What a scouting trip to Spain really costs

Key rules

• Season: Season changes flight, lodging and car-hire prices more than anything else, with July and August the dearest.
• Cheapest travel: Coaches are usually the cheapest way between cities, and booking trains early lowers the fare.
• Do not cut: Keep in-person viewings and a visit in the weeks you would really live there, even if you save elsewhere.
• Extras: Ask whether bills and cleaning are included in a furnished stay price.

No price ranges are given here, so check current fares and listings for your dates with airlines, rail operators and rental listings.

What a scouting trip costs

Your budget has three parts: flights, lodging and local transport. Season and city change all three strongly. No single price is reliable, so size your trip by checking current fares and listings for the dates and cities you pick.

Flights

Season and booking time drive the price.

• From Europe (for example the UK, Germany or France): low-cost airlines are cheapest from November to March, outside the holidays. Fares rise sharply in July and August and around Christmas and Easter.
• From North America: fares are lowest in the winter and spring shoulder months and highest in summer.
• Which airport: Madrid and Barcelona have the most choice and competitive fares.

Book some weeks ahead, use flexible dates and compare on flight search engines.

Lodging

Book a furnished monthly stay (alquiler de temporada) or a short-stay apartment with a kitchen. A central apartment or aparthotel usually beats a hotel for a stay of several days.

• Madrid and Barcelona are the dearest. Seville and Valencia are lower.
• A monthly furnished stay usually costs noticeably more than a long-term lease on the same flat.
• Coastal cities, such as Málaga, Palma and Valencia, get dearer in summer and often discount in winter. Some cities also rise for big events.
• Bills and cleaning may be extra, so ask what the price includes.

Getting around

• Coaches are usually the cheapest way between cities.
• Regional trains (Media Distancia) cost less than high-speed trains.
• High-speed trains (AVE, Ouigo, Iryo) are cheapest booked early and on the low-cost operators. They are dearest at the last minute and at peak times.
• Car hire is cheapest off-peak and in winter, and climbs steeply in July and August. Driver age, deposit, one-way fees and insurance all change the price.

Where to save

• Travel off-peak, from November to March or in May and June. It is cheaper, and you see the place in normal life instead of as a holiday spot.
• Combine several towns in one trip.
• Use low-cost airlines, buses and regional trains.

What not to cut

Cutting these defeats the purpose of the trip:

• Visiting in the weeks you would actually live there. A winter visit shows you the climate and the effect of tourist season.
• Walking the neighbourhoods at different hours.
• Viewing rental homes in person. Never commit to a lease without seeing the property.
• Meeting a local agent or visiting the town hall.

The questions below cover timing, monthly stays and transport in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

When is the cheapest time to fly to Spain for a scouting trip?

The cheapest time to fly to Spain is usually November to March, outside the holidays. Fares rise sharply in July and August and around Christmas and Easter. From North America, winter and spring are the cheapest months and summer is the dearest.

Is a one-month furnished stay dearer than a normal rental?

Yes, a furnished monthly stay usually costs noticeably more than a long-term lease on the same flat. Madrid and Barcelona are the dearest, and Seville or Valencia cost less. Bills and cleaning may be extra, and coastal landlords often offer winter discounts.

What is the cheapest way to travel between Spanish cities?

Long-distance coaches are usually the cheapest way to travel between Spanish cities. Regional trains cost less than high-speed trains, and high-speed trains are cheapest when booked early. Car hire is cheapest in winter and rises steeply in July and August, with extra costs for young drivers, one-way fees and insurance.

Which costs should I not cut on a scouting trip?

Do not cut the time you spend seeing the place as it would be when you live there. That means visiting in the weeks you would actually be there, walking neighbourhoods at different hours, viewing rental homes in person and meeting a local agent or the town hall. Save instead on flexible-date flights, buses, and a central apartment with a kitchen rather than a hotel.