Fed up of the endless snow and rain Denise Barkley makes the four-hour flight to Gran Canaria in the Canaries

Well, a couple of weeks ago the cold and snow finally got to me – so we packed our bags and took off to Gran Canaria in pursuit of the sun.

The Canaries are a pretty sure bet for all-year-round sunshine, and we were lucky. The mid-20s temperatures warmed and soothed – there was more snow here on our return, but our short break had rejuvenated us, ready to ride out the rest of this relentless winter!

And we didn’t stint on our hotel, opting for the five-star luxury of Seaside Palm Beach situated right next to the undulating sand dunes of Maspalomas at the southern tip of Gran Canaria. It’s just a few minutes from the buzzing boutiques, bars and restaurants of Promenade Meloneras too.

We flew from Birmingham, and picked up a hire car at Las Palmas airport – it was an easy 24-mile drive via motorway to Maspalomas. The Seaside Palm Beach’s 328 rooms are arranged over seven storeys in an impressive semi-circular block enclosing gorgeous pools and outdoor restaurant terraces nestled among, of course, palm trees and manicured gardens full of vibrant tropical plants and flowers. Brightly coloured parakeets squabble and swoop through the treetops above.

Inside, the hotel is a riot of retro style and colours – and following a complete revamp in 2002 it achieved the highest accolade, being named a Design Hotel ™, the first in the Canary Islands. The bold rainbow colours of the décor and furniture harmonise with some collectible 1970s pieces for a look that’s contemporary-meets-retro.

The guest rooms are equally bright with a variety of colour palettes to reflect the Gran Canarian climate and styles. Our balcony overlooked the pools and gardens; a view of the sea and sand dunes will, of course, cost you more.

The pools are gorgeous and the water was lovely. My favourite was the seawater pool which was warm and uncrowded – as was the thalasso pool in the spa where I treated myself to the signature Pantai Luar massage during which the therapist uses two cloth bags of heated herbs to massage oil into the body; it’s super-relaxing.

The food is simply stupendous at Palm Beach. We were on half board, so breakfast and dinner were included and what a treat they were. We dined on the lovely restaurant terrace with waiter service and, on one night, a huge buffet barbecue. The fish couldn’t have been fresher, served simply with salty wrinkled Canarian potatoes and spicy Mojo sauces – delicious.

Every evening there was live entertainment on the bar terrace – flamenco dancers, a soul singer and a Drifters-style trio. It was all perfectly pitched and a nice way to round off the day.

It would be difficult to improve on Palm Beach, but nearby is the flagship Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia, which is the crème de la crème – though it’s pricey. We treated ourselves to dinner there one evening and it was simply wonderful. Afterwards we sat on the colonial-style terrace sipping brandies and listening to soothing tunes from the pianist and saxophonist. Simply perfect.

We could have spent the entire five days sunbathing and swimming, but we did get out and about too. The highlight was a boat trip on the Magic Deluxe luxury catamaran operated by Canary Boat Trips – a four-hour odyssey along the coastline with limitless wine, beer and soft drinks, a fresh seafood lunch and the chance to swim in the clear blue sea.

We also had a tour of the island with our own personal guide, the genial Juan Carlos Santiago, who was a mine of information about his home country and drove us to the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, for a look round. We learned all about Christopher Columbus’s links to Gran Canaria at the Casa de Colon (Columbus House) museum, the former residence of Las Palmas’ governor who received the explorer there in 1492.

Then we did something completely different – a Segway tour of the city with Segway LPA. Hop on one of these two-wheeled self-balancing scooters and the world is your oyster. All you do is plant your feet firmly on the platform, lean forward, and you’re off. There’s nothing more complicated than turning the handles to propel yourself in the right direction or bring you to a halt.

Well, Segways and sunshine are a winning combo so, after a safety brief and donning helmets, we were off along the promenade at a nippy pace, about 12mph. We whizzed past the port and castle, slowing down to pass through the shopping streets, then speeding past gorgeous golden beaches. Fabulous! After that, refreshment was in order so Juan Carlos took us to the local market for delicious tapas which we ate perched at the counter on a bar stool, accompanied by a snifter of sherry.

We concluded our fascinating day trip by driving the winding roads to the top of the island where we gazed down into the volcanic crater, the Caldera de Bandama. You can hike down into it, but to be honest we were exhausted and contented ourselves with the views from the top.

Gran Canaria is just a four-hour flight away – sunshine and fun awaits, and you can’t get a better location than Seaside Palm Beach Hotel. It definitely has my seal of approval.

Fact Box

Fly from Bristol to Gran Canaria on 4 May, 2018, and stay seven nights B&B at the 5* Seaside Hotel Palm Beach, Maspalomas from £1,199pp. This package is based on two adults sharing and includes: accommodation, return flights and private return transfers. Flights are also available from Birmingham, Cardiff and Gatwick. For more information or to book, please visit www.classic-collection.co.uk or call 0800 047 1064.