HC Hotel Magec — Hotel in Puerto de la Cruz

Between the 13th-20th March 2025 we visited this hotel. |Good points: the rooms are adequate, the gym equipment is decent and the location is good being near the zoo, shops and more.||However, our stay at this hotel was not welcoming what so ever. The bad attitudes of the bar staff are the main reason we would not return, being told we need to go to bed and leave after having only one or two drinks. One night our family thought we would have a few drinks after our trip to the zoo. We had only just arrived at the bar when the member of staff serving us was rolling her eyes and waving her hands around in the air. I had asked for a vodka and coke to which she filled the glass 3/4 full of vodka and i said that it was too much. She then proceeded to give me the glass and tell me that the drink was for the “bye bye goodnight”. She would not change the drink so we decided to go elsewhere for a drink instead. Also, we witnessed the bar staff reusing dirty glasses instead of washing them.||We had asked the bar staff if we could have some cocktails to which they replied “no” and “we aren’t doing cocktails”. Every other night we were able to have them, but we were told that they are not included with the all inclusive.||On the rooftop there is meant to be a pool bar open. There was never anybody there to serve us and when there was someone there it was an effort to be served as staff would just continue chatting to each other and not acknowledging that we were there.||The pool was closed on two of the days that we were there due to “weather conditions” so we ended up having to pay to use another pools facilities on the beach front. When the pool was open the lifeguard would just disappear constantly when there was still people in the pool. On two occasions i see the lifeguard just chatting on the phone out of view of the pool. If there was an emergency he wouldn’t have been any wiser.||In the restaurant there was multiple times where staff would ask us if we would like a drink, without realising that we had all inclusive wristbands on. However, once they had realised we were all inclusive they told us to go and get our own drinks. The food selection was not great so we ended up eating out almost every day. The worst incident we see was a child choking. It was very clear that the child was choking as she was being very loud and the family were panicking. The staff didn’t even batter an eyelid and there was no help for the family from the staff. Members of my family went over to make sure she was okay and got some napkins to help clean up the mess.||Toilet roll was not replenished in our room very often so we had to ask reception multiple times if they could send some up. We had to use the toilets on the first floor multiple times due to this. We never see any of the “snacks” that had been advertised.||It is advertised that we did not have to check out of our rooms until 12pm. However, by 10:30 our key cards were no longer working and we had to ask the cleaners to let us in the rooms to retrieve our belongings. Also, upon checking out our all inclusive wristbands were cut off by the receptionist. She made us aware that we could still get drinks included until we left. The bar staff refused to serve us because we had no wristbands and would not listen when we were trying to explain that the receptionist cut them off.||All in all, our stay at this hotel was a nightmare and we feel as if we did not have good value for money what so ever. If i were you id steer clear...

Staff at the hotel were very friendly and helpful in all they did, perhaps a few more staff would help. The rooms are very clean, if a little dated and worn but housekeeping do a fantastic job. The food was a little hit and miss, sadly a letdown for us. Breakfast is late at 8am, but may be fine for some. The snacks at lunchtime were breakfast leftovers and sandwiches, which weren't particularly appetising, I'm sorry to say. The roof pool area was nice enough, clean and tidy, and had enough seating in our experience, although others stated they had struggled to find a sunlounger or even a seat at times. There is also a mini golf area, which is a little odd on a roof and doesn't really make best use of the space in my view. We saw very few people make use of it. The pool opens at 10am, late considering you could be done your breakfast by 8.30am! There isn't a downstairs bar open until the evening so you are a little stuck at this point! Once the pool is open at 10am, the pool bar doesn't open until 11am! This means you need to buy your own drinks from a local shop and wait until 11am before you can access the all inclusive drinks, again this comes across as poor organisation on the management's side. The bar staff are very friendly, however the rooftop barman was often gone for 10-15 minutes, meaning a sizable que had formed upon his return. There were meant to be fried snacks available at all times, but again, this was not on offer. There was one beer on tap and no sangria, unfortunately. You could get soft drinks from a cheap bottle kept in their fridge, which was usually flat. The ice cream and coffee were actually quite nice. Roof top toilets were clean, however really quite smelly. My wife rarely used them and often preferred to take 4 flights of stairs down to our room instead. There was a good size gym with quite a lot of good equipment, which was a pleasant surprise for me. The bar downstairs opened after 6pm but didn't really have enough seats. There was only entertainment available on a few evenings over the weekend, which meant we chose to venture out instead. Not what you plan when you book all-inclusive. The location was pretty good. About 400m to the local square where you will find lots of shops, bars and restaurants to choose from. There is quite a steep hill down, so perhaps not suitable for all. Having worked in 3 and 4 star UK hotels for the best part of a decade, I'd say this is far from a 4 star hotel. An honest appraisal would be 2 star plus. Overall, it is very clean, if dated. Perhaps ok if room only. Staff were great, although it's safe to say we would not return. Keep looking as there are far better value hotels in the area at...

Firstly I would like to address some of the negative comments I have read about this hotel. Personally, I did not encounter any significant issues during my stay, and I found the experience to be enjoyable overall.

I stayed on an all-inclusive basis, and the food was excellent. Meals were unlimited during the restaurant's opening hours, and the variety was impressive. As someone following a healthy eating plan, I was delighted to find nutritious options every day, including fresh salads and lean proteins. For my friends who were less health-conscious, there were plenty of indulgent options, including delicious desserts. Breakfast was the same daily, but lunch and dinner menus changed, offering a variety of proteins like beef, pork, chicken, tuna, duck, turkey, and even rabbit. The salad bar was well-stocked and kept on ice, ensuring freshness. I didn’t see any insects, though it’s worth noting that in a hot country, the occasional insect might fly in from outside.

The pool bar was a highlight, offering stunning views from the roof, including a clear view of the volcano. It was open most days, except for one when high winds prompted the hotel to open the ground-floor bar instead. On Friday, there was live music, adding a lively touch to the evening.

The reception also had a tourist information desk, which was incredibly helpful. They helped us create a personalized plan of activities and places to visit—all free of charge. Additionally, we were able to purchase tickets for Loro Park and Siam Park directly from them at a discounted rate, which was very convenient and saved us time and money.

Wi-Fi was generally good, though the signal occasionally dropped, which could be slightly frustrating. The rooms were clean and well-maintained, albeit slightly dated. Housekeeping was efficient, with daily cleaning ensuring a pleasant stay.

The staff were exceptional—friendly and attentive. They remembered our drink preferences and often had our drinks ready upon arrival. By the end of our stay, they even prepared a table for us without being asked, which was a thoughtful gesture.

The hotel's location is excellent, offering convenience and easy access to nearby attractions. Overall, I had a wonderful experience and would recommend this hotel to others. It’s a great choice for those looking for variety, comfort, and exceptional service in a...