Safety
Las Palmas is a very safe city in the sense that there's small levels of violent crime throughout the city and generally most people feel safe walking around different areas of the city even at night. The most dangerous thing for people visiting Las Palmas would be getting sun burnt - even with sunscreen on (Factor 50) I still got burnt and while writing this I still am. However, Las Palmas has a prominent issue with petty crime such as pickpocketing and there are many scams with the intention of allowing tourists to get ripped off as much as they will let the scammers. In this section I also included some tips regarding how to protect your own well-being and your own personal safety while in Las Palmas.
Electronics Scam
While visiting Las Palmas you will notice that there's electronic stores on nearly every street, it isn't Déjà vu - there really is a lot of electronic shops along the streets of the city. Even though some of these shops could be legitimate, a lot of these shops sell electronics that are either fake, faulty, extortionately priced or all three. The scammers in these shops target elderly people, tourists and those who are not good with technology as they would buy anything that someone in an electronics shop is recommending as they would think they're reputable and have their best intentions in mind. The only intentions in their mind would be seeing how much money they can make and making more room in their store for more faulty goods to be sold. There are a number of ways which these people can entice tourists to buy something, the first by seeming friendly and seeming as if they want to sell you something that will help. For example, I've heard a story of a tourist going into a shop with a very expensive camera that was fully functional except for the fact that they needed a few SIM cards for their holiday photos. The person in the electronics store advised the tourist to buy two SIM cards for €70. The person obviously being unaware of the price of SIM cards gave into the seller thinking that they would be getting an extraordinary deal since the seller demonstrated the difference between their SIM card and the SIM card that the shop was selling. They were exactly the same except for the fact that the seller had altered the pictures on the camera to make their SIM cards seem superior in quality and explained that these were the newest SIM cards available. If you are knowledgeable with technology and try to explain that you know these aren't worth the money the seller will act confused and miraculously not know how to explain in English why they are - how unfortunate. The other ways that these sellers will entice tourists will be intimidation - they will make the customer feel bad for entering the shop without buying anything and may pressure them into buying something they may not even need. If this happens then walk straight out of the shop - never feel pressured to buy something as this straight away means the shop isn't legitimate. There have been other stories where customers have paid for an item, let's imagine that a tourist went into one of these shops and bought an item for €10 - a good deal in their eyes but unfortunately the shop only takes card. This may seem ordinary to some people as some restaurants only take card or some may only take cash - this is the first red flag to me as it would mean if I did want a refund it would take 3-5 days to go into my account. If I didn't receive my refund by the time I went back home then I cannot possibly go back into the shop. Once the customer puts their card in, they think they're paying €10 but unfortunately they're going to get a nasty surprise once they check their bank account balance. The seller tells the customer that their card machine isn't working so they'll have to use another one - what a shame! The seller then clones the card on their new 'card machine' and there's been stories of customers having their entire bank account wiped out. Thousands upon thousands gone when the customer still believes they've only paid €10. The seller will not provide you with a receipt or say they have put it inside the bag when they really have it hidden it under their till - once you realise what has happened or even find your product to be faulty you're stuck. The first being that you have no proof of purchase to show to your bank which would make it even harder to get your money back. The second being that the shop may refuse to return your items simply because you haven't got a receipt and there's nothing they can do about that - you're stuck with a faulty useless item and you're out of pocket. If you do need to buy electronics then there's two things you can do. The first would be going to a supermarket such as SuperDino or Spar and seeing if they sell electronics. They may be more expensive but these shops will definitely give you a receipt and most likely come with a full European warranty. The second being that if you do decide to go into an electronic store - do your research! There are some legitimate shops out there and a quick Google search never hurt anyone. Also do your research on the prices of certain items - if you're being charged €70 for a SIM card then you know it's a rip-off unless it's gold plated and comes with a free three course dinner.
You're A Winner - Scratchcard Scam!
Congratulations! You've won a free holiday to the Canary Islands and other countries in Europe by simply scratching a free scratchcard! Wait. There's a pig flying in my room. Once again if it sounds too good to be true then it is. This scam happens all across Spain, I first encountered it 7 years ago on my first holiday to Benidorm with my parents, and has now started spreading to other countries. The scam starts with tourists being approached by someone offering a free scratchcard or a scratchcard for a very small price. The scammer usually builds a rapport with the tourists by asking where they're travelling from and miraculously finding out the scammer once lived there - imagine the chances! Once you scratch it off you find out that you've won something as small as a bottle of wine but more likely a holiday or an expensive item. Imagine your luck! Tourists at this point celebrate and the scammer usually celebrates with them - mainly to carry on with the show they're presenting and to act as if it's a miracle. In reality all of these scratchcards are winners but of course the scammer won't tell you this - it's your lucky day. However, there's a small catch. To collect your prize you'll have to attend a presentation but don't worry the scammer will provide you with a taxi to get there - how thoughtful of them! Once you get to this presentation you'll be pressured and persuaded to join a holiday club where you can save thousands on future luxury holidays. But where's my free holiday? Where's that flying pig gone? These salesman will pretend you're getting a deal of a lifetime and will try as hard as they can to try and make you depart with your cash. You'll be told to sign a contract and pay around £500-800 for then to be given access to an internet booking service that is similar to a high street travel agent. You've lost a huge sum of money and that holiday you've been promised is nowhere in sight - what a bummer. If you do get approached by these people simply walk on or politely tell them 'No thank you'. If you do want to get a scratchcard then I can't promise you a holiday but I won €6 on one from a shop along the beach front - a legitimate shop. I mean it isn't a holiday but that €6 can get snacks for on the plane.
Beggars/Live Music
Even though begging isn't classed as a scam as some people are unfortunate enough to be in a position where they're homeless and have to beg for money to get through the day. It's a sad world we live in but unfortunately there are some people that see genuine helpless people doing this and figure they could make some money out of it. At nearly every restaurant I visited where I sat outside I was approached by people with cups who would shove a cup in front of my face and beg for money. When I replied once that I never had any money the woman asking for money even questioned why I didn't - I honestly couldn't believe I was just asked that but in all honestly it's a tactic to make tourists feel guilty. These people are very persistent and will only give up when they realise there is no chance you're giving any money over. Everyone loves live music as it brightens up a place and gives a person a way to express their talent for the pleasure of onlookers. There are certain people that will do this right in front of a restaurant where barely anyone will take notice and for good reason. After a minute or two of performing the person will come around with a cup and ask for money for their performance. In their mind everyone has just had the pleasure of listening to their music for free - so why not spare the odd change? It's ridiculous that people expect this because I can't simply move my table and food away with me and I have no choice but to listen unless I put my hands over my ears (but that's going way too far). Another thing I experienced while in Gran Canaria was people coming up to a member of my family and asking for tobacco - not even a lighter! Tobacco is expensive over here in the UK so there is no way my member of family is going to give you any. The worst part is that when the man moved on to someone else I heard money jiggle in his back pocket and cigarettes in Gran Canaria is around €2 for a pack and around €5 for a pouch of tobacco. If you do plan to visit Las Palmas then there's a tobacco shop called Tabaqueria La Esfinge which sells a wide variety of cigarettes and tobacco for a very good price as well as being a legitimate shop.
