Two resorts, one big decision. If you're planning a working holiday with Top Dog Abroad, you'll be choosing between Zante in Greece and Albufeira in Portugal. Both are lively, sunny and full of young people working the season, but there are some real differences worth knowing before you book.
Here's an honest side-by-side to help you decide.
The quick version
- Choose Zante if you want our original destination, a base minutes from the beach and the Laganas strip, and a set-up where your accommodation isn't tied to your job.
- Choose Albufeira if you like the idea of being part of our newest destination on the Algarve, slightly lower accommodation prices, and extras like the Albufeira wristband.
Now for the detail.
The vibe
Zante (Laganas, Greece)
Zante is where Top Dog Abroad started. Our founders were a close group of friends working a summer there, and they built the company from that experience. Laganas is the island's famous party resort, and Caoimhe, who worked there last summer, described Zante as one of the busiest party resorts in Europe, with some of the best artists in the world playing every summer.
Albufeira (Algarve, Portugal)
Albufeira is the next Top Dog Abroad destination, in what we call the Algarve's biggest party resort. There's the Strip and the Old Town, and we're building a growing network of resort partners there. If you like the idea of getting in early on something new, Albufeira's a great shout.
Jobs
In both resorts, the kinds of seasonal roles commonly available include bar work, PR, club reps, ticket sellers, shot sellers, VIP hostesses, DJs, waiting staff and security. Positions vary by resort and venue, and confidence, reliability and good people skills are essential in both. In Albufeira, you'll also need the legal right to work in Portugal, while in Zante, venues help their staff sort out working documents. Our reps can help you with your documents in either resort. See the full list on our jobs page.
In both places, our reps work to arrange participants' seasonal jobs before they arrive in resort, and they're on hand in resort to sort out problems. Either way, your job is offered to you before you land, and you're guaranteed a trial – after that, it's down to you to keep it. Read more on our jobs in Zante and jobs in Albufeira pages.
Pay isn't a fixed rate in either resort; it depends on the role and the venue, and some roles are commission-led. In Zante, pay, hours, benefits and conditions are agreed directly with the employing venue.
The big difference: how work and accommodation connect
This is the most important thing to understand when comparing the two.
In Zante, accommodation and employment are separate. You still get your job offered to you before you arrive, with a guaranteed trial, but your accommodation isn't tied to your job.
In Albufeira, your worker accommodation is directly linked to your employment. If your employment ends or is terminated, your right to stay in the worker accommodation ends as well. There's a standard warning process (verbal warning, then written warning, then termination), and after termination you'll normally have two to three days to move out. Serious misconduct can lead to different or immediate action.
Neither is "better"; they're just different. Zante gives you a bit more independence between job and home, while Albufeira's set-up keeps work and accommodation joined up.
Accommodation
Both resorts offer shared, budget workers' accommodation, booked per person. Each booking is one space for one person, rooms are shared, and room allocations are arranged separately by our team. You can add friends' names when booking in both resorts, and we'll do our best to keep groups together, subject to room sizes and availability.
Zante has the more detailed location info: the accommodation is on the Laganas side of the island, around Kalamaki Road, approximately 5 minutes from the beach, 7 minutes from the Laganas strip and 3 minutes from a 24-hour shop, with access to a pool nearby, plus kitchen facilities. More on the Zante accommodation page.
Albufeira offers shared worker accommodation with room allocations managed by our team, and friend and group requests collected with bookings. More on the Albufeira accommodation page.
Prices compared
| Stay | Zante | Albufeira |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | from £549 (June £599, July £699, August £549) | from £450 (June £450, July £550, August £450) |
| 2 months (June–July or July–August) | £1,249 | £900 |
| 3 months (June–August) | £1,650 | £1,300 |
All prices are per person. In both resorts, there's a £50 deposit option on one-month stays and a £100 deposit option on two- and three-month stays, with the balance paid according to the schedule shown at checkout.
On accommodation alone, Albufeira is cheaper than Zante for every month and length of stay. For a full breakdown of the Zante side, see what a season in Laganas actually costs.
Extras
Albufeira has the Top Dog Abroad Albufeira Wristband, at £29.99 per person. It gives access to participating offers across bars, restaurants, activities and partner venues on the Strip and in the Old Town, plus entry to one official Top Dog Abroad Bar Crawl (subject to availability and scheduled dates). The full 2027 partner line-up and discounts are being announced ahead of summer.
Zante has the benefit of being our original destination, with the experience our team built there first-hand.
Right to work and paperwork
Albufeira: you'll need the legal right to work in Portugal. Irish and other EU citizens can work there freely. If you're not an EU citizen, check the visa and work permit rules that apply to you before you book – the EU's Your Europe guide is a good place to start.
Zante: venues help their staff sort out working documents, so there's less to worry about.
In both resorts, our reps can help you with your documents.
So, which should you pick?
Ask yourself a few questions:
- What's your budget? If accommodation cost is the deciding factor, Albufeira is cheaper for every length of stay.
- How do you feel about job-linked housing? If you'd rather your accommodation was separate from your job, Zante's set-up suits you. If you're happy with the two being linked, Albufeira works.
- Original or brand new? Zante is where it all started; Albufeira is our newest resort.
- Where are your mates going? Honestly, this one decides it for a lot of people.
Still stuck? Send us a message and we'll talk you through both.
Related reading: Bar jobs in Zante · Albufeira bar jobs · How to do a season abroad
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Zante or Albufeira? On accommodation, Albufeira: one month from £450 vs from £549 in Zante, and three months at £1,300 vs £1,650.
Will I have a job lined up in either resort? Yes. In both resorts, your job is offered to you before you arrive in resort, and you're guaranteed a trial – after that, it's down to you to keep it.
Will I get my own room? No. In both resorts, each booking is one space for one person in shared accommodation, and room allocations are arranged separately.
Can I go solo to either? Yes. Many people travel solo and join the wider group in both resorts.