This week, Spain‘s Ministry of Consumer Affairs ordered Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday homes from its platform as part of a crackdown on illegal listings.
Spain ordered the online holiday lets giant to remove the listings on Monday, with Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s Consumer Rights Minister, saying: ‘No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country.’
The minister said his goal was to end the ‘lack of control’ and ‘illegality’ in the holiday rental industry – the country is currently facing a housing crisis as construction has failed to keep up with demand.
The worst affected destinations appear to be cities, including tourist hotspots Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga; the latter has 85 per cent of flats in its historic centre linked to tourism lets.
Where does the move leave your summer plans if you fancied heading to Britain’s favourite holiday destination?
The good news is that there are still plenty of properties right across Spain – including the Balearics and the Canary Islands – listed on Airbnb’s website that are perfectly legal and do have the required registration.
How can you tell? Look for the required eight digit ‘registration number’ – made up of letters and numbers – on listings.
Tourists can find the code at the bottom of the page entitled ‘About this space’, which usually appears in a ‘show more’ grey box at the end of the property’s initial description – if you can’t see it, it’s likely the let falls foul of Spain’s requirements.
While many of Spain’s holiday lets are under threat from tougher legislation that requires them to be registered, there are plenty on Airbnb that have that crucial registration number (Pictured: Cala d’Hort beach in Ibiza)
Here’s a selection of Spanish properties that all have registration numbers on their pages… so, what are you waiting for? Vamos!
MALLORCA
Villa Sylvia costs from £438 per night in the height of the summer holidays, and sleeps six people
This three-bed rustic villa with a pool sits in beautiful Pollença, on Mallorca’s north-eastern coast.
Sleeping six guests, there’s two bathrooms and a large covered terrace for al fresco dining – visitors can pick up delights at the weekly food market in Pollença.
Other highlights nearby? Puerto Pollença, just a few miles east, has gently sloping golden sands that are perfect for families with younger children.
Book it: From £438 a night, based on August departures
MENORCA
Close to the Menorcan city of Mahon, Ses Milans Villas sleeps ten and has its own pool
Stylish interiors – and wi-fi and air con – make it a perfect summer stay for large groups
Sleeping ten, this huge villa sits in rural splendour close to Menorca’s second city of Mahon. There’s five bedrooms, an outdoor bar, pool and beautiful beaches nearby.
Inside there’s stylish muted blue interiors, with all mod cons including wi-fi, a built-in sink bar and air con.
Book it: From £545 a night, with a five night minimum stay required
IBIZA
In Ibiza’s quieter north, this one-bed sits in beautiful countryside – but has great beaches nearby
Fancy a rustic bolt-hole just for two on the White Isle? This one-bed couple’s retreat sits in Can Surya, in the northern part of Ibiza.
Nearby beaches include Benirras or Puerto de Sant Miquel and tranquility is guaranteed.
One former guest described it as ‘one of the best airbnbs i’ve stayed in my many years of traveling’.
Book it: From £259 a night
BARCELONA
Serviced boutique next to Rambla
In the thick of the action in Barcelona’s heart, this serviced apartment sleeps six in three bedrooms
The registration number on this gorgeous apartment is front and centre in its listing, offering reassurance that this Barcelona holiday let is legit.
The period apartment sleeps six in three bedrooms, each of which have a bathroom each – even better, Barcelona’s most famous shopping street is just outside.
Book it: From £364 a night in peak season
SAN SEBASTIAN
Natural light floods into La Concha, which overlooks San Sebastian’s easy-on-the-eye beach
This elegant two-bed property in Spain’s most famous foodie town, just 15 miles from the French border in the country’s north, boasts views of its winsome crescent bay.
Sleeping four, there’s bold modern artwork on the walls and a bright and airy island kitchen in the offing too.
A stay in Donostia – as the city is known to locals – comes with gourmet dining opportunities galore, including San Seb’s famous pintxo, the Basque region’s refined take on tapas.
Book it: From £501 a night
CANARY ISLANDS
Tenerife
A statement fire-pit frames this stylish retreat that has one villa for four and one for two and sits on a farm close to the Teide National Park
Just a ten-minute drive from Tenerife’s otherworldly Teide National Park, Finca la Mandarina is far from the madding crowds and has a 4.99 review score.
Sleeping six guests across three bedrooms, this white-washed modern property is set on a 3,000m2 farm.
There’s one large villa, sleeping four, and another sleeping two – so ideal for grandparents wanting to travel on a family getaway.
Book it: From £242 a night
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