Airport Scams
As much as people may think that there couldn't possibly be any scams at an airport, especially with all the staff, surveillance cameras as well as security walking around - you'd be surprised. The first scam that takes place at airports would be the false greeter: someone that is not your designated transfer driver pretending to be one. This scam is so simple - a scammer finds your designated driver with a sign holding your name and copies this onto their own whiteboard or paper. The scammer then stands nearer the exit so that once you get through arrivals you will see the scammer first rather than your designated driver and you will follow them to their car and get in thinking that this is your driver. They will ask the destination, to which people may think they're making sure they're taking you to the right destination but they're finding out where to take you, once you arrive at your accommodation they will charge you an extortionate price. If you've prearranged transport then once you meet your greeter ask what company they work for and if you're not satisfied ask for ID. At the airport another thing to be weary of is pickpockets since scammers see this as a perfect opportunity - a busy place and people being more focused on trying to find their departure gate or getting something to eat. Professional pickpockets may also work with an accomplice and one may ask you for the time or ask where you're flying to while the other pickpockets you while you're distracted. It's a real shame the lengths pickpockets will go to separate people from their valuables and goods so be careful! This scam can also happen while you're in the queue for security at the airport, it starts with the person in front of you fumbling with items or someone trying to clear their pockets of items that may set off the metal detector. Since you're at security this may seem annoying but it wouldn't faze you as suspicious or give you the idea your goods are about to be stolen. As you've already put your items through your stuck behind the scammer who is pretending to fumble with their belt or change in their pocket while their accomplice is going through your items on the other side. Since your items have already gone through the x-ray the accomplice has full access to your money, mobile and other technology you have in your hand luggage. By the time you realise this the scammer and their accomplice will be long gone and you may not even recognise who the two people are when questioned as one was in front of you and another was already through security. To prevent this happening make sure you have a clear path through security before putting your bag through the x-ray. If you do have any valuables then put them in the bottom of your bag rather than laying them out on the tray in plain sight for thieves to steal. Once you're reunited with your bag step to the side and make sure that you have everything you came with, if you find that you're missing something then report it to airport security immediately. This gives security and members of staff working at the airport a better chance of finding the thieves and reuniting you with your valuables.
Clothing Scam
The clothing scam as I'd like to call it is very similar to the electronics scam, the only difference is that I was unfortunately the victim of a clothing scam rather than an electronic scam. While walking along Calle Tomás Miller (a street with a range of different shops including supermarkets and souvenir shops) I saw a beautiful pink dress that caught my eye. I thought nothing more of it until I passed the shop again and still had my heart set on buying it so I went into the shop and asked if I could try it on. The shop itself looked very cheap and worn down but I dismissed it by saying to myself 'Don't judge a book by its cover' - this advice ended up being the opposite of helpful to me. I tried the dress on in the shop, obviously in a changing room as I didn't want to get arrested for public nudity, to which the women in the shop told me the straps could be adjusted so my cleavage wouldn't be on full show. When I was buying the dress one of my family members decided to walk out and start making their way back to the hotel to which I quickly received my change and expected my receipt to be in the bag. I glanced over and saw a receipt printing again at the till and assumed that this was the shops copy as it seemed to be an independent store. Once I got back to my hotel room I tried on the dress once again and sadly found out the straps couldn't be adjusted so my cleavage would be on show much more than I wanted it to be. I decided to return the dress but at that moment I couldn't find the receipt so I hoped that since the women recently saw me they would know I had just bought it. It's important to mention that when I was trying on the dress the two women spoke broken English but good enough to understand, this will be important in the next bit of my experience. I went into the shop and used Google Translate to explain that I would like to return the dress since it didn't look nice on me and couldn't be adjusted. The women kept shaking their head at me but took the garment from me and put it back on the mannequin in the front window. From there I assumed the women would give me my money back but they kept shaking their heads at me. When I asked for my money back the women looked confused and kept saying they didn't understand - they were talking to each other in Spanish while I stood at the counter. This conversation probably went like this "How long should we let her complain and explain that she can exchange her item instead of refunding her?" to which one of the women told me I can only exchange the product for something else in the shop. I would've accepted this but as I never had a receipt which would've explained the refund or exchange process as well as not being told of this and seeing no signage around the shop. I kept asking for my money back to which the women kept talking in Spanish to each other - neither of us were about to give up. I kept asking for my money back - if anyone knows me then they know I wouldn't have left the shop without my money so if it took all day I would've waited. I then mentioned to a family member that I'm considering calling the police to which the women then quickly spoke to each other and just like that I heard the cash register open. The woman typed out on Google Translate she would give me my money back this time but not again as if I would be coming back - the pure cheek of it. I got my money and left the shop, not before taking a picture of the shop front to look into it when I got back to my hotel room. To my surprise there was no information of the shop anywhere - from Google Maps to even searching the specific address of the shop no results were found. There was no telephone number or even an address to track the shop back to - it simply doesn't exist on the Internet.
Electronics Scam
While visiting Las Palmas you will notice that there's electronic stores on nearly every street, it isn't Déjà vu - there really is a lot of electronic shops along the streets of the city. Even though some of these shops could be legitimate, a lot of these shops sell electronics that are either fake, faulty, extortionately priced or all three. The scammers in these shops target elderly people, tourists and those who are not good with technology as they would buy anything that someone in an electronics shop is recommending as they would think they're reputable and have their best intentions in mind. The only intentions in their mind would be seeing how much money they can make and making more room in their store for more faulty goods to be sold. There are a number of ways which these people can entice tourists to buy something, the first by seeming friendly and seeming as if they want to sell you something that will help. For example, I've heard a story of a tourist going into a shop with a very expensive camera that was fully functional except for the fact that they needed a few SIM cards for their holiday photos. The person in the electronics store advised the tourist to buy two SIM cards for €70. The person obviously being unaware of the price of SIM cards gave into the seller thinking that they would be getting an extraordinary deal since the seller demonstrated the difference between their SIM card and the SIM card that the shop was selling. They were exactly the same except for the fact that the seller had altered the pictures on the camera to make their SIM cards seem superior in quality and explained that these were the newest SIM cards available. If you are knowledgeable with technology and try to explain that you know these aren't worth the money the seller will act confused and miraculously not know how to explain in English why they are - how unfortunate. The other ways that these sellers will entice tourists will be intimidation - they will make the customer feel bad for entering the shop without buying anything and may pressure them into buying something they may not even need. If this happens then walk straight out of the shop - never feel pressured to buy something as this straight away means the shop isn't legitimate. There have been other stories where customers have paid for an item, let's imagine that a tourist went into one of these shops and bought an item for €10 - a good deal in their eyes but unfortunately the shop only takes card. This may seem ordinary to some people as some restaurants only take card or some may only take cash - this is the first red flag to me as it would mean if I did want a refund it would take 3-5 days to go into my account. If I didn't receive my refund by the time I went back home then I cannot possibly go back into the shop. Once the customer puts their card in, they think they're paying €10 but unfortunately they're going to get a nasty surprise once they check their bank account balance. The seller tells the customer that their card machine isn't working so they'll have to use another one - what a shame! The seller then clones the card on their new 'card machine' and there's been stories of customers having their entire bank account wiped out. Thousands upon thousands gone when the customer still believes they've only paid €10. The seller will not provide you with a receipt or say they have put it inside the bag when they really have it hidden it under their till - once you realise what has happened or even find your product to be faulty you're stuck. The first being that you have no proof of purchase to show to your bank which would make it even harder to get your money back. The second being that the shop may refuse to return your items simply because you haven't got a receipt and there's nothing they can do about that - you're stuck with a faulty useless item and you're out of pocket. If you do need to buy electronics then there's two things you can do. The first would be going to a supermarket such as SuperDino or Spar and seeing if they sell electronics. They may be more expensive but these shops will definitely give you a receipt and most likely come with a full European warranty. The second being that if you do decide to go into an electronic store - do your research! There are some legitimate shops out there and a quick Google search never hurt anyone. Also do your research on the prices of certain items - if you're being charged €70 for a SIM card then you know it's a rip-off unless it's gold plated and comes with a free three course dinner.
