First time post.

[flawander]

What is the secret to get a reservation at Villamoura? I can only book open season, and I am wanting to get a week or at least 5 days in 2026? I've heard of walking a reservation but the earliest they have available dates is in December which will not allow me to even book. James

 

[HuskerATL]

I walked our November trip for this year, so 9 months prior to this coming November, I started... And booked the whole month plus a week into December.

There is walking info in the rules/tips sticky plus look at the HGVC portal guide that is on that page

2025 HGVC, HCNY, HGV Max Club Rules, Fees and Tips

2025 HGVC, HCNY, HGV Max Club Rules, Fees and Tips (1) Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGVC) 2025 Club Rules & Fees & Resorts Club Point Charts and Open Season Rates - Post #2 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Fee Change Comparison - Post #3 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 Open Season Rate Change Comparison -...

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[GT75]

I can only book open season

You can not walk OS. I doubt you will find any OS available at Villamoura. I think that HGVC only has 16 units there.

 

[alwysonvac]

What is the secret to get a reservation at Villamoura? I can only book open season, and I am wanting to get a week or at least 5 days in 2026? I've heard of walking a reservation but the earliest they have available dates is in December which will not allow me to even book. James

You'll have to keep looking.
It has been reported that this resort releases inventory randomly (see posts and thread below).

A few additional notes since I posted in the above thread about 18 months ago:

Yes, there are (relatively) few HGVC units here. This is actual a multi-use complex with about half the complex sold as full ownership apartments (not part of HGVC or officially part of the "hotel" but they get access to all facilities and there is a rental program they can participate in) and the other half of the complex split between hotel and timeshare units. As such, the number of dedicated HGVC units is relatively low. Combine that with the fact most owners are Brits that actually use their weeks (and trade only on the off occasion they head to the States or perhaps Scotland) and the result is there is not a whole lot of opportunity to trade in.

After watching availability regularly for the past 18 months, I also believe they don't manage inventory in the same way as other HGVC resorts. I noticed that large blocks of rooms would randomly open up, with seemingly no connection to x days or weeks before check-in. I would check one day and there would be virtually zero inventory available for trade for a whole year and then the next day several months in a row would show up available. I could never detect any rhyme or reason to the timing. I do notice that currently you could book first three nights in a 2-bedroom exactly 8 months from now and start walking a reservation.

All of that said, we were able to trade in here twice during COVID (during periods when Portugal was open and operating somewhat normally). We really enjoyed our stays. The pools were nice, staff very friendly and the resort even when closer to capacity didn't feel too crowded. The second stay, which was during more traditional holiday periods, did have many more kids than the first, but it was still very pleasant. The units are a bit smaller than typical US HGVC units, but are well put together and hall all the basic necessities covered. We would not hesitate to go back, however, given the difficulty in getting a reservation it's not very practical for planning a big trip from the US. Being Amsterdam based, it's a bit easier for us to take advantage of "random" availability.

HGVC Vilamoura Portugal

We are considering Vilamoura early next year and wondering if anybody has stayed there recently and have updates, pictures or any more current info. I noticed the last post on the Detailed Resort forum is from 2017. Thank you!

tugbbs.com

 

[flawander]

Thanks Ocdbr8