Spain has some incredible islands, and one has become my firm favourite, yet there's a resort I'd definitely avoid in future as it felt so grimy in comparison to the rest of the island12:27, 01 Jun 2026From the Balearics to the Canaries, Spain has an abundance of incredible holiday destinations. While many Brits will jet off to Greece, Turkey, and other Med destinations this summer, I don't think you can beat Spanish destinations for their culture, food, and incredibly welcoming hospitality.‌This year we chose to take our big family holiday on Gran Canaria, a Canary Island I hadn't explored before. I'm a huge fan of Lanzarote and its volcanic landscapes, and enjoyed the quieter atmosphere of Fuerteventura, so I was excited to take the kids to a new destination. Gran Canaria is the second-most visited Canary Island, just after Tenerife, so it's a firm favourite with Brits, although visitor numbers from the UK are eclipsed by Germans and Scandinavians who journey to the sunsoaked spot in droves especially in winter.‌Like anyone planning a trip with kids, I did plenty of research into where to stay, and we ended up close to Playa del Inglés. Look, a place literally called English Beach is never going to be some authentic Spanish village, but it has a long sandy beach, lots of restaurants, and a lively atmosphere, so I thought it would be the perfect family holiday spot.‌Unfortunately, despite staying on the outskirts of the resort, it really wasn't an enjoyable place to stay. I'm no holiday snob and will gladly spend a weekend in Benidorm appreciating it for what it is, but I really enjoy my time in this particular area of the island.Inland, it was mostly concrete and grimy, and we saw too much vomit and urine baking in the sunshine. Benidorm feels cleaner by comparison, not to mention it seems to crackdown on anti-social behaviour a lot more thoroughly.‌The long sandy beach is somewhat spoiled by the sheer number of shops and restaurants whose terraces block the views of the sand dunes. Walk down here and you won't be left alone for a second. Every restaurant had multiple people trying to pull in customers, and none of them take no for an answer. Ignore them and you'll be insulted, be polite and they'll see it as an invitation to continue their sales pitch.The high-pressure sales tactics don't end on the promenade. Put your towel out on the beach and you'll instantly be approached by people trying to sell you tat. Within about 10 minutes, we were offered the chance to buy a beach blanket, a fake Rolex, fake designer sunglasses, and even a dodgy-looking mojito.‌Luckily, Gran Canaria is easy to explore; there's an excellent bus network or you can hire a car and most of the roads are easy to drive. I wouldn't recommend even attempting the mountain roads, we only ventured in-land on a guided tour, meaning our very skilled coach driver took on the hairpin bends with ease. However, driving on the island's main road, the GC-1, was a pretty relaxed experience.About a 30-minute drive from Playa del Inglés is Puerto de Mogán, which provided a sharp contrast to where we stayed. This area is sometimes called the Venice of the Canaries, as it has beautiful canals that run to the sea. Its whitewashed houses are finished with colourful accents and blooms of flowers, and it has a pretty harbour area where the restaurant staff are less likely to try and grab your elbow as you walk past.‌While the beach was busy, it had a nice family-friendly atmosphere, and its cove-like setting meant it was safe for kids to swim. As you paddle out into the calm waters you can see miles of mountain scenery, and despite lots of people being around it felt oddly serene and hushed.‌The island's major resorts are all in the south, while most Gran Canaria residents live in the north of the country around the capital of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It's worth a day trip, packing in lots of pretty colonial Spanish architecture, small museums, and lots of impressive shopping centres. Recently, Apple TV show Pluribus filmed around the city, with its landscapes standing in for Morocco and South America, and there are certainly areas where you feel you could be in a far-flung location.Article continues belowGran Canaria's tourism planning makes sense. By concentrating the touristy parts in one of the islands, residents can enjoy their lives mostly uninterrupted by selfie takers and souvenir sales. Tourists who want to see a more authentic part of the island can simply hop on a bus, or enjoy the island's very reasonably priced car hire to explore.Whether you want to flop on a sunbed, or enjoy Canarian culture, or like us, enjoy a bit of both, Gran Canaria has struck a decent balance between pleasing Brits abroad and keeping its own identity. It's definitely a new favourite and I'm already looking for holidays for 2027, although there's a certain resort we'll be avoiding in future.Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com