Why Choose a Villa Holiday Over a Hotel in Spain?

Travel to Spain is on the rise, with roughly 138 million tourists visiting Spain in 2024, and the country remains a firm favourite among British holidaymakers, with 18.4 million of Spain’s visitors coming from the UK.

While hotels have typically been the accommodation of choice for many Brits holidaying in Spain, villas are an increasingly popular choice. Here are just a few of the reasons to choose a villa holiday over a hotel on your next trip to Spain.

Privacy, Space and Home Comforts

In comparison to staying in a hotel, a villa offers more privacy, space and home comforts. Villas in Spain have more space than hotels, with living, dining, and kitchen areas as well as separate bedrooms. Plus, many also have an outdoor space and private pool.

This makes villa holidays the ideal choice for families or groups of friends travelling together, as it means everyone can enjoy spending time together in communal areas, but can also have alone-time and privacy if needed.

Villas tend to be more homely, too, with family friendly extras like washing machines, high chairs, and free Wi-Fi.

Freedom to Decide your Schedule

Villa holidays also offer more freedom to decide your own schedule, without needing to consider factors such as when breakfast is served, or how busy the pool will be.

When staying in a villa, you decide when to eat, and can use the pool whenever you like without worrying about securing a sun lounger! This makes villas appealing to a wide range of holidaymakers who prefer to tailor their trip to suit their natural rhythm rather than conforming to set mealtimes, planned excursions, or fixed entertainment schedules.

The freedom of villa stays can be particularly well suited to families travelling with young children, as it makes mealtimes, naptimes and bedtimes easier, and parents can still find time to relax by the pool even after the little ones are tucked up asleep.

Excellent Value for Money

Villas can also offer excellent value for money, particularly if you’re travelling with family or in a large group, as the per-person cost of a villa will often compare favourably to booking multiple hotel rooms.

Villas also tend to include as standard what would usually be considered premium amenities when staying in a hotel resort. A few examples include pool access, parking, a private terrace, or even sea views, these can all come at no extra cost.

A Wider Variety of Locations to Choose From

While hotels are usually situated in busy resorts or cities, villas can often be found in more peaceful, picturesque parts of Spain, away from the typical tourist areas. If you want to find villas in Spain, you can compare options across coastal resorts, countryside locations and quieter destinations before choosing the area that best suits your trip. This allows you to explore sights off the beaten track, get a glimpse of local life, and experience a more authentic Spain.

UnusualPlaces Field Notes

Location

General comparison of villa and hotel holidays in Spain; it does not identify one rental property or destination.

Access

A villa is a privately booked lodging address, not an open attraction. Use the host’s confirmed check-in instructions and verify the property and local transport before arrival; hotel and rental services differ.

Admission

No attraction admission applies. Accommodation rates, deposits, cleaning charges and included amenities are property- and booking-specific; review the terms before paying.

Time needed

Stay length is chosen by the guest and booking. The article compares accommodation types, not a sightseeing itinerary, so it gives no standard visit duration.

Best season

Spain’s mildest outdoor weather is generally in spring and autumn, but climate varies by region. Choose lodging dates for the destination and property availability; this article’s villa-versus-hotel comparison has no single season.

Opening hours

No attraction opening hours apply. Check the individual accommodation’s check-in/check-out window, reception hours and seasonal amenity schedule.

Facts checked

2026-10-02

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