FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Algarve Explore is the premier local business directory, digital media, and review platform dedicated to highlighting businesses, services, and experiences across the entire Algarve region in Portugal.
It is built for local service providers, hospitality venues, restaurants, tour operators, and businesses looking to connect with residents, expats, and visitors exploring the Algarve.
The platform covers all municipalities across the Algarve region—from Lagos and Portimão to Faro, Albufeira, Tavira, and Vila Real de Santo António.
Yes, users, visitors, and residents can freely search, discover, and compare local service businesses across the Algarve without any cost.
BUSINESS LISTINGS & CLAIMS
This prompt invites business owners to take ownership of their profile, update their details, and unlock advanced management features.
Click the “Claim Now!” button on your business profile, complete the secure checkout process, and verify your ownership to gain full administrative control.
It is an official designation displayed on claimed business profiles, indicating that the business owner has verified their identity and actively manages their presence on Algarve Explore.
FEATURED LISTINGS & PROMOTIONAL UPGRADES
An optional promotional upgrade that pins a business profile to the very top of search results and category pages for 30 days to maximize customer visibility.
For a flat rate of 25 EUR, businesses receive 30 days of top-tier search placement paired with a custom professional review and dedicated blog post written by our editorial team.
Each featured placement and its associated search boost runs for a full 30-day billing cycle.
Yes, business owners can log into their user dashboard and upgrade their listing to featured status whenever they want an extra visibility boost.
BOOKINGS & DIRECT SERVICES
Yes, businesses that enable the booking extension allow customers to schedule appointments, tables, or service reservations directly from their profile page.
Customers can check availability and book instantly without mandatory account creation, streamlining the reservation process.
Algarve Explore applies a standard 10% commission rate on processed bookings to support platform operations and payment processing.
PAYMENTS, BILLING & TAXES
We support secure automated credit/debit card transactions via Stripe as well as PayPal and direct offline Bank Transfer (IBAN).
Business owners selecting bank transfer receive our official IBAN and instructions to include their company name as the reference for easy manual verification.
Yes, all card payments are processed securely through industry-standard encryption via Stripe and PayPal.
Pricing fields utilize the IVA/VAT placeholder to ensure clarity for both domestic Portuguese businesses and international clients.
To protect platform database integrity, system rules restrict users from deleting listings that are currently tied to an active subscription or promotional plan.