A five-star 70s retro icon in Gran Canaria that is right on the beachfront of Maspalomas, Seaside Palm Beach also boasts one of the highest repeat customer rates on the island thanks to their gastronomic and wellness offerings as well as the personable and attentive service from the hotel staff. LLM writer Baldwin Ho check in to find out all about this Canarian gem.
Hotel
The hotel is conveniently located in the south of the island and less than half an hour from the international airport. It was built in 1975 hence it managed to secure a prime location on the beachfront, whereas other resorts are in more remote locations. Seaside Palm Beach is also the Canary Islands’ first member of the prestigious Design Hotels portfolio.
The retro glamour has been elevated over the years, but it has never deviated from the bold 70s style as designed by celebrated Parisian architect Alberto Pinto. Don’t be surprised if you encounter a cacophony of colours in their reception area from multicoloured sofas to post-modern paintings. You will feel welcomed the moment you step through their doors and a glass of chilled cava is served up to you in no time.
The expansive outdoor spaces with lush greenery will require some exploring, especially as they have over five different pools depending on your needs, from freshwater to a wellness pool. There are numerous boutique shops and independent restaurants nearby, all within walking distance but it is geared towards foreign tourists.
Room
Seaside Palm Beach has seven categories ranging from twin rooms that are 25 sqm to master suites that are 41 sqm. The retro glam style is brought to life with vivid colour schemes; your room might be beige and brown, yellow and turquoise, violet and green or coral and blue.
Rooms have been designed to emulate the beauty, climate and nature of the Canary Islands. The zig-zagging colourful patterns on the carpet resemble the waves on the beachfront. The most desirable rooms are the upper-floor suites with a more expansive view of the beachfront and more spacious balconies.
Expect to be welcomed with a complimentary fruit platter, bottled water, which is refilled daily, and luxury toiletries from L’Occitane. In your room, you can also expect to find Illy espresso coffee and a daily newspaper delivered to your door.
Food and drink
Food and drink is one area the hotel excels magnificently in. It might be an all-inclusive hotel in name, but the service is exceptional and attentive. Even on nights when there’s a barbecue buffet (on alternate nights), they have plenty of live cooking stations so your filet steak can be cooked according to your preference. They also alternate between different themed nights such as Spanish, Mexican, Italian or Asian so it is unlikely you will encounter similar dishes during your stay.
I would recommend going for the all-inclusive premium package. This includes all the drinks in your mini-bar which is refilled daily. You can dine for lunch at the African bar or the main restaurant and a whole lot more and there are some exquisite options on their a la carte menu including Atlantic sea bass baked in salt crust and paella with fresh Atlantic lobster.
Spa and wellness
Here, guests will find one of the best spa centres on the island with an eclectic treatment menu that utilises the best treatments from across the globe. Treat yourself to a Nepalese massage with singing bowls or, utilising the local geology, a volcanic stone massage.
One of the signature treatments I highly recommend is the Pantai Luar. Spa therapists meticulously prepare medical herbs in a pouch which is heated to 120º C with Pantai oil and then used for a deep tissue massage with short, fast movements. It’s the kind of treatment that sounds like it might be an endurance test, but is surprisingly comforting. You will feel a deep sense of relaxation post-treatment.
There’s also a Finnish and bio sauna, an aromatic stone bath, a salt cave and plenty more, while different classes are offered from meditation to yoga and stretching to tai chi and qi gong. For those looking for a cardio workout, there are state-of-the-art Technogym machines in a spacious gym and they have tennis courts on-site as well as golf courses near the hotel.
To do
If you are looking for a wellness escape holiday, then you should also visit Gloria Palace San Agustín Thalasso and Hotel. They have one of the largest thalassotherapy centres with 7,000 sqm of space. They have 34 hydro-massage stations with varying degrees of temperature, so you are guaranteed to enjoy peace and tranquillity. Hygiene is paramount and all guests are required to wear a hair net.
There’s also an extensive list of treatment options from soothing massages to mud or algae baths to aromatherapy. After your spa visit, you can enjoy a cocktail in the rooftop bar which offers a panoramic view of the beachfront.
In a nutshell
Seaside Palm Beach might have been around since the 1970s, but they’ve evolved over the years to offer one of the best wellness and gastronomic offerings on the island, so do check them out when you next visit Gran Canaria.
Factbox
Seaside Palm Beach offers rooms from £355 per night.
Address: Av. del Oasis, s/n, 35100 Maspalomas, Las Palmas, Spain
Phone: +34 928 72 10 32
Website: hotel-palm-beach.com
For more information on the island’s wellness facilities visit grancanariawellness.com
Hotel photography courtesy of Seaside Palm Beach Hotel.
