The Canary Islands have never had the glamourous celebrity visitors of Ibiza or the Cote d'Azur. Nor have they suffered from the horde of reality TV celebs that plague the Costas. However, the celebrities that have dropped in over the years have left some fascinating myths and mysteries behind. Here are the juciest.

Published in Guide

These are the posts that got most attention last week on our Facebook page. Posts that were shared & liked most. If you're not a fan yet, please consider hitting the "Like" button on our page. Thanks!

Here's the very best post first:

 

La Fiesta del Charco, today in La Aldea, at 17:00.Fun fun fun. Don't miss it! ;)

Posted by Gran Canaria on Friday, 11 September 2015

 

 

Good morning :-)

Posted by Gran Canaria on Sunday, 13 September 2015

 

 

Mondays are better in Gran Canaria :-)

Posted by Gran Canaria on Sunday, 13 September 2015

 

 

Good morning :-)

Posted by Gran Canaria on Wednesday, 9 September 2015

 

 

Photos of Gran Canaria posted in the GCI Facebook Group :-)

Posted by Gran Canaria on Sunday, 6 September 2015

The vast Parque del Sur urban park in Maspalomas Campo Internacional is a huge green space perfect for walking and jogging.

Published in Tip of the day
Thursday, 10 September 2015 06:15

11 Things You Never Knew About Bananas

Bananas don't grow on trees and won't exist in 20 years. The plants hate growing alone and wander about in their fields. Here are ten surprising facts about the happy yellow fruit that you never knew. Watch the video right to the end for the talking banana.

Thursday, 10 September 2015 05:38

The Best Canary Islands Wines To Drink With Curry

Canary Islands wines have the intensity and fruit to stand up to a good curry so if you feel like a takeaway, then look out for these bottles in the shops. 

Published in Wine
Thursday, 03 September 2015 06:29

Free And Cheap Things To Do At Anfi Beach

Anfi beach is a strange blend of cheap and expensive; The beach is free and the sun loungers and beds are reasonable (Most shops and services are priced for the resort’s timeshare guests (who have already proved that they don’t mind paying top dollar for things), but some are great value.

Published in Arguineguín

The 2.5 kilometre coastal path that connects Las Marañuelas beach in Arguineguín and Anfi beach to the west is due a revamp and it looks like it may finally get one.

Published in News

How many of these quirky rules of bungalow holiday life have you noticed? Are they only true in Gran Canaria or do they apply the world over? 

Published in Guide

Gran Canaria's plan to use its reservoirs as a giant battery to store wind energy is expected to generate 60% of the island's electricity needs within five years.

Published in News

There's no shortage of local events in Gran Canaria with a village romeria (fiesta) or six every weekend but what about international events? Well, here's our pick of the top Gran Canaria events that tourists and visitors have to attend.

Published in Guide

Save money and avoid rip-off bank charges while in Gran Canaria by paying in euros when using your credit or debit card.

Many bars and restaurants in Gran Canaria, and in almost all European holiday destinations, give you the option of paying in euros or in your home currency. Opting for your own currency, while it may seem like the safer option, can add as much as 5% to the bill as it triggers dynamic currency conversion. 

DCC basically means that the exchange rate is calculated at point of sale rather than by your bank. It allows you to see the total cost of the transaction in your own currency but adds up to 5% to the total because it uses a terrible exchange rate. 

Since the extra money is shared between your bank and the merchant, some places will automatically bill you in your own currency and hope you don't notice. You have the legal right to refuse and void the transaction should this happen. 

ATMs too

The same applies when taking money out of ATM machines in Gran Canaria (and anywhere in Europe); Always choose the local currency option to avoid losing money to poor exchange rates.

If you opt for the local currency option, using bank ATMs is often the cheapest and safest way of getting euros in Gran Canaria. It's far safer than having a big pile of euros hidden in your room or tucked into your shorts.

More details in this Daily Telegraph article.

Published in Tip of the day

The Catholic church rather than the local tourist authorities still decides when to open church doors in Gran Canaria. This means that some of the island's prettiest churches, such as the Puerto de las Nieves hermitage, are often closed during the day.

Published in Tip of the day

Gran Canaria's east coast beaches are a mixed bag with everything from windswept pebble beaches to sheltered coves with golden sand. Salinetas beach is the prettiest and most accessible of the east beaches.

Published in Tip of the day

A recent draft law released by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana town hall (Ayuntamiento) has generated widespread confusion and worry in Gran Canaria. However, there is little to be concerned about as the situation is being hyped up for political reasons. Here's a concise summary of what's going on and what it means.

