Hotel Magic Rock Gardens

Magic Rock Garden review

Our holiday was booked at a Thomas Cook branch at short notice and we opted for Magic Rock garden (formerly Tropicana Garden ) in Benidorm. It was not our ideal choice but at short notice/ set budget/ winter season flight limitations, choices are going to be limited.

The Area

There were the usual shops selling everything from clothes and tatty souvenir ' s and plenty of cafe/bars open with prices to suit most budgets (although £-Euro is not good value at moment, about 1.08 in resort), on the subject of currency exchange be careful where you go some advertise a good rate but do not display the minimum amount and will not reverse the transaction once completed when you realise as I did that I had got appalling rate ( £50 = 46 Euro = 0.92cents/ £) when I changed some money at the bottom of Cardiac hill (Called de Manila) next to Pig & Whistle pub when I commented the guy pointed to a small sign beneath the front of counter hardly big enough to notice, needless to say did not use him again, the Thomas Cook rep advises to use Sheila ' s exchange (she apparently gives a good rate and no minimum limit, though we did not try her, also remember to take passport- Spanish law, something the guy that we used did not ask for!) she is in the indoor market which is on corner of Calle Girona/Av Amelia de Mar opposite Hotel Nereo, its open Mon- Sat all day.

A word of warning watch out for monkey man who will take a Polaroid of you with his monkey and offer you a full size print delivered to your hotel for 10euro (you never get it, watch your bags/wallets as he has a mate hanging around while you are distracted. Reps will usually warn you about these people.

Drinking/Entertainment in area

The Triangle pub (Called de Berlin) is quite nice, Karaoke/Sports screen/ live acts, beer reasonable/spirits pricy, further on near the Ambassador/Sol Pelicans you can a range of pubs/nightspots covering all popular music from Rock/Pop/Country/Irish and on sea front nearer to town a small bar with singer/guitarist, they photograph visitors and display them on computer screen for you to see and request copies if wanted.

The Magic Garden Hotel

Location

There are some mobility issues due to location which I do not recall being pointed out when booking and had not previously seen the holiday in a brochure. That said the hotel is at the top of a hill accessed in all directions by an incline of varying length/steepness. The main entrance is at the top of approx 200mtr hill (cardiac hill) which rises at about 15% gradient initially rising to about 20% for last 30mtres which can be rather daunting if you have heart/breathing/arthritic problems, I personally thought that this hill was not nearly as bad as the one to access the second floor reception which was twice the distance (and steeper) but I did try both and I am quite overweight and have mild asthma and was walking with a painful ankle, to give you some idea I have posted photos of all inclines on

Layout/Facilities

The hotel is part of Amigos chain which in total includes about 10 hotels/apartments/campsites on all inclusive basis, however when we were there (March 14th-21st) there was only 4 properties accessible due to renovations etc. There is a free inter property transfer bus which runs 6 times a day up until about 5.30pm which can be used to travel between various hotels if you wish to have a change of scene, sadly not suitable for most disabled people due to high steps onto bus.

The hotel is well laid out set in a prehistoric cave theme, most areas appeared easily accessible via 6 small lifts at both ends of building although 3 lifts nearest to restaurant /second floor reception are not in best condition and were quite temperamental at times, there is also a lift from street level (up a side path) to reception at main entrance if you are shattered after climbing cardiac hill but you do have to walk through a smoking area which incorporates the reception bar/after midnight self service bar to get through to reception desk area (this was initiated mid way through our holiday much to our annoyance).

Bars/Entertainment

The subject of smoking indoors is a bone of contention with many holiday makers (smokers and non smokers alike )and Spain is sadly lacking in changing its policies, this hotel lets itself (and non smoking guests) down badly by allowing smoking in the one and only entertainment area - the Safari bar, speaking to a hotel rep I expressed my concern that this effectively excluded non smokers but was told they had to cater for all and that there were restricted areas within Safari bar (non smokers near to the bar) and that air conditioning helped keep it clear, on our two very brief visits this area was just as thick with smoke (guess the smoke did not realise it was a non smoking area!!) and made it impossible for anyone with asthma to stay comfortably, hence we could not use this area plus this is also a children ' s entertainment area (mini disco) in early evening so might also be a problem for many families as there is no entertainment elsewhere in hotel for kids in evening. A simple solution would be to make it non smoking entirely and offer smokers the option to step outside the safari bar doors onto the pool patio area to smoke (where they do so during the day), presently non smokers do not have the option of breathing clean air if they wish to enjoy entertainment and at present there are only two areas where you cannot smoke (excluding restaurant/snack bar where smoking is not allowed anyway)these are reception area next to smoking area and Zulu bar although both have TV neither had any decent entertainment/music and these areas are also sadly lacking in sufficient seats (they have a lots of bean bags etc in Zulu bar), there is also a fruit machine and pool table (2euro a go)in Zulu bar.

Incidentally Villa Benidorm/Cristal Park do not presently allow smoking in main entertainment areas, only in small separate bar areas.

Rooms

The rooms were quite comfortable (more so since balcony was removed and room extended) and ensuite bathroom had a good powerful shower (take a rubber bathmat as bath very slippy, I went out and bought one from a supermarket a few blocks away, they are also sold in household goods shop in bazaar area behind shops/Chinese restaurant on corner of Av Ametlla de Mar/Av de Mediterraneo). WARNING - be careful with windows where there are young children/intoxicated adults they slide open wide with no restriction and did not appear to be lockable and if left open overnight, be aware the sofa bed is right next to window. Beds were hard (2 singles " not aware of any doubles in hotel) and there is a TV and air conditioning (remotes hired from reception) small refrigerator and safe (two types " push button combination and key lock " pay at reception 15 euro (plus 15 euro key deposit, returned when key handed back)

There is also a small laundry area above reception next to mini gym/sauna.

Staff

The reception staff were very pleasant to deal with and our request for a change of room (due to odour of stale cigarettes) was dealt with promptly, smoking is only allowed in rooms on floors 8 and above however this has not always been case as we were on floor 7 initially.

Bar staff very pleasant. the dining room staff, were also pleasant and considering the size of the area, cleared tables promptly and set them ready for next diners. The selection of food was quite good (bearing in mind you get what you pay for and this is 3 star max) food was well presented with a meat/fish/poultry/vegetarian dish available at each sitting and a lovely selection of salads/cooked meats etc , there was also a nice selection of desserts to appeal to most tastes and 3 flavours of ice cream and selection of canned and fresh fruit available, also hot beverages/water/soft drinks/beer and wine available self service in eating areas, there is also two microwaves available if you feel food is not hot enough, personally I had no problems with it.

Maid service was good and towels changed on request, linen changed and floors washed regular.

Overall impression

This would be a quite nice hotel, if it was non/restricted smoking (especially non smoking entertainment areas).

Location "definitely not for faint hearted due to steep inclines

Likelihood of future visit/recommendation " none in present circumstances, rated it as 3/5 at best