'Gran Canaria stay was like something from a Disney film but one thing took me by surprise'

Gran Canaria is one of the underrated gems of the Canary Islands - often overshadowed by its sister island and party hotspot Tenerife - but now that I'm on the lookout for a trip with a slower pace, mentions of Gran Canaria being a slice of luxury and less than four hours away finally swayed me.

The island is the third-largest of the Canaries and boasts a rural and mountainous terrain. My hotel for the four-day trip was nestled high in the mountains, with a view of the sea and a rooftop pool, meaning I could sunbathe from sunrise to sunset with uninterrupted rays (I was, of course, wearing a high level of SPF and made sure to top this up regularly).

The Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity, a five-star hotel, served as my residence during my time in the south of Gran Canaria and proved to be a perfect base, roughly 10 minutes from the beach via shuttle and half an hour away from the picturesque Puerto de Mogán.

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The drive up to the hotel delivers breathtaking views of Gran Canaria's landscape, the lone drive feels like a trip along the Route 66 and prepares you for a stay filled with rest, relaxation and peace. As I got closer to the hotel, scenes of vivacious green lawns and palm trees serve as the ideal golfing environment.

For fans of Disney's critically acclaimed High School Musical trilogy, you'll find yourself in a real-life version of Lava Springs, from High School Musical 2. I could've sworn Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) was belting Bet On It on the other side of the gold course.

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The Salobre Hotel's terracotta, limewash walls and modern-Mediterranean aesthetic oozed wellness and luxury. The entire place felt airy and tinged in sunset, providing the perfect backdrop for pictures.

Rooms for two come with more than enough space to help you feel at home and come fitted with a panoramic shower and bath room and 80 per cent cotton bedding and hypoallergenic feather pillows. Salobre understand the importance of sleeping well and with views of natural landscapes and the golf course just outside my balcony, it's no surprise that I only had sweet dreams.

The food, served at the Sens restaurant and rotating between global cuisines from Italian to Chinese on a daily basis, and the Be Aloe Spa, which boasted an infinity pool, oxygen therapy booth and a Finnish sauna, were commendable to say the least.

The only thing that really caught me by surprise was the five-minute walk from the hotel lobby to my room, but I guess that highlights just how spacious the hotel is.

A highlight of my stay had to be an evening under the stars by the hotel's Sunset bar. The area is purposefully low-lit, to ensure the best view of the stars above. If you're over the loud, bold parties of the summer and need a place to settle and recenter, I highly recommend Gran Canaria's Salobre Hotel Resort.

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