In need of a sunny break somewhere not too far from Zurich, before Winter sets in? How about a location not too far from Switzerland, but a little sunnier and warmer?  I’ve recently come back from the newly opened ClubMed Magna Marbella in Spain and had a wonderful time and I can highly recommend both the resort and Marbella as a great holiday destination.

I haven’t been on a ClubMed holiday for a number of years although when my children were smaller my family went on several ClubMed holidays all over Europe as they have so much to offer. Whether you’re travelling alone or with a partner or family, they really do have something for everyone.

ClubMed Magna Marbella – Under an Hour From Malaga Airport

The new ClubMed Magna Marbella is located in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca mountain, just around 45 minutes from Malaga airport, which is about 2 hours 25 minutes from Zurich by plane.

I was there for the official opening of the hotel, which had had a “soft” opening earlier on in May. In mid September the weather was still hot and sunny and I enjoyed such a relaxing time re-discovering all the things that made me such a fan of Club Med when my children were younger.

ClubMed – High Quality All Inclusive + Childcare

The ClubMed concept offers a high end all inclusive menu which includes all food, most drinks and tons of sports and fitness activities. In addition they offer FREE childcare for children aged from 4 months to 17 years old!

It pretty much means that once you have paid for your holiday, most things are already included, including an open bar. Yes, of course, there is an à la carte menu for wines and champagnes (but the standard house white, rose and red are all pretty decent). There is also the on-site Cinq Mondes Spa which has a tempting menu of massages and facials! Whilst I was there I enjoyed a great shoulder massage – which really was excellent!

ClubMed Fitness and Sport Facilities 

However, the ClubMed fitness classes, along with all the amazing, high quality facilities are FREE and are all included in your holiday. What’s more the facilities, group tuition and equipment are top class! There is even a ClubMed App you can download outlining the timetable for all the classes.

In addition there are 10 tennis courts and 6 paddle tennis courts (it seems to be a really big craze in many European countries right now!), archery facilities, a basketball pitch, beach volleyball, golf practice court, a gym and circus school.

If you need any tuition, there is no problem at all as the ClubMed staff (known as GOs or Gentil Organisateurs) are highly talented and can offer tuition and classes in all the activities provided.

There are even trapeze lessons if you so desire!

There are 5 swimming pools (one of them belongs to the Children’s Mini Club and is just for children) and they are all very different. My favourite pool was the adults only, “Zen Pool” which was located in a peaceful area at the top of the resort with beautiful views across to the Mediterranean Sea.

Fabulous Food at ClubMed Magna Marbella

One of the big draws of the resort is the amazing food. It really is fabulous! High quality dishes, beautifully cooked with fresh local ingredients. There are two restaurants and there is definitely a local Spanish and Mediterranean influence on the menu. However, there is also plenty of international cuisine too and I enjoyed some really great Moroccan cuisine.

In comparison to Club Med in the past, there are still buffets, but there are more plated options and à la carte, which I think is a good thing.

I enjoyed some absolutely amazing dishes whilst I was there – barbecued lobsters, fabulously tender steak and really fresh delicious salads and beautifully fresh local fish.

I tried to avoid looking too closely at the dessert section for fear of being tempted!! – but the cakes and patisserie looked incredible!

There are a number of dining options available all day long, so whether you’re a late sleeper or an early riser, you certainly won’t go hungry.

Beautiful Rooms and Great Balconies

The hotel has a total of 486 bedrooms which come are made up of Superior rooms, Deluxe rooms and Suites. The accommodation has been beautifully refurbished and is lovely and minimal and fresh and crisp.

I liked the bright colours with the white and I loved my balcony from which I had an amazing view over the main pool, the rest of the resort and out to the Mediterranean sea.

The hotel itself is not a new build, but what was previously the Don Miguel Hotel. The funny thing is after a couple of hours of being on site I realised that this was actually a ClubMed hotel I had previously stayed at twice before, but it had been so dramatically changed with its new look that I had not recognised it!

Sustainable Eco Approach to ClubMed Magna Marbella 

Instead of knocking down the old building (which would have been cheaper and easier), ClubMed focussed on turning the ClubMed Magna Marbella into a hotel which is as eco as possible. They have installed lots of solar panels on top of the roof to provide electricity and have installed rainwater collection points. All the water which is used in the showers, is then re-used to flush the toilets. The 12 acres of gardens ensure there is plenty of greenery and lots of quiet corners to rest and relax.

As part of their “Bye-Bye Plastics” program, to avoid single-use plastic, they have installed lots of water stations so that you can fill up your water bottle all over the hotel. Even the furniture has been designed with thermal energy saving in mind.

Entertainment and Night Life

There is always something going on at Club Med so if you’re looking for entertainment, music and night life you won’t be disappointed. There is entertainment both during the daytime and in the evening as well, with DJs and music.

Exploring Ronda and The Region Around Marbella  

If you’re more interested in culture and exploring the surrounding area, you’re only 20 minutes walk from the charming old town of Marbella. The Mediterranean is around 25 minutes away and if you don’t fancy walking back, just grab a return taxi for a few Euros!

Whilst I was there I went on a tour from the hotel to the beautiful town of Ronda. It’s just over an hour away inland and is stunningly scenic and full of lots of historic buildings.

I highly recommend the trip and I will write about the Ronda trip very soon!

I had an amazing time, and really enjoyed the experience. Even though the hotel is still quite new, everything ran very smoothly. Check-in was perhaps not quite as organised as it could be, but all the staff were wonderfully friendly and helpful. Once checked-in and you are wearing your little ClubMed bracelet (which conveniently allows you to open your hotel room door) it really feels like holiday and you really can totally relax. You don’t even have to worry about where you put your room card key! As someone who is always losing hers, this is a godsend!

So why not extend your summer with some sunny vibes at ClubMed Magna Marbella?

Take a look at our Instagram Reel of the trip here: