Villa Holidays in Spain

We reveal the most popular destinations in Spain for villa holidays, both on the mainland and on the Spanish islands...

The Costas are where all the action takes place on a Spanish villa holiday.

Costa del Sol – centred on Malaga and with less than three hours from the UK by plane, the Costa del Sol is a favourite with British villa guests. Pick from coastal resorts such as Estepona, Marbella and Puerto Banus, or head inland to lovely Mijas. You will find everything from villas attached to golf course developments or centred on shopping areas to more traditional homes in Andalusian villages overlooking the Med.

Costa Blanca – on the Costa Blanca, most villas are found in resorts such as Javea, Denia, Moraira and Altea. These all have their own individual character and beach areas and are a world apart from nearby Benidorm itself with its high-rise hotels and non-stop entertainment. Fly into Alicante (ALC) for easy access.

Costa Almeria – boasting one of the best climates in Europe this quieter area is excellent for families or for escaping the crowds of the busier resorts on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca. The scenery is breath taking with mountains running to the coast and quiet beaches. Fly into Almeria (LEI).

Costa Calida – the rise of the villa and apartment complex of Torrevieja, plus the nearby La Manga club area with its world-class sporting facilities, has made the Costa Calida a firm favourite with Brits. Flights to Murcia’s Corvera Airport (RMU) are the best way to reach the area.

Balearic Island Villas– Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca all have a wide range of villas available for rent. Menorca is best suited to families and those looking for a quieter break, while the other two islands cater for all whatever the type of holiday you want.

Canary Island Villas – Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura also offer villa holidays. The choice is not as great as in mainland Spain and the Balearics, but the islands do offer year-round sun, making family villa holidays around Christmas and New Year a popular choice.

Without doubt the easiest way to get around on a villa holiday is to have a hire car…

We would recommend car hire as the most efficient way of enjoying a villa holiday to the Spanish mainland. Picking up at your arrival airport such as Malaga (AGP) or Alicante (ALC) makes it easy to both get to your villa and to visit local attractions such as water parks and beaches.

Many villa holidays come complete with vehicle rental; however do check out prices to ensure you are getting the best overall deal.

If you opt for a villa without car hire then you will need to ensure it has easy access to public transport or to a resort centre where you can buy provisions at least. You can arrange a transfer to your resort from the airport to make arriving and departing a breeze.

Lazing around the pool at your villa can easily take up much of your holiday time. However, there are plenty of activities on hand when you fancy a change...

Shopping – all of the resorts along the Spanish coast are packed with holiday shopping. So whether you need an inflatable for the pool, a spare pair of flip flops or some extra sun cream, you’ll have no trouble finding what you want.

There are also many local markets offering fruit and veg, as well as local bakeries for bread and a range of supermarkets and hypermarkets for other groceries.

Shopping centres also abound with department stores such as El Corte Ingles found across the country and items in chain stores such as Zara, Pull & Bear and Jack Jones often cheaper than they are in the UK. You will also find souvenirs ranging from fridge magnets to flamenco dolls and high-end Lladro porcelain.

Water sports – along the coasts there are water parks, pedaloes, and water skiing and windsurfing schools, as well as companies offering dolphin spotting boat trips and snorkelling gear.

Culture – every Spanish village has a church, which is the centre of many of the fiestas held throughout the year. Time your villa holiday in Spain to coincide with one of these parties and you will be able to enjoy all manner of celebrations, from late night fireworks to stunning parades and even bull running.

The major towns have museums and galleries, while there are also plenty of castles to visit. If you are staying on the Costa del Sol, it’s well worth heading inland to visit places like the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Mesquite in Cordoba or the cathedral in Seville.

Entertainment – when it comes to nightlife, you can have quiet nights on the veranda of your Spanish villa or go wild in the clubs of your nearest resort. Every part of Spain offers restaurants, bars and a variety of evening entertainment.