We all want to get great value for money, so I’d like to show you where I find the best Portugal travel deals for hotels, car rental, flights or tours. Whenever I start planning a trip, whether it’s within Portugal or to other countries, there are certain ‘go to’ sites that I always consult.
I’ve also negotiated special discounts for you with certain local tour companies so look for the discount codes below.
I keep this page as up to date as possible so it’s always worth checking back for new deals and special offers.
Last update: 12th April 2024
Special offers on travel
These are temporary deals. For long-term discounts with my local partners, see this section.
Porto:
Discover the Douro Valley on this boat tour that includes wine tasting and lunch. Save up to 10% until 30th April 2024.
Explore Braga and Guimaraes on this full day trip from Porto. Until 11th May you can save up to 5%.
Buy a combined ticket for the WOW cultural district. Until June 30th save up to 10%.
Book a private transfer in a luxury vehicle from Porto city center to Porto Airport. Save up to 20% until the end of 2024.
Coimbra:
Join a guided tour of the University of Coimbra and learn all about its unique history and traditions. Until 30th April 2024 save up to 5%.
Portimão:
Get a 10% discount on this Textile Basketry Workshop and make your own unique basket using natural textile fibres and wool.
Take a sunset cruise to Benagil caves from Portimão. Save up to 50% until the end of April 2024.
Lisbon:
Take a private tuk-tuk tour to all the main landmarks of the city. Until April 22nd there’s up to 15% off.
Climb aboard a 12-metre sailboat and see Lisbon from a different perspective on this Sunset Sailing with Portuguese Wine and History tour. You get up to 25% off, depending on your dates.
Visit Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais on this day trip from Lisbon. Save up to 12% until the end of April 2024.
Worldwide:
My preferred platform for booking accommodation, Booking.com, is offering deals of at least 15% on stays around the world between 29th March and 30th September 2024.
Minimum 15% savings available on new accommodation bookings at participating properties indicated by the ‘Getaway Deal’ badge on the search results and room selection pages. Bookings must be made before 9:59 am CET on 30/09/24 for stays with check-in from 29/03/24 and check-out on or before 30/09/24. Discount applies to the cost of room only (excluding any additional fees or taxes). If you make any changes to your booking you may lose your discount and be liable for the full amount. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion except Genius discounts. Room rates labelled “Partner Offer” are excluded from this promotion. This offer is provided by the participating property and subject to availability.
Accommodation resources
Online booking platforms for hotels, villas and apartments
I’ve been using Booking.com for over 15 years and it’s still my first port of call when it comes to finding accommodation. I haven’t had a problem with a booking in all that time and I get great ‘Genius’ discounts.
The reviews are from verified guests and therefore more reliable than on some other sites. I also find it easy to compare facilities between places on my shortlist. Most accommodations allow you to cancel or change your booking for free so you can plan ahead without commitment.
SEARCH ACCOMMODATION ON BOOKING.COMAccommodation rented by owners
Plum Guide is a great way to find holiday apartments and villas for rent by owners and management companies. They have selected the top 3% of properties in each destination at three different price points so there should be something for most budgets and tastes.
Instead of relying on user reviews, they meticulously vet and inspect their listings to ensure quality control. Look for the “Plum Award” homes for peace of mind and read the whole description carefully as they will point out any shortcomings.
Search Plum Guide to find a great place to stay
Flatio is a longer-term rental housing platform, offering hand-picked, mostly deposit-free, and reasonably priced accommodations in over 300 destinations, mainly in Europe. What sets Flatio apart from similar platforms is that it offers lawyer-verified, legally binding lease agreements that can be used as proof of address and for visa purposes.
Search Flatio for your ideal longer-term stay
If you’re not already familiar with Vrbo, it stands for Vacation Rentals By Owner so in many ways there are similarities between this and AirBnB and you’ll find that many accommodations are listed on both sites, as well as on Booking.com (which is still my preferred platform, even for apartments). They cover more locations than Plum Guide so if you can’t find anything suitable there, or on Booking.com, try Vrbo.
Search Vrbo to find the perfect property for you
Interesting alternatives to traditional accommodation offers
Although housesitting doesn’t necessarily involve looking after animals, that’s the most common reason for people wanting others to stay in their homes while they’re away. I’ve used Trusted Housesitters, which matches sitters with homeowners.
Housesitting can be a fantastic way of getting free accommodation, especially if you’re interested in staying in Portugal for an extended period to decide whether or not you want to live here.
If you’re interested in a more in-depth cultural experience, as well as bed and board, in exchange for your skills and labour, Workaway is a well-respected platform for connecting hosts with volunteers. For a small annual fee, you can search for and apply to individuals and small organisations that need some help.
It’s worth considering if you want to immerse yourself in a language you’re trying to learn, too.
Transport
One of the things I love about the Rentalcars.com car rental search and booking engine is that you can see which car hire company you would be using.
The booking is made through Rentalcars.com and the car is supplied by your preferred rental company at your chosen location.
Although you pay up front, there is usually free cancellation so you can book ahead to get the best prices (check the terms and conditions to make sure).
Check current rates for car rentals with Rentalcars.com
Discover Cars is very similar to Rentalcars.com in that you can search their user-friendly platform for the best price among a number of car rental companies, and reviews, which I find makes it easier to choose.
You make the booking and payment through Discover Cars and receive a voucher that you take to the relevant car rental company to collect the vehicle. I have used them and the process and service was faultless.
As always, check terms and conditions carefully so you know what’s included and what isn’t.
Find a great deal on car rental with Discover Cars
Tours and transfers
Whether you need airport transfers, a Lisbon Card, hop-on hop-off bus tours, food tours, boat trips, private experiences or workshops, Get Your Guide has a whole range of activities and services to choose from.
They offer free cancellation (check the conditions) so you can book ahead with confidence.
Viator is another popular tour booking platform and is part of TripAdvisor. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on Get Your Guide, it’s worth taking a peek at what Viator have to offer.
The booking system is simple to use and they issue refunds promptly if you cancel within the terms. You can also find out which local tour operator is running the experience and ask questions if you need more info before booking.
Exclusive reader discount codes for Portugal tours
Some of the tour operators I’ve had the pleasure of working with offer my readers a 5% discount on their tours. Note: You must use the specific codes below when you make a booking.
Culinary Backstreets offer excellent food-related walking tours in various cities around the world, including Lisbon and Porto.
5% discount code (use on the booking form): FOX5
Travel Insurance
You never know what might happen to ruin your trip so it’s a good idea to take out travel insurance before you leave home. There are many companies and policies to choose from so it pays to compare the cover to make sure it suits your specific needs.
Always check the fine print to see what’s included.
Yonder currently serves North American clients but is planning to expand to cover European customers in the future. Through their site, you can search through numerous reputable insurance providers to find the most appropriate cover for your particular needs, including ones with ‘cancel for any reason’ policies.
