*Denotes local charge
Just a stone’s throw from the popular Maspalomas sand dunes, this charming hotel lies in palm groves by a beautiful nature reserve overlooking a pretty stretch of beach. This is the first Design Hotel™ in the Canary Islands, with outstanding service and a quirky retro design with bold, patterned and colourful interiors. Head to the adults-only pool and spa, or enjoy yoga and t’ai chi in the gardens. Little ones have a separate area plus a kids’ pool and can enjoy games and activities at Pepe’s Club. Choose from three gourmet restaurants and two chic bars; the laid-back Main Restaurant has a great range of international cuisine, and serves a wonderful breakfast buffet on its terrace with freshly squeezed exotic juices, eggs cooked to order, a selection of cheeses and meats, and freshly baked bread. In the evening the restaurant has an à la carte menu four nights a week, and themed buffets and popular barbecue nights three nights a week. For a taste of local cuisine, the tapas and locally sourced produce at La Bodega are fantastic. Esencia serves Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist and its seafood dishes are very popular. Head to Bar Salon for cocktails, entertainment and typical 70s style. The colourful rooms and suites have 1970s retro-chic interiors with a modern minimalistic twist. Standard Rooms (A) overlook the entrance, Superior Rooms (B) have garden, pool or sea views and Luxury Rooms (C) have fantastic garden, pool, sea or dune views. There are also spacious Junior Suites and even larger Suites if you’re looking for extra space and luxury.
This resort’s lobby is a stunning replica of one of Gran Canaria’s oldest churches, complete with two main towers, a bell tower and a central dome. The hotel has been designed in the style of a traditional village and the beautifully manicured gardens are dotted with shady palms. Enjoy activities including Pilates, aqua aerobics and tennis, or just relax in one of many quiet spots and head to the magnificent Corallium Thalasso centre, where you can indulge in a revitalising Thalassotherapy circuit at the edge of the sea. Choose from six pools or take a stroll down to the small sand and shingle beach of Meloneras, just a ten-minute walk away. There’s plenty of choice at breakfast and La Plaza, the main buffet restaurant also has themed buffets in the evening. An à la carte restaurant serves meat specialities for dinner, and you can tuck into snacks at the pool bar and lunch at the à la carte poolside restaurant. When the sun sets, enjoy regular evening entertainment and work your way through the menu of cocktails at Lobby Bar Akoran. The spacious Economy Rooms are set in colourful blocks and each has a living area. Upgrade to a Standard Balcony Room for garden views or a Standard Balcony Sea View Room for views of the ocean. Hugely spacious Junior Suites and Senior Suites are ideal for families as they have a living room with a sofa bed, as well as a large balcony or terrace and free Wi-Fi.
A short hop east along the coast from Playa del Inglés takes you to San Agustín, a sleepy sliver hugging a sheltered bay. A wide promenade connects the two south-coast resorts, dotted with terraced restaurants serving day-fresh seafood from the Atlantic Ocean. Right on Playa de las Burras is Hotel Don Gregory by Dunas, with only a few swaying palms interrupting the ocean views. Here, you can set your own pace: wake to the sound of the ocean and linger over leisurely buffet breakfasts, take dips in the infinity pool and soak up the sun on a lounger. Later, while away a few glorious hours in the spa before sundowners with a view. If you can’t sit still for too long, San Agustín bay is ideal for diving and snorkelling, or scenic walks. The Nordic-style interiors are modern and minimalist – think slate-grey hues and light-flooded spaces, broken only by towering indoor plants in white pots and bronze-tinted floor lamps. A piano bar with exposed stone walls is an atmospheric spot for drinks, along with a restaurant that spills out onto an ocean-view terrace, with rattan chairs and fanning palms. Rooms and suites are decked out in soothing creams and whites, with pale wood floors and full-length windows. Pick a Standard Balcony or Terrace Low Floor Room for your own private outdoor space, or go all out with a Premium Duplex Junior Suite for both a balcony and spacious digs with enough room for an en suite with bathtub.
Gran Canaria is dramatic and diverse, with rolling mountains giving way to desert landscapes; sweeping arid vistas stark against their lush tropical alter-egos. At the southern tip of the island are the rippling, honey-toned Maspalomas Dunes, which wrap around the Santa Mónica Suites. You can even walk through some of the undulating sand expanses to reach the Atlantic Ocean beyond. This environmentally friendly hotel is sensitive to its surroundings, designed to immerse guests in the Natural Dune Reserve of Maspalomas – without disrupting the protected terrain. These vistas act as a dreamy backdrop throughout the hotel, from ocean-facing rooms to dune-fringed terraces. The best spot to take in these views is from the huge, teardrop-shaped freshwater pool, fringed by tall palms and a smattering of sun loungers and parasols. Or turn the heat up in the glass-edged Finnish sauna, with the dunes and sea unfurling before you. Santa Monica Suites is a tranquil hideout on the island’s south coast, with outdoor dining terraces, treatment rooms for massages, and soundproofed suites for a good night’s sleep. The white-washed rooms, accented by splashes of turquoise and canary yellow, are cool and calming cocoons. Opt for a Junior Suite Ground Floor to take advantage of a private terrace, or go for a Junior Suite Sea View to ascend to higher floors for the best ocean views.
Imagine crossing a lush hideaway draped in bougainvillea with dune-sculpted desert landscapes and you have Grand Hotel Residencia. Fringing the caramel-coloured Maspalomas Dunes, this enticing abode squares up to a large lagoon, home to migratory birds flying from Europe to Africa. More than living up to its name, the hotel's guestbook is a who’s who of A-list celebrity guests, from culinary doyenne Mary Berry to rock icon Bruce Springsteen. And it’s easy to see its star appeal: a cluster of two-storey villas is set on an ancient palm grove and arranged around an outdoor pool. White-washed façades conceal colonial-style interiors, with Argentinian accents that nod to the South American heritage of designer Alberto Pinto – think teak panelling and elegant fountains. Staff straddle that fine line between attentive and discreet, and the vibe retains an intimate boutique feel. This is partly down to its warm and welcoming rooms, with traditional tiled floors and pastel hues. There’s nothing better than an early-morning coffee al fresco, surrounded by emerald gardens, just outside your Standard Balcony or Terrace Room, although the super-spacious Junior Suite, with its furnished balcony or terrace, is one for a treat. A highlight is the recently refurbished spa, home to a salt cave and saltwater pool, plus extravagant treatments like a body peel with ‘diamond dust’. Since scooping a listing in the Michelin Guide in 2016, the terrace restaurant has been making noise on the Canarian dining scene. Elsewhere, a pool bar serves up tapas and the piano bar is a buzzy spot for cocktails and music.
Seaside Palm Beach Hotel
Lopesan Villa Del Conde Resort & Thalasso
Don Gregory by Dunas
Santa Mónica Suites
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia
