This February I jetted off for some winter sun for the very first time. And I'm seriously kicking myself that I didn't do it sooner.
When I think about it, I've only ever holidayed during the summer months, when the weather isn't normally too bad here in the UK. But this winter had me wishing I could break up the cold grey days with even a little bit of sunshine. And thankfully there are plenty of options for winter sun holidays with our favourites, Jet2holidays. I honestly don't know how I got to this age without realising that there were a number of destinations that you could escape to for some much needed sun, sea and sand at this time of year. So, if you've been thinking about doing the same, you might want to bookmark this blog post as we approach the colder weather again towards the end of the year.
While there are a number of great winter sun destinations in Europe, from the Algarve and Cyprus to Malta, the Canary Islands instantly caught our eye. And in particular Gran Canaria. As I was going with my mum we were looking for somewhere relatively warm and sunny that wasn't too far away. And with direct flights from Glasgow airport with Jet2, we didn't have to travel further afield to jet off, which was so handy and made the overall experience so much more stress-free.
So, we packed our carry on suitcases for a four night trip and as soon as we arrived we couldn't have been happier with our decision. Not only in terms of choosing Gran Canaria, but the brilliant hotel we were staying at. So, I thought that I would share our experience and why we are already looking at booking again for February next year. Here's everything you need to know...
Starting with our travel from Glasgow. Me and my mum are both big fans of travelling with Jet2, with us visiting both Rome and Rhodes together, and her and my dad visiting Sorrento on their own. It's always such a relief to know that once you step onto the plane you don't need to worry about hailing a taxi or hiring a car at your destination, you and your bags are dropped off right at your hotel with minimal fuss.
It was also great that the Jet2 flights to Gran Canaria from Glasgow leave at around 10am, meaning that you arrive mid-afternoon on that first day, giving you time to sit out and bask in the sunshine, after leaving a cold and rainy Scotland behind. And as soon as we arrived at our hotel we were truly wowed.
I always like to do quite a bit of research before booking a hotel and when looking at the range of hotels in Gran Canaria, the Don Gregory by Dunas immediately stood out. Situated in San Agustin, around 30 minutes transfer from the airport, this adults-only beachfront hotel was so well located.
It is quite literally steps from a gorgeous sandy beach and a few more steps in the other direction takes you to a really impressive shopping centre with plenty of fantastic restaurants, supermarkets, cafes and shops. There was also an incredible gelato spot about a ten minute walk away that we frequented most evenings and the cliffside walk, in the other direction, was great for walking off breakfast.
We booked a twin room with sea view and spent two nights with that being our view every morning. We did actually end up moving rooms on the third day as there was a bit of noisy construction going on at the beach right underneath our room, that couldn't really be helped. But the staff were quick to accommodate us and it ultimately meant that we got to try out an infinity pool view room for the last of our two nights, with both being just as impressive as each other.
I personally adored the expansive balcony, where I sat and read my book each morning and evening, while my mum loved the larger pool and grabbing a deck chair there to sit out in the sun. As a fair, freckly redhead I can normally only do about half an hour on a sun lounger before I need to retreat to a shadier spot, but we are more than happy to do our own thing at these points in the day.
Another thing that really wowed us were the number of free activities and entertainment that the hotel put on. From morning yoga on the beach to Spanish classes, a range of evening entertainment and my mum's favourite aqua fitness classes in the pool each day at midday.
And both pools were brilliant. I personally loved how serene the infinity pool looked as the sun rose and set each day.
Speaking of being wowed. One of our biggest highlights of the entire trip was breakfast. Honestly, we have never seen anything like it. To say there was too much choice would be a massive understatement. There were cook-to-order pancakes, omelettes and french toast, breads, pastries, meats, fruits, cakes, cooked breakfast, salads, yoghurts and more.
And if you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen my shock at there being wine (rose and sparkling) at breakfast. Our minds were truly blown and we certainly indulged in an mimosa or two each morning, alongside incredible hot chocolates and teas, too.
After a busy week in London the week prior, it was just so nice to switch off and do nothing for a few days and even though we got out and about at the beach and nearby shopping centre, we didn't feel the urge to really leave our hotel at all, which is always a good sign on a holiday like this. There's also a spa, which we definitely might need to consider next year. But we were pretty relaxed otherwise.
You can upgrade to half board or all inclusive, however, we were more than happy to go out exploring for lunch and dinner. MARGO Brunch Pizzeria and the Greek Taverna, just across the road, were two of our favourites. And we've got our eye on a visit to the Tandoori Flavour Indian restaurant next time. We couldn't believe how many great restaurants and cafes were on our doorstep.
All we can say is, what a game changer a winter sun holiday is! There's something so nice about having a holiday to look forward to over the seemingly never ending month of January and while the Great British weather isn't all that great in February. And we will definitely be making a return visit to Don Gregory by Dunas next year. I'm already so looking forward to it.
Have you ever been to Gran Canaria? Or is it somewhere on your list of places to visit? And where would you love to jet off to for some winter sun?
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