Sandy Beach Hotel Gran Canaria
8 / 10
It’s a five-minute walk to Playa del Inglés, which despite being part of Gran Canaria’s most built-up resort, houses one of the island’s most unspoilt beaches. From the Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria (LPA), you can reach Seaside Sandy Beach in around 20 minutes.
Style & character
7 / 10
The hotel reflects the island’s proximity to North Africa. There’s a Moorish influence on the architecture, which includes a faux minaret and horseshoe-shaped arches. Step into the lobby and it’s like entering an Aladdin's cave of treasures, with carved mirrors and fancy vases galore.
Service & facilities
9 / 10
Staff are friendly, and are used to dealing with repeat clientele.
A spa offers a circuit of steam room, sauna, and external hot tub plus interesting body treatments such as “Diamond Magnetic” (a diamond dust body mask followed by a 'magnetic' massage; €98 [£77] for 80 minutes). The main swimming pool has a waterfall feature. On the third floor, there’s an indoor gym and on the ninth, an outdoor one. At ground level, an astroturf tennis court has floodlights for nocturnal games. Free Motion run guided mountain and road bike tours. Sandy Beach guests are also able to hire a bike free of charge for a day (subject to availability).
This is a nude-friendly hotel so expect naked people in the spa and the terraces on higher floors (to avoid the nudist areas opt for the lower terraces and the pool area).
- Bar
- Fitness centre
- Kids' club
- Parking
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Sauna
- Spa
- Steam room/hammam
- Tennis court
- Wi-Fi
Rooms
256 rooms are arranged over 10 floors. I stayed in a superior (type B) double with views of the gardens and pools below. The earthy tiles and ornate wooden furniture continued the Berber theme. An en-suite dressing room prevented luggage clogging up the bedroom. Rooms include an Illy Espresso machine and a TV with BBC, ITV, and Channel 4.
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Food & drink
The hotel’s international restaurant offers different themes nightly, including Chinese, Swiss and a Canarian evening. All-inclusive guests drink from a menu of brand-name gins (Larios), local rums (Arehucas), and standard whiskies (Ballantine’s) from 11am to 11pm. Popular daytime tipples were the island’s Tropical lager (served in pints) and Tintosol sangria (without fruit) served on draught, and cocktails such as Canaria (golden rum, banana liqueur, orange juice, lemon juice and Grenadine).
Breakfast (8am-10.30am with a special service from 5am-8am also available) featured hard boiled eggs, make-your-own omelettes, plus bagels, cookies and pain au chocolats.
Value for money
Half-board standard double rooms start at €179 (£141) in low season; all-inclusive from €204 (£162). Junior Suites in high season run from €425 (£335) half-board; from €440 (£350) all inclusive. Free Wi-Fi.
Access for guests with disabilities?
There are five type B double rooms with access for disabled guests, with the front door measuring 80cm wide.