You're A Winner - Scratchcard Scam!
Congratulations! You've won a free holiday to the Canary Islands and other countries in Europe by simply scratching a free scratchcard! Wait. There's a pig flying in my room. Once again if it sounds too good to be true then it is. This scam happens all across Spain, I first encountered it 7 years ago on my first holiday to Benidorm with my parents, and has now started spreading to other countries. The scam starts with tourists being approached by someone offering a free scratchcard or a scratchcard for a very small price. The scammer usually builds a rapport with the tourists by asking where they're travelling from and miraculously finding out the scammer once lived there - imagine the chances! Once you scratch it off you find out that you've won something as small as a bottle of wine but more likely a holiday or an expensive item. Imagine your luck! Tourists at this point celebrate and the scammer usually celebrates with them - mainly to carry on with the show they're presenting and to act as if it's a miracle. In reality all of these scratchcards are winners but of course the scammer won't tell you this - it's your lucky day. However, there's a small catch. To collect your prize you'll have to attend a presentation but don't worry the scammer will provide you with a taxi to get there - how thoughtful of them! Once you get to this presentation you'll be pressured and persuaded to join a holiday club where you can save thousands on future luxury holidays. But where's my free holiday? Where's that flying pig gone? These salesman will pretend you're getting a deal of a lifetime and will try as hard as they can to try and make you depart with your cash. You'll be told to sign a contract and pay around £500-800 for then to be given access to an internet booking service that is similar to a high street travel agent. You've lost a huge sum of money and that holiday you've been promised is nowhere in sight - what a bummer. If you do get approached by these people simply walk on or politely tell them 'No thank you'. If you do want to get a scratchcard then I can't promise you a holiday but I won €6 on one from a shop along the beach front - a legitimate shop. I mean it isn't a holiday but that €6 can get snacks for on the plane.
Beggars/Live Music
Even though begging isn't classed as a scam as some people are unfortunate enough to be in a position where they're homeless and have to beg for money to get through the day. It's a sad world we live in but unfortunately there are some people that see genuine helpless people doing this and figure they could make some money out of it. At nearly every restaurant I visited where I sat outside I was approached by people with cups who would shove a cup in front of my face and beg for money. When I replied once that I never had any money the woman asking for money even questioned why I didn't - I honestly couldn't believe I was just asked that but in all honestly it's a tactic to make tourists feel guilty. These people are very persistent and will only give up when they realise there is no chance you're giving any money over. Everyone loves live music as it brightens up a place and gives a person a way to express their talent for the pleasure of onlookers. There are certain people that will do this right in front of a restaurant where barely anyone will take notice and for good reason. After a minute or two of performing the person will come around with a cup and ask for money for their performance. In their mind everyone has just had the pleasure of listening to their music for free - so why not spare the odd change? It's ridiculous that people expect this because I can't simply move my table and food away with me and I have no choice but to listen unless I put my hands over my ears (but that's going way too far). Another thing I experienced while in Gran Canaria was people coming up to a member of my family and asking for tobacco - not even a lighter! Tobacco is expensive over here in the UK so there is no way my member of family is going to give you any. The worst part is that when the man moved on to someone else I heard money jiggle in his back pocket and cigarettes in Gran Canaria is around €2 for a pack and around €5 for a pouch of tobacco. If you do plan to visit Las Palmas then there's a tobacco shop called Tabaqueria La Esfinge which sells a wide variety of cigarettes and tobacco for a very good price as well as being a legitimate shop.
Airport Scams
As much as people may think that there couldn't possibly be any scams at an airport, especially with all the staff, surveillance cameras as well as security walking around - you'd be surprised. The first scam that takes place at airports would be the false greeter: someone that is not your designated transfer driver pretending to be one. This scam is so simple - a scammer finds your designated driver with a sign holding your name and copies this onto their own whiteboard or paper. The scammer then stands nearer the exit so that once you get through arrivals you will see the scammer first rather than your designated driver and you will follow them to their car and get in thinking that this is your driver. They will ask the destination, to which people may think they're making sure they're taking you to the right destination but they're finding out where to take you, once you arrive at your accommodation they will charge you an extortionate price. If you've prearranged transport then once you meet your greeter ask what company they work for and if you're not satisfied ask for ID. At the airport another thing to be weary of is pickpockets since scammers see this as a perfect opportunity - a busy place and people being more focused on trying to find their departure gate or getting something to eat. Professional pickpockets may also work with an accomplice and one may ask you for the time or ask where you're flying to while the other pickpockets you while you're distracted. It's a real shame the lengths pickpockets will go to separate people from their valuables and goods so be careful! This scam can also happen while you're in the queue for security at the airport, it starts with the person in front of you fumbling with items or someone trying to clear their pockets of items that may set off the metal detector. Since you're at security this may seem annoying but it wouldn't faze you as suspicious or give you the idea your goods are about to be stolen. As you've already put your items through your stuck behind the scammer who is pretending to fumble with their belt or change in their pocket while their accomplice is going through your items on the other side. Since your items have already gone through the x-ray the accomplice has full access to your money, mobile and other technology you have in your hand luggage. By the time you realise this the scammer and their accomplice will be long gone and you may not even recognise who the two people are when questioned as one was in front of you and another was already through security. To prevent this happening make sure you have a clear path through security before putting your bag through the x-ray. If you do have any valuables then put them in the bottom of your bag rather than laying them out on the tray in plain sight for thieves to steal. Once you're reunited with your bag step to the side and make sure that you have everything you came with, if you find that you're missing something then report it to airport security immediately. This gives security and members of staff working at the airport a better chance of finding the thieves and reuniting you with your valuables.
