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While Christmas in the sunshine might seem a little strange, you'd be surprised how much of an effort Gran Canaria puts on. It is possible to feel festive and get a tan, especially if you pack your tinsel-trimmed swimming trunks.
North Gran Canaria got a soaking on October 20, 2015, thanks to a slow-moving rain storm. These beautiful sunset photos, by Gran Canaria Info photographer Lex Thoonen, capture the moment when the rain started to fall.
Gran Canaria's capital is its transport hub and you can get almost anywhere in one bus journey. Here are the top ten most useful bus lines for getting around Gran Canaria if you're based in Las Palmas.
The beginning of the week will see a mish-mash of different weather in the Canary Islands although we expect plenty of sunshine in Gran Canaria's resorts (but also cloudy spells and the odd shower). The next few days will be similar.
That's it folks, back to the beach; at least until Sunday afternoon.
Mojo is the big star of Canary Islands cuisine and the dish that visitors always rave about. But where is it from originally? Our research shows that mojo is a tasty sauce with a fascinating history that spans three continents and thousands of years.
You can order a long short, even a short short, but there's no such thing as a long. Then there's the milk and milk. Here's how to order coffee in local cafés and restaurants in Gran Canaria and know exactly what you're going to get.
Shearwater Breeding Season: Please Look Out For Fledglings
Gran Canaria's shearwater fledglings are about to leave their nesting burrows in the Gran Canaria highlands and fly down to the sea.
Gran Canaria is good value for money but here are ten great ways to make sure that you get the most out of your holiday budget.
A low-pressure system currently building over the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest of the Canary Islands looks likely to produce wind and rains towards the end of the week.
In Las Palmas, you can eat the world with cuisines from over 50 countries on offer. Here are 20 of our favourites national restaurants.
From south to north along the beachfront, here's the top spots where the locals go for seafood and tapas at Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Today will be sunny in Gran Canaria, but the weather changes on Saturday due to the weakened remnants of Hurrican Joaquín.
Gran Canaria Police Break Up The Mango Gang
Gran Canaria's Guardia Civil have broken up a mango-stealing gang operating out of north Gran Canaria.
Papas con mojo are the most famous Canarian dish, but gofio flour is the food that Canarians think of as their own. But rather than a unique Canary Islands food, gofio is a link between the islands and places all over the world.
Gran Canaria's weather alert system can cause confusion because of different alert levels and colour codes. Here's exactly how it works.
Everyone thinks rum was invented in the Caribbean, but there's a good chance it was made in Gran Canaria before Columbus even took sugar cane to the Americas.
Gran Canaria's Giant New Waterpark Will Open in 2.5 Years
Gran Canaria's Siam Park will be up-and-running in just two and a half years, with work to begin before the end of 2015.
Spanish Air Traffic Control Strike Cancelled
The Spanish air traffic control strike that threatened to delay flights to and from Gran Canaria airport on October 3rd has been cancelled.
Record Numbers Of Flip Flops in Gran Canaria In August
Gran Canaria's tourism records keep tumbling as demand soars and the number of flip-flops on the beaches goes up and up.
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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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