A Festive Escape to Gran Canaria!

I wanted to share our family’s recent Christmas adventure in Gran Canaria. It was a blend of sun, sand, and a touch of festive magic!

We have booked package holidays in the past; but this time decided to book the flight, accommodation and transfer separately. Was it a little more hassle, yes…was the journey better, yes and was it cheaper..yes!

BHX to LPA

Our holiday kicked off with a flight from Birmingham to Las Palmas. We left the cold and wet UK weather behind and couldn’t wait to soak in the Gran Canaria’s sun! The flight time is about 4 hours, luckily there were no delays and the flight was comfortable even with two excited kids!

We booked our own private transfers, it wasn’t the cheapest option but going straight to your hotel (20 minutes drive) after a hours of travelling is definitely a treat you should consider.

Weather

This was the Gran Canaria winter apparently! All the weather apps and forecasts had told us to expect low 20’s and even a light shower but I guess weather forecasts are wrong in most parts of the world, we had no rain after landing and 26 to 29 degrees all week! The weather really was amazing!

Hotel Maspalomas & Tabaiba Princess

We stayed at the 4-star Maspalomas & Tabaiba Princess, a choice that offered comfort and convenience. The hotel struck a perfect balance between being luxury, family friendly and at a reasonable price!

As we booked directly with the hotel, we got to choose from all of the room types they had available we initially booked the Standard Family Room as it was a good deal and gave us the option to cancel up to a week before the trip for no cost.

This was great because we kept checking the prices after booking and after a couple of weeks found the prices had dropped, so much that their second best room, The Suite, was cheaper than our original booking! As it was within our original budget we decide to treat ourselves to The Suite!

Food & Drink

As an All Inclusive the hotel offers a massive buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 2 themed restaurants and pool side food and drink. I’m pleased to say the food was great, definitely something for everyone even the child (or husband) who only wants chicken nuggets and chips.

You do need to book slots for dinner and I would highly recommend booking in to the Asian themed restaurant (Kokoro), the food was amazing!

They do offer an All Inclusive plus option which gives you access to more branded alcohol but we were happy with the standard options.

Christmas Day Gala!

As were we were staying over Christmas we got to book into the Christmas Day Gala at the hotel. A four-course meal that was excellent. Its held in the main buffet restaurant and the hotel staff carry out table service, before the dinner you are invited to a drinks reception with canapes, sweets and champagne!

Exploring the Wonders: Maspalomas Beach and the Sand Dunes

A trip to Maspalomas Beach and its iconic sand dunes was a must. The expansive landscape of the dunes offered a surreal backdrop for our family photos, while the beach and sea offered were amazing.

The Charm of Mogan Town and Market

We ventured to Mogan town and its vibrant market. The taxi ride, though a bit pricey at £35 each way, but was totally worth it to see the docks, the market and the cute buildings and amazing flowers!

SmallSavers Review:

Our holiday in Gran Canaria was a wonderful experience, earning a solid 4 out of 5 from us.

As we settle back into our routine, this trip remains a beautiful memory etched in our hearts.