Vila Gale Marina

"Excellent hotel overlooking marina staff are great 👍 pools are canny but cold lol will definitely use it again 10/10"

"When our friends’ daughter chose to get married nearby on 27th May, we booked Vila Galé Marina on the recommendation of our friends, who had stayed there over 14 years ago and remembered it fondly. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. The hotel appears to have changed very little over the years, and not in a positive way. The reception and lobby areas feel dark, dated and uninviting, with tired décor, faded furnishings and a general lack of atmosphere. The same can be said for much of the hotel, which now feels well overdue for a comprehensive refurbishment. While our room offered lovely views of the marina and the location was excellent, these were the only real positives. The room itself felt neglected and poorly maintained. The balcony furniture consisted of basic plastic chairs which were uncomfortable, and the overall standard of cleanliness was disappointing. Dust was visible on lamps, marks were present on furnishings, and the room did not appear to be properly cleaned throughout our stay. As someone currently experiencing hair loss, I was particularly aware that hair and debris remained on the floor for the entire week, suggesting that the room was neither swept nor vacuumed during that time. The bathroom suffered from an unpleasant odour, which detracted from the overall comfort of the room. Practical issues also added to the frustration, including the lack of conveniently located power sockets near the mirror, making it difficult to use styling appliances. The room lighting was poor, leaving the space feeling dark in the evenings. The air conditioning, however, worked reasonably well. Breakfast was adequate, with the same selection offered each day. While the food was generally tasty enough, the dining area was consistently busy regardless of the time of visit. Staff were polite but lacked the warmth and attentiveness expected from a four-star hotel. Throughout the property there was a noticeable lack of attention to detail. Corridors, lifts and communal areas appeared worn and tired, and several areas showed clear signs of age and neglect. Overall, there seemed to be very little pride taken in maintaining the hotel to an acceptable standard. It is disappointing to write such a review, particularly as we chose this hotel based on a trusted recommendation and because it was connected to such a special family occasion. Sadly, Vila Galé Marina did not meet our expectations. While the location and marina views are attractive, the hotel itself feels dated, poorly maintained and in urgent need of significant investment and renovation. We regret our decision to stay here and would not return or recommend it to others."

"We visited this hotel for 10 years on the trot ... last time was 2012 I think, so when our daughter decided to get married nearby, on 27th may, we immediately booked here, as did our friends, What a mistake. We booked a package holiday with Jet2, and arrived at 11a.m ish, we both commented that the reception/lobby area was the same ... even the faded decor, wall pictures etc ... its such a dreary, dark and dated entrance, completely unwelcoming. Couldn't access our room until 2.30pm. The carpeted corridor from the lifts looked tatty and covered in fluff, dirt and bits, the lift itself had something horrible on the wall, the smell off drains was revolting! Lovely view of the marina, but that was about the only good thing. Small table and 2 plastic chairs on the balcony, but, alas so uncomfortable with no cushions, and accessed by a sliding door covered in greasy finger prints, hair on the floor, dust on the lamps, bits on the rugs and some unsightly marks on the blankets ... which were definitely not needed in 32 degree heat. Bathroom tiny, and smelly .. Shower leaked dreadfully, and the floor got soaked, every shower usage, including the bath mat! Reception didn't answer the phone when I needed new towels, so a trip down to request our room was serviced at 4pm, despite the 'please service our room' sign hanging on the door from 9 a.m! To be told by an extremely rude receptionist ' we allow til 5 pm! I then timed the cleaners ... 2.48 seconds from entry to exit! Pulled the bed over and wiped the bathroom floor. No new bath mat left so I had to request one despite the dirty wringing wet one being left! Our hand soap was not topped up.once throughout our 2 weeks ... therefore empty for a whole week! There were no socket plugs near the mirror so hair styling was impossible, plus the room was so dark in the evenings as no central lights. Aircon was fairly good. Breakfasts were busy at every time of service, between 7a.m and 10, no condiments on tables ... the same food each day, but tasty enough if hungry, and the staff were pleasant to a point. The sun bed towels didn't anywhere near cover the sun beds. Each guest needs 2. One pool bar guy in particular was exceptionally rude, we spent quite a lot daily on cool drinks, ice creams and lunches and the queues could sometimes mean waiting upto 20 minutes, I helped myself to an ice cube from a bucket and he yelled at me to stop, and went on to say he was in charge and running a busy bar! I took an ice cube for goodness sake, not money from the til! Completely embarrassing me in front of the other paying guests who were all as taken aback as I was! Another occasion he told everyone waiting to form one queue ... honestly ... he needs some serious customer service training. He also seemed determined to go through various receipts instead of taking guest orders, therefore making us all wait even longer, He wasn't the regular bar man, just Sunday/Monday I think. The lady, and Fillipe? who work the pool bar were both very nice. Bar snacks were reasonably priced and tasty. I include photos to show the dilapidated state of various parts of the hotel which absoloutely needs at least one, possibly 2 stars knocking from its 4 star status... we will never return, a very sad and dated, and dare I say unclean hotel which is in serious need of a complete overhaul. Completely regret my choice at booking vila gale marina and would not recommend."