Enjoy being pampered and pummelled on a luxury, sunny spa break on the beautiful isle of Gran Canaria
With numerous spa treatments, buffets, sandy beaches and some of the most gorgeous sea views around, there's no better place to achieve some well earned R&R
IS there anything better in the world than a heated massage bed?
It’s day three in Gran Canaria and I’m cocooned in warm towels as soothing aloe oil is worked into my shoulders.
My sister and I chose the Canary Islands for some sun-soaked R&R — and we spent the lion’s share of our stay horizontal like this.
The island, just off the coast of Africa but part of Spain, is known for white, sandy beaches and year-round sun.
One expert has called it “the best climate in the world”.
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So it’s no wonder people come to relax and revive on wellness breaks from all corners of the world.
We based ourselves at the Hotel Cordial Mogan Playa in the pretty southwest fishing village of Puerto de Mogan. The hotel is set in beautiful botanical gardens and feels more like a small village with its spa, shop, playground and dinky wedding chapel.
The star of the show is the buffet, one of the best on the island. Fresh fish and pasta, tender steak, and a chocolate fountain to lower your face into (possibly frowned upon) greeted us each night.
And every morning? Ten ways to eat eggs, and white wine you can help yourself to for breakfast. What a place.
The excellent Gloria Palace Royal and Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso hotels are also well worth looking at.
Both are built from local stone designed to blend seamlessly into the landscape. You feel like an extra in the Flintstones (or maybe a Bond film) when you stay here. Try the hot-stone massage at the Royal, followed by a plunge in the infinity pool overlooking the gorgeous man-made cove of Amadores Beach.
Just around the bay is the Royal’s sister hotel, the Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso.
It is large but incredibly friendly and boasts one of the biggest thalassotherapy — or seawater treatment — spas in Europe.
Constant views of an endless, sun-kissed sea make you feel like you are on a cruise ship and the spa’s seawater pools only add to that feeling. I have to admit we got the giggles in the fitness pool, which has a circuit of jets and waterfalls.
We queued for a spot in each section on the way round and found every jet stopped just as we sat down.
Even funnier, everyone has to wear a bright blue shower cap for hygiene — and I have never seen so many miserable husbands in my life.
Still slightly hysterical, my sister and I tripped our way into lunch — a buffet (with added rosé) on a terrace overlooking the sea.
You can reserve a spot out here at no extra charge. There is a breathtaking view, so get your request in early.
The (very) grand finale to our stay was a pampering session at the Sheraton Gran Canaria Salobre Golf Resort.
This luxury hotel is an oasis of green in the rocky landscape and lies just inland from the popular coastal town of Maspalomas.
The first thing to say is it’s gorgeous to look at. Red and orange fabrics offer a nod to the island’s volcanic heritage.
There are also little design flourishes, from the lighting to the beautifully carved wooden barstools.
It also boasts seven swimming pools. But if you want to feel like a film star, bag a four-poster daybed up on the sunset terrace and enjoy the panoramic views. We spent a giddy few hours sunbathing up there before heading to the Aloe Wellness spa and then a giddy few more gossiping on the bubble beds in the spa’s outdoor pool.
On our final night (I can’t believe we nearly missed it) we tore ourselves away from the hotel buffet to stroll to the marina in Mogan.
Walking through the village’s whitewashed houses and pink bougainvillea, we found a spot at Bar Marina overlooking the water and toasted a top trip with cava as that famous sun went down.
We must have been vertical for a whole hour before the cava worked its magic. Cheers.
GO: Gran Canaria
GETTING THERE: Flights year-round across the UK. Fares from around £80 in September. See .
STAYING THERE: A standard double room at the Cordial Mogan Playa starts at £110 a night for a seven-day stay. See .