Sojourn | Sovereign Luxury Travel Magazine Volume 1 2024

Santa Catalina, A Royal Hideaway Hotel
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia
CHOOSE LAS PALMAS FOR CULTURE
If you like Portugal, then you’ll love Las Palmas!
I get antsy if I’m lazing around on beaches too long as I absolutely
love history, and so I love the north of the island as there are many
little tours and day trips that capture the island’s heritage.
I was blown away by the opulence at Santa Catalina, A Royal
Hideaway Hotel. The property is about 100 years old and so it’s
got an old-time luxury flavour with details like marble flooring
throughout its lobby, while still feeling brilliantly modern.
I highly recommend you stay in a junior suite or
higher category suites, as this entitles you to the
exclusive access rooftop bar and pool lounge area.
A wonderful sun trap, it’s quieter than the main
pool and adds that extra touch of luxury.
The hotel staff delivers a great service that’s personal without
being overbearing. For example, when you check-in, you’re invited
to sit down, and when you’re having breakfast or dinner, you’ll find
your water glass is always topped up without disruption.
EXPLORE LAS PALMAS & DAY TRIP AWAY!
Santa Catalina, A Royal Hideaway Hotel is set within a vast public
park, so you can just step out and stroll. Wander by foot or take a
taxi into the Old Town where you can explore vibrant local produce
markets and interesting museums.
I found Casa de Colón particularly fascinating! It’s a colonial-style
mansion where Christopher Columbus stopped off and stayed
during his maiden voyage to the Americas, and you can learn all
about him and the pre-Hispanic culture of the Canaries before the
arrival of the Europeans.
I also took a day trip to the charming small town of Arucas, which is
like Las Palmas but a lot smaller, with a cathedral, art gallery, and
parks and gardens to visit.
Be sure to visit the banana plantations, as you’ll learn more than
you ever thought possible about bananas - including a naturally
black variety! Gran Canaria is a big exporter of the fruit, and you
can learn how they grow, and taste delicious banana wine and
banana jam.
The visit to the archaeological site of Cenobio de Valerón is
worth it too - you walk up 180 small steps to find impressive
terraces of 300 silos that would have once acted as a giant
granary. It was basically a communal store cupboard for the
prehistoric Canarians!
STAY IN MASPALOMAS FOR PURE RELAXATION
For amazing beach and pool days, then it’s time to take your
holiday to the south of the island. You can properly unwind in
Maspalomas and not feel like you’re missing out on anything.
Despite just a 45-minute drive, there’s a distinct temperature
increase of about 5°C. When I visited in November I travelled from
Las Palmas in jeans and felt like a jacket potato by the time I arrived
in Maspalomas and was eager to don more beach-friendly attire!
Of course, on the coast you’ve always got the benefit of the breeze,
plus you can grab a cocktail in the shade or cool down with a
siesta in your air-conditioned room. There’s a great selection of chic
sea-facing resorts in Maspalomas, which all have direct access to
the promenade and town centre.
The south of Gran Canaria is busier, but that has its benefits as you
find great food spots and shopping malls just moments from your
accommodation. With a fabulous tax break, you can purchase
designer and luxury goods around 10% less than anywhere else.
GIVE YOURSELF TIME
Stay at the adult-orientated Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia,
which has a home-from-home nature to it with warm and attentive
service. It feels really leisurely here - your buffet meals never feel
rushed, plus you’ve got a relaxing spa to spend time in and evening
piano entertainment in the drawing room.
Enjoy a lazy morning and a few hours by the
swimming pool. Then at dusk when it’s cooler,
you can perhaps amble down to the beach
or along to the lighthouse, pausing at lively
beachside restaurants and bars.
If, like me, you enjoy a day trip then I highly recommend you
visit Puerto Mogan, which is a lovely, whitewashed village with
colourful houses and a harbour filled with fish restaurants. There’s
also a beach, so while you go off exploring your partner or friends
can relax on the sand - and look after your bags!
I recommend you spend three nights exploring the north, followed
by four leisurely nights in the south.
A 7 night holiday in both the north and south
of Gran Canaria starts from £1,699 per person.
Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765004
Volume 1 - 2024
so Journ