Magda Hotel

The hotel staff were friendly and helpful, and we really enjoyed our time together. The buffet restaurant was there, and the entertainment was good if you like that sort of thing at a hotel. The entertainers spoke French, English and German, and there was a kids club and entertainment for children. There’s no beach directly at the hotel, but it’s a five-minute walk. Shops and cafes are right outside, about a minute away. The beach and water were amazing and clean. We paid 10 euros for two chairs and an umbrella for the day. There was a toilet by the cafe we used, where you could also buy water and other drinks.

We had a great holiday and would recommend the hotel. It was clean, gorgeous, and the staff were lovely. The beds were really comfortable, though there was only one pillow each at first. Reception gave us more when we asked. In October we found plenty of sun loungers and lots of pools without any fighting over beds. The hotel information says you can’t save sunbeds for later, which seemed to prevent a breakfast rush to reserve them. The rooftop pool was lovely and quiet for people who wanted to sunbathe, while the two lower pools were more family-friendly. Most guests were French, so the entertainment was aimed at them, with some English mixed in. We didn’t always understand everything, but still had fun. Food was varied, delicious and there was something for everyone. As a vegetarian, though, I was disappointed that meat was sometimes added to the bean salads, which cut down my options. I never went hungry. Popcorn, peanuts and ice cream were available at the bar throughout the day and evening, and freshly made pizza and waffles from 3pm. The main bar opened at 10am. All-inclusive drinks included a good range of spirits and cocktails, and the machine coffee and hot chocolate were good quality. After 11pm, the entertainment stopped and drinks became chargeable, so things got quiet. That worked well for families. The beach is about a two-minute walk away, but the hotel has no sunbeds or umbrellas there. You can rent a set for around 20 euros or use a towel, and the hotel rents beach towels for a small deposit. The beach was clean, with shallow water and a lifeguard, though waves came in from nearby water sports. There are tourist shops close by, plus more shops and bars along the seafront. Following the seafront to the right and turning right after about ten minutes brings you to a sort of high street with nice jewellery and clothes shops and a supermarket. There’s also an aquarium nearby and plenty of places selling excursions. We went to Water City waterpark and had a really good day out. Some of the surroundings aren’t very pretty, as there are derelict and unfinished buildings, particularly if you walk left along the seafront.

We spent two weeks at Hotel Magda and had a wonderful time. Even though we stayed in the older part, we had no complaints about the room. Housekeeping did a perfect job every day. The ladies worked hard, greeted us with a smile, and left everything spotless. The manager was also lovely, always greeting us and checking that things were okay, and reception staff were kind and helpful. The bar staff deserve special thanks too, especially the two women on the morning and evening shifts. They were always cheerful, made good drinks, and were kind, with a nice word for us every time. Meals were buffet-style, with plenty to choose from. Breakfast was mostly the same each day, while lunch and dinner had much more variety. The hotel has four freshwater pools, and they weren’t cold. We could use all the pool areas despite staying in the older section, although we’d read before that this might not be allowed. Most guests were French and most entertainment was in French, but the animators tried to translate into English. It was funny sometimes, and we could still join in without knowing French. A dedicated English-speaking animator would be appreciated. We never felt treated better or worse because the hotel mainly caters to French guests. The one real downside was smoking. People smoked everywhere, with little consideration for non-smokers, and sat wherever they liked even if smoke was blowing into someone’s face. I have asthma, and sometimes couldn’t find a spot at the evening shows without breathing in the smoke. It really marred the otherwise good reputation of Hotel Magda. I’d suggest splitting the bar area into smoking and non-smoking sections. As more people across Europe are smoking less and public smoking bans are becoming more common, the current setup feels unfair to non-smokers. Even families with children couldn’t find anywhere to sit without being surrounded by smoke, and I don’t think that’s right. Apart from that, we highly recommend Hotel Magda. Thanks for such a warm welcome. We’ll do our best to come back!

The rooms were bright, modern and clean, and the hotel had lovely finishes throughout. There were plenty of sun loungers and several pools to choose from. We travelled as a couple, but there were families and children too, with entertainment for everyone. The staff were friendly, and the drinks and food were great. It’s very close to the beach if you want to catch the sunset with a cocktail at a beachside bar.