Like any popular tourist hotspot, Ibiza attracts all kinds of people. Mostly good, honest ones, who have grafted and saved for their holiday. The flip side is a small number of scammers who set up websites claiming to offer Ibiza villas for rent that they have no access to. Every year people pay deposits for their dream villa, arrive on the island and find the villa was never booked, the deposit has gone and they have nowhere to stay.
It is easy to scam people who do not know how to make the proper checks. So we asked the Ibiza tourist board for its guidelines on checking a company’s credentials. The good news is that it is straightforward, if you know how, to confirm a villa company is properly registered, insured and legal.
Check the company is a member of AVAT
A legal villa rental company registered with the Ibiza Villa Association (AVAT, Asociación de Viviendas Turísticas Vacacionales) will show the AVAT logo on its website, as we do in the footer of every page. Membership means the company is not just legal and insured but committed to high standards. The AVAT website is available in English.
Check the licence numbers
A company authorised to offer tourist accommodation in Ibiza has a Central de Reservas number and a Comercializador de Estancias Turísticas number. By law these must appear on every page of its website. Ours are in the footer, beneath the AVAT logo. No numbers means the company may be operating without the proper licences. Do not risk it.
Check with the Consell d’Eivissa
The tourism department of the island council can confirm whether a company is registered. There is usually someone who can speak English.
- Visit the Consell d’Eivissa website
- Write to or visit the Departament de Turisme, Av. d’Espanya 49, 07800 Eivissa, Illes Balears
We hope this helps prevent more people falling victim to villa rental scams. Whether or not you book with us, we want you to have the information you need for a safe booking and a happy holiday. Ibiza Villas 2000 has been a member of AVAT for many years.
Ready to book? Browse our villas or see the current special offers.
