Where will you be in six hours’ time? Traipsing around the supermarket? Sat in a queue for petrol? Being rained on – again?

Time disappears in a blur of stress and deadlines and food shopping. Before you know it, six hours have passed by and your to-do list is still as long as your arm. Oh, and it’s still raining.

So what if, in six hours, you could be out of the cold, under the sun, indulging in five-star cuisine? Or scaling some of Gran Canaria’s famous sand dunes?

Because in the space of about six hours, my biggest concern went from staying warm enough so as not to attract the latest cold, to what kind of cocktail I was going to try come lunchtime.

It was difficult to believe, as I sat underneath a palm tree sipping a Pina Colada, that yesterday I was soaked, freezing and having a good old moan. Something, it would be fair to say, we British are renowned for.

German people, on the other hand, are renowned for their efficiency.

And it is clear the German management of the Seaside Hotel Palm Beach in Maspalomas know what they are doing when it comes to holidays.

I’ve never been to paradise. But I’m pretty sure this place comes close.

Set in a nature reserve and, apart from the many other hotels that populate this beautiful area, Hotel Palm Beach is a five-star resort with a colourful twist.

The bright rooms, retro Salon bar and vivid lounge are as much a delight for the eyes as the vast array of cuisine is for the stomach.

Arriving from a wet and wintry Dorset to bright skies and smiling faces takes a bit of an adjustment period.

Of about five seconds.

Tucking in to some freshly-caught local fish, cooked in front of your eyes, winter seemed a world away.

On arrival from Bournemouth Airport to Las Palmas we caught the ResortHoppa service, which costs around £14 for a return journey for two.

If you are in a hurry, you might want to pay a little extra for the fast coach.

Our estimated transfer was 55 minutes. We made it within two hours.

But time was soon forgotten as we watched the barren wasteland turn into rolling hills and cloud-topped mountains.

Then bright lights in the distance as the blue sky faded to sunset – Maspalomas was on the horizon.

Gran Canaria has something of a cheap ’n’ cheerful reputation.

I remember in the ’90s that it was the family budget package holiday destination ‘du jour’ for all the kids in my class.

To anyone who might still hold the view of Gran Canaria as ‘tacky’, I am certain beyond a doubt that this hotel will change your mind. The service is accelerated to a new level and the barbecues, which take place on alternative nights, can only be described as mouth-watering feasts.

The beach is but a stone’s throw away and standing on top of a sparkling sand dune, you get the urge to run across the desert and into the flourishing hills.

Well, if mountain pigs taste as good as they do when they’re cooked by the chefs at Hotel Palm Beach, it wouldn’t be a bad life. For those who want more leisurely exercise, the hotel is within walking distance of the Meloneras promenade which has shops, restaurants and bars. But there really isn’t any need to leave the perimeter of the hotel. Nestled within a beautiful palm grove, its spa and ‘wellness centre’ is the perfect place to try all manner of exotic treatments.

With its two thalasso pools, dry and steam saunas and quiet sun lounge area, it is the perfect place to relax for those wanting to totally forget the world. It’s even more rewarding after a session in the state-of-the-art gym.

In fact, with the grand selection of salads, fish, lean meat and juices available, it would be easy to come here and detox.

So long as you can stay away from the dessert selection, which has to be seen to be believed.

Still, you can always burn off the calories with a fiesta, enjoying top-class entertainment in the saloon bar. One soul band had the shiniest vocals, dance moves and shoes I have ever seen.

But what really makes this place is the service. From the manager who works morning until night, checking on every guest, to the housemaids who diligently clean the rooms – it is second to none.

Coming back one afternoon to find sparkling wine, cake and a birthday card (I didn’t even hint, I promise) is just one example of their attention to detail.

Every guest is made to feel like they are the only one.

The pool assistant runs around tirelessly in the midday sun always with a smile on his face, or a cheery ‘buenos dias’. Get up to move your parasol and he is there, with a ‘no no, senorita, I will do this’. His nothing-is-too-much-trouble attitude is shared with everyone who works there.

Gonzalez, a Spanish member of restaurant staff, even took the time to teach us a little Spanish as he waited tirelessly on tables. “Quien lo prueba?” He asked.

I struggled: “Quien lo..pr..blabla?”

Two minutes later, as we tucked into lobster and steak, he came back with a piece of paper and wrote down the words.

He and his colleagues delight in giving you whatever you desire. Even if, as in our case, it was just a little more Spanish (and a little more Spanish wine).

Hotel Palm Beach is currently ranked second of all hotels in Maspalomas on travel website tripadvisor.com – its sister hotel, Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia, is at number one.

I cannot imagine what it’s like if it beats this.

Getaway

Seven nights at Seaside Palm Beach Hotel in May costs from £664 and in June from £628 per person, based on two people sharing a double room on a half board basis.

To make a reservation please visit hotel-palm-beach.co.uk or call + 34 928 72 10 32
A return Ryanair flight from Bournemouth International Airport to Las Palmas Gran Canaria departing in May costs around £275. Prices do not include optional fees and charges.

For more information, visit ryanair.com

The ResortHoppa coach from Las Palmas Aiport to Seaside Palm Beach Hotel costs from around £14 for a return journey for two. For more information, visit resorthoppa.com