How much is normal for a deposit?

[flybynight]

I'm researching next year's holiday much earlier than I usually do, and the place I really fancy (Villas Martinhal in Portugal) seems to take a minimum 50% deposit. That seems a bit much too me - I'd have to wait until after Christmas for that kind of wedge. And yet, this makes me itchy becauseI really want to stay there. I don't want to miss out!

The last place we stayed, a summer let in Chamonix, was a 20% deposit, which seemed much more do-able. Is 50% the norm? Have I just been lucky up until now?

I would think 20 or 25% wold be fair....50 would be a lot to loose if something went wrong. Can you contact anyone who stayed there, say like someone who posted a review on tripadvisor or something? O is it worth sayong to the owners that all ou have now is 20%

That makes sense, bitofabelly. Thank you!

If that is just for the hire of the villa that sounds a bit steep. I rent out a holiday villa and charge a deposit of 100 pounds per week.

If it is a holiday package they do charge more. We have recently booked a holiday for Easter and had to pay around 50% of that at the time of booking which included the flights as apparently by doing so it guaranteed them at that price.