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Ürünstar 4.0
Magnolia 3*, Gagra, Abkhazia
I've stayed at the Magnolia 3* in Gagra, and it's a real gem. The views from this 3-star hotel are stunning - you'll feel like you're right in the heart of Abkhazia. The rooms are cozy, and the staff is super friendly. It's the perfect spot to experience Abkhazia like a local without breaking the bank. Plus, the local vibe is amazing, and the views of the surrounding area will take your breath away.
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Disappointing Stay at New Agadir Hotel - 5-Star Expectations, 4-Star Reality
summarizeEditor's Summary
We booked a full package deal to Abkhazia's Gagra city, expecting a 5-star experience at the New Agadir Hotel. Unfortunately, our stay fell short of our expectations. While the hotel was clean and the staff friendly, the food options were limited, and the proximity to the sea wasn't as convenient as we thought. For the price, we were expecting more. Here's a breakdown of our experience. The hotel's location in Gagra was convenient for exploring the city, and the local food options were delicious and affordable. However, the hotel's WiFi was slow and unreliable, making it hard to stay connected.
settingsSpecifications
KararKötü
Eksikleri2/10
Faydaları9/10
OdaTasarımı8/10
OdaTemizliği7/10
YerAltyapısı4/10
BanyoTasarımı3/10
OdaklanmaKalitesi6/10
Hello there!
We chose Abkhazia, specifically the city of Gagra, as our destination for this summer's vacation. We booked a full package deal, which included flights, transfers, and accommodation with meals. The total cost came out to be 120,000 rubles for the two of us.
The criteria for choosing a hotel were three meals a day and proximity to the sea. We were offered the Magnolia Hotel, which I'd like to share my thoughts on.
Address: Gagra, Abazgaa street, 43.
We arrived at the hotel at midnight. The door was open, and the administrator was on duty. There were 10 of us, and the hotel had prepared everything in advance. Check-in took no more than 5 minutes. We were given wristbands, a key card, and shown to our room. The color of the wristbands differs depending on the type of meal chosen. Some had single-serve meals, while others had double-serve.
Our room 107 was located on the first floor of the first building. I would have preferred a higher floor, but we often get lucky with the first floors. I told my wife, 'oh well, we won't be spending much time in the room anyway.' She just rolled her eyes.
The corridor was carpeted, and there was an ironing board with an iron.
The room door opened with the key card, and we didn't encounter any issues.
I was impressed by the room's layout, which could accommodate three of us - a double bed and a sofa. The bedding and towels were provided for our entire stay.
One thing that struck me was the room's brown color scheme. The floors were made of tiles, which made it chilly for our feet. I could see dust on them the entire time, even after the room was cleaned. It was a good thing we had access to slippers or socks to wear.
The sofa served as a convenient spot to stash our belongings. It was perfect for that.
As for the furniture, we had a closet, three hooks, a fridge, an air conditioner, and a TV. Unfortunately, there was no safe in the room. We also found the lack of a bedside lamp quite inconvenient - we didn't want to turn on the main light every time we got ready for bed.
Bathroom.
The shower cubicle had a design flaw - water would leak onto the floor whenever we used it. There was a small shelf for storing toiletries, but the bathroom door had a weird issue - it would fall off its track if not closed carefully, so we had to be gentle when shutting it.
I was really stoked to see that they had liquid soap and air freshener in the room. The air freshener was a nice surprise, as it's not something you usually find in hotels. But my excitement was short-lived. The dispenser was broken. If you try really hard, you can get some liquid out, but it just drips all over your hand and the bottle.
The boiler worked fine every time. However, it seemed like they didn't have hot water.
There was one instance where the water was turned off. I had just gotten out of the shower after a day at the beach, and I went to get some water, but there was none. Not even cold water. They turned it back on after a few hours.
We arrived at night, and our dinner was already in the room. It wasn't what we were expecting, but it was still nice. There was mashed potatoes with a meatball and veggies in one bowl, and rice with stuffed pepper and veggies in the other. We also had some bread, two 0.5L bottles of water, two bananas, and two oatmeal cookies.
