[category]
[title]
You know what you’re getting with a Canary Islands all-inclusive, right? Lukewarm buffets, plastic wristbands and a desperate 7am scramble for a sunbed. Paradisus Gran Canaria is the antidote to all that. Sitting right on the edge of San Agustín beach, it plays by a different set of rules. The resort, designed by Álvaro Sans’ ASAH studio, is all sleek lines and palm-fringed corners, while pre-breakfast sunbed-hogging is banned and all but one of the eateries are à la carte. With year-round sunshine on tap, you could spend your entire holiday horizontal by the infinity pool, but that would be a mistake. This is a resort that actually wants you to see something of Gran Canaria, using its ‘Destination Inclusive’ concept to both push you out into the island’s mountainous heart and draw in local experiences for you to try poolside.
Why stay at Paradisus Gran Canaria?
Paradisus Gran Canaria understands a universal travel truth: different people want wildly different things from the same holiday. Whether you’re a family with high-energy toddlers or a couple hunting for child-free zen, the resort is clever enough – and spacious enough – for you to rarely trip over each other.
While the hotel is a cut above nearly everywhere else on this stretch of coast, it successfully avoids the stuffy, hushed atmosphere of traditional luxury. For those travelling with older kids, the YOURWAY programme is a standout; it keeps teens and tweens genuinely engaged with high-spec activities (think DJ workshops and mocktail-making) that never feel patronising. It’s the kind of place where adults can slink off for a spa treatment or a walk along the Atlantic coast, safe in the knowledge that no one is being ‘palmed off’. It’s sophisticated, yes, but it’s a resort that encourages you to breathe out, not button up.
What are the rooms like?
Four of us shared a junior suite, ocean-front room very comfortably, with a double sofa bed for the kids at the foot of a king-size bed for the grown-ups. The room is welcoming: think calming neutral tones and windows that practically drag the Atlantic light inside. The balcony got plenty of use at sunset and that, along with waking up to the sound of those Atlantic rollers hitting the shore, is worth every penny of the upgrade. Those travelling child-free might want to go all out and book The Reserve. This option gives you access to a private lounge, an adults-only pool and a 90-minute spa visit per stay.
What are the restaurants like?
Forget everything you know about dreary all-inclusives; the food at Paradisus Gran Canaria is a cut above. With a wide selection of restaurants and bars to choose from, you could easily spend a week here without eating the same meal twice – though once you’ve tasted the ceviche at Lemon Fish Nikkei Sky Bar, you might not want to. This rooftop joint serves up Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine with sweeping Atlantic views. If you’re craving comfort, MasCalzone does proper Italian trattoria vibes with a wood-fired oven and homemade pasta served on its sizable terrace.
Peseta, meanwhile, is an adults-only restaurant that takes local Canarian flavours and elevates them into something spectacular. Designed by Germán Ortega, executive chef at the Michelin-starred La Aquarela further down the coast in Patalavaca, the menu is a celebration of the island, with most ingredients sourced from within 60 miles of your table.
Even the main dining hub, Gastro Hall, avoids the “vats of chips” cliché. It’s styled as a high-end food court with five distinct concepts, including a steakhouse (Mina), an Asian station (Tokimeku) and a raw food bar (Santé). For lunch, head outdoors and hit Kanna Beach Club for grilled calamari and prawns seasoned with volcanic salt and a generous dollop of mojo rojo.
Because family-friendly early evening slots go quickly, you’ll need to be proactive. The resort uses the Meliá app for almost everything, including restaurant reservations. You can browse menus and book your slot directly from your phone before you even arrive onsite.
What are the facilities like?
The three outdoor pools are the heart of the resort. You’ve got the main infinity pool, which feels like it’s spilling directly into the Atlantic; a splash-heavy kids’ zone for the high-energy crowd; and the adults-only Reserve pool for anyone whose idea of a relaxing afternoon doesn’t involve dodging a rogue cannonball. If you need to drop the heart rate further, the spa is a subterranean hideaway of thermal circuits and steam, with open-air treatment spaces for when you want that sea breeze with your massage.
Younger travellers are steered toward Kidsdom, a high-spec hub that ditches tired ballpits for something significantly cooler. For older ones, the YOURWAY programme is packed with activities like mocktail-making, pool games and DJ workshops, allowing families to easily toggle between together time and that much-needed ‘five minutes’ peace’ without any of the usual guilt.
Part of Paradisus’ mission to remind you that you are in Gran Canaria, the Destination Inclusive programme includes guided tours (more on which below) and workshops hosted right on the grounds. You can get hands-on with the island’s textile heritage at a ‘Woven Beauty’ session, learn the antioxidant secrets of local aloe vera or dive into tastings that pair Canarian wines with salty local cheeses. We joined the afternoon ‘Among Brushes and Watercolours’ session with local artist Guacimara Melián. It’s low-stakes, therapeutic and you leave with a painted keepsake that beats a generic gift-shop postcard any day.
What’s the area like?
San Agustín is the sophisticated grown-up to Playa del Inglés’s noisy teenager. The promenade is perfect for sunset strolls, the waves great for body-boarding and the volcanic sand is a dramatic change from the typical yellow beaches further south. The Maspalomas dunes are a short drive away, but for a real taste of the island, use the hotel’s Destination Inclusive excursion programme which is included in the cost. It offers guided tours of the Canarian Museum, the Ron Arehucas rum distillery and traditional banana plantation Hacienda La Rekompensa. We opted for the guided hike to Roque Nublo, which – despite a lengthy bus ride along twisty roads – turned out to be the undisputed highlight of the week. The pine-scented trail winds through volcanic landscapes to a summit that offers views across Gran Canaria’s jagged interior all the way to the snow-capped peak of Mount Teide on neighbouring Tenerife.
Why you should book
If you’re looking for a resort that balances high-spec luxury with a genuine sense of place, Paradisus Gran Canaria nails it. The dining is a legitimate highlight and the curated experiences – both on and off-property – allow you to truly get under the skin of the island. Come for the infinity pools and the guaranteed winter sun; leave with the realisation that the rest of the world has seriously underestimated Gran Canaria.
DETAILS
Address: C. las Retamas, 3, 35100 San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Las Palmas
Price: €399.48 a night.
Closest transport: Gran Canaria is a 20-minute drive