Idealista just made it easier to find holiday rentals in Spain and Portugal

For years, many people have had the same routine when planning a holiday.

One website for flights. Another for hotels. A different platform for holiday rentals. Then perhaps a property portal if they happen to be looking at homes abroad while they are there.

Now one of Spain’s biggest property websites wants to bring some of those searches together.

Idealista, best known for helping people buy, sell and rent homes, has expanded into the holiday rental market by integrating Rentalia’s accommodation listings directly into its platform. The move means users can now search for holiday properties in Spain and Portugal without leaving the Idealista website.

For travellers, it adds a new option to a market long dominated by specialist holiday rental platforms.

For Idealista, it opens the door to a sector that continues to attract millions of bookings every year.

Why Idealista is moving beyond traditional property searches

Most people associate Idealista with house hunting. Whether someone is looking for a long term rental in Madrid, a villa on the Costa del Sol or an apartment in Lisbon, the platform has become one of the most recognisable names in the property market.

Holiday rentals are a different business, but not entirely unrelated.

Every year, millions of travellers search online for apartments, villas and holiday homes instead of traditional hotel accommodation. Demand for self catering properties has grown steadily, particularly among families, larger groups and travellers looking for more space during their stay.

The new integration allows Idealista users to switch from property searches to holiday accommodation through a dedicated holiday rental category.

Rather than visiting a separate website, travellers can now browse available properties from within the same ecosystem many already use for real estate searches.

The timing is significant.

With summer approaching and travel demand remaining strong across southern Europe, competition for holiday bookings is intensifying.

How the new holiday rental search works

The system has been designed to resemble the booking process travellers already know. Users can select their destination, travel dates and the number of guests before viewing available properties.

Additional filters allow searches to be refined according to personal preferences.

People looking for a swimming pool can narrow the results accordingly. The same applies to pet friendly accommodation, properties with air conditioning or homes located close to the beach.

Once a property has been selected, travellers are directed to complete the booking through Rentalia.

The reservation process itself remains linked to the holiday rental platform, while the search experience begins inside Idealista.

That distinction is important because the move is not the creation of an entirely new booking platform. Instead, it brings together two services that already belong to the same group.

For users, however, the experience feels considerably more seamless than before.

What it means for holiday homeowners

The changes are not only aimed at travellers. Property owners and agencies advertising holiday accommodation through Rentalia also stand to benefit.

According to Idealista, holiday rental properties already listed on Rentalia will automatically gain additional visibility through Idealista’s audience. That could significantly increase exposure for owners in popular tourist destinations.

Importantly, hosts will not need to learn an entirely new management system.

Calendars, bookings and day to day administration will continue to be handled through Rentalia, while benefiting from the wider reach of Idealista’s property marketplace.

Owners who are not yet advertising on Rentalia will also have the option to join the platform and potentially see their listings appear on Idealista once certain quality requirements have been met.

For travellers, the biggest change is simple.

The next time they start searching for a holiday apartment in Spain or Portugal, they may not need to leave one of the country’s best known property websites to find it.

And for a company that built its reputation helping people find somewhere to live, helping them find somewhere to spend their holidays could be a natural next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a holiday rental directly through Idealista?

Users can now search for holiday rentals through a dedicated section on Idealista. Once they choose a property, the booking process is completed through Rentalia, which manages the reservations.

Which countries are included in the new holiday rental search?

The new feature allows travellers to search for holiday accommodation in both Spain and Portugal.

Is Idealista replacing Rentalia?

No. Rentalia continues to manage listings, bookings, calendars and property administration. The change simply makes Rentalia properties visible through Idealista’s platform.

Will all holiday rentals on Idealista come from Rentalia?

Yes. The holiday accommodation currently displayed through Idealista comes from Rentalia’s existing inventory of tourist rental properties.

Can property owners advertise holiday homes on Idealista?

Owners and agencies must first list their properties on Rentalia. Once the required quality criteria have been met, those listings may also appear on Idealista, giving them access to a larger audience.

Does this make Idealista a competitor to Airbnb?

The move places Idealista more directly in the holiday rental market, where platforms such as Airbnb already operate. However, Idealista is using Rentalia’s existing infrastructure rather than launching an entirely separate booking platform.

Can travellers filter properties by amenities?

Yes. Users can filter results according to features such as swimming pools, pet-friendly accommodation, air conditioning and beachfront locations.