How to Choose Accommodation in Spain
By Yann, published on 22/03/2019 We Love Prof > Languages > Spanish > Finding Accommodation in Spain“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustav Flaubert
With over 80 million tourists visiting Spain each year, it’s one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Be it the Canary Islands, Andalusia, Girona, Malaga, Tarragona, Catalonia, the Costa Dorada, the Balearic Islands, Asturias, the whole country is worth visiting.
So where should you stay when you travel to Spain?
In this article, we’ll be looking at villas, holiday homes, hotels, and youth hostels. Regardless of your destination in Spain, knowing what you’re interested in booking will help you get the ideal hotel.
Whether you’re looking for a hotel spa, a beach hotel, a boutique hotel, or something on the beachfront, here are the different types of accommodation you can get when you travel to Spain.
Choosing Hotels in Spain
Of all the places to stay in Spain, hotels are usually the first ones we think of. Whether it’s on the side of a road or in the heart of a city, not all hotels are the same. From youth hostels to luxury hotels, your choice will depend on your budget and the levels of comfort you want.
Which hotel will you choose? (Source: Mariamichelle)
Luxury Hotels
Luxury hotels will provide you with the utmost comfort during your stay in Spain. They’ll also often be found in a great location (city centre, historic quarter, by the sea, etc.). This comfort comes at a price, of course.
In Spain, you can get double rooms for anywhere between €100 and €250 per night.
If you’re looking for a luxurious romantic getaway or planning your honeymoon, Spain is a great destination and you’ll easily find a stunning five-star hotel situated a stone’s throw from beautiful beaches.
These types of hotels are the closest you can get to spending time in a palace without being a member of the Spanish royal family and if you plan carefully, check for hotel offers on different sites to help you find the best luxury resorts.
For example, Hotel Catalonia Atocha is one of the most popular hotels in Spain. This luxury hotel is near Madrid Atocha stations, has jacuzzis, a roof terrace, bar, etc., and costs €160 per night.
Small Hotels
Smaller hotels are available for between €60 and €80 per night. This could be an advantage if you’re travelling as a couple and want to split the cost of a room. More boutique hotels are popping up all over Spain and competition is forcing them to offer the best rate.
If you’re travelling with a pet, there’s the Hostal Madrid Centro. By the Puerta del Sol, this is a basic hotel with a restaurant where you can eat without having to leave your accommodation. The average price is €50 per night.
Hotel Chains
Ibis, Mercure, and plenty of other hotel chains have locations in Spain and across Europe. You can find them in useful locations (such as by an airport, station, city centres, and near famous monuments). In fact, you can find good hotels by the main square in top Spanish cities for very reasonable prices.
The bigger chains often include beach resorts and hotels by the sea. If you’re interested in going all inclusive and finding somewhere to relax on your time away, going with a chain is a good way to find the best hotel and the best rates.
The Hotel Ibis Madrid Centro can be found in the Malasaña neighbourhood near the Bilbao metro station. For €66 per night, you can enjoy everything the city centre of Madrid has to offer.
Youth Hostels
Unlike in neighbouring Portugal, youth hostels in Spain are actually quite expensive. In Madrid or Barcelona, you can pay between €10 or €20 for an evening in a dormitory. Some youth hostels are similar to hotels with private rooms.
While the rates are higher than what you usually pay elsewhere, some of these places are very good. I managed to get a comfortable room in Barcelona city centre for very little. You’d never be able to get that in a hotel.
That said, if you’re interested in relaxing during your time in Spain, you probably should opt for beach hotels, a resort spa, or a hotel resort rather than a youth hostel as the guests are often interested in going out late and enjoying themselves.
If you’re looking for a hotel on the beach or places that boast loads of facilities, youth hostels are rarely the way to go. The “I Love Madrid Hostel” is just 3 minutes from Plaza Mayor. You can pay as little as €12 for an evening in a dormitory.
Holiday Rents in Spain
Not everyone wants to stay in a hotel. Hotels don’t tend to have their own kitchen for those that want to prepare their own food and this can put a lot of potential guests off. This is why some people may prefer to opt for holiday rents. This is a great way to have a more authentic experience in Spain but you probably won’t get to enjoy the same facilities as a resort and spa.
You can discover hidden parts of Spain. (Source: Free-Photos)
Guest Houses
Guest houses tend to offer similar services to hotels but with more personal touches and you’ll usually stay in a private room with meals included. Your hosts will prepare these and may even sit down to eat them with you. This is a great way to learn more about Spanish specialities while speaking with locals.
Airbnbs
You can also use the site Airbnb to find holiday accommodation. The hosts set their own rates according to the market and you can find plenty of different types of accommodation. That said, you won’t always get breakfast included. You can get a good location for a good price or find a chic flat that’s centrally located, though.
You can also rent a room in a place or an entire property. This is a good option for those travelling with friends or family. The cost per person can end up very being very cheap. You can enjoy comfortable accommodation in areas of town that aren’t overrun by tourists. What better way to discover Spanish life?
Camping in Spain
Many people choose to travel in a campervan or stay in a tent on a Spanish campsite and this is another great way to visit Spain. While this would obviously be much more difficult in the centre of Madrid, there are plenty of campsites near the Mediterranean coast. Generally speaking, there are campsites all over Spain.
You’ll be surprised what you can get in terms of accommodation in Spain. (Source: nextvoyage)
The advantage of this type of accommodation is that they boast modern amenities such as swimming pools, laundry rooms, play areas for children, etc.
If you’re looking for somewhere with spectacular surroundings, camping offers something that you won’t get in your typical city hotel.
The rates are generally quite good. Especially if you just want to pitch a tent or park up your campervan. You can also rent a chalet or caravan. You can rent these types of accommodation for much less than a hotel.
You can pay between €13 and €20 for a space for your tent, campervan, or caravan. You can spend between €500 and €600 to rent a campervan for the week.
Sleeping in Spain for Free
Can you really stay in Spain for free?
This is a great way to save a lot of money on your holidays in Spain.
CouchSurfing
The CouchSurfing website can help you find places where people let travellers stay for free for one or several nights. You’ll need to plan ahead when doing this. Once you’ve signed up, you can send messages to potential hosts and plan your stay. Whether you’re staying on a sofa, a shared room, or a private room, there are plenty of different types of places you can stay.
CouchSurfing is free. The goal is to bring travellers together and make friends.
Sleeping in Tents or Campervans
If you want to sleep somewhere for free, you can head off with your tent or campervan and sleep in a forest, by a lake, or somewhere in the country. The Park4Night app can help you find free places to stay for free. The places on the maps have been chosen by other users. You can find a few photos and a description of each place before you go.
You can pitch your tent wherever you want. (Source: Free-Photos)
Where and How to Find Accommodation in Spain
To find the perfect accommodation in Spain, you can start by checking price comparison sites like Booking.com. Even if you don’t make a reservation, this site will help you get a better idea of how much accommodation will cost you. There are also bonuses for regular uses.
If you don’t find anything you like, then feel free to move onto sites like Airbnb and CouchSurfing. You can find everything you’re looking for. Whether you’re looking for somewhere unusual, an entire house, a private room, these are great options.
Finally, you can also search directly. By typing the name of the place you want to stay and the type of accommodation, a good search engine will get you the right results.
Whether you’re staying in Alicante, Murcia, Benidorm, Marbella, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, or the Sierra Nevada.
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