Hot, cheap but loud (Gran Canaria)

Member Name: bobbyelliott

Product:	Gran Canaria
Date:	05/07/01 (418 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Weather, Prices

Disadvantages: Unattractive, Tacky in parts

I went to Belito Beach (near Puerto Rico) in June 2001 along with my wife and two kids. First the good things - great weather (30+ every day), nice accomodation (clean, well maintained), good transport (cheap taxis and good bus service), cheap prices (booze and cigarettes are great value, food is quite cheap). The bad things include: the south of the island is really a big rock with houses on it - there really is nothing to see. The south has been developed during the last 20 years so everything is new (good) but virtually identical (bad). The island appears to have nothing of any cultural significance. I didn't like the people either - or, more precisely, they don't like Brits. Just about every Spaniard I met pretended not to understand English - so questions like "When does the bus come back?" (to a bus driver) and "How much does this drink cost?" (to a shopkeeper) met with shrugs. Funnily enough another question ("Does with [expensive] watch have an international guarantee that I can use back in the UK?") resulted in immediate comprehension and a detailed reply. :-) I didn't Puerto Rico. Lots of similar shops (selling the usual tourist junk) - and PR is meant to be an up-market resort.

But all-in-all I would recommend Gran Canaria. Most people go for the weather which is virtually guaranteed (I saw one cloud during my two week holiday) and it's a great place to chill out - and tan!

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