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Walking around the main pool at Seaside Palm Beach, searching for Jodie to go grab some lunch, I started to get that strange feeling that I was being watched. Glancing around at the tables and sunbeds surrounding the pool I noticed that on this one occasion I was right. All eyes were on me, and I had absolutely no idea why.
Were they admiring the cute sundress I bought just before I left London, or on the other hand, was it something totally embarrassing like toilet roll stuck to one of my flip-flops?
I took another glance around and noticed another woman walking around the pool just behind me, looking glamorous in a flowing summery top, white trousers, heeled sandals and a cute beach bag. Well, she certainly outdid me on the fashion front!
This is when I heard the woman talking over the speakers (who usually came on to announce the start of the yoga class) change from Spanish to English and begin to describe an outfit which sounded strangely similar to that of the woman walking next to me.
It was only at this point that I realised I that all eyes were not on me, rather the woman beside me, as I had accidentally stumbled onto the temporary catwalk of the hotel’s weekly pool-side fashion show.
This is also when I realised, Seaside Palm Beach Maspalomas is truly a hotel with everything you could possibly need on holiday, plus so much more!
Seaside Palm Beach is a luxurious 5* hotel located in Maspalomas, the resort town on the southern tip of Gran Canaria in Spain’s Canary Islands. It was also the hotel which I was lucky enough to call my first temporary home during my 2018 summer of travel.
I don’t often write posts specifically about hotels, but this was just somewhere I couldn’t resist sharing! If you’re looking for a little slice of luxury in Europe, this place is definitely worth a stay, and here’s why…
Location
The amazing location has to one of the top selling-points of Seaside Palm Beach. The hotel is situated in the most luxurious part of Maspalomas, just a 5 minute walk away from the beautiful Maspalomas Beach and the spectacular Maspalomas sand dunes.
There is also a great selection of restaurants and bars on ‘Paseo de las Meloneras’, past the unmissable ‘Faro de Maspalomas’ (lighthouse) located on the nearby seafront. If you can drag yourself away from the hotel for an evening, try Cafe del Mar for delicious food, funky cocktails and live music.
The Rooms
The retro interior of the hotel was designed by Alberto Pinto, with a colourful lounge and bar area and each of the bedrooms decorated in one of four bright colour schemes.
Our room was spacious and homely, with a TV (which we never turned on – there’s far too much else to do) and a packed mini-bar. But the best part of the room had to be the large balcony overlooking the restaurant and central pool area.
The sun hit our balcony each afternoon and evening, meaning at the end of the day we could sit outside, soaking in the warm rays whilst sipping on a cold glass of cava, watching the final swimmers in the pool and listening to the live music coming from the restaurant below. A heavenly way to end each day before heading down for dinner and the evening’s entertainment!
The Pools
Outside, there is a central lagoon-style swimming pool surrounded by tropical gardens. Off to one side is the children’s area with play equipment and a small children’s pool. Whilst to the other side, hidden through the jungle of palm trees, is the adults-only pools; one large heated salt-water pool where activities such as water-aerobics take place, and a smaller heated pool filled with jets (think giant hot tub), perfect for a relaxing evening soak.
There is also a separate spa area with a sauna, steam room and a selection of beauty treatments such as massages available at an additional price.
The Activities
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that I’m definitely a city girl. I love the constant buzz of activity and struggle to sit still for long periods. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a relaxing beach holiday as much as the next person, however, sitting by the pool sunbathing all day every day for an entire week would drive me a little crazy.
This is why I loved all of the other activities available at Seaside Palm Beach, from daily organised yoga and tai-chi to a ping-pong table and boules course. The activities were also out of the way of the main pool, so it was easy to avoid for those who wanted to chill-out without being disturbed.
A list of all of the activities available at Seaside Palm Beach:
- Tai-Chi
- Yoga
- Water-aerobics
- Weekly fashion show
- Tennis court
- Darts board
- Giant chess board
- Ping-pong table
- Boules
- Shuffle-board
- Evening entertainment
The Staff
One of the most endearing parts of our stay at Seaside Palm Beach had to be the immaculate service and attentiveness of every single staff member we came across.
From the moment we left our room in the morning we were greeted by the smiling faces of the cleaning staff, then on the breakfast where the waiters were always welcoming and wishing us a good morning before bringing coffee straight to the table, and finally the pool staff who would individually lay out a cushion and towel onto a sunbed for us as soon as we reached the pool. We truly received the full celebrity treatment!
The Food at Seaside Palm Beach
Talking to other Seaside Palm Beach guests who had visited other hotels in Maspalomas in the past, I quickly learnt that the top distinguishing quality of this hotel was both the quantity and quality of the food!
On our first evening at the hotel, we had unfortunately arrived too late for dinner. However, when checking in we were informed that food had been sent up to our room instead. Upon arriving in our room we discovered a ginormous platter of cold meats, cheeses, salad, olives and bread! Far too much for 2 people to eat in one night, so we ended up piling it into our mini-fridge and snacking on it for the next couple of days.
Breakfast
The next morning we wandered down to breakfast, still quite full from the night before, and were amazed by the size of the breakfast buffet. As well as a central service station where chefs were cooking up fresh sausages, bacon, eggs and omelettes, there were large individual stations for cheeses, cold meats, bread, yoghurt and cereals, fruit, pastries, juices and hot drinks.
Dinner
My main piece of advice if you plan to stay at Seaside Palm Beach would be to go for the half-board or full-board option. Missing out on dinner would be a crime!
On alternate nights of the week the hotel restaurant either serves up a bbq buffet or a 4 course set menu, all served al fresco on the terrace.
On buffet nights, the chefs cook a wide selection of barbequed meats right in front of your eyes, whilst the rest of the buffet is themed, including an Asian evening, Italian evening and Mexican evening.
The set menu comes with 2/3 options per course, as well as sperate vegetarian options. The standard of the food is truly out of this world, with each dish immaculately presented and tasting like it belongs in a Michelin-starred restaurant!
Book your stay at Seaside Palm Beach Maspalomas, Gran Canaria:
Find the best rates and book your stay here.
Emily is a born and raised London girl, starting life in the north of the capital then moving down to Fulham in the southwest. She has a master’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University College London and now works full-time running this blog and as a freelance travel writer, splitting her life between London and travelling the world as a digital nomad.
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