Gran Canaria (Spain) > Reviews (66)

Having never been to Gran Canaria before booking our last minute deal there was like walking into a room with your eyes shut. I was not to be disappointed! We booked with Virgin Sun (I believe virgin sun finished just after we flew with them - and virgin are now only doing trans atlantic flights). We were met at the airport and taken to Puerto Rico. As we came around the mountain the rep announced that our apartments were "up there" (Right at the top of the mountain!) my jaw nearly hit the floor. The veiw looked amazing. When we got to our apartments (Monte Parasio apartments) we went to our rooms. They were spacious, everything you needed for self catering accomodation. Cupboards filled with plate/pans etc, sofa bed, coffe table, dinning table and chairs, 'pay as you go' TV, batchroom, bedroom with wardrobe with hangers, saftey deposit box and cupboards and a large balcony! The view from the balcony was something else. Being right at the top of the mountain I thought we would be stuck away from everything and having to do loads of walking up and down the mountain. Luckily taxis were cheap and everywhere which was lucky as we only made it half way up when we tried to walk it - it was just too hot!!!!!!!!

At the top a couple of minutes walk from the apartments was the Europa Centre, bars/shops/resturants/amusments etc. There was plenty of choice and there was plenty there for the children too. There's also a reasonable size mini golf close by which was good for both children and adults. If you wanted a slightly noiser night out there was the other commercial centre (the same as the europa centre only bigger) at the bottom of the mountain - again the taxi ride there and back cost a couple of pound max. There is a lot more variety at the commercial centre but the Europa centre does a good job for all those at the top of the mountain (we only went to the commercial centre once out of a weeks stay)

Back at the apartments the pool was lovely with plenty of beds around the pool, again with a great view. The pool area and apartments were kept very clean. You could also use the facilities of the siste hotel just down the road. This was especially good when we were due to go home. After vacating our rooms we took our cases to the sister hotel where they were stored in a specially desgined luggage room. For a small charge you could hire a saftey deposit box to put passports etc in for the day while you went and had lunch (Especially good if you have the whole day to waste) included in this charge was towels and shampoo and use to specail toilets and showers so you could freshen up before flying home.

The resort of puerto rico is really nice for people of all ages I think. We went to the water park in masspalomas (there is one in puerto rico itself but is smaller) and also done a snorkling day and boat trip. The beach is lovely and not overly crowded and there are plenty of boat trips available down at the water front.

Overall a lot of our holiday was made by the virgin reps we had they were fantastic even when they had been up all night they were still smiling. Pity they stopped their short haul holidays - it was the best holiday I have ever had.