Why book direct with Caravelis?
Booking direct means paying Caravelis Solutions Lda, the owner-operator of all four apartments, instead of paying a booking platform that resells the same four apartments. Booking direct removes the platform commission of roughly 10 to 24% that Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo build into their prices, so the direct rate on this site is our lowest available rate for the same dates.
What is a direct booking?
You choose dates on caravelis.net, you pay us through Stripe, and we confirm. No intermediary sits between you and the person who holds the keys, sets the cleaning standard and answers the phone. The apartment is the same one you would find on Airbnb or Booking.com, with the same beds, the same licence number and the same lockbox.
What do the platforms charge?
These are the channel costs from our own records, not estimates:
| Channel | Commission built into the price |
|---|---|
| Booking.com | 22 to 23% (Penthouse 1 pays 24.38%) |
| Airbnb | 13 to 14% guest-facing service fee |
| Vrbo | 9.85% |
| Direct on caravelis.net | 0% |
That money buys distribution. It does not buy you a better apartment, a faster reply or a cleaner kitchen, because those come from us either way.
What do you get when you book direct?
- The same apartment, the same four licensed Alojamento Local registrations: AL 134631/AL, AL 151476/AL, AL 170402/AL and AL 180211/AL.
- Direct contact with the owner-operator on +351 961 405 002, by phone or WhatsApp. We typically reply within 1 hour.
- Secure Stripe checkout, taking cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, with a receipt every time.
- A clear cancellation ladder: free cancellation up to 14 days before check-in for a full refund, 50% refund between 7 and 14 days before check-in, no refund less than 7 days before check-in.
- No platform service fee added at checkout, and no municipal tourist tax, because Armação de Pêra is in Silves and Silves levies none.
- Requests that need a human, such as a late arrival or a longer winter stay, handled by the person who can actually say yes.
How do you compare like for like?
Put the two totals side by side, not the two headline nightly rates. On a platform, open the price breakdown and read the line below the rate: on Airbnb it is the guest service fee, on Booking.com and Vrbo the commission is already inside the nightly figure rather than shown separately. Then compare the same dates, the same number of guests and the same apartment name. Our page names the apartment, the floor, the AL number and the address, so you can be certain you are looking at the same property that a platform lists under a longer marketing title.
If a platform ever shows a lower total than this site for the same apartment and the same dates, tell us before you book and we will look at it.
Ready to check dates?
Call or WhatsApp +351 961 405 002, or book on the property page.
- Is booking direct with Caravelis cheaper than Airbnb or Booking.com?
- Booking direct removes the platform commission of roughly 10 to 24% that Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo build into their prices, so the direct rate on this site is our lowest available rate for the same dates. Compare totals rather than headline nightly rates.
- Is it the same apartment I see on the platforms?
- Yes. All four apartments are owned and run by Caravelis Solutions Lda and listed on the platforms by us. The licence numbers, addresses and photographs match, and the direct page names the floor, the building or street and the AL number so you can check.
- Is paying on caravelis.net secure?
- Yes. Payment runs through Stripe, which handles cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. We never see or store your card details, and you get a receipt at once. Confirmation and the lockbox instructions come from us by email.
- What is the cancellation policy on a direct booking?
- Free cancellation up to 14 days before check-in for a full refund, 50% refund for cancellations between 7 and 14 days before check-in, and no refund for cancellations less than 7 days before check-in. The same ladder applies to all four apartments.
- Who do I talk to if something goes wrong during the stay?
- Us, directly, on +351 961 405 002 by phone or WhatsApp. We typically reply within 1 hour. There is no call centre and no platform message queue between you and the owner-operator.