Amenities in your tourist accommodation: which ones increase the price, which are a waste of money

Nespresso or cheap capsule coffee maker? Netflix or not? Is it worth spending 300 euros on a barbecue? Amenities (the extras you offer in your apartment) can make the difference between a listing that gets booked and one that stays empty. But they can also be a black hole for money if you choose poorly. Here I tell you, with real numbers, which amenities increase your rate and which are just decoration.

What is an amenity and why does it matter more than you think

An amenity is anything you offer beyond the basics (bed, shower, kitchen). From a hairdryer to a private pool. It may sound silly, but amenities do three things:

1. Boost your rankings on Airbnb and Booking (search filters are brutal: if you don't check "air conditioning," you won't appear in July).
2. Justify higher rates. An apartment with a Jacuzzi charges on average 20-30% more than an equivalent one without.
3. Generate better reviews. Guests value what they didn't expect to find.

But beware: not all amenities have the same return. Some cost you 50 euros and increase your rate by 10 euros per night. Others cost 2,000 euros and you don't notice any difference.

The amenities that really move the needle

These are the ones, based on my experience and what I see in the Spanish market, that have the best return per euro invested.

Fast Wi-Fi (really, not the one from the operator's router)

This is no longer an amenity, it's a human right. But you'd be surprised how many apartments have crappy Wi-Fi that drops every two hours.

• Cost: 0 euros (you already have it). A decent repeater, 40-60 euros.
• Impact: huge. Bad Wi-Fi is the number one cause of 4-star reviews (which can sink you on Airbnb).
• Tip: put up a sign with the name and password on the fridge. And another in the bedroom.

Air conditioning

In Spain, without air conditioning in summer, you're dead. Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Murcia... guests filter by air and you disappear.

• Cost: installation of a split, 600-1,200 euros.
• Impact: essential from May to September. Allows you to increase rates by 15-25% during high season.
• ROI: recover it in 1-2 seasons.

Capsule coffee machine (Nespresso or Dolce Gusto)

It seems silly, but guests mention it in reviews more than you think.

• Cost: 60-100 euros for the machine. Leave 10-15 complimentary capsules (2-3 euros).
• Impact: inexpensive detail that gives a quality image. Better reviews.
• Cheap alternative: Italian coffee maker + ground coffee pack (5 euros). Also works.

Smart TV with Netflix / Disney+ / Prime

A TV with logged-in streaming apps (with your account) is a silent win. Guests appreciate it on winter nights or rainy days.

• Cost: 43-inch smart TV, 300-400 euros. Subscriptions, 20-30 euros per month.
• Impact: medium-high. Appears in reviews as a good detail.
• Legal note: technically, streaming accounts are personal. Some owners create dedicated accounts for their apartments. Your choice.

Good bed and good sheets

Not a visible amenity, but the number one factor in negative reviews when it's bad.

• Cost: decent mattress, 400-700 euros. Egyptian cotton sheets, 60-100 euros per set.
• Impact: directly affects ratings. An uncomfortable bed lowers the overall score noticeably.
• Tip: mattress protectors are mandatory. They save your life.

Fully equipped kitchen

I'm not talking about a Tefal pan from 10 years ago. I mean:

• Good condition pans (2 sizes).
• Pot, saucepan, sharp knives.
• Corkscrew, can opener, juicer.
• Oil, salt, pepper, sugar, courtesy coffee.
• Dishwasher capsules.

Total cost: 150-250 euros if starting from scratch. Impact: high. Guests who cook (long stays, families) value it a lot.

Quality towels and sheets (and multiple sets)

Thin, rough towels = bad review. White, thick, fluffy towels = good review.

• Cost: 200-300 euros for 3 complete sets.
• Impact: high and permanent.

The trendy amenities but worth evaluating

They're not bad, but before spending money, consider if they are worth it in your specific case.

Jacuzzi or whirlpool bath

• Cost: 2,000-6,000 euros installed, plus monthly maintenance (products, electricity).
• Impact: very high if your target client is romantic getaways or premium stays. Null if renting to families or workers.
• When yes: rural areas, couples' houses, premium rentals.
• When no: urban apartments for families or young groups.

Pool

• Cost: if already existing, maintenance 80-150 euros per month.
• Impact: huge. A pool can multiply your summer rate by 1.5 or 2.
• Search filter: marking pool on Airbnb puts you in a completely different category.

Barbecue

• Cost: 100-400 euros for a decent barbecue.
• Impact: medium. Good for houses with a garden, irrelevant in apartments.
• Note: check community regulations first. Some communities prohibit them on terraces.

Electric car charger

• Cost: 500-1,500 euros installed.
• Impact: growing. By 2026, it will start to be a real differentiator, especially in rural houses.
• When yes: if your apartment is in a tourist area with electric car traffic or if you have a parking space.

The amenities that are pure money pits

Now the uncomfortable part: things that are seen a lot but rarely justify the expense.

Elaborate welcome baskets (wine, ham, cheese, jams...)

They look beautiful in photos, but the cost per stay skyrockets. 15-25 euros per reservation, and half of the guests don't even notice.

• Alternative: a bottle of local wine (5 euros) or a small well-presented gift.

