Gran
Canaria
by Stuart Haggas
The nearest things that Europe has to
the clothing-optional gay resorts in Palm Springs and
Key West are found on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria.
The third largest of seven Canary Islands, Gran Canaria
appeals thanks to its location off the coast of Africa,
1,250km south of mainland Spain, and abundant year-round
sunshine. As the island faces stiff competition in the
summer season from Mediterranean favorites Ibiza, Sitges,
and Mykonos, Gran Canaria is most popular as a winter-sun
option.
Europeans typically enjoy more vacation time than their
American counterparts, which means that gay men and
lesbians visiting Gran Canaria are usually on their
second or even third vacation of the year. With expenditure
spread across several trips, another factor that makes
Gran Canaria so appealing is its low cost. Those wanting
to pamper their pale north European bodies someplace
queer, hip, and hot will most likely long-haul it to
Cape Town, Rio, or South Beach. Those looking for cheap
sun, fun, booze, and cigarettes will go to Gran Canaria.
You’ll find several gay complexes in the main resort
conurbation of Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas.
Part of ManAround, Europe’s leading gay and lesbian
tour operator, Club Tucanes Playa (29 Avda De
Los Estados Unidos, Playa Del Inglés. Tel: +34-928-760558.
http://www.clubtucanes.com)
is a typical example. Consisting of 32 twin bedroom
bungalows with sofa-beds and basic kitchenettes around
a rectangular swimming pool, it’s simple, functional,
and affordable. Nude sunbathing is encouraged, and the
gay bars of the Yumbo Center are just across the street,
which means a lot to their sociable, fun-loving guests.
Other no frills, gay exclusive complex-es on Gran
Canaria include Pasion Tropical (http://www.pasion-tropical.com),
Villas Blancas (http://www.villasblancas.com),
Los Almendros, Las Magnolias, and Vista Bonita.
For tourists with money who appreciate more amenities,
a new oceanfront neighborhood called Costa Meloneras
is finally providing the kind of upscale accommodation
Gran Canaria has lacked up until now.
 Directly
west of the famous Dunas de Maspalomas beach is a newly
paved and manicured promenade, dominated by two imposing
resorts operated by Lopesan Hotels. The flagship five-star
Villa del Conde Resort & Thalasso (Mar Mediterráneo
7, Meloneras. Tel: +34-928-563200. http://www.lopesanhotels.com)
takes the form of a quintessential Canary Island village.
Its monumental lobby is a reproduction of a neoclassic
church from the hillside village of Agüimes, complete
with bell towers and dramatic fan-vaulted ceilings;
while the resort’s 521 rooms and 40 suites occupy
colorful Colonial-style mansions with traditional Canarian
hanging balconies. Add shady plazas, five restaurants,
five swimming pools, Internet café, boutique,
and a Thalasso-therapy spa overlooking the Atlantic
Ocean, and you have a pristine but slightly fake Vegas-style
version of old Gran Canaria. Thanks to the adjacent
18-hole par 71 Meloneras Golf, the property was awarded
“best golf resort in Spain” at the prestigious
World Travel Awards in October 2007.
Neighboring four star superior Costa Meloneras Resort
& Spa (Mar Mediterráneo 1, Meloneras.
Tel: +34-928-128100. http://www.lopesanhotels.com)
has 561 rooms and suites, four swimming pools, a “Technogym,”
and a 3,700 square-meter wellness spa designed to resemble
volcanic caves, reflecting the topography of the island.
Part of the German-based Seaside Group, the Grand
Hotel Residencia (Avenida del Oasis 32, Maspalomas.
Tel: +34-928-723100. http://www.grand-hotel-residencia.de)
is the region’s first and only Leading Small Hotel
Of The World. The 94 rooms and suites are distributed
among lovely two-story Moorish-style villas, surrounded
by a thousand-year-old palm grove. Guests have included
Spain’s President and actress Ursula Andress. Privacy
can be as important as luxury for such well-heeled guests,
particularly as post-cosmetic surgery rehabilitation
is one of the hotel’s most coveted health and beauty
packages.
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