Sat in the main airport Gran Canaria for a midday flight back to Gatwick. I am with my son James and my friend Sue and her son James.
We have had a bargain all inclusive week in the sun courtesy of EasyJet and Mirador by Dunas Hotel Masapalomas.
James usually has holiday to use up at this time of year so it is no hardship to head for the sun !
The Canaries are now dominated by tourism and at this time of year the hotels are full with northern Europeans. Nothing wrong with that.
To coin an irritating phrase our all inclusive week did pretty much what it "said on the can!"
We had unbroken sun for the week - ideal temperatures - low 20's. (Evening entertainment was outside and for that you might need a jumper unless you are dancing - ha!).
So what to say about this type of holiday ? Holidays are obviously highly personal.
Over the years I have pretty much seen the Canaries so I am not interested in sightseeing in our week. The purpose is simply to chill and get some sun and a bit of exercise. The great thing about an all inclusive week like this are there are effectively no decisions to make - it is completely relaxing if you want it to be. I get it too that some might feel it is mind numbingly boring - ha!
There are of course people that latch onto all inclusive it seems to simply get maximum value for money ie they eat masses - and there is plenty of evidence to show it ! I have been to all inclusives before where people drink to excess too but this hotel was not one of them - there was a nice balance.
Unlike my son James and Sue I am a bit of a misery in as much as I do none of the entertainment teams pool side activities - which include various aqua fit classes, yoga, pilates and all different types of games. In the evenings there was a different show every night - a bit middle of the road for me but there was plenty of dancing and a good atmosphere.
My days started with a modest jog and then breakfast. By just after 9 am I am on the sun bed reading. My principal exercise is swimming and I set myself a target. Roughly I swim a mile a day divided into 3 stints. All this I feel is necessary to offset the otherwise sedentary week and the food and drink on offer. One characteristic - feature - of this hotel was the lager and the wines and sangria were self service on tap ! Once I have had a beer - earliest late morning the Kindle goes away and I listen to music via Spotify. I have upgraded my ear buds to a decent Bose set - an amazing difference. Probably we soak up too much sun but am not stupid about it. It is a wonderful tonic.
All inclusive is so relaxing but a week for me is enough. We were very lucky with the weather. Low 20's is perfect. Anything more would probably be too much.
Now it is back to the UK winter !
