Club Med Magna Marbella Review
We love the premium all-inclusive Club Med resort experience so much that three members of staff (Lucie, Becky and Beth) all recently took their own holidays in Club Med’s Magna Marbella resort in Spain, Costa Del Sol, visiting in February, May and July ’24.
This is their joint Club Med Magna Marbella review, also available as a podcast, telling of the wonderful time experienced by all with each describing different aspects of the resort and their favourite highlights.
Pre-Arrival
As I had previously been lucky enough to experience Club Med, I initially had high expectations and was very excited to try the Club Med Magna Marbella experience. The only thing I questioned was the resort not being situated on a beach, as I previously really enjoyed the beach setting and water sports of other Club Med resorts. To my delight, the resort was situated facing the Sierra Blanca mountains overlooking Marbella & had stunning views of the sea, mountains & Andalucia.
The benefits of Club Med’s Easy Arrival service are great – you can login to your account with Club Med up to 3 days before you arrive. You can also register your children into the childcare programmes. The Club Med app is your online guide & helps you enjoy your stay to the fullest! I found this app so useful; you can personalise your stay & choose all the activities, dress codes, book restaurants, spa. This app also has a complete guide of the resort & all the important information. I relied on this all through my stay especially when we wanted to join in a particular activity or wanted to know the dress code for the evening! – Lucie
Arrival
On arrival at Malaga airport, we were met by a Club Med representative who took us to our driver for the short transfer to the hotel. The hotel is situated quite a way back from the resort of Marbella and stands out as one of the tallest buildings in the area. We were met at the entrance by a porter who whisked our cases away and one of the reception team who greeted us warmly. First impressions did not disappoint, the hotel foyer is quite spectacular both in size and appearance; decorated in beautiful hues of green and teal, furnished with different easy chairs and sofas strategically placed around the beautiful water feature and chandelier in the centre.
We were offered a welcome drink, a Club Med wristband (which is also your door key, so no lost keycards,) given some general information about the hotel, and the General Manager Pierre-Jean introduced himself. – Beth
Our room was ready, and we had one overlooking the resort with views toward Marbella and the sea. Our room was delightful – fresh, cool and very comfortable. With a huge bed and crisp white bedding complemented by blue accessories, there’s plenty of storage and a fridge (not stocked). The bathroom had a walk-in shower and a his and hers vanity area with wash hand basins, shaver point and magnifying make up mirror with lights, some toiletries were provided and floor to ceiling windows with a furnished balcony – it really was lovely.
Gourmet Cuisine, Snacks & Drinks at Magna Marbella
A big aspect of the Club Med experience is their gourmet food, served in beautiful surroundings, and the consensus is that the meals, snacks and drinks at Magna Marbella are some of the best ever tasted. – Lucie/Becky/Beth
Breakfast
Something I looked forward to each morning and a really relaxing ‘occasion’ when taken early on the terrace of Suenos, overlooking the pool and the expanse of green, verdant gardens. My favourite breakfast treat being an omelette cooked to order by the chef and a side of coffee or fresh juice; although sometimes I exchanged this for a delicious fresh pastry (or two) and fruit. Other favourites included bacon, eggs, cereals and yoghurts. – Becky
Lunch
Lunch at Magna was fantastic – a great gourmet experience with stations of freshly cooked food. A starter section in buffet style but freshly prepared to order. Each station had a variety of dishes from meats to fish, with a designated kid’s corner for children. This was provided for every meal. As you would expect from a premium resort, the desserts were delicious. They had fresh cream pastries and a variety of cakes, with there also being an ice cream bar! For every meal, water and red/white wine was also offered. A different variety of food was available daily, one of the days we had a BBQ served by the pool which included a Fish Paella. I must say this was my favourite lunch! – Lucie
Dinner
While at dinner, you are provided with a large salad/starter and tapas island with different cooking stations where chefs displayed their skills and cooked to order your requirements, a whole area dedicated to bread (those carbs!) and a dessert, ice-cream and cheese station. They also had a ‘Baby Corner’ where the food was cooked with no salt – amazing for families with really young children.
The Tierra gourmet lounge is an alternative to the buffet restaurant and offers table service (reservation required) and a three-course menu showcasing the best of local cuisine, with this being included in your holiday cost. I tried the steak tartare followed by duck breast and finished off with a gloriously light and indulgent chocolate mousse -it was all delicious.
