Home Appliances in Tourist Accommodation: Which to Include, Which to Avoid, and How Much You Spend

Setting up the kitchen of a tourist accommodation is not like furnishing your home. Guests use appliances as if they weren’t theirs (because they aren’t), usage cycles are intense, and a breakdown in August can cost you 3 negative reviews. In this post, I tell you which appliances are truly worth it, which are just marketing, how long they last in a tourist rental, and how to set up a kitchen that works without spending a fortune.

The essentials: without these, you can't rent

There are appliances that are non-negotiable. If you’re missing any of these, prepare for 3-star reviews and constant complaints.

Refrigerator

The king of the kitchen. No tourist accommodation works without a fridge. Key points:

• Minimum size: 250 liters for 2-4 people. For 6+ people, at least 300 liters.
• Separate freezer: guests bring ice cream, freeze things, store ice. A tiny freezer is a guaranteed complaint.
• Energy class A or higher: the difference between an A and an F is about 80-120 euros per year in electricity.
• Brand: Balay, Bosch, LG, and Samsung perform well in the 400-600 euro range.

Avoid hotel-type mini-fridges unless in very small studios. Guests hate them.

Cooking hob

Here’s where there’s debate. Options:

Type	Price	Pros	Cons
Glass-ceramic	200-400 euros	Easy to clean, cheap	Consumes more, heats slowly
Induction	400-800 euros	Fast, efficient, safe	Requires compatible cookware
Gas	250-500 euros	Fast, precise control	Maintenance, mandatory inspections

My recommendation: induction if your budget allows. It’s safer (doesn’t stay hot), efficient, and guests appreciate it. Make sure your cookware is compatible (read the post about kitchenware).

Oven

Many owners wonder if it’s necessary. Short answer: yes, unless it’s a very small studio. Guests staying more than 2 nights usually cook something in the oven.

• Size: standard 60 cm.
• Functions: grill, fan, basic. No need for a pyrolytic oven costing 800 euros.
• Realistic budget: 300-500 euros.

Microwave

Very cheap (60-120 euros) and lifesaver. Guests use it to heat coffee, reheat food, and defrost. Include it without fail.

Washing machine

Essential for stays longer than 3 nights. Also for short stays, because guests wash beach towels, stained clothes, etc.

• Capacity: 7-8 kg is good for up to 4 people.
• Brand: Balay, Bosch, LG. Avoid very cheap white-label brands: last 2 years and break.
• Budget: 400-600 euros for a machine that lasts 5-7 years of tourist use.

Tip: put a laminated sign with simple instructions. Guests break washing machines by overloading or not closing the door properly. A sign saves you 150 euros in repairs.

Highly recommended

Not mandatory but greatly improve reviews and justify higher prices.

Dishwasher

In Spain, there are still tourist apartments without dishwashers. Mistake. It’s one of the appliances most mentioned in positive reviews (“had a dishwasher, everything perfect”) and negative reviews (“no dishwasher, had to wash by hand all week”).

• Price: 350-550 euros for a decent one.
• Consumption: around 250-300 kWh/year with normal use.
• ROI: easily increase your nightly rate by 5-10 euros. Pays for itself in 6-12 months.

Coffee maker

Deserves a separate post (and it has one: coffee makers in tourist accommodation). Summary: get a Nespresso or similar. It’s cheap, durable, and trouble-free.

Toaster and kettle

The breakfast combo costs less than 40 euros and appears in reviews. Don’t overlook it.

Extractor hood

If you don’t already have one installed, add it. Without a hood, odors linger in the apartment (guests cook fish, garlic, curry...) and you get into odor problems.

Appliances NOT worth it

Here’s where many owners waste money trying to impress.

Food processors (Thermomix, Mambo, etc.)

Cost 400-1300 euros, guests don’t know how to use them, accessories break or get lost. Save your money.

Air fryers

Trendy, but unless it’s a premium apartment, they don’t justify their cost. Plus, guests fill them with old oil and leave them disgusting.

Ice machines, water dispensers, steam ovens

Gadgets that look nice in photos but break down, require maintenance, and rarely get positive reviews.

Professional espresso machines

A 600-euro coffee maker won’t increase your apartment’s value. Guests don’t know how to use it, it gets dirty, and seals go to waste in 6 months.

How long appliances really last in tourist use

This is the part no one tells you. In a normal home, a washing machine lasts 10-12 years. In a tourist apartment, much less.

