More and more Expats are taking the plunge and moving to Spain to start a new life and business. Purchasing a hostel (Albergue turistico) could help you achieve both of these.
Hostels are very popular and are found in all areas of Spain.
Choosing the right location for your hostel is paramount. Depending on the type of hostel you want to run and the clientele you wish to attract will greatly steer you towards the location best suited for you. This decision could make or break your business.
You should research your chosen location, and even try other hostels in the area to see what is working and what isn’t. Talk to backpackers you see on the way and find out why they have chosen this area to visit, where they are from and how long they are staying. This will go along way to help you come up with the right business plan for your hostel.
As mentioned before, there are many hostels for sale up and down the country. They are popular with old and young travellers alike that wish to see the country but are travelling on a budget.
You can choose to purchase an existing hostel (a turn key business) with an existing clientele and (hopefully) a good reputation among the backpackers community. This would no doubt make the transition to Spain far easier, and you will hit the ground running with existing clientele. Or you can start from scratch and purchase a property that you can turn into your own dream hostel business.
If starting from scratch is the way you would like to build your new business in Spain, then you will need to find the right property for your Hostel!
Things to think about when choosing the right property for your hostel business:
· Location, Location, Location – is this a popular area for backpackers?
· Room Sizes - Does the property have big enough rooms to fit the required beds to make the business profitable?
· Does the property have enough bathrooms to service the business, or enough room to increase the number of bathrooms required?
· Are the rooms that will be used as common areas, big enough to house all the guests?
Purchasing an existing hostel in Spain will mean that it will come with an existing hostel licence, and a simple name change is all that is required. All regions will have their own rules and regulations for obtaining a hostel licenses. You should always check with municipality of the city in which the property is, to get information regarding the issue.
Updated 24th Feb 2023