Here you can also indulge in Lobster and Wagyu beef, this does however have an additional surcharge and must be booked in advance. – Beth
Deserts
I started the week at Magna Marbella intending to be ‘good and healthy’, but in the end the deserts both at lunch and dinner were so varied and beautifully made, it was really difficult to say no! As a cheese advocate, I really appreciated the bountiful selection of cheeses and grapes on offer at every meal. – Becky
Activities – Golf
Marbella is Spain’s golf capital; within a 20-minute drive there are seven fantastic 18-hole courses and all bookable at the Golf Concierge desk.
Whilst there, I took advantage of both an intermediate group lesson and a couple of times, the free access to Magna’s golf facilities: practice bunker, driving range and putting green. There were two Golf Pros and both had some very useful tips for me throughout the week. Lesson equipment was good and although the range isn’t huge, I found it good enough for recreational practice. This meant when I returned home, I was still in the ‘swing’ of things! –Becky
Gym
The gym is well equipped with a couple of cross trainers, running machines and exercise bikes along with several weight machines and free weights, there is a water station and towels are provided. It was never busy so no waiting to use these machines. – Beth
Pools / Water Aerobics
Each day there was a host of fitness classes to choose from, and at 11:00, I joined the water aerobics session which was great fun and somehow got harder each time! – Beth
Self-Guiding
There is an app called Club Med Guide which does have hiking routes, I have never really been a fan, but we really enjoyed this activity – especially the views in the mountains! The walking routes had careful GPS directions and were easy to follow. I would recommend giving it a go as there are many routes to try! – Lucie
Entertainment – Aperitif & Music
Each evening before dinner, guests are invited to join Club Med Magna’s house band for live music in the Rouge bar and an Aperitif before dinner. The music and songs were of a range of styles and taken from various decades. The main instrument being guitar, to which the members of the band harmonised beautifully making each song their own. – Becky
After Dinner
Every night after dinner, we enjoyed entertainment from live bands, tribute acts and a DJ, who all performed on an outside stage. Also, there was a varied selection of children’s entertainment which ran between 7- 9pm, which included activities such as shows and disco’s. The Karaoke shows were very entertaining and were complemented well by some delicious cocktails! A short taxi ride down to the marina brought you to a wide variety of bars and clubs, if you are in a party mood! Every night was a different dress code/theme that linked into the evening’s antics. – Lucie
Would we recommend Magna Marbella? – Yes!
From Magna’s quiet efficiency where your bags arrive at your room and return transport before you do, to the forward-thinking management employing technology such as ‘Pepe’ to help staff and guests. All the thoughtful little things were covered, as well as the big things – making a really excellent holiday for everyone.
Talking & interactive robot waiter Pepe delights the children, every time they see him & brings a smile to the faces of the adults
FAQ’s
1. Do you have to dress to match the Magna Marbella theme nights? A. Whilst many people chose to loosely match the evening’s theme, others embraced it completely or chose to do their own thing. It’s just a bit of fun at the end of the day!
2. Would you recommend Club Med’s Easy Arrival service? A. The benefits of the ‘Easy Arrival’ service are great – you can login to your account with Club Med up to 3 days before you arrive. You can also register your children into the childcare programmes.
3. Is it worth downloading the Club Med app? A. The Club Med app is your online guide & helps you enjoy your stay to the fullest! I found this app so useful; you can personalise your stay & choose all the activities, dress codes, book restaurants, spa. This app also has a complete guide of the resort & all-important information. I relied on this throughout my stay, especially when we wanted to join in with a particular activity or wanted to know the dress code for the evening!
4. Do you have to pay extra when visiting the hotel’s gourmet restaurant? A. The Tierra gourmet lounge is an alternative to the buffet restaurant and offers table service (reservation required). Certain dishes include an added surcharge, such as Lobster and Wagyu beef, and must also be booked in advance.
5. What is Crazy Signs? A. Crazy Signs is a fun five minutes when everyone jumps up and joins the staff in a crazy dance! A Club Med tradition and something everyone is very enthusiastic about! Not compulsory, of course, but great fun to watch.
If you would like to book Club Med Magna Marbella or you would like to ask Lucie, Becky or Beth a question call Free 0800 707 6229. You could also speak to Zoe who was invited to the official opening of Magna Marbella in May 2022.
