Villa Horizonte · Guides
Renting a holiday villa in Spain: what to check before you book
A private villa gives a family or a group of friends space that no hotel can – but listings can look alike. Here is the checklist we would use ourselves, with the answers for Villa Horizonte next to each point.
1. A registration number
Holiday rentals in Spain must be registered, and the listing should show the registration number. It is a simple sign that the property is rented legally. Villa Horizonte's number (NRA) is shown in the footer of every page of this website.
2. The total price, not just the nightly rate
Compare the full cost of your stay: the nightly rate, the cleaning fee, any service fee and the deposit. At Villa Horizonte the one-off fees are listed openly next to the rates – final cleaning and a service fee per stay – and the booking calendar shows the full price for your dates before you pay.
3. Minimum stay and season
Many villas have a minimum number of nights, which often changes with the season. Check it before you fall in love with a house. Our current minimum stay is shown in the booking calendar, and long winter stays from October to April have their own offer.
4. Is the pool really heated?
An unheated pool on the Costa Blanca is cold for much of the year. Ask whether the pool is heated and in which months. Villa Horizonte has a private heated pool of 6 × 3 m that can be used all year.
5. Heating and air conditioning
Spanish houses are built for the heat, and winter evenings can be cool. Make sure the house has heating, not only air conditioning for summer. Our villa has ducted air conditioning with a heating function in the whole house.
6. Beds that suit your group
"Sleeps 8" can mean very different things. Check how many real bedrooms there are and what kind of beds. Villa Horizonte has two bedrooms with double beds, a children's room with two bunk beds and a sofa bed in the living room, plus two bathrooms.
7. Access for older guests and small children
Steps, thresholds and steep stairs matter if you travel with grandparents or a pushchair. Our ground floor is step-free, with accessible bathrooms; only the rooftop terrace is reached by stairs. The garden is fenced.
8. Location and getting around
"Close to the beach" should come with real distances. From Villa Horizonte it is about 5 minutes by car to Cala de Finestrat, 10 minutes to the beaches of Benidorm and 35 minutes to Alicante airport. You will want a car – there is private parking for two.
9. Kitchen, Wi-Fi and the small things
For a longer stay, a well-equipped kitchen and reliable Wi-Fi matter more than a nice photo of the sofa. Ask about the hob, oven, dishwasher, coffee machine and internet. All of these are in the villa – see our guide to what is in the house.
10. Who you are booking with
Book through the official channels shown on the property's own website and avoid paying by bank transfer to people you only know from a message. Villa Horizonte is booked through the calendar of our local partner Holiday Trip Spain or through Airbnb, and you can always write to us first with questions.