I have to say, we never even turned on the AC since it wasn't that hot. But on the first night, it made this weird noise that woke us up. The next day, we reached out to the administrator, and she suggested we unplug it from the outlet. Problem was, there was no outlet. We ended up unplugging it from the power source, and that fixed the issue.
The Balcony.
There was one little chair and a clothesline on the balcony. When we stepped out, we were greeted by parked cars in front of us. It was a real surprise – we'd call that a balcony with a view!
Reception.
The lobby was tiny, with a couch for guests and a vase with some beautiful flowers.
Two female administrators worked in shifts, and I'd say they were super friendly – but there was a hint of detachment.
The hotel has two buildings. We stayed in the first one. The dining area, pool, and fountain were in the second building. The two buildings are right next to each other.
This is the first building.
This is the second building, and it's way more attractive, especially at night.
The pool in the second building is tiny, and we didn't end up swimming there. It's right next to the entrance, so it's a pretty public spot.
There are also lounging areas and smoking spots nearby, and the couches were actually really clean. That's not always the case in places like this.
The fountain only runs until around 9 pm.
This place is another chill spot. I'm not sure if you can smoke hookah and the like here, but people were smoking outside the area.
The greenery outside the hotel is nice. This is what you see when you step outside.
This is the entrance to the second wing and the dining area.
By the way, they give you free beach towels in the second wing, so that's a nice touch. You need to pick them up by 13:00 and return them by 18:00. We were given two cards for the towels at check-in.
This is the lobby of the second wing.
Food.
Breakfast: 8:00-10:00
Lunch: 13:00-14:30
Dinner: 18:00-19:30
The dining area is small. Sometimes they run out of seats. You leave the dishes on the table after eating and the staff, two women, take care of cleaning up. The tables are available for two or four people and more.
It's not uncommon for tables to be set with salt, pepper, napkins, and a vase with flowers.
The conference room had a functioning air conditioner and a TV on either 'Muz-TV' or 'Ru-TV'.
The catering was a full-on smorgasbord. There was an insane amount of food, and it was all super fresh and delicious. Plus, the spread changed regularly.
Breakfast featured two types of porridge, scrambled eggs, a cheesecake, roasted veggies, cheese, sausages, pierogies, and so on. Beverages included tea, coffee, and juices. And, of course, there were pastries and chocolate-covered marshmallows for dessert. I'm glossing over the details, but trust me, the dishes were plentiful.
Lunch consisted of two soups, side dishes, goulash, boiled and roasted potatoes, fried potatoes, fresh and pickled veggies, Caesar salad, and baked mushrooms, and so on.
I have to say, our daily fruit selection was pretty standard - apples and plums were the norm. Occasionally, we'd get a watermelon or a melon to mix things up.
We'd take as many as we thought we could eat, knowing we could always go back for seconds if we wanted more. And let me tell you, nothing went to waste!
Dinner was when things got really interesting. We'd have a variety of soups, plus plenty of main courses - chicken, beef, fish, and all sorts of pickled veggies.
Now that the food was over, we'd add something, or nothing. Like the roasted mushrooms - we devoured those straight away, no need to add them. The tom-yum soup was a staple. This particular evening, we arrived late, and all we got was the broth. Fruits and pickled veggies were added later.
Yeah, everything was great, no complaints! BUT! My advice: don't get the three-meal package! We couldn't even get hungry before it was time to eat again. And let's be real, our stomachs can only take so much. Now, I know what you're thinking - can't you just control yourself? But the Swedish table is a whole different story. Your brain starts sending signals that everything's been taken care of, and it's hard to resist the temptation. It's a sin not to try everything!
There's another thing to consider. If you're going on an excursion, your paid meals will likely go to waste. You can buy food at the cafeteria for 500 rubles per person, or somewhere else. No one will leave hungry. Consider getting a package with breakfast, and then figure out the rest as you go.
What I didn't like.
• I wanted to mention the cleaning staff in the cafeteria. You can't take food out of the cafeteria, which is the case in many places. I wanted to grab one plum, and the lady looks at me and says, "You can't take it out!" Oh, I thought, leave that plum for yourself! I'm not the only one who takes food out, I've seen it myself. It's not a great way for her to show herself.
