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You've decided you'd like to book a holiday with us. Great!
But it can be overwhelming when you realise all the other things that also need to be booked, organised and thought about: plane tickets, insurance, money exchange, car hire, getting to the airport, etc.
Let us help you.
Here are some of the things we've discovered along the way. Hopefully it can save you some time and stress, and prevent you feeling overwhelmed.
We've tried to explain it as if to someone who's never done this sort of thing before, so if you're a seasoned pro at this travelling malarkey just scroll down to the bits that may be useful to you.
Passports
Don't forget to check that you have plenty of time left on your passport before it needs renewing. Many countries require you to have at least 6 months validity on your passport when entering a country, so make sure you don't get caught out.
If it needs renewing make sure that you allow a few months for the whole process!
Booking flights
There are a number of different companies offering flights to and from Faro in Portugal including British Airways, Easyjet, Jet2.com, Ryanair and Wizzair.
It seems that the earlier you book the cheaper tickets are. You can often finds some bargains by going a day or two earlier or later, and certain days seem more expensive than others. There may be different airports you can travel from to gain massive savings. Another option is to look out for last minute flights and pick up a bargain, but with the need to book a hire car this can be risky.
Make sure you look carefully at the different options for the flight. For example, is the flight direct? How are you going to get to or from the airport at certain times of the day? Is the cost for one person or for all of you? Are there any other hidden costs for luggage, taxes, etc.?
I would also recommend booking directly through the airline rather than through a third party website (such as eSky, Kayak, Momondo, Opodo, Skyscanner, etc.). We had a very bad experience of this once!
Baggage allowance
When you book your plane tickets you include the luggage allowance you want when booking.
There are various options and combinations for how much luggage you take with you. The less you take the cheaper it is. You can take as little as hand luggage that is free. For extra cost you can also add a cabin bag (normally up to 10kg) or other suitcases (up to 20kg). You can also add on sports equipment, buggies, car seats and other baby equipment, or a wheelchair.
Hand luggage: Everyone can bring one bag of hand luggage for free. This can be a maximum of 45cm x 36cm x 20cm (This includes the wheels and handles). We tend to use a rucksack like the kids use for school, but have never been asked to check the exact size. There is no weight allowance for this as far as I'm aware (check with your specific airline). We try and put heavy items in here if we're tight for weight allowance with our other luggage. This size is designed to go on the floor at your feet.
Cabin bag: If you have a cabin bag make sure you check with the airline you have booked with the maximum size this can be. Some of them differ. The standard size is a maximum of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm (again, this includes the wheels and handles so don't get caught out with those being extra). The maximum weight is 10kg. You have to have paid for this size luggage so do check that it's included. You carry cabin bags onto the plane with you and put them in the hold above your seat.
Checked-in luggage: This luggage is normally up to 20kg and will need to be checked in on arrival at the airport. It will be taken away to go in the luggage compartment of the plane. It costs a lot extra to add it on at a later date, so it's best to think about whether you need it or not when booking your flights.
Sports equipment: There is an additional charge for this. My husband took some golf clubs over. He needed a special case for them (which you buy or borrow independently) and it cost him about 30 euros for one way.
Baby/kids equipment: I think they let you take two pieces of baby equipment free of charge, and charge extra for additional items.
All this information needs to be checked with your specific airline to double check it's right or the same.
Once you've booked and paid for the flights you're ready for the next steps.
Booking a hire car
Don't delay in booking your car. The best companies soon get booked up early and you'll be left with really expensive options or ones with poor customer service. It may be that the earlier you book the cheaper it is.
Here's a couple of links that are good price comparison sites to help you find the best deal.
Hidden charges to look out for - insurance, damage, admin/processing fees, out of hours pickup, charges for under 25s or over 70s, taxes.
Also be aware that there are some toll roads around the Algarve. Either choose to stay off the toll roads or be prepared to pay after a few days. This obviously won't work if you're near the end of your holiday, as you can't pay online, only via the post office, 48 hrs after use. You'll have to pay the hire car company an admin fee to sort it for you.
Car Excess Insurance
Car excess insurance is really cheap to get (like a tenner kind of cheap).
If you hire a car and it’s damaged or stolen, you’ll be responsible for paying a certain amount towards repairing or replacing it. This is called an ‘excess’. There is a limit to how much car hire excess you’ll need to pay and the rest of the claim will be covered by the hire company’s cover.
A friend passed on this tip of getting this extra insurance and it's one I'll be doing in future.
Getting travel insurance
We strongly advise that you buy travel insurance for your trip.