Clothing Scam
The clothing scam as I'd like to call it is very similar to the electronics scam, the only difference is that I was unfortunately the victim of a clothing scam rather than an electronic scam. While walking along Calle Tomás Miller (a street with a range of different shops including supermarkets and souvenir shops) I saw a beautiful pink dress that caught my eye. I thought nothing more of it until I passed the shop again and still had my heart set on buying it so I went into the shop and asked if I could try it on. The shop itself looked very cheap and worn down but I dismissed it by saying to myself 'Don't judge a book by its cover' - this advice ended up being the opposite of helpful to me. I tried the dress on in the shop, obviously in a changing room as I didn't want to get arrested for public nudity, to which the women in the shop told me the straps could be adjusted so my cleavage wouldn't be on full show. When I was buying the dress one of my family members decided to walk out and start making their way back to the hotel to which I quickly received my change and expected my receipt to be in the bag. I glanced over and saw a receipt printing again at the till and assumed that this was the shops copy as it seemed to be an independent store. Once I got back to my hotel room I tried on the dress once again and sadly found out the straps couldn't be adjusted so my cleavage would be on show much more than I wanted it to be. I decided to return the dress but at that moment I couldn't find the receipt so I hoped that since the women recently saw me they would know I had just bought it. It's important to mention that when I was trying on the dress the two women spoke broken English but good enough to understand, this will be important in the next bit of my experience. I went into the shop and used Google Translate to explain that I would like to return the dress since it didn't look nice on me and couldn't be adjusted. The women kept shaking their head at me but took the garment from me and put it back on the mannequin in the front window. From there I assumed the women would give me my money back but they kept shaking their heads at me. When I asked for my money back the women looked confused and kept saying they didn't understand - they were talking to each other in Spanish while I stood at the counter. This conversation probably went like this "How long should we let her complain and explain that she can exchange her item instead of refunding her?" to which one of the women told me I can only exchange the product for something else in the shop. I would've accepted this but as I never had a receipt which would've explained the refund or exchange process as well as not being told of this and seeing no signage around the shop. I kept asking for my money back to which the women kept talking in Spanish to each other - neither of us were about to give up. I kept asking for my money back - if anyone knows me then they know I wouldn't have left the shop without my money so if it took all day I would've waited. I then mentioned to a family member that I'm considering calling the police to which the women then quickly spoke to each other and just like that I heard the cash register open. The woman typed out on Google Translate she would give me my money back this time but not again as if I would be coming back - the pure cheek of it. I got my money and left the shop, not before taking a picture of the shop front to look into it when I got back to my hotel room. To my surprise there was no information of the shop anywhere - from Google Maps to even searching the specific address of the shop no results were found. There was no telephone number or even an address to track the shop back to - it simply doesn't exist on the Internet.
Accommodation
When researching where to stay in Las Palmas I decided that I didn't want to stay on the seafront mainly because of the hefty price tag that came along with it. The other reasons being that at 2am I didn't want to be reminded that there's people still enjoying themselves at the numerous bars and pubs while I'm trying to get my beauty sleep. Accommodation on the seafront went into the thousands for a seven night stay and the star rating wasn't much to entice me into paying what could be spending money for my trip. Luckily for me the months of May and June are the quietest times of the year to visit Las Palmas. Regardless, there were still a large handful of tourists that had the same idea as me to visit before the prices rose and the school holidays started. As always I wanted a hotel which included breakfast since it would fill me up for the day until lunch and in itself would save me money and time each morning. Could I find a hotel that's budget friendly as well as being able to provide everything that I would need? I certainly could. After hours of searching through numerous travel websites and recommendations from friends and family I found a hotel that was less than a minutes walk to the beach as well as being in the centre of practically everything.
The idea of this hotel sounded even better to me when I dug deeper into my research to find out that it was surrounded by restaurants, supermarkets as well as being just a 15-20 minute walk from two shopping centres. Even breakfast was included in our room rate, which was an even bigger bonus since. I've struck gold in my hotel search. The hotel only boasted a three star rating but it was flooded with praising reviews from previous tourists as well as the photos making me question why it wasn't given more stars. It's located just one street away from the seafront meaning I could enjoy the morning walks to the beach while at night enjoying my beauty sleep without hearing the nightlife of Las Palmas at my doorstep. Even though I had no intentions of using public transport throughout my stay there were numerous bus stops located around the hotel as well as a bus station just a 15-20 minute walk away. The hotel is Maresia Canteras Urban Hotel The Senses, which I would recommend to anyone staying in Las Palmas if you want to enjoy the beautiful sights without the hefty price tag that comes along with it.
The Maresia Canteras Urban Hotel doesn't have a 24 hour reception but the hotel does provide numerous ways to enter and exit the hotel outside of these hours: using your key card, ringing a specific number or putting in an access code. The check-in and check-out times are quite reasonable with guests having from 2pm to 10pm to check-in and from 8am and midday to check-out. The staff working on reception had our best interests at mind and made us feel at ease from the moment we arrived until the moment we left - I can't praise them enough for all the help they gave us throughout our stay. When we all passed reception we were greeted with a smile and in most cases a conversation regarding how our day was going and where we would be off to today. In addition to this, the hotel even helped us order a pizza at 10pm when we had just arrived since we were too tired to go to a restaurant which the staff were more than happy to help with even though there was a slight language barrier. Even though we had five hours to spare as check-out time was midday and our transfers to the airport picked us up at 5pm, this was no hassle for us as the hotel had asked if we'd like to leave our bags in a secured and safe luggage room. If you prefer to stay in the hotel then the reception area is more than big enough with sofas, books, magazines and free WiFi provided to keep you occupied for hours. Upon check-in we were provided with a range of different maps and even a booklet made by the hotel regarding all information about the hotel, transport in the area as well as restaurants they would recommend. A lovely and thoughtful touch that saved us searching for a restaurant that would suit everyone's needs and wouldn't break the bank. To my surprise the hotel had a terrace on the fifth floor which was a quiet place to relax, play cards or a board game and spend some time with family privately.
The room we stayed in, which was a superior double room, featured a double bed (which was sized more like a queen sized bed) and a sofa bed which I loved for its multipurpose during the day and then again at night. The room itself was very spacious, allowing us to store our three suitcases in the corner of our room without obstructing us and still giving us enough space to move around throughout our stay. The room we stayed in faced away from the main streets and the only noise I heard throughout the day was motorbikes going past but regardless the hotel cannot help that - luckily for me I was able to get my beauty sleep! The hotel room provided us with everything we would need throughout our stay and went above and beyond in this respect. This included a mini-bar, a flat screen TV which came with it's own Netflix account and password on it as well as a lot of storage compartments to put our clothes. In one of these cupboards there was a safe provided, which we used to store our passports and valuables throughout our stay, which put our mind at ease when we was out during the day. Since there was a sofa bed, which was converted to a sofa during the day, it gave us even more room to relax and allowed me to enjoy the new series of Black Mirror. The bathroom went above and beyond my expectations since it was the biggest bathroom I've stayed at in recent years. The bathroom included a walk in shower, a fold away towel rack, a chair which was used as a place to put my clothes as well as a small mirror and a hairdryer being provided. There was more than enough space to put all of my toiletries, to which there were a lot, rather than making me live out of my suitcase. WiFi was provided in all areas of the hotel but each room has their designated WiFi connection for each room which had a strong signal in every area of the hotel room. A couple of minutes walk brought us to a range of supermarkets, my favourite being SuperDino, to which we stocked up on soft drinks, water and snacks which we could put in our mini-bar. The prices are a lot cheaper than buying from smaller independent shops on the seafront as a one litre bottle of water only cost us around 60 cents. Breakfast was provided, in a cafe just around the corner from the hotel called Jolgorio. To my surprise there was both options for a continental and cooked breakfast which came in the form of a "pick n mix" menu to which guests could pick what items what they'd like. As breakfast was provided we had saved around €5-10 per day which even allowed me to come back with an extra €35 which I would've had to spend on breakfast if it wasn't included with the room rate.
The hotel was €765 (approximately £683) for seven nights, which worked out to be around €37 per person, per night (there was three of us). I consider this to be of extraordinary value in retrospect of breakfast being provided, all of the amenities mentioned being provided as well as the location of the hotel. I chose not to stay on the seafront, which as mentioned before can be very expensive, since for one room in a 3 star hotel can range from anywhere from €100 to €223 per night which is way too pricey for a person travelling on a budget. This also taking into consideration that the price mentioned may not include breakfast as well as the constant reminder of the nightlife in Las Palmas.
