. Lots of enquiries but not booking. Quite a few wanting 4 days or 10 days. Problem is with our costs we can't compete. We are licensed & obliged to do a clean & laundry change after 7 days so 10 days cost the same as for 2 weeks. And all this in the year FHL rules change.
Tom Hart
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Post by Tom Hart »

Please could you expand on FHL rules change?
Armacao lover
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Post by Armacao lover »

Tom Hart wrote:Please could you expand on FHL rules change?
Please clarify these comments on the HMRc site but this is how I understand the changes.
From 2012 -13 tax year occupancy needs to be 105 days rather than 70 days ( some leeway for at least the 1st year).
I allways claim capital allowances (Annual investment allowance). If not under FHL rules then no capital allowances or so I beleive.
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