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| Gender: | Male | | Lives in: | Belfast United Kingdom | | Registered: | 18 December 2002 | | Last visit: | 08 June 2006 |
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| Playa del Cura Review: Club Paraiso | | Written by brianmccalden on 09 May 2003
| Just back from a week's sunshine holiday (without the children) on a late booking deal via Teletext and local contacts with Falcon. We got the Club Paraiso in Playa del Cura.
This was our first attempt at AOA and boy, was it worth it!
For and all in price of £219 each we gained accommodation which should cost almost £400. Not bad!
This is particularly true as while happy enough with our allocated room, we asked the next morning for a change to one without any overhanging balcony above us which I had spotted and got changed to it, NO problem at all, and all very professionally handled.
Indeed, most rooms face right over the ocean, with near due south outlook, and the new one was perfect.Once the sun was up, the balcony got sun, which remained until 20 minutes or so from sundown. Hard to heat that! (sic)
The room was basic, clean, and ample for our needs, and while everything in Gran Canaria is on a hill, we were only a short stroll from local shops, (an excellent Spar and some good quality restaurants).
The beach, also just a few minutes away was poor, given that the sand which was shown on all the postcards of the area had been washed away, was rocky underfoot and made it difficult and uncomfortable to enter the water.
But, no problem! A stone's throw away was the beach at Taurito, which was sandy (black), safe (but fun) to swim in with good waves but no undercurrent, and great craic on the Sunday when all the locals hang out there in the two wee beachside bars.
This really was a Gran Canaria that stands outside of the tourist resorts, and an excellent alternative to the tourist venues of Puerto Rico and Playa des Ingles.
Of course, we went there too. Despite our middling years we wanted action too and evenings were spent a five minute taxi ride away in Peurto Rico where there are two centralised night spots, the Europa Centre, (top of the hill) and the Shopping Centre Peurto Rico.
We ate out there, (late-about 9.30 or 10pm) and then spent the evening, (and often early hours) sparring with the 'touts who ply their bar's trade with offers of two for one etc. That was good fun, but gets a bit of a pain later when you are simply trying to walk back out to get a taxi, (plenty of them and cheap and always there when needed).
One point, beware the double measures of spirits, they are poured with a VERY heavy hand, and even buying one drink, (plus one free) you could very well be on your ear!
Also, while Barbacoa is probably the cleanest and the best run restaurant and entertainment venue in Peurto Rico, (Europa Centre), beware their strange rules on enjoying yourself.
The three, (free) shows per night are tremendous, (although more aimed at families and couples) but don't try to dance while the routines are on..it can have conscequences!
That said, the Eastender-run facility, had the cleanest toiliets, the best English food and some of the best service we found. A pity about the rest.
Meanwhile, try Maspalomas and Playa Del Ingles,(PDI), especially the central cafe and restaurant area on the beach at PDI, but look out for the timeshare bandits with scractch cards who use the names and logos of all the tour companies (including Falcon) with seeming impunity to back up their claims that punters have won big cash prizes...too good to be true?
It is, tell them to get lost and go prey on someone else!
Back on the vast beach that runs along from PDI west to Maspalomas and the famous sand dunes, try the well signposted nudist section. (Gays in the very centre, I'm told!!) although we didn't venture that far along.
However, (perhaps especially given the 'chaps' above) the sand is a real problem for everyone there, nudist or otherwise. Even a light breeze will whip up a mini sandstorm that coats everyone in sand, making even the application of suncream impossible.
The beachs at Peurto Rico (and the excellent harbour and restaurant area) and the new one at Amadores are both free of such problems, and are a dander or a short taxi ride from Club Paraiso.
So, back at Club Paraiso....Playa del Cura, and our own wee beach was even more inviting. No 'sand in your face' in the wind and no major crowds.
All in all a five star stay for less than 2 star prices. Staff great, facilities good and the setting...well first class. Well done Falcon!
Great!
PS: The building work is going on every where on the island, and continues daily on the rock face across the bay from the Club Paraiso, Playa del Cura complex. But you are not overlooking it at all, and the noise soon fades out as the lapping waves below and the stunning ocaen view...enough said! |
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| Paraiso Club review |  | | Club Paraiso in March 2003 | | Opinion submitted in Mar 2003 by : Gladys McCalden, Brian McCalden (50,47) Northern Ireland
Resort Rating: Good
Accommodation Rating: Very Good
Just back from a week's sunshine holiday... |
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