This isn't an easy topic to cover but should be something the island is promoting more. It's a fantastic way for a small (or larger) group to stay in luxury and have plenty of space and ameneties at their disposal. Instead the Canarian government are out on this one trying to decide what's legal or not. Currently all villas built outside of tourist resorts can be rented out daily or weekly as long as the owner has applied to do so and has abided by various checks and conditions. So rural villas are a go and there's plenty of them but villas in and around the resorts are still being considered, though currently there's quite a nice choice for you to be looking at.
Obviously the main advantage of having a villa is the space. A family of 5 might have two bedrooms in an hotel and be paying 70 euros a room per night on average, for higher standard accommodation (similar to the standard of a villa) that might be 100 euros or more in self catering accommodation and we're still not talking luxury yet. Off-season that 70 euro per room calculation will get you a private villa and for little more than 200 euros a day you have the choice of most of the villas on offer here at any time.
As you're looking at the options google or whoever gives you, make sure you are looking at a "villa" and not a bungalow or duplex that someone's redecorated. Your typical villa here has all the"must haves" and will be detached and will have private pool. It will most likely be completely private, no other property will look over it. It should be air conditioned, not common despite the all-year-round heat. You should have a large, fully equipped kitchen with all modern appliances. Wasing machine so you don't have to bring too many clothes. The lounge should have a modern TV with HDMI and/or USB connections so you can bring pre-recorded TV or a film or two with you in case your bringing the kids for example. The choice of satelite channels here now is quite good and you can usually change the language. The lounge should really have enough space for however many people the villa sleeps but if not then there'll be additional seating on the terrace. Of course you'll have a private pool which will be refreshing in the summer and freezing in the winter unless it's heated. We don't use baths here we prefer to shower, it's quicker and more refreshing and we often shower twice a day in this heat so probably no bath but a nice power shower.
Due to the current discussions on whether or not private villas are going to be allowed in holiday resorts, if you find a property you like find an agent to book it for you who will refund you if the situation arises, don't book direct with the owner. Our recommendation is Booking.com as they guarantee the best rates and have a very good choice of villas here in and around Maspalomas beach.
You can search for avaiability here then filter the search results by "villa".
The exception to that rule are the official villas up at El Salobre golf course. Just over 30 villas there belong to the golf course and are rented out by them. They all have use of the nearby Sheraton Hotel facilities (pool, restaurant, bars ...). You can find them listed on this link.
Villas El Salobre
You can safely book all their villas directly with them. I've stayed in 3 or 4 and they always impress; they are also some of the best value for money ratio quality villas on the island. They have a shuttle bus into Maspalomas but as with most villas here, ideally you'd have a hire car. Maspalomas beach is just 10 minutes drive away.
Some more villas that cought our eye :-
Villa Parralito - Rural Villa in Ingenio 
Ingenio and neighbouring village of Aguimes are two of the nicest, most typically Canarian villages on the island to explore.
A suprisingly modern villa for such a rural location and spacious too even if at max capacity of 12 people. The pool is shaded so you can swim all day without burning, it even has its own hydro-massage. Right by the pool is a large, furnished built-in BBQ area. The villa has everything mentioned above in our "must haves" and the lounge and adjacent terrace area is huge. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms but a car is essential. Enjoy the heat of the south, 20 minutes drive to the airport or Shopping Center Atlantico in Vecindario or the beach at Arrinaga. 30 minutes drive to Maspalomas.
This is one of my favourites in the south for the high quality of the furnishings and fittings (talk about luxury) and the the views whilst sitting by the pool. No expense has been spared in fitting and furnishing this villa which you'll seethe minute you walk in. The dining area off the kitchen has cushioned airm chairs! The kitchen itself is all stainless steele appliances and graffite work tops. Of course al our "must haves" above are there, there's free WiFi, BBQ and the other thing that got our attention was the terrace and pool area. There'sa large pool and adjacent hot tub, plenty of garden furnature plus loungers, if you've bought enough drinks forthe week there'seven a bar! The view from there is of the villas large garden, beyond that and one level down so shielding noise is a secondry road, beyond that isa golf courseand beyond that the ocean. The propery is roughly 2km from the beach. I should also mention this is not the cheapest villa on the block.
Casa El Rincon de Loli - Rural Villa. If you want to find it on Google maps the villa is located in the tiny village of Tenteniguada which is a sort drive to San Mateo in one direction and a half hour drive to the largest shopping and commercial area in the Canaries at Telde in the other. You won't have a problem stocking up on groceries on the way to your villa! If you're looking to explore the island and experience a "Canarian" holiday then I recommend here, I don't live too far away myself.
Casa El Rincon de Loli - for lots more photos checkout the villa listing here
If you Google all the small towns you'll find each a beautiful place to visit with fantastic archetecture, local produce, beautiful countryside and several are on here including Teror, Las Palmas, Arucas ..... beautiful place to be yet Meleneras (Blue Flag) beach is a half hour drive away and in less than an hour you could be down on the south coast where the major tourist resorts are located. Right the villa, it's fantastic, huge with several terraces offering amazing views for several kilometers each side of the property. There are 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms (the villa sleeps 10). You're 1000 meters above sea level so if visiting in the winter whilst the sun can be shining and you can be sunbathing it's too cold to enjoy a pool so there's a hot tub in the garden. The garden is also huge by the way with plenty of space for 10, there's a BBQ area and even a gym and a couple of bikes you can use to explore the area. Most of the must haves mentioned above are there other than air conditoning, this really is a luxurious way to experience the real Gran Canaria.
Heading back south another area with very nice villas to chose from is the small resort of Tauro, 5 minutes drive from Amadores beach and where you'll find Anfi's golf courses. My favourite villas here is Anfi Opel Villas. More economical when using all 3 bedrooms, sleeps 6. Of course they each have the "must haves" mentioned previously, each bedroom has its own bathroom, the villas have access to squash, padel and tennis courts, there's discounted green fees at the onsite Anfi golf courses, as mentioned Amadores beach is 5 minutes drive away and the resort of Puerto Rico 10 minutes drive away. You can view more info, photos and book Anfi Opel Villas here
I could list several more villas that look great value for money and are in god locations but I'm trying to stick to ones that we know personally for the moment but more importantly, officially registered ones for rental. Hopefullywith the new rental laws here more properties will become available to rent here in the south. Meanwhile another great feature of Booking.com is their option to filter your holiday searches by property type.
Follow this link, enter your dates then onthe left hand side of the page find the following filter option that suites :-
Property Type Vilas - Have a look at the rest of the villas I missed out.
Property Type Country Houses - Rural Villas & Cottages, almost all official and some really nice options away from the tourists resorts.
Propert Type Holiday Homes / Guest Houses - Some nice rural apartment options and smaller cottages with shared grounds here further north.
If you need any help using Booking.com, advice about a destination or property or have any other questions regarding villas and rural properties on Gran Canaria, CONTACT US for more info.
