When it comes to selecting a holiday destination, the ideal spot is usually one that’s not too crowded and offers a sense of tranquillity – a perfect escape from the daily grind.
For Brits, a location with warm, sunny weather is often a top priority, making areas like the Canary Islands an excellent choice for year-round holidays.
According to Which?, holidaymakers have voted on their favourite Canary Islands resorts, and surprisingly, a lesser-known destination in Gran Canaria has outshone its more famous counterparts to be crowned as the best resort area in the Canary Islands. In a recent survey conducted by Which? among its members, Puerto de Mogán emerged victorious with a score of 90%.
Participants were asked to evaluate their experiences of various Canary Island destinations based on eight criteria, including beach quality, scenery, food and drink, accommodation, and value for money. The overall resort score was determined by satisfaction levels and likelihood to recommend.
Puerto de Mogan earned high praise for its charming marina, white-washed houses, and maze-like old town. This “peaceful, beautiful place” won over visitors and achieved five stars for accommodation and four-star ratings for food and drink, scenery, and value for money – the only resort in the survey to do so. It also received three stars for peace and quiet.
Playa Blanca in Lanzarote has been rated highly by holiday-goers, securing a 77% satisfaction score. Situated at the island’s southern tip, it boasts a slow-paced atmosphere with many describing it as “child-friendly” and “easy going”.
In third place, Costa Adeje in Tenerife dazzles with a five-star rating for its accommodation, as visitors have commended the “fantastic” beachfront hotels. But it picked up just three stars for shopping, scenery, and food and drink.
The “friendly” Costa Teguise in Lanzarote berthed four stars for lodging and three stars for its beach, scenery, food and drink, value for money, and serenity. A visitor noted, “We like that it’s not the main attraction in Lanzarote. It offers plenty of dining and drinking options without being overpriced.”
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria strikes an optimal balance between urban excitement and coastal chill-out zones. The city is “a city first and a tourist destination second,” according to a vacationer, earning three stars across several categories including attractions, value for money, food and drink, scenery, and peace and quiet, while accommodation here was given four stars.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, remarked: “The Canaries are beloved by Brits for their all-year round sun and while many thousands of us visit every year, our research suggests holidaymakers prefer the quieter resorts to the package holiday fly and flop hotspots.”
He also noted, “Protests this year showed some locals are very angry about the negative impacts of mass tourism. Choosing a less popular resort that topped our survey will help alleviate those pressures and lead to a better holiday. Look for ways to support the local economy – for example by choosing family-run hotels, bars and restaurants over multi-national chains and holiday lets.”