There are all sorts of things that can get in the way of you making it to your holiday (this includes whether it is just you, some, or all of your intended party). Things like Covid; other serious health conditions; being called to jury service; a change in personal or work circumstances; a family emergency; major travel delays; vehicle breakdown; incarceration; etc., to name a few.
If you don’t have travel insurance and something goes wrong, you’ll be left out of pocket on top of the disappointment of not having your holiday, and the stress of dealing with whatever has caused you to have to cancel. It's just not worth the risk.
Our cancellation policy does not cover any of these things, so you will still be required to pay and won't be entitled to a refund unless we’ve been able to re-let the property at the last minute (as stated in our terms and conditions).
If you choose not to take out travel insurance, then you accept responsibility for any loss that you may incur due to your cancellation.
Companies are issuing new policies that cover Covid-19 now that coronavirus is an ongoing risk, as long as there is no travel warning in place in your country of residence. However some policies are expensive and do read the (dull!) small print.
We're not allowed to recommend particular companies but Google is always up for helping you out with these things. There are various comparison sites that do the number crunching as well.
These web pages have articles relating to Covid-19 Travel Insurance. https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/11/coronavirus-what-it-means-for-your-travel-insurance/ https://www.traveloffpath.com/covid-19-travel-insurance-everything-you-need-to-know/ . . . scroll down in this article for UK info https://www.comparethemarket.com/travel-insurance/content/corona-virus/
Health Insurance
Health insurance is different to travel insurance, but travel insurance cover some medical expenses. You'll need to check the fine print for what is actually covered in the event of something going wrong, because this can vary from one policy to the next. In particular please check the section 'what is not included'.
EHIC card
I've copied this information from the NHS website. Here's the link if you want to read more about it: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/
'You can apply for a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC), if you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
A new UK EHIC is free of charge. Beware of unofficial websites, they may charge you a fee to apply.
You can use your card to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland.
Medically necessary healthcare means healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK. Whether treatment is necessary is decided by the healthcare provider in the country you're visiting.
Medically necessary healthcare includes things like:
Emergency treatment and visits to A&E
Treatment for a long-term or pre-existing medical condition
Routine medical care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring
Routine maternity care, as long as you're not going abroad to give birth
Oxygen therapy and kidney dialysis'
Money
We recommend exchanging some GB pounds to euros. How much depends on how you're planning to pay for things during your holiday.
We tend to take some euros and use a credit or debit card for some expenses. Our current account charges 2.75% per transaction but you may want to think about what works best for you. You can also withdraw cash where necessary but our account charges 3% of the cash you withdraw on top of the 2.75% transaction fee above. This may vary depending on what bank you are with.
You can get a separate credit card that is 0% fees for spending abroad, so no additional cost. (You can also get prepaid debit cards if you're worried about budget and controlling your spending.)
Check-In
You can do this early online, or leave it until you get to the airport. Different airlines vary as to how early you can check in online but it's usually at least a week before departure. We do recommend you do this in advance to cut down waiting time. The process requires you to enter details of each passenger including passport and personal information. Download and print off your boarding passes.
Data roaming
Don't forget to switch on your data roaming on your phone and with your service provider.
Getting to the airport
There are a number of options for arriving at the airport in plenty of time:
- Ask a friend. Maybe you can return the favour one day, pay them petrol, or pay them to take you (I'm sure they'll be willing to charge you less than a taxi).
- Get an Uber or a taxi.
- Drive and leave your car at the airport. This can be quite expensive but may be worth exploring.
- If you have a friend who lives quite near to the airport, you ask them if you can park at their house and get a lift from there.
- Some airports provide longer term parking and a shuttle bus to the airport. This costs a lot less than parking at the airport itself.
How early you need to be at the airport
Always read the information from your travel company about when to arrive at the airport. In the past we've usually arrived about 2-2½ hours before the flight is due to depart. However, since the Covid pandemic there have been longer queues to pass through security. So when we had 20kg bags to check in we arrived just over 3 hours before we were due to leave. This worked fine.
I would just say that when you're a family with kids who argue and get grumpy there's a bit of a balance between getting there early so you're early for your flight and getting there too early, everyone getting bored and grumpy and it becoming very stressful situation. Good luck!
Paperwork you'll need
I'd recommend getting yourself some kind of folder to keep your passports and paperwork in so it's all together and to hand.
Some people like to just get the documents up on their phone. This can be risky if there's a problem with the internet connection, your battery dies or if you lose your phone. I reckon best to play it safe and have paper copies.
The main things you'll need to have to hand are:
- Passports
- Boarding passes
- Covid vaccine passes (no longer required for Portugal as of 1 July 2022).
Departure from the airport
When you arrive at the airport you need to head for the 'Departure' side of the airport.
- The first thing to do is usually to find a luggage trolley to make it easier to carry heavy luggage to the check in.
