This is for the adventurer: get away from the cookie cutter lodgings and find the right Spain rentals to fit your budget and needs. One of the great options is casas rurales, which means rural houses. These accommodations can vary greatly, from houses to apartments, expensive to basic.
When considering casas rurales for your Spain rentals, keep in mind that the locations are different. They are not necessarily in the country. Some are located in towns, some in the middle of nowhere. This means that a flexible traveler can stay in a variety of locations for cheap, beyond the tourist traps and overcrowded cities.
Like other rentals, the casas rurales options for Spain rentals do not include housekeeping on a daily or weekly basis. If you expect that level of service, a rental might not be the best option for your needs. In addition, there will not be room service or concierge capabilities. If that is what you expect or require, there are plenty of hotels that will cater to these needs.
Many of these home rentals are availed on a weekly basis, which is not ideal for a person that wants to stay on the move. This is not a hard rule, and many will offer shorter-term rentals depending on the season and the property. Talk to the owner or agent to see if you can negotiate something different.
If the property is attached or nearby the owner’s home, they might want to actively be involved in your visit. They might offer to take you sightseeing, prepare you a meal or give you a local gift. If you are looking for this sort of interaction with locals, keep your eye out for that sort of opportunity. Talk to an agent to see if they can recommend something in the area with that sort of owner.
If you do get the opportunity to interact with the locals, enjoy! Those that stay in hotels will rarely get such an up-close glimpse of the area and the people. That can often make a trip more exciting. You might not be seeing all the top-rated tourist attractions, but you will undoubtedly experience Spain in a way that most people don’t get the chance to do.
The best advice for those seeking out casas rurales in Spain is to do as much research as possible, ask questions about the home, its location and its proximity to other homes and towns. You might think that the website tells you everything, but if you don’t ask, you will never know.