We have updated this article to take into account the important effects of the 1995 Ordenación del Turismo de Canarias law.

Published in Property

Taxis in Gran Canaria's capital city Las Palmas are amongst the cheapest in Spain, according to a recent survey.

Published in News

The trouble with ordering big beers in Gran Canaria is that they often warm up before you get to the end.

Published in Tip of the day

With Gran Canaria car rental you get what you pay for and if you pay the absolute minimum, what you get is a headache and a ruined holiday.

Published in Tip of the day

While papas con mojo and seafood get all the attention, Gran Canaria's delicious doughnuts are a daily treat that you have to try.

Published in Tip of the day

Arriving late in Gran Canaria and want to stock up on a few things for the morning? Now you can do it at the airport.

Published in Tip of the day

The freak weather in the Canary Islands for the last week is fading away, according to the Spanish weather authorities.

Published in News
Page 5 of 21

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Tip of the day

  • How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer
    How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer

    Gran Canaria's hotels have to be licensed and offer a quality level of service as well as having insurance and complying with fire regulations. The same goes for the boats that take people out to watch dolphins, the companies offering jeep safaris, and even the holiday let apartments. 

    However, not everybody in Gran Canaria follows the rules. For example, there is a significant industry running illegal and uninsured transfers between Gran Canaria airport and the island's resorts. These cars, driven by locals and foreign-residents, are just private vehicles and the drivers are unregulated and uninsured. They don't pay tax and there is no way to hold them responsible if something goes wrong. 

     At Gran Canaria Info we believe that all people and all companies offering services to tourists should legal and above board.

    So, how do you know that your airport transfer service is legal and registered with the Gran Canaria authorities?

     Using legal Gran Canaria airport transfers

    It is quite easy to know if your airport transfer service is operating in a legal way because all registered transfers have the following...

     A blue license plate: Taxis and other public service vehicles in Gran Canaria all have blue plates.

    A VTC sticker in the window: This stands for Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor, the official designation for licensed transfer drivers ans chauffeurs.

    An SP sticker on the car: This indicates that the car offer a Servicio Publico or public service and is therefore allowed to pick up and transfer members of the public. 

    Parked in the transport zone: Official airport transfer vehicles don't park in the public car park of the airport. Instead they have their own parking zone right by the arrivals gates at the airport (next to the taxis and package tour buses). Your transfer driver therefore should not have to pay a parking fee before leaving the aiport. 

    How to spot an unlicensed transfer service

    Unlicensed drivers get away with offerring their service because they claim that they are just members of the public picking up a friend. They are allowed to stand at arrivals with a sign (just like any member of the public can).

    However, they also have to park their car in the public car park and will walk you there with your luggage, stopping to pay the parking fee at the meter. A licensed transfer driver does not need to do this because they have their own parking zone right by arrivals.

    Some unlicensed drivers don't even wait at the arrival gate because the official drivers recognise them and get annoyed. Instead they have to stand further away (often by the Spar supermarket or the car rental desks). 

    When an unlicensed driver drops you at the airport they will not want to be paid in a public area because this proves that they are charging rather than "transporting a friend" for free. 

    An unlicensed car will not have a blue license plate, or a SP or VTC sticker, and will often look like a private car (because it is a private car). 

    What's the problem with unlicensed airport transfers?

    Some people use unlicensed cars because they are the cheapest option and don't realise that they are unlicensed. 

    There are several problems with unlicensed services. The most obvious is that they are uninsured so if something goes wrong or there is an accident, you are not protected. The price that unlicensed drivers offer is only low because they cut corners (hopefully not literally). You have no way of even knowing if your unlicensed driver has a Spanish driving license, insurance and a good driving record. Licensed drivers are vetted regularly and must be fully insured and licensed to work.

    Another problem is that unlicensed transfers undermine the legitimate transfer drivers and businesses in Gran Canaria. Local drivers make a living from transfers and offer a legal, regulated service with minimum standards. Every time an unlicensed service undercuts them, it is effectively stealing from local people and the island economy.

    We believe that everybody in Gran Canaria deserves better!

    Gran Canaria Airport Transfer Services

    To find out more about the Gran Canaria airport transfer, see our Gran Canaria airport transfer article which explains the three different models; man/woman from pub with car, online transfer websites, and local transfer services.

    Or you can book a legitimate Gran Canaria airport transfer at a great price right here. Our service uses local drivers and supprts the island economy because all the money you spend stays in Gran Canaria.

    Alex Says: Using our service also helps the Gran Canaria Info team to keep providing quality local information here and in our Facebook Group

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