Seaside Palm Beach

Seaside Palm Beach, Gran Canaria: A Retro-Chic Oasis by the Dunes

The Seaside Palm Beach in Gran Canaria stands as a luxurious 5-star hotel, celebrated for its unique 70s retro design, exceptional service, and prime location next to the Maspalomas dunes and beach. A Michelin Key Selected property, it consistently garners high praise from guests, many of whom are repeat visitors.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Seaside Palm Beach is overwhelmingly positive, with an "Excellent" rating on platforms like Booking.com (8.9 out of 10 based on 318 reviews) and a 76% excellent rating on Jet2holidays. Guests frequently describe it as a "dream hotel" and one of the best in Gran Canaria. The hotel boasts a high rate of returning customers, a testament to its consistent quality and guest satisfaction.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the Seaside Palm Beach:

• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's bold 70s-inspired retro decor, designed by Parisian architect Alberto Pinto, is a major highlight. Vibrant colors, graphic prints, and mid-century furnishings create a unique and stylish atmosphere throughout the hotel, from the lobby to the rooms.
• Location: Its enviable position, just a few minutes' walk (50-150m) from Maspalomas Beach and its famous dune landscape, is a significant draw. The hotel is nestled within a nature reserve, offering a serene oasis.
• Gastronomy & Wellness: The gastronomic offerings and extensive wellness facilities are frequently praised.
• Pools: The hotel features numerous attractive pools, including a large main pool, two adult-only heated saltwater pools, and separate kids' and baby pools.
• Service & Staff: Personable, attentive, and friendly service from the staff is a recurring theme in guest feedback.

3. Room Quality

The 328 rooms and suites are bright, elegant, and continue the retro-style decor, reflecting the coastal setting with various color schemes such as beige-brown, yellow-turquoise, violet-green, and coral-blue.

• Comfort & Design: Rooms are designed to emulate the beauty and nature of the Canary Islands, with zig-zagging colorful patterns on carpets resembling waves. They are equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen cable TVs, free Wi-Fi, and minibars. Luxury Rooms and top-end rooms may include DVD players and Illy coffeemakers.
• Amenities: Each room includes a furnished balcony, with more desirable suites on upper floors offering expansive ocean, pool, or garden views and more spacious balconies. Guests often receive a complimentary fruit platter, daily refilled bottled water, and L'Occitane toiletries.
• Accessibility: Connecting and accessible rooms are available.
• Minor Criticisms: Some guests have noted that certain bathrooms can be on the smaller side. While minibars are present, safes are sometimes lacking in rooms. Coffee and tea making facilities are only available on request in cheaper rooms, and ironing facilities are not provided.

4. Dining Experience

Dining at Seaside Palm Beach is consistently highlighted as a superb experience, with "fantastic" and "amazing" food.

• Breakfast: The exceptional buffet breakfast, often included in room rates, offers a great variety and is highly praised. Chefs cook eggs, bacon, and sausages to order, alongside fresh juices, fruit, continental meats, and cheeses. Breakfast can be enjoyed on the water's edge.
• Restaurants: The hotel features three popular local and international restaurants, plus two bars.
  • Main Restaurant: Offers buffet breakfast and a varied dinner service, including barbecue buffet dinners three times a week and an à la carte menu on other evenings. Dishes are prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients and can be enjoyed on the palm-lined terrace or indoors.
  • African Bar: Offers tapas lunch dishes, poolside drinks, and snacks.
  • Il Giardino: A newer restaurant offering Italian cuisine in a 70s-inspired vibrant design.
  • La Bodega: Specializes in tapas, presenting it as a way of life.
• All-Inclusive Options: All-inclusive packages are available, with a "premium" option including daily refilled minibar drinks and exquisite à la carte options like Atlantic sea bass and lobster paella.
• Dress Code: A dress code applies for dinner in the restaurants (long trousers and sleeved shirts for gentlemen, no beach slippers), and sleeveless tops are not permitted at breakfast.

5. Service & Staff

Guest feedback consistently emphasizes the hotel's "excellent service" and "friendly staff". Many guests highlight the staff as exceptionally helpful, attentive, and friendly, contributing significantly to an enjoyable stay. The commitment to making guests feel welcome and ensuring a great holiday is a core philosophy. However, isolated complaints mention instances of inconsistent service at lunch, a "horrendous battle" to get a dinner table, and some staff being perceived as arrogant or unhelpful. Some guests felt excluded or overlooked, particularly if they were not German, and rigid policies (like restaurant dress codes being inconsistently enforced) also drew criticism.

6. Location & Accessibility

Seaside Palm Beach is ideally situated in Maspalomas, on the southern tip of Gran Canaria.

• Proximity to Beach: It's a short walk (50-150 meters) to Maspalomas Beach and its iconic sand dunes.
• Local Attractions: The hotel is a 5-minute stroll from La Charca de Maspalomas Pond and a 5-minute drive from the Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve. The Maspalomas Lighthouse is also nearby. The lively center of Playa del Inglés is 2.5 miles away.
• Transport: Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is 38 kilometers (24 miles) away, with an approximate transfer time of 35-45 minutes. The hotel offers free private parking, car, and bicycle rental services. Airport transfers can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Neighborhood: Maspalomas is renowned for its natural beauty and swaying palm trees, offering a chic atmosphere with designer stores and upmarket hotels.

7. Value & Pricing

Seaside Palm Beach is considered one of the pricier stays in the area. However, many guests feel that the world-class experience justifies the cost, with some stating it's "worth every penny". Average room prices are around $343, significantly higher than the Gran Canaria average of $136, but guests often perceive this as exceptional value for the luxury provided.

8. Common Complaints

While generally highly rated, some recurring issues and criticisms include:

• Restaurant Service & Policies: Inconsistent service at lunch, difficulties securing a table for dinner, and perceived "rigid policies" such as a strictly enforced dress code (sometimes inconsistently applied) have been noted. One guest reported being denied restaurant entry for wearing shorts despite other guests wearing similar attire.
• Room Amenities: Lack of safes in some rooms, and coffee/tea making facilities only available on request in cheaper rooms, have been mentioned.
• Air Conditioning: Some guests have found the air conditioning not cool enough, especially during busier periods.
• Sunbed Availability: The need to get up early to secure a sunbed around the pools has been a minor point of frustration for some.
• Evening Entertainment: Some reviews have mentioned poor evening entertainment.
• Service at Pool Bar: One guest noted a "pool bar banned swimwear, even for kids—impractical and detracted from a relaxed resort vibe."
• Feeling of Exclusion: A guest mentioned feeling excluded and overlooked as about 90% of guests were German.

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