The idea of this hotel sounded even better to me when I dug deeper into my research to find out that it was surrounded by restaurants, supermarkets as well as being just a 15-20 minute walk from two shopping centres. Even breakfast was included in our room rate, which was an even bigger bonus since. I've struck gold in my hotel search. The hotel only boasted a three star rating but it was flooded with praising reviews from previous tourists as well as the photos making me question why it wasn't given more stars. It's located just one street away from the seafront meaning I could enjoy the morning walks to the beach while at night enjoying my beauty sleep without hearing the nightlife of Las Palmas at my doorstep. Even though I had no intentions of using public transport throughout my stay there were numerous bus stops located around the hotel as well as a bus station just a 15-20 minute walk away. The hotel is Maresia Canteras Urban Hotel The Senses, which I would recommend to anyone staying in Las Palmas if you want to enjoy the beautiful sights without the hefty price tag that comes along with it.
The Maresia Canteras Urban Hotel doesn't have a 24 hour reception but the hotel does provide numerous ways to enter and exit the hotel outside of these hours: using your key card, ringing a specific number or putting in an access code. The check-in and check-out times are quite reasonable with guests having from 2pm to 10pm to check-in and from 8am and midday to check-out. The staff working on reception had our best interests at mind and made us feel at ease from the moment we arrived until the moment we left - I can't praise them enough for all the help they gave us throughout our stay. When we all passed reception we were greeted with a smile and in most cases a conversation regarding how our day was going and where we would be off to today. In addition to this, the hotel even helped us order a pizza at 10pm when we had just arrived since we were too tired to go to a restaurant which the staff were more than happy to help with even though there was a slight language barrier. Even though we had five hours to spare as check-out time was midday and our transfers to the airport picked us up at 5pm, this was no hassle for us as the hotel had asked if we'd like to leave our bags in a secured and safe luggage room. If you prefer to stay in the hotel then the reception area is more than big enough with sofas, books, magazines and free WiFi provided to keep you occupied for hours. Upon check-in we were provided with a range of different maps and even a booklet made by the hotel regarding all information about the hotel, transport in the area as well as restaurants they would recommend. A lovely and thoughtful touch that saved us searching for a restaurant that would suit everyone's needs and wouldn't break the bank. To my surprise the hotel had a terrace on the fifth floor which was a quiet place to relax, play cards or a board game and spend some time with family privately.
The room we stayed in, which was a superior double room, featured a double bed (which was sized more like a queen sized bed) and a sofa bed which I loved for its multipurpose during the day and then again at night. The room itself was very spacious, allowing us to store our three suitcases in the corner of our room without obstructing us and still giving us enough space to move around throughout our stay. The room we stayed in faced away from the main streets and the only noise I heard throughout the day was motorbikes going past but regardless the hotel cannot help that - luckily for me I was able to get my beauty sleep! The hotel room provided us with everything we would need throughout our stay and went above and beyond in this respect. This included a mini-bar, a flat screen TV which came with it's own Netflix account and password on it as well as a lot of storage compartments to put our clothes. In one of these cupboards there was a safe provided, which we used to store our passports and valuables throughout our stay, which put our mind at ease when we was out during the day. Since there was a sofa bed, which was converted to a sofa during the day, it gave us even more room to relax and allowed me to enjoy the new series of Black Mirror. The bathroom went above and beyond my expectations since it was the biggest bathroom I've stayed at in recent years. The bathroom included a walk in shower, a fold away towel rack, a chair which was used as a place to put my clothes as well as a small mirror and a hairdryer being provided. There was more than enough space to put all of my toiletries, to which there were a lot, rather than making me live out of my suitcase. WiFi was provided in all areas of the hotel but each room has their designated WiFi connection for each room which had a strong signal in every area of the hotel room. A couple of minutes walk brought us to a range of supermarkets, my favourite being SuperDino, to which we stocked up on soft drinks, water and snacks which we could put in our mini-bar. The prices are a lot cheaper than buying from smaller independent shops on the seafront as a one litre bottle of water only cost us around 60 cents. Breakfast was provided, in a cafe just around the corner from the hotel called Jolgorio. To my surprise there was both options for a continental and cooked breakfast which came in the form of a "pick n mix" menu to which guests could pick what items what they'd like. As breakfast was provided we had saved around €5-10 per day which even allowed me to come back with an extra €35 which I would've had to spend on breakfast if it wasn't included with the room rate.
The hotel was €765 (approximately £683) for seven nights, which worked out to be around €37 per person, per night (there was three of us). I consider this to be of extraordinary value in retrospect of breakfast being provided, all of the amenities mentioned being provided as well as the location of the hotel. I chose not to stay on the seafront, which as mentioned before can be very expensive, since for one room in a 3 star hotel can range from anywhere from €100 to €223 per night which is way too pricey for a person travelling on a budget. This also taking into consideration that the price mentioned may not include breakfast as well as the constant reminder of the nightlife in Las Palmas.
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Where to Visit & What to Do
While booking my holiday to Las Palmas, me and my family had decided that we wouldn't go out of our way to go on any activities or excursions as this would be a holiday to relax and spend some time together. For this reason we didn't go to any major attractions except for the ones surrounding our hotel and ones recommended by our family and friends. There is a lot to do in Las Palmas, such as going to the aquarium, getting a hop-on-hop-off bus as well as visiting the Old Town as well as the Las Palmas Cathedral. I'll add information regarding other activities tourists can visit even though I didn't go on them. As I walked to every attraction, as my hotel was in the centre of Las Palmas, I’m going to list the address rather than the transport links.
Centro Comercial Las Arenas
Address: Ctra. del Rincón, s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, España
Ticket Prices: Admission to this shopping centre is completely free.
Centro Comercial Las Arenas is one of two main shopping centres in Las Palmas as well as being one of the most popular. The reason behind this being that this shopping centre has had many extensions built onto it as the years have passed as well as having a multitude of different of different retails outlets. These outlets include Primark, Zara, Adidas, Mango, H&M, Vans and Sketchers just to name a few. Not only does this shopping centre have retail outlets but also includes a hypermarket called Carrefour, on one day that I visited here and didn't fancy spending money on lunch I simply bought a small cup of watermelon for a mere €2 - rather than spending €10 on a meal for lunch from the numerous restaurant on the upper floors of this centre. There are also a range of different technology and mobile related shops such as Vodafone, Orange and Phone House (which resembles Carphone Warehouse back here in the UK). If you're planning to spend a longer period of time on the Canary Islands then you can see what the staff in these shops can help you with as while passing I saw a range of different SIM deals that seemed useful and inexpensive for the amount of minutes, calls and GB you receive with the package. There's even an range of different opticians in the centre such as Manhattan and General Optica. If you have enough room in your suitcase then there are a wide range of perfume shops, with unbeatable prices, for which you can bring home a present or two for family members or friends. At least when my family and friends read this section of my blog they'll know what they're getting for their birthday!
