Dive into a private beach club, unwind with a peaceful spa session and sip champagne in a members-only yacht club. You might think this vacation sounds fit for a top couple — and you’d be right.

I could live the sunny getaway J Lo And Ben Affleck never had when they visited the sunny island of Gran Canariaand what can I say, Hollywood lovers have certainly missed a lavish break from reality.

The pair were pictured visiting the island in March last year, while the The singer On The Floor was filming for his film, The Mother. During their visit, the two were photographed walking around the scenic northern parts of the island, close to where the actress was filming.

But, despite their plans to visit the south, the pair never made it, so let me show you how to vacation like an A-lister in this hidden gem of a vacation spot.

Where to stay

With the idyllic backdrop of the flowery ports that the south of the island offers, you can’t go wrong when looking for a fabulous place to stay, and for us the Hotel Cordial Mogan Playa in Puerto de Mogan was the perfect fit. . The resort was full of botanical delights including mango trees, banana trees and plenty of photo opportunities in front of the colorful flora that filled the resort.

This superb establishment has its own on-site spa, where I experienced the most luxurious paraffin wax hand treatment. The spa was also the perfect private escape if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the pools. It had its own indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, steam room and daybeds where we peacefully relaxed in the sun after my treatment.

Each morning, a tantalizing menu was offered to guests of the on-site restaurant, complete with an all-you-can-eat prosecco station and a table of do-it-yourself Bloody Marys. The restaurant was fabulous for allergies which was very important to us as we dined there every night. I am celiac and my partner is allergic to peanuts and the chef Juan Luis was excellent in accommodating us regarding our meals. One of the highlights of the tasting was tasting the island’s famous bananas in a delicious dessert.

The resort is unlike any I’ve experienced before with two gigantic pools — both with poolside bars — and plush apartments as far as the eye can see. One thing I will say is that the hotel is better suited to families than travelers as there are many activities on offer.

We also visited the Marina Suites hotel in Puerto Rico where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and a jacuzzi session. Impeccable facilities include an infinity pool, adult-only areas with dreamy daybeds, and are steps from the beach. The rooms overlook the sumptuous harbor filled with yachts and would certainly be the ideal place if you want to relax peacefully away from the large crowds. They would therefore be more ideal for a romantic getaway or a luxury girl’s trip than the Cordial Mogan Playa Hotel.

Beach clubs that will make you feel like an A-Lister

While Marbella and Ibiza are known for their beach clubs full of influencers, Gran Canaria takes a very different approach. The island has clubs that are as glamorous as you might expect, but don’t insist on wearing fluttery false eyelashes and a matching three-piece bikini as soon as you enter.

© Alberto Brito Rivero

The first club we visited was La Punta Yacht Club in the beautiful marina of Pasito Blanco where we enjoyed a delicious lunch with our host Maria. To start, we shared tuna before each tasting one of their delicious salads. I opted for an amazing goat cheese and honey salad which went perfectly with a bottle of cava. Then we lay down on beach beds overlooking a secluded area of ​​the sea and looked forward to swimming. This experience truly made me feel like Blair Waldorf, admiring the countless impressive yachts being taken for a spin – and isn’t that all we want from a relaxing holiday?

La Punt is closed to non-members on weekends, but on weekdays you can sign up to live your best It-girl life.

The second club, Perchel Beach Club, was one of the highlights of the trip and the perfect place to relax before our flight home. This glamorous haunt featured an infinity pool, huge daybeds and lounge chairs, plus a Belvedere bar and sushi restaurant, Nami – which of course we had to try for lunch.

The staff couldn’t have been more welcoming from start to finish and were amazing when it came to allergies. We opted for salmon makis in caviar crust, salmon sashimi and tuna and samlon nigiri which we tasted accompanied by a frozen margarita and a pina colada. Nothing was too much trouble from the staff and if you want to feel like a celebrity we can’t recommend this place highly enough but be sure to call ahead to book as Saturdays and weekends get very full quickly.

Whale watching in Gran Canaria

If there’s one thing you must do when visiting Gran Canaria, it’s take a whale and dolphin watching boat trip. We set out aboard the Spirit of the Sea for an early morning session and while you have to be prepared for not seeing any whales or dolphins, we struck gold.

We saw countless dolphins splashing in the water as well as a sperm whale swimming by the boat which was definitely a highlight of our holiday – just make sure you pack your seasickness tablets !

Sunset in Gran Canaria

We channeled our inner Jennifer and Ben, who were spotted on a romantic stroll while on the Spanish island last year and took a beloved walk around Puerto de Mogan marina before watch the beautiful sunset.

The marina is filled with quaint homes – the majority of which are vacation homes – adorned with flowers as far as the eye can see, which adds an extra-romantic je ne sais quoi as we look around at the yachts and boats moored and have a look. of the many lively restaurants the city has to offer.

After our walk we headed to the beach to admire the sunset. We sat on top of a cliff overlooking the rocky waves as the sun set against a warm orange sky. It was truly magical to see and honestly could have been a scene from your favorite romantic comedy. This has got to be one of my favorite moments from this special trip.

When is the best time to visit Gran Canaria?

Gran Canaria is considered an all year round destination which means that whenever you choose to go there you will never run out of sunshine, but it is said to be cooler between November and March which is known as the low season. One thing to note is that the southern part of the island is not a central party location, so this will definitely need to be taken into account when booking. It is however fabulous if you are looking for guaranteed sunshine and a place to relax.