Appliance	Life span at home	Life span in tourist apartment
Refrigerator	12-15 years	8-10 years
Washing machine	10-12 years	5-7 years
Dishwasher	10 years	5-7 years
Oven	15 years	10-12 years
Microwave	8-10 years	4-6 years
Capsule coffee maker	5-7 years	2-3 years
Toaster	5 years	2-3 years

Budget for this. A well-equipped tourist apartment forces you to renew appliances every few years.

Electricity consumption: how much it will really cost you

A full kitchen consumes a lot. Estimated annual cost for an apartment with 70% occupancy:

• A+++ refrigerator: 150-200 kWh (about 30-45 euros/year)
• Washing machine (3-4 uses/week): 200-300 kWh (40-70 euros/year)
• Dishwasher (3-4 uses/week): 250-350 kWh (50-80 euros/year)
• Oven (occasional use): 100-150 kWh (20-35 euros/year)
• Glass-ceramic hob: 200-400 kWh (40-90 euros/year)
• Induction hob: 150-250 kWh (30-55 euros/year)

Total: between 200 and 350 euros per year just for kitchen appliances. For more details, see our post on electricity consumption in tourist accommodation.

Maintenance and breakdowns: hidden costs

Guests misuse appliances. It’s a fact. Here are some tips to reduce breakdowns:

Refrigerator

• Clean the seals every 3-4 months.
• Defrost the freezer 1-2 times a year.
• Check the thermostat: guests turn up the temperature and food gets spoiled.

Washing machine

• Clean the filter every 2 months (find coins, socks, strange things).
• Leave clear usage instructions.
• Hire annual maintenance (about 60-80 euros).

Dishwasher

• Regularly refill salt and rinse aid.
• Clean filters at least once a month.
• Leave a note asking guests to rinse dishes beforehand.

Oven

• Deep clean every 2-3 months.
• Check the door seal.

Brands: which work in tourist use

After years of seeing what lasts and what doesn’t, my personal ranking:

Highly recommended (reliability + accessible service):

• Balay: great value for money in Spain.
• Bosch: expensive but lasts forever.
• LG: good for fridge and dishwashers.

Acceptable:

• Samsung: good technology, average service.
• Beko: cheap, lasts just enough.
• Whirlpool: decent enough.

Avoid in tourist use:

• Very cheap brands (less than 250 euros for a washing machine, less than 300 euros for a fridge): last 2-3 years.
• Premium brands like Miele or AEG in standard apartments: pay double without ROI.

Realistic budget to equip a kitchen from scratch

For an apartment for 2-4 people with medium-high quality:

Appliance	Recommended Price
Refrigerator	500 euros
Induction hob	500 euros
Oven	350 euros
Microwave	100 euros
Extractor hood	150 euros
Washing machine	500 euros
Dishwasher	450 euros
Coffee maker	80 euros
Toaster + kettle	40 euros
Total	2,670 euros

Add installation (200-400 euros) and you have a complete kitchen for around 3,000 euros. Amortizable in 1-2 seasons if the apartment rents well.

Tip: when buying, do everything on the same day at the same store (MediaMarkt, El Corte Inglés, Milar). Negotiate a discount for joint purchase and installation. Save 200-300 euros easily.

How Autoregistro fits in

While you’re thinking about refrigerators and washing machines, there’s another part of the business you can’t forget: traveler registration in SES Hospedajes is mandatory, and fines for not doing so can reach up to 30,000 euros.

Autoregistro handles this for you. For 1 euro per month per property (less than a coffee), your guests fill out an online form before arrival, data is sent automatically to SES Hospedajes, and you don’t have to do anything. No apps, no fuss, no scanning IDs.

This way, you can focus on deciding which coffee maker to buy, not on bureaucracy.

FAQ

Is it worth installing high-end appliances in a tourist apartment?

Depends on the segment. In a standard apartment at 80-150 euros/night, no. Mid-range (Balay, basic Bosch) offers better ROI. In luxury apartments (300+ euros/night), it can add value.

Which appliance causes the most problems in tourist rentals?

The washing machine, by far. Guests overload it, put in things they shouldn’t, and misuse it. Budget for repairs or replacement every 5-7 years.

Do I need to get breakdown insurance?

Appliance insurance usually isn’t worth it unless you have 3-4 expensive appliances. Better include the full kitchen in your tourist rental home insurance.

Can I deduct the purchase of appliances as an expense?

Yes, as depreciation. Not all at once, but spread over several years (usually 10). Check the post on deductible expenses for tourist rentals.

Is it mandatory to have a dishwasher by regulation?

It depends on your autonomous community. Many don’t require it but highly recommend it. Check the technical requirements for tourist housing in your region.