There is a cinema located on the left hand side of the shopping centre called Yelmo Cine Las Arenas which also boasts inexpensive prices for movie tickets but the only downside is that they only show films in Spanish. Regardless, if you do speak Spanish and want to spend a few hours watching some of the new releases at the cinema then ticket prices start at around €7 - a very affordable price considering in London ticket prices can be as expensive as £14 (€15/16) - I really wished that I could understand Spanish! If after all your shopping you find yourself hungry then don't threat, there are a wide variety of restaurants and fast food places to grab yourself a snack or a meal. There are two food courts and there's no shortage of cafes and ice-cream shops on the ground floor near the main entrance - a relaxing way to enjoy a coffee or ice-cream before or after your shopping. If you fancy more than a quick coffee and ice-cream then on the upper floors you can grab a meal. If you prefer fast food then there's a McDonald's and Subway, with a meal for three people costing no more than €15 including drinks. If you prefer a bigger meal and in turn a larger meal then Scooters is the place to be if you fancy pizza or if you want sushi then Umami restaurant is the place to be. There are a range of different cuisines with food from seafood to steak being offered, you will certainly find someplace to eat. If you do bring children to the shopping centre with you then luckily there's a Kids Zone, which costs around €6. For €6 you can leave your children in a safe and secure area where they can enjoy themselves while you shop until you drop!
I spent a full day at this particular shopping centre and even then I didn't get to visit every shop on my list. I had planned to go back for another day in which I was finally able to see everything I wanted. Unfortunately for me this meant that I really did shop until I dropped with a majority of my money going on Primark items as well as treating myself to t-shirts in Vans - I just couldn't say no. Either way if you do plan to shop until you drop then you should bring at least €50-100 as there's a range of different shops with different prices, with Primark being one of the cheapest, H&M being mid-range and Vans being on the pricier side. Once you've finished your shopping trip then you can always take a walk along the promenade and enjoy the beautiful views, especially if you leave and get to view sunset - it's simply incredible and the end to a perfect day.
Ticket Prices: Admission to this shopping centre is completely free.
Centro Comercial Las Arenas is one of two main shopping centres in Las Palmas as well as being one of the most popular. The reason behind this being that this shopping centre has had many extensions built onto it as the years have passed as well as having a multitude of different of different retails outlets. These outlets include Primark, Zara, Adidas, Mango, H&M, Vans and Sketchers just to name a few. Not only does this shopping centre have retail outlets but also includes a hypermarket called Carrefour, on one day that I visited here and didn't fancy spending money on lunch I simply bought a small cup of watermelon for a mere €2 - rather than spending €10 on a meal for lunch from the numerous restaurant on the upper floors of this centre. There are also a range of different technology and mobile related shops such as Vodafone, Orange and Phone House (which resembles Carphone Warehouse back here in the UK). If you're planning to spend a longer period of time on the Canary Islands then you can see what the staff in these shops can help you with as while passing I saw a range of different SIM deals that seemed useful and inexpensive for the amount of minutes, calls and GB you receive with the package. There's even an range of different opticians in the centre such as Manhattan and General Optica. If you have enough room in your suitcase then there are a wide range of perfume shops, with unbeatable prices, for which you can bring home a present or two for family members or friends. At least when my family and friends read this section of my blog they'll know what they're getting for their birthday!
There is a cinema located on the left hand side of the shopping centre called Yelmo Cine Las Arenas which also boasts inexpensive prices for movie tickets but the only downside is that they only show films in Spanish. Regardless, if you do speak Spanish and want to spend a few hours watching some of the new releases at the cinema then ticket prices start at around €7 - a very affordable price considering in London ticket prices can be as expensive as £14 (€15/16) - I really wished that I could understand Spanish! If after all your shopping you find yourself hungry then don't threat, there are a wide variety of restaurants and fast food places to grab yourself a snack or a meal. There are two food courts and there's no shortage of cafes and ice-cream shops on the ground floor near the main entrance - a relaxing way to enjoy a coffee or ice-cream before or after your shopping. If you fancy more than a quick coffee and ice-cream then on the upper floors you can grab a meal. If you prefer fast food then there's a McDonald's and Subway, with a meal for three people costing no more than €15 including drinks. If you prefer a bigger meal and in turn a larger meal then Scooters is the place to be if you fancy pizza or if you want sushi then Umami restaurant is the place to be. There are a range of different cuisines with food from seafood to steak being offered, you will certainly find someplace to eat. If you do bring children to the shopping centre with you then luckily there's a Kids Zone, which costs around €6. For €6 you can leave your children in a safe and secure area where they can enjoy themselves while you shop until you drop!
I spent a full day at this particular shopping centre and even then I didn't get to visit every shop on my list. I had planned to go back for another day in which I was finally able to see everything I wanted. Unfortunately for me this meant that I really did shop until I dropped with a majority of my money going on Primark items as well as treating myself to t-shirts in Vans - I just couldn't say no. Either way if you do plan to shop until you drop then you should bring at least €50-100 as there's a range of different shops with different prices, with Primark being one of the cheapest, H&M being mid-range and Vans being on the pricier side. Once you've finished your shopping trip then you can always take a walk along the promenade and enjoy the beautiful views, especially if you leave and get to view sunset - it's simply incredible and the end to a perfect day.
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Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus
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Address: As this is a hop-on-hop-off bus you can get on any of the 11 stops that are designated areas for the bus to drop off and pick up tourists.
Ticket Price: Ticket prices range from £19.02 to £26.27 (€21.50-30) with three different ticket options to pick from. Each ticket option includes a range of different extras and tours. More information can be found here - https://city-sightseeing.com/en/22/las-palmas-de-gran-canaria/228/hop-on-hop-off-las-palmas-de-gran-canaria. Even though there are three ticket options, I'm going to focus on the least expensive ticket option which is priced at £19.02 (€21.50). This includes the hop-on-hop-off bus, a guided walking tour of Vegueta (The Old Town) as well as a guided tour of Alfredo Kraus Auditorium (an auditorium used for art and music events). If you prefer to sit back and relax to see the sights rather than walking in the scorching heat then this is a perfect option for you. The hop-on-hop-off bus stops at 11 different locations around Las Palmas with audio commentary in 8 languages. If you prefer you can firstly sit through all the stops with an approximate journey time of 80 minutes and from there stop at specific locations that you want to explore more of. However, the only downside is that the bus frequency is every 40 minutes so make sure you do your research before walking back to the designated pick-up spot to avoid getting sun burnt and standing around in the heat. The 11 stops include:
One of the most important things to remember is to always wear sunscreen if you're spending time on Playa De Las Canteras and if you're going to be sitting on the top of the hop-on-hop-off bus. I wore Factor 50 sunscreen and I still got burnt horrendously - take care of your skin and make sure that you keep applying sunscreen throughout the day. |
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Las Canteras
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Address: There is no specific address for the beach.
