Portugal Mastermind 2026

Your flights — the recommendation

Book these two windows

Gatwick direct, hand luggage only if you can. Times below are the target windows, not one exact flight — book whichever easyJet or BA option lands in them.

Outbound · Leg 1

Monday 28 September

Arrival day

LGW

Gatwick

~2h 55m · direct

FAO

Faro

Target — land in Faro

11:00 – 12:30

Depart Gatwick ~08:00–09:30. A proper morning arrival without the 4am wake-up, and the whole afternoon free for the villa transfer + settling in.

Search Skyscanner ↗ easyJet British Airways

Return · Leg 2

Saturday 3 October

Out of villa 10am

FAO

Faro

~2h 50m · direct

LGW

Gatwick

Target — depart Faro

13:00 – 15:00

Out of the villa by 10am + 45 min transfer + 2h at the airport = earliest realistic flight is ~1pm. Lands Gatwick ~16:00–18:00, home for the evening.

Search Skyscanner ↗ easyJet

⚠️

The organiser says "aim for a morning departure" — but that clashes with a 10am villa checkout. A true morning flight needs you leaving the villa ~8am, so only chase it if you confirm an earlier transfer with them. Otherwise early-afternoon is the clean fit.

Best vs cheapest

For someone in Hove, Gatwick is the cheapest

The headline-cheapest fare isn't the cheapest all-in once you count getting there.

✅ Gatwick direct Book this

~£90–150 return

easyJet / BA / Jet2. ~2h55, 40 min from home, lands you straight on the group transfer. Zero faff.

Stansted (Ryanair) Skip

~£50–90 return

Cheaper fare, but 2.5h+ each way across London from Hove + bag fees. The saving disappears.

💡

Go hand-luggage only. 5 nights as an attendee needs a cabin bag, not hold luggage — cheapest fare tier, no bag wait at Faro, straight onto the transfer. Book now: shoulder season + ~3 months out means fares are near their floor and only climb.

Do this now

4 steps to locked in

1
Book Gatwick → Faro, land 11:00–12:30 on Mon 28th.easyJet or BA, hand luggage.
2
Book Faro → Gatwick, depart 13:00–15:00 on Sat 3rd.Confirm transfer timing first if you want an earlier flight.
3
Send your arrival + departure times to the organiser.They need it to know who's on the transfers — that's the ask on the sheet.
4
Fill your row in the Attendees sheet (Flight Arrival / Departure).Day + time + AM/PM. Dietary = N/A.

The week

Event schedule

Mon 28th	Arrive · transfer to villa — aim to land by midday
Tue 29th	TBC — PCE
Wed 30th	TBC — PJE
Thu 1st	TBC — FD
Fri 2nd	TBC — PMOT
Sat 3rd	Out of villa by 10am · flights home

On the ground

Good to know

🚐 Transfer

Faro → Armação de Pêra: ~54km, ~45 min.

Group transfer arranged by the organiser — that's why they need your times. Nothing to book yourself.

🌤️ Weather

Late Sep Algarve: warm, ~25°C, sea still swimmable.

Shorts + one layer for evenings. It stays pleasant all week.

💶 Money

Currency is the Euro (€).

Card widely accepted. Bring a little cash for tips/taxis.

🛂 Docs

UK passport valid 3+ months beyond 3 Oct, issued within 10 yrs.

No visa (short stay). Travel insurance + GHIC worth having.