Expensive and delicate decoration

Crystal vases, designer lamps, light-colored fabric sofas... they break, stain, wear out. And guests don't pay more to see them.

• Rule: everything you put in the apartment, assume it will break or get dirty.

Complicated home automation

Smart lights that change color, automatic blinds, thermostats with apps... if the guest doesn't know how to use it, they call you. And they call you at 11 pm.

• When yes: smart locks (that one is worth it, I tell you in this post about keys).
• When no: any system that needs explanation.

Books, board games, puzzles

Not bad to have something, but don't overdo it. Puzzles always end with missing pieces, and books get wet at the pool.

Premium bathroom products

A Rituals or L'Occitane amenity is fine for boutique hotels. In a tourist rental, guests don't notice the difference between a 3-euro gel and a 15-euro one. And you're spending 5 times more.

Summary table: ROI of each amenity

Amenity	Approximate Cost	Impact on Rate	ROI
Good Wi-Fi	0-60 euros	High	Excellent
Air conditioning	600-1,200 euros	High	Excellent
Good bed and sheets	500-800 euros	High	Excellent
Capsule coffee maker	60-100 euros	Medium	Very good
Smart TV + streaming	350-450 euros	Medium	Good
Fully equipped kitchen	150-250 euros	High	Excellent
Pool	Maintenance 100 euros/month	Very high	Excellent
Jacuzzi	2,000-6,000 euros	Variable	Depends on client
Barbecue	100-400 euros	Medium	Good (houses)
EV charger	500-1,500 euros	Growing	Good in specific areas
Gourmet basket	15-25 euros per reservation	Low	Bad
Complex home automation	200-600 euros	Low	Bad
Expensive decoration	Variable	None	Bad
Premium cosmetics	5-10 euros per reservation	None	Bad

How to decide which amenities to include in your apartment

Don't copy other owners blindly. Ask yourself:

1. Who is my client?

It's not the same an apartment for families as for couples, for mobile workers, or for party groups. Each profile values different things.

• Families: dishwasher, washing machine, cot, high chair, equipped kitchen.
• Couples on a getaway: jacuzzi, terrace with views, wine, tasteful decoration.
• Workers: super-fast Wi-Fi, desk, comfortable chair, decent coffee.
• Young groups: smart TV, Bluetooth speaker, high capacity.

2. What do my reviews say?

Read the reviews (yours and competitors'). If three guests mention they would have liked a powerful hairdryer, you already know what to buy.

3. How much does my competition increase their price with that?

Look at similar apartments in your area. Filter by amenity (e.g., pool). Compare rates. That difference is the market's valuation of that extra.

4. How long does it take to amortize?

Simple rule: if an amenity costs me X euros and allows me to increase the rate by Y euros per night, how many nights to recover it? If it takes more than 2 years, think twice.

Note: beware of over-offering. If your apartment is a 30-square-meter studio in a modest neighborhood, it doesn't make sense to include 200-euro Egyptian cotton sheets. The amenity must be coherent with the positioning of the apartment.

Common mistakes with amenities

• Not mentioning them in the listing. If you have a Nespresso, include it in photos and description. If you don't mention it, it doesn't exist.
• Not updating photos when adding something new. People buy with their eyes.
• Forget to mark filters on Airbnb and Booking. Each unmarked filter is a lost reservation.
• Not restocking consumables. A Nespresso machine without capsules is worse than not having it.
• Neglecting maintenance. A dirty pool or a non-working Jacuzzi generates more bad reviews than not having them.

If you want to delve deeper into how to properly showcase your amenities in the listing, I recommend this post on how to improve your listing. And to understand how this affects the price, check out the pricing calculation guide.

How Autoregistro fits in

While you decide whether to buy a Nespresso or not, there's a task that remains every time a guest arrives: registering travelers in SES Hospedajes. Autoregistro automates this for 1 euro per month per property (less than a coffee): your guests fill out an online form and the data is sent automatically to the official system. An invisible amenity that saves you hours of paperwork each month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth investing in a pool if I don't have one?

It depends on the construction cost and your area. In coastal or inland areas with hot summers, yes. A pool can multiply your summer rate by 1.5-2. But only if your plot allows it and the investment is below 15,000-20,000 euros to amortize it in a reasonable time.

Should I put Netflix with my personal account?

Technically, it's not allowed by the terms of use. Many owners create a dedicated account for the apartment. Others opt for Smart TVs with free apps (RTVE, TDT) and let guests use their own account. Your decision.

How much should I spend on amenities when setting up a new apartment?

A reference: for a 2-bedroom apartment, between 2,500 and 4,500 euros in amenities and equipment (excluding furniture and major appliances). This includes bed and bedding, towels, equipped kitchen, smart TV, coffee maker, basic decoration, and welcome kit.

Do amenities count as deductible expenses?

Yes, everything you buy for the apartment is deductible if you declare the rental as an economic activity. More details in this post about deductible expenses for tourist rentals.

Which amenity has the best return per euro invested?

Undoubtedly, fast Wi-Fi and a good bed. They appear most frequently in reviews (positive and negative) and cost the least relative to their impact. If you have to choose, start there.