Ticket Prices: The beach is completely free! And people say the best things in life aren't free. Las Canteras is one of the most beautiful beaches I've had the pleasure of seeing and has the most facilities I've seen. There is an area for those with mobility impairment which is sheltered as well as range of ramps along the sea front for those in wheelchairs and scooters to gain access the beach. Other facilities include a range of shower areas where you can wash yourself and get that annoying pieces of sand between your toes out before walking along the promenade. Along the beach there are deck chairs and sun loungers available to rent - don't assume that they're free or unoccupied! Some people can get very possessive over a bit of metal and fabric even though they've given no indication that it's taken - either way make sure to bring a towel and sunscreen. If you have a few hours to spare then it would be lovely to gather family or friends to have a picnic on the beach - there is more than enough room with the beach spanning 3.5km. Along the beach you will constantly see lifeguards as the beach mainly attracts families with children as well as people deciding to take a swim in the sea. If you go towards the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium then you will see a lot of people surfing as well as surf schools practising on the beaches - the reason the surfers use this part of the beach is that there's good waves to surf on. Along the promenade near this area you will find a range of shops renting out snorkelling equipment and surfing equipment for those who want to ride the waves and see the marine life which has been well preserved. While walking through the sea there were fishes, even at knee level, which I originally thought was the sun reflecting on the water and my eyes playing tricks on me. One thing I will mention is that this beach is one of the cleanest I have ever seen, the locals pride themselves in keeping it clean and free from litter. Please clean up your litter and don't let it go into the sea. If you see a piece of plastic or litter then do your bit for the environment and put it in the nearest bin or recycling bin. Along the promenade there are more than enough restaurants and cafes to find somewhere to sit, relax, enjoy some food and live music while overlooking the sea. The restaurants and cafes I would recommend are Ristorante Pizzería Al Maccaroni, Fat Frank (which is a 5 minute walk from the seafront) and Granier - places that I've been to numerous times and wouldn't hesitiate to go back to if I was in the area. If you prefer going to a supermarket to grab a few snacks and a drink then I would recommend SuperDino and the numerous Spar's across the promenade, their inexpensive prices and wide variety is all you need. Smaller shops such as newsagents will charge a lot more for a soft drink or a bottle of water - save your money and walk down a little further to get the best deals. I bought a litre of water for around 60-70 cents as well as getting a pack of five doughnuts for €1. Along the promenade you will also notice the astonishing and breathtaking street art which gives a splash of colour and a breath of fresh air into the area. Most of this street art can be found in the skate park at Santa Catilina but the murals are mostly found along the promenade. My favourite piece of art, it's beauty simply cannot be expressed in pictures or words, shows a range of different sea life in intricate detail as well as a merge with paintings of humans. Interpretations differ from person to person but I simply see it as us humans should leave the sea life in our oceans alone, for their beauty and species will soon be gone if we carry on our selfish behaviour that damages the environment. Either way I'm happy to see that a blank canvas has been used to promote such creative and beautiful artwork which is available for everyone to admire. |
Poema De Mar
Address: Muelle del Sanapú, 22, 35008 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Ticket Prices: There are a range of tickets available. The standard ticket is priced at €25 which admits entry for one person. More information can be found here - https://tickets.poema-del-mar.com/gb/25-tickets.
An aquarium that is praised as being a well classed attraction has a reputation for not disappointing, I've read that people travel all across the world to aquarium despite the expensive entry fee. Even though the entry fee is €25 for one adult, there is more than enough to see and do to make up for the price - especially with it recently being built in 2017 and as we speak there are new features being added. There's also 350 species of marine life for visitors to see, each with their own distinguishable appearance, information and features regarding their marine life. Even though there are a number of people who are against the use of aquariums, which is understandable and respectable, as these people believe these animals are being held in a tank where they should be let out back into their natural habitat. I was wary of this before researching this aquarium but I recently found out that there's a strong commitment to preserving biodiversity and protecting the environment. My favourite part about the aquarium is that there is a passion and dedication to clean living which is promoted to visitors through the use of videos showing the use of clean energy, recycling and warning against the illegal trafficking of animals.
There are three different zones that make up this aquarium beginning with The Jungle, then moving on to Deep Sea and then finishing with The World's Largest Viewing Window. After visiting these three sections you end at the gift shop which is located at the exit where you can buy a range of souvenirs and gifts. However, there is a gift shop inside of the aquarium which is in support Loro Parque Foundation, a charity with the main aim of protecting animals and preserving their natural habitat. The Jungle reflects the aquariums commitment to both the biodiversity of the land and sea to also show how these environments interact. A full immersive option is available to guests through the use of lagoons and glass floor tanks, which also shows off the electric eels which can produce up to 850 volts. The Deep Sea prides itself on a 400,000 litre aquarium which hosts a range of sea life from coral, seahorses to bull sharks, all of which fill up the space with an explosion of colour to show visitors just how incredible and beautiful our environment really is. The World's Largest Viewing Window does live up to its name with it being 36 metres long and 7 metres high - at least it's not 36 metres high or you'd end up having a sore neck and might end up falling over trying to look at everything. This is really the sight that steals the limelight in the aquarium since you can you can spot as much marine life as you can think of and some that you didn't even know existed.
Ticket Prices: There are a range of tickets available. The standard ticket is priced at €25 which admits entry for one person. More information can be found here - https://tickets.poema-del-mar.com/gb/25-tickets.
An aquarium that is praised as being a well classed attraction has a reputation for not disappointing, I've read that people travel all across the world to aquarium despite the expensive entry fee. Even though the entry fee is €25 for one adult, there is more than enough to see and do to make up for the price - especially with it recently being built in 2017 and as we speak there are new features being added. There's also 350 species of marine life for visitors to see, each with their own distinguishable appearance, information and features regarding their marine life. Even though there are a number of people who are against the use of aquariums, which is understandable and respectable, as these people believe these animals are being held in a tank where they should be let out back into their natural habitat. I was wary of this before researching this aquarium but I recently found out that there's a strong commitment to preserving biodiversity and protecting the environment. My favourite part about the aquarium is that there is a passion and dedication to clean living which is promoted to visitors through the use of videos showing the use of clean energy, recycling and warning against the illegal trafficking of animals.
There are three different zones that make up this aquarium beginning with The Jungle, then moving on to Deep Sea and then finishing with The World's Largest Viewing Window. After visiting these three sections you end at the gift shop which is located at the exit where you can buy a range of souvenirs and gifts. However, there is a gift shop inside of the aquarium which is in support Loro Parque Foundation, a charity with the main aim of protecting animals and preserving their natural habitat. The Jungle reflects the aquariums commitment to both the biodiversity of the land and sea to also show how these environments interact. A full immersive option is available to guests through the use of lagoons and glass floor tanks, which also shows off the electric eels which can produce up to 850 volts. The Deep Sea prides itself on a 400,000 litre aquarium which hosts a range of sea life from coral, seahorses to bull sharks, all of which fill up the space with an explosion of colour to show visitors just how incredible and beautiful our environment really is. The World's Largest Viewing Window does live up to its name with it being 36 metres long and 7 metres high - at least it's not 36 metres high or you'd end up having a sore neck and might end up falling over trying to look at everything. This is really the sight that steals the limelight in the aquarium since you can you can spot as much marine life as you can think of and some that you didn't even know existed.
Old Town Tour
Address: There is not a specific location for the Old Town, it spans over an area of Las Palmas.
Ticket Prices: Ticket prices are dependant on what specific tour you book and with what company you book with.
The Old Town, which is formally known as Vegueta, is one of the original settlements in Gran Canaria during the late 15th century. Even though it was formed hundreds of years ago, in the mid 19th century there began a build up of shops and markets which has only expanded since then. Even though we're in the 21st century, while visiting Vegueta you will notice the cobbled streets, traditional wooden balconies as well as the remarkable scene of historical buildings. You will feel as if you're going back in time.
There are a range of different areas you need to explore if visiting Vegueta:
There's only one walking tour I found if you prefer to be guided around the streets of Vegueta. This tour is very inexpensive and would be worth investing in to make sure you get to see all that Vegueta has to offer as well as gaining more information about it.
Trip Gran Canaria - https://tripgrancanaria.com/en/gran-canaria-routes/guided-walking-tour-old-town-las-palmas-capital
Ticket Prices: Ticket prices are dependant on what specific tour you book and with what company you book with.
