More and more retirees from Northern Europe are renting rural homes in Málaga to spend the winter.

It has been happening for years on the Costa del Sol, but it is increasingly common in the inland towns as well, which are more economical and ... without the typical coastal crowds. During this season, a novel tourism trend that is increasingly in demand is long-term rentals, known in the industry as "winter tourism".

Bookings of this type have grown for the low season that is about to start, up to 15% compared to the same period last year, according to statistics from Ruralidays.com, the leading platform for rural tourism in Spain.

"Mainly, the clients are retired or semi-retired individuals from central and northern Europe," explains Félix Zea, co-founder of Ruralidays. "These tourists look for countryside homes, mainly in the province of Málaga, to escape the cold winter in their respective countries."

From November to March

The season for this specific tourism segment starts in November and lasts until the end of March. This format has specific characteristics, such as a longer duration of bookings, starting from 28 nights and even reaching up to two months. In fact, the average stay is 48 nights (more than a month and a half). The average price per month for rural homes rises to 2,100 euros.

2,100

This is the average price for a full month's stay in a rural house in winter, according to the study by Ruralidays.com.

"The record is held by a German couple who stay 92 nights between November and February in a house in Torrox, they come every year and take advantage of the warm climate of the town which is considered the best climate in Europe, to escape the harsh German winter," says Félix Zea.

Mainly Dutch, Germans, and Britons

By markets, the Dutch are first, followed by the Germans and the British. The customer profile is that of mature-aged couples, who come on their own or accompanied by another couple of friends in the same situation. Thus, it is common for them to share the space of the house (which, therefore, must have at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms) and the rental costs, while they take the opportunity to rest and tour Andalusia.

These types of tourists mainly seek accommodations in inland towns, although close to the sea and well-connected, and the province of Málaga is their preferred location in Andalusia. "The motivation for the trip at this time is twofold: on one hand, to rest, relax and escape the winter; and on the other, to visit the interior of Andalusia in the low season, when there are fewer tourists and the temperatures are milder than in summer," indicates the co-founder of Ruralidays.

Another important characteristic is the anticipation in bookings, which are made an average of almost nine months in advance, even up to 15 months before. They are therefore very foresighted clients.

Rural Getaways

On the other hand, an increase in tourists making short stays to visit the towns is also expected during the upcoming autumn and winter. In this case, the stays range from weekends and extended weekends, which is the preferred option for domestic customers; to almost ten nights for international visitors. Among these, the Germans are the first nationality, followed by the British and the Dutch.

Again, the most appreciated destinations are houses in towns located near the sea, and the average price per week is 850 euros. Ruralidays.com is the leading portal in Andalusia for renting rural houses, offering more than 2,700 accommodations throughout the region.