Friday, 05 December 2014 00:00

Gran Canaria Shopping: Where To Shop in Playa del Inglés

The Cita Shopping Centre in Playa del Inglés The Cita Shopping Centre in Playa del Inglés

Playa del Inglés' shopping centres aren't always the best place to go shopping as they are mostly packed withrestaurants and bars. Here's where to go to stock up on everything you need in the resort. 

 

Food and drink

The Netto and other small supermarket chains in Playa del Inglés offer a wide range of food and essentials but are expensive: Great for buying bread, water and daily essentials. but it's cheaper to head to where the locals shop if you are self-catering. 

The big supermarkets in nearby San Fernando have a wider range and low prices. Just hop in a taxi and ask for “el Hiperdino (or Mercadona) grande de San Fernando”. Similarly, the Maspalomas market sells a much better range of fresh fruit and veggies than the supermarkets. If you do head to San Fernando, take the time to wander along Avenida de Galdar; it's where the locals do their day to day shopping. 

Lex Says: Gran Canaria’s tap water has a strong taste (it is made from desalinated seawater) but is perfectly safe to drink. The locals buy big water bottles, called garafas, to drink but use the tap water to cook with and brush their teeth. 

Clothes and gifts

Quality shopping in Playa del Inglés is a bit thin on the ground. Most of the clothes shops are in the shopping centres along the Boulevard Faro in Maspalomas although the Tropical Shopping centre has some good shops like Fudgrube (which also has an outlet store in the CITA centre). 

Note that you can't buy a pair of genuine branded sunglasses for 15 euros, no matter what the man tells you. If you're after quality perfume, jewelry (such as Pandora) and cosmetics, head to a reliable local shop. 

Electronics

We sincerely recommend anyone who is looking for a new phone, camera or tablet in Gran Canaria to head to a big local shopping centre or a Media Markt rather than buying in small shops in Gran Canaria's resorts. 

Souvenirs and duty-free

Holiday souvenirs are everywhere in Playa and most are cheap and fun. They may not last much longer than your holiday but do you really need a willy-shaped corkscrew at home? For a wider selection of souvenirs head to the big markets at Arguineguín, Mogan and San Fernando. Here's our guide to some of Gran Canaria's most authentic handicrafts

Tax on alcohol and cigarettes in Gran Canaria are minimal so it's almost always cheaper to buy your duty-free in the resorts rather than the airport. Technically you are only allowed 200 cigarettes and one litre of spirits per person as the Canary Islands are outside the EU Customs Union. You can, of course, buy as much as you want to consume during your Gran Canaria holiday. 

Published in Playa del Inglés

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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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