HC Hotel Magec

The location is the one clear highlight, excellent and within walking distance of everything. Reception staff were also welcoming and helpful. The gym was out of order and never open, and the rooftop pool is tiny, with only a few loungers. I’ve been on many holidays, and this was one of my worst. I wouldn’t recommend the hotel. The rooms were dated but acceptable, and were cleaned daily when requested. The beds were very uncomfortable and the pillows so thin I felt like I had none. I had to fold mine in half for support. On the first night I was bitten by bugs on my arms, neck, back and even forehead, which spoiled my comfort and holiday photos. The food was disappointing. Breakfast was the same every day with very little choice, and lunch and dinner were hit and miss, mostly served cold. The dining staff were rude and unwelcoming. One of the most embarrassing moments was a staff member chasing me to the lift because I took one tangerine out of the dining area. You also can’t go back into the dining room, even just for dessert later. If you try, they tell you, often rudely, that you must pay extra. The bar staff were no better. On all-inclusive, they made us feel like second-class customers compared with people paying for drinks. From the moment we arrived, this did not feel like a four-star hotel. At best, I’d give it two stars.

I went in the first half of November, and this was one of the cheaper options. After reading the bad reviews I expected the worst, but it was a nice surprise. Everything was clean, the towels and bedding fresh and white, and there were always enough loungers because the hotel didn’t seem full. The views were incredible, especially from the rooftop pool overlooking the island. The gym could use a renovation, probably the only downside. I had half board. Breakfast was a typical British-style spread: different eggs, beans, bacon, my favourite stewed vegetables, oatmeal, granola and tasty cheeses. Dinner had more variety, with fish every day, plus pork and meatballs. There was melon and watermelon, and delicious pastries and croissants for dessert. The service suited me. Staff weren’t intrusive or overly friendly with fake smiles and loud greetings. They left me alone, and when they did speak with me it felt genuine. The location is right in the centre, about a five-minute walk from everything, including the bus station for routes to the capital and Mount Teide. You can get a Ten+ travel card, top it up with €50 and travel around the island for a week. There’s a machine at the airport where you can buy one. For the price, the hotel lives up to its four stars.

The location worked well, close to restaurants, bars and shops, and not too far from the beach. The rooms were spacious, had a nice balcony and were clean. There was a fridge, and a couple of small cockroaches. The bar staff were 10/10, but restaurant staff were 3/10: inattentive, and one person was very rude. I’d eaten one chicken drumstick and a few Canarian potatoes, then left to find my friend. When I came back to finish dinner, I was refused entry because I’d already been in once. The pool was small but fine. The pool bar never opened on time and service was slow. The sauna seemed not to exist, and even according to the website it was closed. Food choices were limited and lacked variety compared with other all-inclusives in the same price range. The fruit was awful every day. There was no self-serve beer tap, wine or sangria like at many all-inclusives. I wouldn’t return, though it might suit some people.

Many of the facilities weren’t available during our stay. The gym and sauna were closed, even though they were among the reasons I chose the hotel. The food was another letdown, often cold, poor quality and served in very small portions. The room looked nothing like the website photos. It felt outdated and quite misleading compared with the pictures used to promote it. What we got didn’t match what the website promised, so I wouldn’t recommend the hotel based on my stay.