Seaside Palm Beach, Gran Canaria Hotel Review

Gran Canaria had never been top of my travel bucket-list but when I was introduced to Seaside Palm Beach in Maspalomas that changed very quickly. After a fairly busy start to the year I was on the hunt for somewhere sunny and chilled to spend a few days by a nice pool recharging my batteries. Seaside Palm Beach ticked all of my boxes.

Originally opened in 1975, Seaside Palm Beach was one of the first 5-star properties in the area and it therefore commands a fantastic location adjacent to the beach the famous Maspalomas Sand Dunes. The resort was given a complete refresh in 2002 by the renowned designer Alberto Pinto. He placed a big emphasis on design and gave the hotel a very chic, 1970s Miami style makeover. He used bold and bright colours which perfectly complement the islands sunny climate. You’ll find little pockets of colour on every turn and they didn’t half help to brighten up my days.

I must admit, a more mature property like Seaside is not the type of place that I’d normally stay as I’m generally a fan of the more minimal and modern style (the all-white everything kind of vibe) but the design link here and the fact that this was the first Design Hotel in the Canary Islands really had me intrigued.

As I arrived at the hotel and entered the quirky reception area for the first time, I knew that I’d made the right choice. The smartly dressed but very friendly staff on the front desk quickly checked me in while I enjoyed an ice-cold glass of cava on the fantastically coloured sofas overlooking the beautiful pool and lush gardens.

The general rule in hotels is the higher the floor, the better the view and that is certainly true here. I was allocated a room on the 6th floor which had a view of the sea, the beach and dunes. It was the perfect little spot and I must admit, I found it hard to tear myself away from that perch. Watching and listening to the palm trees swaying in the wind was so utterly relaxing.

The 70’s style design touches continue through to the rooms too. Mine was in the beige colour scheme (the most muted in the hotel) but a funky zig zag carpet and colourful art work on the walls maintained the retro vibe. The beds were comfy and the addition on a little seating area (I had the superior room) was nice too. I also loved the addition of the white Loewe television and the nightly delivery of the tastiest hazelnut chocolates on my pillow too.

The whole vibe at Palm Beach is very chilled. It’s the kind of place where you could easily just find a quiet corner and tuck yourself away with a book without being disturbed. If like me though, you like to keep a tad more active though then they also have you covered as dotted around the gardens you’ll find a table tennis table, shuffleboard, French bowls and both tennis and basketball/football courts. Their gym is actually outdoors too (with a little shelter to keep the sun off you) and is really well equipped with lots of modern Technogym equipment so you have no excuse not to keep up with your routine. Should you wish.

If exercising whilst on holiday sounds like your idea of hell then the tropical themed spa might be a bit more up your street. I dropped by and tried the Pantai Luar massage which is one of their signature treatments. It’s a deep tissue massage which involves hot oils being worked into the skin with a small cotton bag. It’s an unusual but wonderfully relaxing treatment and a great way to alleviate any aches and pains which may have built up in your body.

I was staying on a half board basis, so my breakfast and evening meal was included. Very rightly, they really pride themselves on their food offering and it was exceptional. They have 2 a la carte restaurants but it was the buffet selection that really blew me away. There was everything from grilled lobster to steaks and other speciality foods. I think I’d go as far as to say that it was the most impressive and tastiest hotel buffet that I’ve ever eaten at. Keep a look out for their BBQ grill nights as these were the clear highlight for me.

There were countless things that I loved about this property but right at the top for me was the perfectly maintained tropical garden. I say garden but it’s so large it felt a little more like a jungle at times. It’s filled with giant palm trees, a variety of cacti, colourful flowers and lots of little birds. I genuinely loved having a wander through them on the way down to the gym in the mornings.

Maspalomas on the whole seemed to be a fairly chilled resort so it is perfect for a relaxing break. It’s home to a string of luxury hotels and sitting alongside them are some fantastic shops (Mango Man, BOSS, Emporio Armani etc) and a good variety of bars and restaurants. If you go left along the beach, you’ll come to the famous sand dunes, which are the perfect spot to get in those shots for Instagram. If you go right, you’ll come to the lighthouse which sits at the most southernly point of the Gran Canaria.

If you fancy a relaxed night away from the resort with a difference, I’d recommend the Moonlight Cinema. It’s a fantastic open-air cinema and it’s only a couple of minutes’ walk from Seaside. It opens just after sunset and they show 2 films each night. It was something special to sit back on their comfy sofas enjoying a movie under the twinkle of the night sky. If you find yourself feeling a bit peckish, they also serve up tasty Italian style pizzas and other snacks too.

Seaside was absolutely everything that I wanted and a whole lot more. It may be a slightly older property, but it has been so well maintained and looked after that it’s in tip top condition even to this day. The setting, the service and the food were all more than worthy of the 5-star rating. I don’t think that it will be long until I pay both the island of Gran Canaria and Seaside Palm Beach another visit!

Classic Collection Holidays (0800 047 1064; classic-collection.co.uk) offers 5 nights at Seaside Palm Beach, Gran Canaria from £1178 per person. Price based on two adults sharing a superior room on a breakfast and flexi-dine basis (3 nights half board). Price includes return flights from London Gatwick (up to 18 UK departure airports available) to Gran Canaria and private transfers. Car hire can be arranged if preferred. Departs September 2019.