Spain has accommodation for all budgets and tastes. It is generally more expensive in the city or coastal resorts than the country, but accommodation away from the coast is harder to find.

 

The budget options for staying in Spain are quite extensive and includes hostales, camping grounds, monasteries/convents and pansiyons. Here's a closer look at what you might find:

 

Casas de Huéspedes – these are a guesthouse that offer basic accommodation but no food and they prefer long term guests.

Fondas – usually found in villages with just basic facilities and rooms, usually located over the bar. Food may be included either with full or part board.

Hospedajes – offer basic accommodation similar to the two places above. Again long term guests are often preferred.

Hostals – these hostels with dorm rooms are the most upmarket of the budget accomodation and usually have a wash basin or shared/ensuite bathrooms. Full board is not given but you often get breakfast. You may be able to request female or male only rooms.

Pensiones or pansiyons – a guesthouse with basic private rooms with or without food. Again long term guests are preferred.

 

You won't find bed and breakfasts like those in Italy, England or France although beds (camas) or rooms (habitaciones) may be advertised in the windows of private houses, in restaurants or bars. Rural tourism is improving in Spain but again is not quite like other European centres yet and it can be difficult to find accommodation in village and rural centres.

 

Other places to look for budget accommodation include university dorms during summer breaks or even in monasteries. Although do note these are places of prayer and silence so guests should be prepared to fit in with the way things are done.

 

Camping grounds are another option for accommodation although they do tend to be a little further out of town so may hinder night time entertainment plans but do offer substantial savings. Often they also have bungalows, cabins or dorm style beds so you may not need a tent. Most campsites in Spain are on the coast and many cater for naturists so check them out first!

 

Rifugio's on major walking trails like the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain often provide free or very discounted accommodation for "pilgrims" i.e those walking on the route.

 

If you plan to stay long term somewhere you maybe able to work out an arrangement with the manager but some places do not enourage long term guests and may impose a maximum stay.

 

Some travellers report that they did not stay in youth hostels in Spain at all as they were not centrally located and the hostales / pensiones were just as good value. Usually the hostals / pensiones will be cheaper for groups of two or more but can be more pricey for singles. Watch out for national holidays or festivals when accommodation can be booked out.

 

You should also check if the accommodation place accepts credit cards, you may find most take cash only.

 

 

The Spanish youth hostel association operates about 200 youth hostels in Spain. These are cheaper than privately run hostels, although you may need membership with the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF). There's also the downside of their location (often further out of town) and that you might be sharing the place with school children. If you're travelling with others hostels might not be that much cheaper anyway and it can be better to get a pansiyon room.

 

 

Hotel accommodation varies from one to five stars and includes VAT (7 per cent) and sometimes a local tax. Breakfast might not be included.

 

Prices in big cities, coastal resorts and spa towns will always be more expensive, while Madrid and Barcelona are comparable in price to places such as Paris and London. However the places to look for inexpensive accommodation is usually in the old quarter near the main cathedral, handy for most tourists.

 

Cheaper hotels may have poor heating in winter.