Gran Canaria is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain, not just for Germans but for all northern Europeans.

 

Unfortunately, this is also reflected in the prices.

 

However, you can also spend a great holiday there on a budget if you pay attention to a few things.

 

 

 

I planned the holiday some time in advance so that I could be flexible with the flight dates. I searched the internet until I found an airline that sold tickets for €20 including fees per person and per flight. That was with vuelingwhich, however, mainly fly within Spain and so far only offer a few international flights.

It was so cheap because with vueling you only pay for what you use, for example we only took hand luggage with us (10kg per person), as baggage check-in is charged extra.

In line with the flight dates, I then found www.lastminute.com looking for accommodation.

Of course, it was important that it was outside the main season, which starts in May. My trip was in April. I booked a room at Parque Raquel, which was for 2-3 people and cost €21 per night. The room turned out to be a small apartment with a bedroom and living room with a small kitchen. The kitchen of course means that you can cook your own food, so you don't always have to eat out. It is spartanly furnished but very well maintained. Each apartment had its own small terrace. The complex has two pools, the smaller one for children.

 

 

 

When we arrived in Gran Canaria, we took the public bus number 91 from the airport to our destination Puerto Rico. The journey costs €6.50 per person. The journey took about 45 minutes. The transport system on Gran Canaria is quite good, so it is not absolutely necessary to hire a car. There are buses to all the main destinations on the island.

Puerto Rico itself is a place that is very well equipped for young families. There are numerous playgrounds there.

 

 

Puerto Rico has its own shopping centre. There you can find everything from supermarkets to beachwear, at tourist prices of course. As in most holiday resorts, you have to be prepared to put on a thick skin against the many touts who want to sell you something.

From Puerto Rico, you can drive to Maspalomas, a place that is certainly more suitable for singles. Maspalomas is home to the famous dunes, a vast sandy landscape that is somewhat reminiscent of the Sahara. Camel rides are also offered there. However, it is very windy there, so you should wear something more than a bikini.

 

You can also take a nice stroll along the harbour in Puerto Rico. There are beautiful parks and entertainment centres.

 

From the harbour (marina) there is a beautiful path along the coast to Playa Amadores, an artificial sandy beach with a wonderful view. You can also have a good lunch here, the prices are reasonable.

 

 

You are also offered free trips to Playa Anfi, supposedly to promote this new beach. However, we didn't test this, as you never know what might turn out to be a rip-off.

Maspalomas has the largest aqua park in Gran Canaria, but the entrance fee is accordingly, I think around €40 per person. There is also a smaller aqua park in Puerto Rico, "Atlantica", which "only" costs €21 and is, in my opinion, perfectly adequate, especially for families with children. There you can also spend a whole day on the numerous water slides, play beach ball or simply sunbathe.

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was ideal in April. It was around 24 degrees, beautifully sunny and around 17 degrees at night. And that's called low season...

 

We spent 4 days in Gran Canaria. We were two adults and a small child. The flight (from Madrid) and accommodation cost us all just under €200. We spent €50 on food, only a little more than we would have spent at home anyway. Added to this was the luxury expense of €42 for the aqua park, so less than €300 for a few days of unforgettable and relaxing holidays!