- The next thing is to work out where the check in gates are for your flight. This information is usually on screens around the entrance. You need to know the company you're travelling with, the time and flight number of your flight.
- If you haven't already checked in online and downloaded /printed off your boarding passes you'll need to do that now.
- Then you'll need to check in your 20kg or oversized luggage. This usually involves some queuing and hanging around!
- You then go through security (info on that next) and you'll be sent through to wait for your flight to be ready. This is where you do the hanging around. Hopefully they'll be time to explore the duty free, shops, chill for a bit, and you can get food and drink.
Security
Going through the security gates:
Liquids
You can have drinks up until this point, but there are sinks and bins for you to get rid of anything you have here.
From the Gov.UK website:
'There are restrictions on the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage. If possible, pack liquids in your hold baggage (luggage that you check in).
Liquids include:
all drinks, including water
liquid or semi-liquid foods, for example soup, jam, honey and syrups
cosmetics and toiletries, including creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara and lip gloss
sprays, including shaving foam, hairspray and spray deodorants
pastes, including toothpaste
gels, including hair and shower gel
contact lens solution
any other solutions and items of similar consistency
If you do take liquids in your hand luggage:
containers must hold no more than 100ml
containers must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm (these are provided if you haven't got one).
contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed
the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top
you’re limited to 1 plastic bag per person
you must show the bag at the airport security point
Liquids in containers larger than 100ml generally cannot go through security even if the container is only part full. There are some exemptions.'
See here for more info, including about lighters and food: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions
Drinks
We've always paid ridiculous amounts for drinks after you've been through the bit at the airport where you have to get rid of all liquids, but I've recently found out you can get free tap water if you take empty bottles with you. Follow this link to find out where's the best place to find free water at the airport you are going from.:ttps://www.aph.com/community/holidays/get-free-water-airports-beat-security-price-hikes-fill-bottles-revealed/
It is fine to take food with you for your journey.
Electronic devices
Here https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/electronic-devices-and-electrical-items you can find information about electrical equipment as it often needs scanning separately.
You need to put your luggage and everything on trays to pass through the security scan. Here's a helpful link with more information https://www.tripsavvy.com/preparing-for-airport-security-2972587
You'll need to empty your pockets, be ready to take off belts and other clothing with metal, and then wait to be called through the metal detector.
You'll then need to wait for your luggage and other items to come through the scanner and gather everything together.
The whole process can be a bit confusing but there are always staff on hand to help and advise you. I'm sure other passengers will bear with you - particularly if it's your first time.
Boarding the Plane
Whilst in the duty free, shops and food areas keep an eye out for when your boarding gate opens. Follow instructions from staff and on the flight information screens. They will direct you to the boarding gates at the right time. Be aware that 'priority boarding' embark first followed by everyone else. You'll queue again for this, your passport and boarding pass will be checked again, and then you'll get on the plane.
Although you have to be there 2-3 hours early, time soon passes with the various different stages of things you need to do.
Next: Enjoy you flight! I love being above the clouds, and going from grey and cloudy to blue skies with clouds below you. Awesome!
Arriving at Faro
Follow instructions from the plane into the airport, through passport control (you'll need your passport yet again), luggage reclaim and customs.
Faro airport is much smaller than most UK airports and although it's in Portugal most staff speak English.
Car hire
Go and pick up your hire car. The company you book with will give you clear instructions on how to do this and from where.
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They are the main things I think. If you are still confused on some things or unsure feel free to contact us. You can also ask around and search Google.
We don't claim to be experts, we are just sharing things we've personally learnt along the way. Do let us know if we've included something that's not right, or if you have any other useful tips to add.
Good luck with it all, and we look forward to welcoming you.
Iain and Ruth
Checklist:
- Book in with us.
- Check passports.
- Book flights and luggage allowance.
- Book car hire.
- Check you have the right size bags/suitcases.
- Get insurance.
- Apply for a EHCI card if you haven't already got one.
- Arrange how you'll get to the airport.
- Get some Euros.
- Check in online (the night before) and get boarding passes (or you can leave this until you arrive at the airport).
- Turn on data roaming.
- Have paperwork easily accessible.
- Get to the airport.
- Check-in large luggage (and yourself and get boarding passes if you haven't already).
- Go through security (get rid of any drinks here).
- Be in the shops area for a bit.
- Head to the boarding gates at the right time (found on screens).
- Get on plane.
- Enjoy your flight.
- Pick up your luggage.
- Collect hire car.
- Have an incredible holiday!
Tel: +44 (0)7814 669 639
Casa As Andorinhas, CC1 111A, Corta Porcas, 8550-254 Monchique, Portugal