Country
Created by Sam Moore
Sun 21/09/08 (day 1)
Gran Canaria
We wanted to go somewhere for Hot weather, cheap and not too far away to unwind for a couple of weeks we jumped at the chance to go to Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria for 2 weeks at the bargain price of £300 each.
The accommodation like all others is on the side of the hills overlooking the town, and was only 100 steps up, which is about the max you can cope with, but this is probably one of the shorter distances, others are far more so before you book a hotel find out how far up the hill it is.
Tamanaco was really really nice, situated at the shopping end of the centre, where the supermarkets and souvenir shops are, meaning you are 5 minute walk away from everything you need and 15 minutes walk to the 1st beach.
We went Self catering, in a 3 star apartment, which was more like a 4* or more (I have stayed in worse 5 stars in Europe) it was clean, newly refurbished and clean. The staff were really really friendly and have a nice cafe bar open all day. The pool was really clean and tidy, with a small pool that can be used for cooling down, but not swimming. There is also an Avery, cold showers and free internet in the lobby.
The temperature was 33 degrees in late September, early October which is absolutely roasting, and was a complete surprise. The weather forecasts were predicting that the weather was 25 before we arrived, but we were told once we were there that that reading is taken from Las Palmas airport in the North, which has a completely different climate.
The beaches are both really nice. Puerto Rico main beach was quite big, but not too busy at this time of year.
We decided to tak a walk to the right of the main beach, along the steep costal path (which took about 0 minutes so a bottle of water was needed) to a little resort beach called Playa de los Amadores which was lined with bars and cafe's, and was really quiet.
The bars and Restarurants are all the same, its only the quality that varies. On our first night we were acosted by every single restaurant dorrman on our way through - they didn't understand we only wanted to have a look around. We picked the best place on night one and had the most amazing steak at a place call El Torro's.
The Indian restaurant was really good but expensive as it is the only one there. Other few good places, a few were bad, but the best value has to be Valero's. Their food was awesome and really good prices. you could get a 3 course meal for 10 Euros, which after midway through the main course was too much to finish. The normal price of a main course was approx 13 euro's. My partners favourite was the Cherry Flambe pancakes, and for the amazing experience the world needs to know about them - and here is a picture (see what I mean about the portion sizes ... thats my hand!)
Sun 21/09/08 (day 1)
Water Park
One day we went to see Anfi hotel resort, which is a timeshare, but for half an hours walk around you can spend the day on their beach (which has sand imported from the Caribbean) free taxi rides to and from the resort and a free gift.
Anfi was really nice, but I would never buy into it, if only for the fact that you pay all that money and you have to put up with new recruits walking around you all day being given the sales pitch.
We could have chosen a more expensive free gift, but we went for the Aqua Park in Puerto Rico as we were going there anyway and it saved us loads of money.
The Aqua Park was only a 5-10 minute walk away from our apartments, and we decided to go on an overcast day which meant no queues.
There is no way we could have gone on a normal day as the sun is so hot and any burning would have intensified in the water park.
I didn't go on any slides, I stayed with the stuff and watched the boys go for it.
The water slides were huge and fast, everyone seemed to really enjoy it, and then we found the RINGO's!
There were five or six inflatable rings with handles that you sat on to go around a twisty set of slide at great speed. The boys decided they wanted push the limits towards the ends and started to travel down holding onto each others Ringo, and laying across a coule. My heart was racing watching as a few times they pushed their luck a bit and were seem over the edges a bit.
They had a great time, and i had just as much fun watching!
Planned Activities
Sun 21/09/08 (day 1) - Palmas De Gran Canaria (Las)
Fri 26/09/08 (day 6)
We never miss a visit to Palmitos Park and also head for the Aquapark at Maspalomas.
We have stayed at the Anfi Del Mar and loved it. We did not find a problem with people veiwing the resort, infact, we bearly noticed them.
Gran canaria gives you what you want, sun, sea and sand. If you want lively head for Playa De Angles or Puerto Rico for that bit slower pace. If you want laid-back, head for the south-west of the island to Amadores, Taurito and Mogan.
in rico both ace. my top tip must do if you go is the jet boat in rico gets the blood pumping!! also the kesbah center at ingles as some of the best night life you
can find in europe.