Spain Travel Insights: Barcelona vs. Mallorca – Should You Book Direct?
Spain is one of Europe’s most beloved holiday destinations, with vibrant cities, sun-drenched beaches, and world-class hospitality. But when planning your next trip, the question remains: Should you book directly with the hotel or through an Online Travel Agent (OTA) like Booking.com?
Only recently Booking.com got a record fine in Spain for abusing its dominant position. On top of that rate parity, which forced the hotels to have the same rate on OTA’s was dropped for whole Europe.
Just like in our previous research across Austria, Dubai, and France, we analyzed hotel prices in two of Spain’s top destinations:
- Barcelona, the cosmopolitan city of Gaudí, tapas, and Mediterranean charm.
- Mallorca, the idyllic beach paradise, famous for its crystal-clear waters, relaxed vibes, and luxury resorts.
Here’s what we found after carefully comparing Booking.com prices with those on official hotel websites, always ensuring we matched the same room, same meal plan, and same cancellation policies. And yes—our BookBetterDirect browser extension saved us countless hours of manual searching again!
Barcelona: OTAs Have the Edge
When visiting Barcelona, our research showed that Booking.com was cheaper in 60% of cases, making it one of the more OTA-friendly cities we’ve analyzed (similar to Vienna, Graz, and the Côte d’Azur).
🔑 Key Barcelona Findings:
- Direct booking was cheaper in only 40% of cases.
- Booking.com was cheaper in 60% of cases.
- Average direct booking savings: €74.67 (-4.77%).
- Highest direct booking saving: €247 (-11.09%).
- Highest OTA saving: €336 (18.82%).
👉 What does this mean for travelers?
In Barcelona, OTAs often compete aggressively on price. So, before booking your next city escape, make sure to compare both options. Sometimes, the OTA deal is too good to pass up—download our BookBetterDirect extension here and we help you check in seconds.
Mallorca: Big Wins for Direct Booking
When it comes to Mallorca, the story flips. Like other beach destinations such as the Côte d’Azur, direct bookings come out on top much more often—especially with some massive savings.
🔑 Key Mallorca Findings:
- Direct booking was cheaper in 50% of cases.
- Booking.com was cheaper in 50% of cases.
- Average direct booking savings: €443.75 (-25.02%).
- Highest direct booking saving: €754.20 (-42.91%) at Protur Naisa Palma Hotel.
- Highest OTA saving: €259.15 (8.83%) at Hotel Calatrava (at time of our research).
👉 What does this mean for travelers?
Mallorca’s hotels seem more comfortable offering big direct booking discounts, especially for longer or premium stays. If you’re booking a week-long escape to paradise, it absolutely pays to check the hotel’s website. The highest savings here were over €750—enough to cover a luxury dinner at Marc Fosh, Zaranda, or other Michelin-starred restaurants on the island.
What We Learned from Spain
- Cities like Barcelona continue the trend we saw across other urban destinations: OTAs dominate more often.
- Beach regions like Mallorca reward travellers who check hotel websites for better deals.
- The key takeaway? Always compare before you book.
And yes, that’s exactly why we’re building BookBetterDirect. With just one click, our browser extension connects you with the hotel and shows you if the hotel has a better price, so you don’t waste time digging through Google searches or hidden links.
Next up the Netherlands!
Key relevant numbers related to Spain’s tourism sector, and the online travel booking market:
Spain’s Hospitality & Tourism Market: Key Data & Trends
Gain insights into Spain’s hotel and tourism industry, from market size to traveller spending patterns. This report provides essential data for hospitality professionals, investors, and travel industry stakeholders.
Key insights from the report:
Booking.com’s Market Share in Spain
- xx% of the online hotel reservations market in Spain.
- Holds dominant position among 200,000+ hotels and accommodations in Spain.
Accommodation landscape – Overview of Spain’s 200,000+ lodging establishments
Tourism’s economic impact – €180 billion+ contribution to GDP in 2024
Visitor trends – Top international markets, length of stay, and group sizes
E-commerce & online travel – The role of online travel agencies in Spain’s market
Accommodation pricing – Average costs for hotels, rentals, and budget stays
Download the full report for in-depth analysis and data.
Tourism Statistics for Spain
Total International Visitors
- In 2023, Spain welcomed approximately 85 million international visitors, making it one of the most visited countries in the world.
- This figure is slightly below the pre-pandemic record of over 87 million visitors in 2019.
- For early 2024, official numbers are still being collected.
Top Countries of Origin (2023) with Population Percentages
- United Kingdom – 16 million visitors (23.76% of UK population)
- France – 11 million visitors (16.24% of French population)
- Germany – 10 million visitors (12.02% of German population)
- Italy – 4.5 million visitors (7.65% of Italian population)
- Netherlands – 3 million visitors (17.11% of Dutch population)
- United States – 3 million visitors (0.90% of US population)
- Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland) – 4 million visitors (14.68% of combined Nordic population)
Average Length of Stay
- The average stay per visitor in Spain is between 5.5 and 7.2 nights, depending on the region and purpose of travel.
- Beach destinations (e.g., Canary Islands, Balearic Islands) tend to have longer stays (~7 nights).
- City breaks (e.g., Barcelona, Madrid) see shorter stays (~3–5 nights).
- Business travelers have the shortest stays (~2–3 nights).
Average Group Size
- The average travel group size varies:
- Solo travelers: 20–25% of tourists.
- Couples: 35–40% of tourists.
- Families (with children): 20–30%, with 2–4 people per group.
- Large groups (friends, corporate travel, tours): 10–15%, often in groups of 5+ people.
Tourist Spending in Spain
- Total spending by international tourists in 2023: Over €108 billion.
- Average spending per visitor: Approx. €1,270 per trip.
- Average daily spending: €175–€195 per person per day.
Accommodation Costs
- Average cost per night for accommodations:
- Hotels (all categories): €95–€120 per night.
- 5-star hotels: €250+ per night.
- 3–4-star hotels: €80–€140 per night.
- Hostels & budget accommodations: €30–€60 per night.
- Vacation rentals (Airbnb, holiday apartments): €80–€150 per night.
- Rural accommodations (Casas Rurales, Agritourism): €70–€110 per night.
Booking.com’s Market Share in Spain
- 70–90% of the online hotel reservations market in Spain.
- Holds dominant position among 200,000+ hotels and accommodations in Spain.
Accommodations & Lodgings in Spain
- Total accommodations: Approx. 200,000 lodging establishments
- Hotels: 17,000+ hotels across Spain
- Rural tourism houses (Casas Rurales): Around 16,000
- Apartments & holiday rentals: 120,000+ listings
- Hostels, pensions & guesthouses: 10,000+
- Camping sites & caravan parks: Approx. 1,500
Spain’s Tourism Sector Contribution to GDP
- 12% of Spain’s GDP (pre-pandemic levels)
- In 2023, this equated to approx. €174 billion (out of Spain’s total GDP of ~€1.45 trillion).
- In 2024, tourism’s contribution is projected at €180 billion+.
- Tourism employs 2.5–3 million people, around 11–13% of the total workforce.
E-Commerce & Online Travel Market in Spain
- Total e-commerce in Spain (2023): €84 billion
- Online travel agencies & tour operators share: €8.893 billion (~10.6% of total e-commerce)
- Booking.com accounts for a major portion of this segment, making it one of the largest players in Spanish e-commerce.
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