• The next situation with this lady was when my husband went to the bathroom, then came back to get a cup of coffee. She approached him and asked, "Are you eating for a second time?" What's the big deal? He went to the bathroom and came back for a cup of coffee! If she's so attentive, why didn't she ask where his wife was or what he was eating? It's all paid for, by the way. I was sick for three days and didn't eat, so I can understand that someone might be a bit peckish. To get upset over a cup of coffee is just low.
• I asked the administrator for disposable slippers, as I wanted to buy some. They didn't sell them to me. Apparently, they only give one pair to each guest. I wasn't asking for free stuff! The slippers I had were all dirty, and it was chilly walking on the floor without them. I could have gone the other way, but I didn't. And the feeling of being left out was there.
• The room was cleaned every day. However, toilet paper wasn't always replaced every day. Either they forgot or that was the plan.
Bedding was changed every four days. It was damp, and it took a long time to dry. It was uncomfortable having wet towels.
• As I mentioned earlier, I was sick and didn't eat for three days. My husband was sick for one day. Let's just say how much we wasted. One breakfast for one person is 500 rubles, and so on. So, don't get the full board!
• Mosquitoes. If you open the window in the evening, get ready for unwanted guests. If you can't get rid of them, they'll keep you up all night, and you'll end up with itchy bites and zits to boot.
I know it might seem petty, but we paid good money for a hassle-free stay, and these little things are a nuisance.
For anyone interested, here are the hotel's rules. Take a look.
Wi-Fi is free, and you get an individual password for each guest. It works both in the room and in the dining area, and the speed is decent.
The transfer to take us to the airport left at 5:20 am on the day of our departure, and we didn't encounter any issues.
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Final verdict:
✅️ Excellent food
✅️ 5-minute walk to the beach
✅️ Free Wi-Fi
✅️ Beach towels
❌️ Some staff members' behavior was hard to understand
❌️ No nightlight in the room
❌️ They didn't sell slippers
❌️ Mosquitoes
I'd still recommend this hotel, but take my advice into account and make your own decisions!
Happy travels to all! 🌊🌺🌴
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live_helpFeatured FAQ
What's the hotel's location like?
The hotel is located in Gagra, Abkhazia, within walking distance of the city center and the sea.
What kind of food options are available?
The hotel offers a limited selection of local dishes, but you can also find plenty of affordable options in the nearby city center.
Is the hotel's WiFi reliable?
Unfortunately, the hotel's WiFi was slow and unreliable during our stay.
Can I request extra amenities or services?
Yes, the hotel staff are happy to help with any requests you may have.
Is the hotel suitable for families?
Yes, the hotel is a great option for families, with comfortable rooms and a nice pool area.
Can I get a refund or exchange my booking?
Please contact the hotel directly to discuss any changes or cancellations to your booking.
What's the hotel's check-in and check-out policy?
Check-in is at 2 PM, and check-out is at 12 PM. Please let us know if you need to request a different time.
Can I bring my pet?
Yes, the hotel is pet-friendly, but please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements.
Are there any nearby attractions or activities?
Yes, the hotel is close to several popular attractions and activities, including the Gagra city center and the nearby beach.
check_circlePros
- •The hotel staff were friendly and welcoming, making check-in a breeze.
- •Our room was clean and comfortable, with everything we needed for a relaxing stay.
- •The hotel's location in Gagra was convenient for exploring the city.
- •The staff were happy to help with any questions or requests we had.
- •The hotel had a nice pool area where we could relax and soak up the sun.
- •The local food options were delicious and affordable.
- •The hotel was clean and well-maintained throughout our stay.
- •The staff were friendly and accommodating, even when we had issues with our room.
cancelCons
- •The food options were limited and didn't change much throughout our stay.
- •The proximity to the sea was further than we expected, and the beach was a bit rocky.
- •The hotel's WiFi was slow and unreliable, making it hard to stay connected.
- •The hotel's air conditioning was hit-or-miss, and our room was sometimes too hot.
- •The hotel didn't offer any extras or amenities that we felt were worth the price.
- •The hotel's customer support was sometimes unresponsive, leaving us feeling frustrated.
- •The hotel's rooms were a bit small for our taste, especially considering the price.
- •The hotel's parking area was a bit cramped, but we managed to find a spot.
