Gran Canaria -nicest parts?

[ainuu]

We have booked Maspalomas.
A few friends are saying we have picked the wrong area and staying around Puerto Rico would have been the best option.
We are unsure and thinking of changing
Also my playa del Ingles has been recommended
We don't do nightclubs - I like nice food and cocktails
Something nice by the beach -a boat trip and also maybe a market.
Any recommendations ?
Thanks

I've only been to Playa Del Ingles in my early twenties and wouldn't go again. Very much 18-30's type of place. The nicest part is the sand dunes.

Meloneras is really nice. Puerto Rico has never looked nice to me but I've only driven through.

Or Mogan fits the bill for you I think.

I've been to Playa de Ingles,Maspalomas and Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico was my least favourite, very hilly and not really much in it. Playa de Ingles was fine. Maspalomas was my favourite and have returned many times. The Yumbo Centre is great,lots of bars and restaurants.

Stick with Maspalomas. Puerto Rico is ok but too hilly for me

Meloneras is the must classy resort I think. It’s close to Maspalomas so you could visit for day trips, evenings out etc

I'm surprised there's any love for the Yumbo Centre here - I really didn't like the look of any place there to eat or just for drinks. The whole feel was pretty depressing, I thought.

The nicest place we had a meal was 928 Aroma Atlántico and we struggled to find many better options nearby.

I can't stand the Yumbo centre. I like Maspalomas though

I'd just stay in Maspalomas - it's lovely, it's sort of an extension of Playa del Ingles (which although has some nice hotels is mostly tacky) and that then runs into Meloneras which is really lovely (stay there instead if your budget allows - pre kids we stayed at the Lopesan Costa Meloneras and the Lopesan Villa del Conde, both fab!) You can easily stay in Maspalomas and go 'out' every night in Meloneras there are beautiful restaurants there. Puerto Rico is lovely but very hilly so you'd want to be very sure about the location of your accommodation. Nightlife can be tacky there too, the old centre is still going strong with British & Irish bars and cheap restaurants but there's a new centre now which is lovely and has a 'nicer' selection of bars & restaurants. Mogan is beautiful but much quieter than the other resorts so it depends what you're looking for in terms of nightlife and variety/number of restaurants. Most boat trips go from Puerto Rico but even when staying in Maspalomas it's very easy to arrange. Last time we stayed there and did a boat trip we were picked up by a bus and taken to the port in Puerto Rico, it was all included in the price.

We are staying at Maspalomas and tabaiba Princess hotel
Has anyone stayed here ?

The yumbo centre and the commercial centre don't appeal to me at all.
It's the whole like a block of pubs vibe I just don't like
I prefer beach front or not in a shopping centre complexion -I don't associate it with holidays abroad (if that makes sense )

Are you staying all-inclusive OP? That hotel is a short taxi ride to Meloneras and Maspalomas beach front so plenty of options for you.

@LifeInAHamsterWheel yeah we are staying all inclusive but still fancy a couple of nights out incase the buffet is repetitive

Down at the lighthouse at Maspalmoas - turn one way and you're walking along the beautiful Meloneras promendade which has a huge selection of upmarket shops & restaurants the whole way along. Turn the other and you've got Maspalomas beach front where there's also a great selection of bars & restaurants (just not as upmarket as Meloneras) They are not in centres. No need to go near Yumbo etc. (which is now very run down unfortunately)

Are there any nice cocktail bars down near the lighthouse /meloneras ?

That's exactly what we'd do OP. My suggestion for a fab meal out would be El Gaucho in Meloneras (they have 2, one in Playa del Ingles so make sure to book the Meloneras one) or El Churrasco in Meloneras. Both are really lovely but would need to be booked in advance. Have a lovely time, I'm jealous!

My favourite place for a cocktail would be in the Hotel Costa Meloneras. It's amazing and worth going just for the look around! You can drink in the bar or out on the terrace. Cafe del Mar is on the Boulevard in Meloneras, there's also another bar at the top end of it that do fab cocktails. Then, not on the Boulevard but across from the main entrance to the Costa Meloneras hotel is a little group of bars and they do cocktails. You won't be stuck for somewhere nice!

On the Maspalomas Beach side there's Tipsy Hammock, they do nice cocktails and live music but not as fancy schmancy as Meloneras!

@LifeInAHamsterWheel ooooh Thankyou for those suggestions I've just had a look and they look right up my street
I can't wait
47 days and counting ha ha

My partner and I stayed in the Tabiaba Princess last year. Nice hotel, but it is huge as it shares the area with Maspalomas Princess hotel and all facilities are shared - it gets loud!
There is an adults only section, and that’s where we spent most of our time. Just an fyi all the restaurants at this hotel are buffet style even the Speciality ones.
Saying all that we are planning on returning as it’s a great base to see the island. Nothing in the immediate vicinity, however taxis are cheap.
I wouldn’t go to Playa del Ingles or Puerto Rico for what you’ve said your looking for in a holiday. However, do look at Mogan - it’s lovely!

Meloneras is lovely and easy walking distance from the Maspalomas Princess. We got a taxi to Playa del Ingles whilst there, but it’s not nearly as nice but I suppose there’s more going on. The hotel was fine but this was quite a few years ago.

@FeeTie we have booked a room in the tabaiba side,so I'm hoping that is near the adults only bit.
Did you upgrade to get the premium drinks?
We have been thinking of doing this as I read the drink selection is better

@FeeTie oh really ,I didn't realise they were all buffet for some reason I assumed the Italian and Asian were going to be order from menu style
Was the food nice in the food market area ?

I just got back from that hotel. Me and Dp (late 20s) and 6mo DC. It was great. Hotel is massive and lovely. Our room was tabaiba side and lovely. Decent enough food for all inclusive (I have allergies so was limited but was still fine for me). We walked down to the lighthouse one night and along promenade but never ate out of the hotel (maternity pay and a 6mo baby!!) we also walked to yumbo. We would have liked to have done a boat trip and gone to see Puerto Mogan but again, heat, 6mo baby….

@justwantobeamum oh we are in the tabaiba side too -can't wait
Was the view from the room nice?
I'm really hoping for a pool view but knowing my luck it will be a bin or something ha ha