Magda Hotel Club

Our intention was to fully relax in our short 4 night stay and we were able to do that here in this lovely hotel. We were in the newer complex and it was beautiful. We had a spacious room with our own little pool, comfortable sun loungers, very comfortable beds aswell. I slept like a dream. Walking distance to the local beach, shops and restaurants if you wanted a change from the all inclusive menu. I've never been to an all inclusive hotel before so I've nothing to compare it to, i did tend to stick to the same meals but the food was fine for us. We liked that the hotel was not predominantly British, with holidaymakers from Holland, France, Switzerland and Germany.. there was a nice friendly European vibe to the place. So, it served our purpose well and we would go back 😎☀️

I spent 10 days at the Magda Hotel in Crete with friends and family, and overall we had a really enjoyable holiday. There were definitely things we loved about the hotel, as well as a few areas where I think a four-star all-inclusive could do better.

First impressions & location

The journey from the airport was pleasantly short, which was a great start. The hotel itself is in lovely surroundings and is very close to the beach — easily walkable. Everything within the hotel was also very accessible in terms of distance between the different buildings, which I really appreciated. There was no trekking long distances to get to the restaurant, pools or other facilities, which made it feel very convenient and relaxing.

The hotel has a lovely, homely feel. It doesn't feel overly corporate or impersonal, and I got the impression that it is very much locally and personally run. We didn't have to wear wristbands or lanyards, which added to that more relaxed, homely atmosphere.

Rooms

We were fortunate enough to be upgraded, which was a lovely gesture from the hotel. We had two swim-up rooms and a junior suite, and the rooms were fantastic. The swim-up concept is a great idea and I would definitely consider doing a swim-up room again at another hotel.

However, accessibility is something that I think Magda could improve.

One member of our party has mobility difficulties, and unfortunately the pools aren't particularly accessible for people with mobility issues. The steps into the pools are quite steep, so this is something I'd recommend the hotel looks at.

There is also a safety consideration around some of the swim-up rooms. I think some form of additional barrier or guard around the pool areas immediately outside the rooms could be worth considering. I would personally be concerned about young children having direct access to the pool from the room. The concept itself is brilliant, but I think the safety arrangements could be reviewed.

Food – unfortunately the biggest letdown

This is where I think the hotel has the most room for improvement.

There was plenty of choice — lots of meat, fish, bread, desserts and different dishes — and we always managed to find something to eat. The desserts were particularly good and there was a good variety of bread.

However, the food was very repetitive after a few days and, more importantly, it was often lukewarm rather than hot.

We actually found ourselves using the microwave quite regularly to heat our food, which I suspect is primarily there for families with young children. For an all-inclusive four-star hotel, I wouldn't expect guests to regularly have to reheat their dinner.

The food also sometimes felt quite salty and, after a few days, I found myself sticking to the same "safe" options because I wasn't particularly excited by what was being served.

I also didn't feel that the food really showcased Greek or Cretan cuisine. When we went outside the hotel — including on trips to Santorini and Chania — we had some fantastic Greek food, and that really highlighted the difference.

I think the hotel could make a significant improvement by introducing more freshly prepared food stations. At other all-inclusive hotels I've stayed in, breakfast might have a fresh egg/omelette or pancake station, while dinner might include freshly cooked speciality dishes or a chef preparing food to order.

At Magda, it often felt as though the food had been pre-cooked and was simply being brought out, which may explain why it wasn't particularly hot or fresh. Whether this is a staffing or operational issue, I obviously don't know, but it would make a huge difference to the overall experience.

Staff & service

The staff were generally very friendly and welcoming. Whenever we asked for something, they did their best to help us.

A special mention to Fanta, who worked in the restaurant and was particularly helpful during our stay. She was always friendly, smiley and accommodating, and really added to our experience.

I appreciate that we were there towards the end of the season, which may also have influenced the level of service, but overall we felt safe, comfortable and well looked after.

A couple of other things to be aware of

The bar remains open later in the evening, but after around 11pm drinks become chargeable. I've stayed at quite a few all-inclusive hotels and this was unusual for me, as I'm more accustomed to drinks remaining included throughout the evening. It's not necessarily a problem, but it's something worth knowing before you arrive.

Overall

Despite the criticisms, I genuinely had a great time at Magda Hotel and I would return.

I loved the relaxed, homely atmosphere, the location, the facilities and how easy it was to get around the resort. The staff were friendly and genuinely seemed to want guests to have a good holiday. The rooms were excellent, and the swim-up rooms were a particular highlight.

For me, though, the food was the biggest disappointment and the one thing that stopped the hotel from being a really outstanding experience. Improving the freshness and temperature of the food, offering more freshly prepared dishes and incorporating more authentic Greek/Cretan cuisine would make a huge difference.

I'd also encourage the hotel to look at accessibility around the pools and safety around the swim-up rooms.

Overall, a lovely, relaxed hotel with a great atmosphere and some excellent facilities. We had a brilliant holiday and I'd happily come back — I just hope the food improves before my next visit!