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Portugal is now gearing up for one of its major golfing events of the year, the Portugal Masters tournament taking place this autumn. The four day event, which will be showcasing the abilities of some of the world’s top golfers, is being held between the 15th and 18th October at the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura, Algarve.

This will be the third year running that Portugal has hosted the tournamnet, as part of the European Tour, helping to reaffirm the country’s position as a top European golfing destination. Portugal’s Algarve hotels are preparing to welcome visitors from far and wide who have booked to attend the event and perhaps even play on the tournament’s championship golf course, designed by golfing legend Arnold Palmer.

The Algarve has a long standing reputation as an excellent choice for golf enthusiasts. The region boasts world class facilities that have been impressing visitors for many years and now has over 30 courses to choose from catering for golfers of all abilities.

Vilamoura itself is well known by the golfing community, being home to the oldest and most famous course in Portugal, the appropriately named Old Course, designed by noted amateur champion and international golf course architect Frank Pennink. Alternatively, there is the Penina championship course, which was designed and played on by renowned golfer Sir Henry Cotton and has also been host to the Portugal Open.

Golf lovers are being lured to Portugal’s glistening shores by great prices on holidays to enjoy the Algarve’s excellent climate, stunning scenery and top quality facilities. For those thinking about a last minute booking in the run up to this year’s Portugal Masters, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy excellent deals on Algarve hotels in and around the Vilamoura area. Or if you’d prefer a bit more time to brush up on your skills, a spring break could be just the solution with the great selection of cheap hotels on offer ensuring that you have enough cash left over for some extra rounds on the Algarve’s best courses – as well as in the bar afterwards.

The first word many people think of when searching for a hotel abroad is ‘cheap’. At a basic level the word means ‘costing little money’, but for a long while it has had some more negative associations. ‘Cheap and nasty’, for example, is a phrase that none of us really want associated with our bargain price hotels. So, is ‘cheap’ on its own what we’re really after when dreaming of that much-needed holiday? Or has the word taken on a slightly new meaning in our minds with some more positive associations?

At this time of global financial instability, both holiday-makers and hotels themselves are re-evaluating the meaning behind terms such as ‘cheap’, ‘added value’ and ‘service’. It’s not just about paying less nowadays; its about getting more at the same time. Holiday-makers want their pounds to go as far as possible.

Hotels have recognised that people are taking more time to search out a good price and that they want reasonable standards and service to go with it. Businesses can no longer just drop prices every once in a while and wait for customers to come knocking at their door. A huge number of special deals have flooded the market recently, so companies have to find other ways to stand out from the crowd. Those that do well in the long term will be the ones who are both low cost and able to back up their offering with good service and high standards. Clever hotels and agents are putting measures in place to add value wherever possible, which is great news for holiday-makers.

So, could this be the key to the real meaning behind the word ‘cheap’ when buying products or services today? Are we really looking for ‘cheap and nice’? As well as offering hotel deals, companies have to offer a good service and quality products so that holiday-makers can feel reassured that the cheap hotels on offer are of an acceptable standard. It’s all about getting that little bit more.

It may be necessary to make last minute hotel bookings due to constraints in your schedule. This doesn’t mean you have to pay a high price or settle for the worst accommodations whilst traveling. If you look hard enough, you can get last minute hotel deals. These deals that are available, allow you to not only sleep comfortably, but also save money. A flight and hotel booking within the one travel package is sometimes a cheaper option under normal conditions. To make your last minute travel plans even more cost effective, if you are prepared to put in a little extra effort, this is the time to book your flight and hotel separately.

As you would assume, getting last minute hotel deals, in travel destinations or popular places that people frequent at certain times of the year, would be difficult during the peak seasons. During these peak times, many travelers and tourists are looking to get rooms, and hotels regularly raise their prices due to the high increase in demand. It is much easier finding last minute hotel deals during the low seasons. Hotels are quite willing to give low prices for their rooms, even on last minute bookings, in order to fill up their rooms.

You may have to look into a number of hotels and travel agencies to find the best last minute hotel deals. Remember you can always choose to get a hotel room, as it doesn’t have to be the one the travel agent who booked your flight recommends to you. Compare prices and choose the one that suits your time frame and budget and therefore benefit from your last minute travel planning.

If your stay in the motel is minimal through most of the day, then finding a deal with hotels undergoing some sort of construction or refurbishment is another cost saving option. These hotels will be most willing to bring down their room rates way below regular prices because hardly anyone would want to stay in their hotel while there is ongoing construction.

Don’t forget to find out check-in and checkout schedules. Before you accept any of the last minute hotel deals, make sure that the hotels check-in time matches your flight arrival, or at least close to it, and the checkout time is not too far from your departure time. There may be a chance for you to save on these deals, but there may also be an inconvenience factor attached, if the check in and check out times do not fit in with your schedule.

There are ways to save money and make your travel plans more cost effective, especially when looking for last minute hotel deals.