Self Catering in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria: Where to Stay

Maspalomas is the only resort covered here, but it is not one uniform strip. The botanical garden sits right in the centre of town, while the Maspalomas Lighthouse marks the coast roughly 2 miles away. Staying nearer the lighthouse puts you within easy reach of the beaches that line this stretch: Playa de las Mujeres, Playa del Hornillo and Playa de Meloneras are all about 2 miles from the centre.

Meloneras, a town of its own within Maspalomas, is a natural choice if you want to step out onto Playa de Meloneras and stroll along to the lighthouse. Families often weigh up a base close to Aqualand Maspalomas, also about 2 miles out, against somewhere quieter further along, such as near Playa de las Carpinteras, around 4 miles away.

Inland attractions are close enough for an easy half day wherever you stay: Mundo Aborigen, an open-air museum, is about 4 miles off, and Palmitos Park around 6 miles. Car hire makes these simple, and you can compare it here.

British holidaymakers tend to arrive here with one of two plans. The first is a hotel stay, often booked as a package with flights and transfers, where you choose a board basis from room only through to half board or all inclusive. That suits anyone who wants meals sorted and the pool a few steps away.

The second is self catering holidays in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, which is how many travellers prefer to stay for a fortnight or longer. An apartment or one of the holiday villas in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, gives you a kitchen, more room and freedom to eat out when you like. Villa holidays in Gran Canaria's south also appeal to larger groups and families who want space and privacy, and searches for villas for rent in Maspalomas show how popular that option is.

The hotel prices shown on this page update live, so you can set a hotel stay against a self-catering budget side by side.

Most people fly into Gran Canaria airport (LPA), which has direct flights from the UK, and the drive to Maspalomas takes about 24 minutes. A package that bundles flight, accommodation and transfer takes care of that leg for you; the providers listed here, including Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach, can be compared on this page.

Timing matters. The climate is mild all year, with winter highs around 23°C and summer peaking at about 33°C in August, when there is no rainfall on record and the heat is at its strongest. Every month except August is considered a good time to go. UK school holidays push up demand for family rooms and villas, so book early if your dates are fixed, and look at term-time weeks if you have flexibility.

If you plan a day trip across to Tenerife, the ferry leaves from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, about 29 miles from Maspalomas, which is worth factoring in if you are choosing between car hire and transfers.