Where to stay when you vacation in Spain

With the tight economic times, and surely the pinch on your personal wallet, you will ultimately want to find the best deals when you go on a vacation. Going to Spain is a trip of a lifetime, which you would certainly not want to ruin by picking the wrong place to stay. Finding accommodations in Spain, whether those accommodations are a beautiful rental or an elegant hotel room, is up to you. Finding inexpensive accommodations is not difficult, either, when you know what to look for.

Various types of accommodations in Spain are Hostels, Pensiones, Paradores, Rental Villas, Rental Apartments and Hotels. Hotels are a pretty common type of accommodation in Spain and around the world, as are villas and apartments you can rent, so a lengthy description here is unnecessary. Let's look at the other types of accommodations that may suit your vacationing needs.

Accommodation and swimming pool set in beautiful gardens in Spain

Hostels are for those who don't mind taking the comforts of home (literally) on their trip with them. To cut the cost of this type of accommodation in Spain, those vacationing should bring their own necessities, like towels, soap, and even bed sheets. From the Hostel Vacationers Handbook, a hostel owner will provide three Ss: Shower, Shelter and Security. This type of accommodation came to be when students with little money decided to take lengthy trips and needed extremely affordable places to stay. So, if you don't mind packing a bit more in your suitcase, staying at a hostel in Spain can be the perfect way to pinch your pennies and splurge on other areas of your trip.

A pensiones is similar to a hotel, but can sometimes be more accurately described as a “boarding house”. Often family run, there are common areas in a pensiones, like the kitchen and living area. Some pensiones give their guests private bathrooms, while some have common facilities, as well. Some would call this kind of a situation a “bed and breakfast”, as oftentimes the cost of your stay includes a breakfast each morning.

Paradores are just like a hotel. The difference is they are run by the government. In most cases, this does not change anything about the comforts and discounts you can find.

No matter where you ultimately decide you want to get your accommodations in Spain, you can always find a good deal in a price range you can afford – if you look for it. Do research online and in travel brochures. Make a few phone calls to travel agents. Keep your eyes peeled for any kinds of discount coupons or offers in travel magazines. You might just be surprised how cheaply you can find your accommodations in Spain and be able to use your vacation money where you want to.