Booking with peace of mind takes two minutes once you know what to look for Every year, millions of visitors choose a holiday rental for their stay in the Region of Valencia: a seafront apartment on the Costa Blanca, a villa in the hills behind Jávea, or a flat in the old town of Valencia for a city break. It is flexible, good value for families and groups, and gives you a home of your own for the week. Like any other type of accommodation, it also comes with rules. In the Region of Valencia, holiday rentals must be listed in the official tourism register of the regional government (the Generalitat Valenciana) and are given a registration number. That number is the simplest way to tell a legal rental from one that is not. This page explains how to find and check it.

What the registration number looks like

Every registered holiday rental in the Region of Valencia has a code in the format VT-XXXXX followed by a suffix for the province: -V for Valencia, -A for Alicante (the Costa Blanca) and -CS for Castellón. A code such as VT-12345-A, for example, belongs to a property in Alicante province. The number must appear wherever the property is advertised (booking platforms, the manager's own website, social media) and on a visible plaque at the entrance to the property.

Where to find it before you book

The code is normally in the listing description. The main booking platforms have a dedicated field for it, usually labelled "registration number" or "licence number". If you cannot see it, ask the host or the management company in writing. A professional operator will give it to you without hesitation. With the number, you can check the official search tool of the Generalitat Valenciana (by province, town or registration number; in Spanish), which shows the address, the town and the capacity of the property. If those details match the listing, you are good to go. ApturCV's traveller guide (in Spanish) How to check the registration code of a holiday rental walks you through it step by step.

Warning signs worth a second look

None of these proves a listing is illegal on its own, but together they are a good reason to ask questions before you pay:

• The listing says "licence applied for" or "pending", but shows no number.
• The photos do not match each other or appear to show different properties.
• You are asked to pay the full amount by bank transfer outside the platform, with no contract or invoice.
• There is no phone number or contact available during your stay.

Why a legal rental is worth it

For you as a guest, the main benefit is peace of mind: a registered property meets minimum standards of equipment, safety and service, and there is an identifiable owner or company who answers if anything goes wrong. For the destination, the legal sector is the one that adds lasting value: it brings custom to local cafés, markets and shops, supports jobs, and lives alongside residents under clear rules. Choosing a legal holiday rental is a small decision that works for everyone: for you, for the people who run the property, and for the towns and villages that welcome you.

Who is ApturCV?

ApturCV is the Association of Holiday Rentals and Tourist Apartments of the Region of Valencia (Asociación de Viviendas de Uso Turístico y Apartamentos Turísticos de la Comunitat Valenciana), the leading organisation for the sector in the region. It represents owners, professional managers and companies in the legal holiday-rental sector, and works with the public authorities to promote legal, safe, high-quality tourism. Its members manage registered properties and commit to good practice on quality and on being good neighbours. To find out more about the sector, current regulations or member companies, visit aptur.org (in Spanish).

Frequently asked questions

Does the registration number have to be shown in the listing?

Yes. Advertising for a holiday rental in the Region of Valencia must include its registration number. If a listing does not show one, ask before you book.

What if the host will not give me the code?

The safest option is to book elsewhere. Professional managers provide it readily, and on the platforms it is usually right there in the listing.

Does the registration number guarantee the quality of the property?

It guarantees the property is registered and meets the requirements of Valencian tourism regulations. Service quality also depends on the manager, so read the reviews and choose professional operators. Travel with confidence: choose a legal holiday rental with a registration number. Find out more at aptur.org.