A shack in the middle of a garden, rooms inside a van, or two sleeping bags in a car. These are some of the offers that appear on accommodation search pages in the Islands. Under the tourist slogan of being in “contact with nature” and ensuring unique experiences under the starry sky”, the possibilities of staying in Canary are becoming increasingly appealing. These spaces do not comply with the 2015 Canary Islands holiday housing law. According to the regulations, these accommodations must have minimum equipment and furniture, as well as interior security locks on access doors, among other measures. These requirements are not met in listings on websites such as Airbnb or Booking, which, nevertheless, have an average rating of almost five stars.
One standout listing in Santa Cruz de Tenerife offers accommodation as “a practical and functional vehicle”. Although it is a car, it states that it comes with “two sleeping bags and a beach cooler”. It guarantees that the vehicle, without being set up for camping, allows for going on an “adventure both on the beach and in the mountains”. The photos of the “accommodation” are limited to landscapes, beaches, and the car next to an outdoor hut. Its rating: five stars. Up to 32 user reviews who were satisfied. “We got exactly what we expected and the price was more than fair”, “very happy with this choice, (…) a solution for those who want to travel cheaply”, are some of the comments received from foreign owners from Finland, Austria, Germany, or Italy. They seem to have stayed at this accommodation even though, in principle, it does not comply with the regulations. No kitchen, no bathroom, no minimum equipment to ensure good “habitable conditions”, as established by the 2015 law.
In Güímar, among greenhouses and crops, we find another unusual accommodation. A yurt or hut used by nomads in Central Asia, in the gardens of an ecological farm. The Ponte al Día program showcased accommodation offering a mattress on pallets where users can “relax from their adventures”. Once again, there is a lack of minimum equipment. There is no kitchen or bathroom images. The legislation states that it should “provide the user with sufficient information on the characteristics of those holiday homes”. The only reference to the bathroom goes no further than a section at the bottom of the listing describing the presence of an outdoor shower. The host clarifies on the website “(…) a hot shower is located among the banana trees, offering a unique experience under the starry sky”. The accommodation photos only show the yurt with a well-kept decoration: bed, table, chair, a fireplace, and lamps.
The accommodation aims to “promote local tourism”. This is what they defend on the website. Their intention is to promote local tourism, local products from the farm where the yurt is located, and promote cultural activities with an educational purpose. Their listing highlights tips such as “we strongly recommend eating out at a guachinche”. It has 19 reviews and 4.95 stars. The general opinion is positive in terms of a good experience and an idea of a space that is “very harmonious, quiet, and relaxed”.
Another example from the Canarian Radio Television programme is a holiday home with a van as a bedroom. The vehicle is parked on a terrace. The exterior also houses the kitchen: a gas stove with a coffee maker, some glasses, and pans on a piece of furniture. The bathroom is outdoors.
It does not meet the minimum equipment requirements or the “interior security closure on access doors”, as stipulated by regulations. One user comments on this: “The van cannot be locked and the toilet is rather lacking in privacy”. Nevertheless, the general travellers’ reaction is positive with 59 reviews highlighting the tranquillity of the area, a “comfortable bed”, a “perfect location” and the “disconnection that the space allows”. Users give this unique accommodation a rating of 4.83 stars.
Boats, the New Trend
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From connecting with nature in the mountains, accommodations are also reaching the sea. Tourist pressure and the rising cost of home rentals have led holiday homes to harbour ports. Boat stays are now popping up in tourism offerings. These types of accommodations fall outside the regulations of the Canary Islands Tourism Management Law and the Holiday Housing Law. The latter lists the non-hotel accommodation types, including apartments, villas, iconic houses, rural houses, and holiday homes. Boats are not mentioned.
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In some cases, they are moored in private docks where the port cannot control the activities carried out on the boats. The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility establishes that the nautical lease agreement only provides the lessee, for a fee, with “a ship or boat for a period of time and for the sole purpose of sports or recreation”. It is reflected on the website that their price per night can reach up to €270. Although they have a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, these floating apartments are not regulated. However, they appear on search portals as another option for spending holidays with outstanding ratings.