The Old Town, which is formally known as Vegueta, is one of the original settlements in Gran Canaria during the late 15th century. Even though it was formed hundreds of years ago, in the mid 19th century there began a build up of shops and markets which has only expanded since then. Even though we're in the 21st century, while visiting Vegueta you will notice the cobbled streets, traditional wooden balconies as well as the remarkable scene of historical buildings. You will feel as if you're going back in time.
There are a range of different areas you need to explore if visiting Vegueta:
- Historical Architecture - If you want to get a breathtaking view of Las Palmas then visit and climb to the top of Catedral de Santa Ana, you won't find anywhere better to get views. Another religious building is the Palacio Episcopal which was only recently built in the late 20th century but doesn't disregard the fact that it was made by Gaudí (who's famously known for his individualist styles, which makes each building one of a kind).
- Arts & Culture - Casa de Colon is one of the most famous buildings in the area since it was the house that Christopher Columbus visited during the late 15th century which has been transformed into a museum. If you want to find out more information solely on the island of Gran Canaria then there's also a museum called Museo Canario, dedicated to the history and storing artefacts from centuries ago.
- Shopping - If you prefer to shop away from the main retailers that are found in shopping centres then Mercado de Artesania y Cultura de Vegueta is the place to be for a Sunday market. Not only can you find souvenirs but local produce such as fresh fruit and vegetables. If you prefer a more modern idea of shopping then in the same area there are a range of boutique shops and galleries located down the main shopping street named Calle Mayor de Triana.
There's only one walking tour I found if you prefer to be guided around the streets of Vegueta. This tour is very inexpensive and would be worth investing in to make sure you get to see all that Vegueta has to offer as well as gaining more information about it.
Trip Gran Canaria - https://tripgrancanaria.com/en/gran-canaria-routes/guided-walking-tour-old-town-las-palmas-capital
Travel
While in Las Palmas I used no form of public transport whatsoever, from my hotel I walked to every attraction that I had wanted to visit as well as walking to any other places of interest. The main reason for this being I wanted to save money on transport as well as keeping myself healthy. However, I know some people may rely on public transport for a number of reasons as well as it being more efficient in getting from one place to another.
Buses
Las Palmas has a very limited transport system but it's quite efficient and very affordable, whether you want to go for a 10 minute ride or go to another city, then the bus would be your best bet. Buses are quite popular with the locals and throughout my stay I never saw a bus completely full or even moderately busy even in the morning and late afternoon.
This is the list of prices for the two bus services that operate in Gran Canaria - https://www.gran-canaria.traveltopper.eu/en/openbaar-vervoer-gran-canaria/
There's a range of different prepayment cards you can get to save money on your journeys, both with Guaguas Municipales and Global, but the simplest option is paying the driver upon getting onto the bus. Before you get onto the bus try and have as much change as you can for your ticket as bus drivers are known to not carry much change. Once you receive your ticket make sure you keep it with you until you reach your final destination.
This is the list of prices for the two bus services that operate in Gran Canaria - https://www.gran-canaria.traveltopper.eu/en/openbaar-vervoer-gran-canaria/
- Guaguas Municipales - €1.40 (one person, one way)
- Global - Each fare is dependant on the initial and final destination
There's a range of different prepayment cards you can get to save money on your journeys, both with Guaguas Municipales and Global, but the simplest option is paying the driver upon getting onto the bus. Before you get onto the bus try and have as much change as you can for your ticket as bus drivers are known to not carry much change. Once you receive your ticket make sure you keep it with you until you reach your final destination.
Transfers to & from the Airport
Travelling to and from the airport can be a long and tedious journey if not planned and researched in advance. There are many options of getting to and from the airport to your hotel or accommodation:
- Route 1, Bus 5 - This bus service costs €2.30 for a single ticket to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria San Telmo which also goes as far as Puerto de Mogán for €6.80. This specific bus route runs every 20 minutes as it's a popular route. The service runs from the early morning until just before midnight with times varying depending on the day of the week.
- Route 11 - This bus service costs €2.30 for a single ticket to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria San Telmo which also goes to the town of Agüimes for €1.40.
- Route 5 - This bus service costs €2.30 for a single ticket to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria San Telmo which also goes to Bahía Feliz/Morro Besudo for €2.75 as well as going to Faro de Maspalomas for €4.05. This specific bus route is the most used by locals and tourists since buses depart near enough every hour with times varying depending on the day of the week.
- Route 60 - This bus service is the official bus service which connects the airport to Las Palmas. It costs €2.30 to go to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria San Telmo or if you want to travel to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Santa Catalina Interchange it'll cost you €2.95. Two buses depart per hour - which applies for both buses departing from the airport as well as Las Palmas.
- Taxi - Taxis in Las Palmas are priced reasonably and a journey from the airport into the heart of Las Palmas takes around 20-30 minutes depending on which specific area you're staying in. The only official taxi service that operates in Gran Canaria is Socom Taxi, which can be booked either by email or by hailing one at the airport. The journey costs roughly €30, if you're travelling with three people then the fare works out €10 per person - a pretty good deal in my opinion.
- Private Taxi Services - There are a range of private transport options when travelling to Las Palmas, I picked Mozio for both my inbound and outbound journey which cost £20 each way which included tolls and any other costs. This worked out around £7 per person, per way (as there was three of us). The service provided was perfect as the driver was on time, friendly and even when our flight was delayed the driver had no problems whatsoever and kept in touch via phone with us.
- Shuttles - A cheaper option compared to private taxi services would be shuttles, which is useful and affordable for those travelling in larger parties. Companies such as Hoppa charge as little as £6 for a one way journey into Las Palmas, per person, which varies depending on where your accommodation is located. The only downside to using shuttles is that you will have to stop at every location to drop people off which might make the journey time even longer.
Apps to Download
Mozio
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As previously mentioned I used the company Mozio for transfers to and from the airport. The app is so easy to navigate as it clearly shows the price paid as well as what's included within the price. It clearly states how many passengers the vehicle can pick up as well as how many suitcases and bags can be stored.
The app also provides instructions and advice of where to meet your driver, a useful feature when arriving at an airport you've never been to before. If your flight is delayed or you need to call the driver for any known reason, nearer to your flight the app provides you with the drivers name, contact information which includes their mobile number. |
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Google Maps
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Google Maps was the most frequently used app on my phone throughout my holiday as I used it every time I went out. Navigating through the streets of Las Palmas can become confusing especially since there are so many backstreets as well as a lot of the shops looking surprisingly familiar.
As I walked everywhere while I was in Las Palmas I was able to add places and restaurants I'd like to visit. I placed a green marker which represents places I want to visit and once I'd visited I was able to remove this marker or keep it there if I'd like to visit again. Using Google Maps also allowed me to roughly estimate how long it would take me to walk to specific places. Luckily for me Centro Comercial Las Arenas was only a 20 minute walk away from my hotel. |
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Gran Canaria: Travel Guide Beaches
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Gran Canaria: Travel Guide Beaches is an app dedicated to informing tourists about the different beaches in the area. It goes even further to give information regarding what the beaches provide as well as a rating out of 10 regarding what the beach is rated for.
Playa De Las Canteras is rated highly for it's clean water and beach as well as being praised for it being an excellent place to enjoy with your family. However, there are some warnings which I can attest for, which include sharp rocks, since I fell and scraped my backside in front of everyone. There's also a warning of jellyfish and big waves, so if you're venturing out into the sea you have a warning to take extra care. |
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