Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
This property is 2 minutes walk from the beach. Located just 150 m from Gale Beach, this stylish hotel offers rooms with balconies, some of which overlook the swimming pool and palm tree garden. It features a spa and saunas. Each room at Vila Gale Praia offers modern furnishings, including a flat-screen TV and DVD player. It has a seating area, work desk and a private bathroom with bathtub and hairdryer. The Gale Praia features an open-plan bar and restaurant serving a wide choice of beverages and a la carte meals. A rich breakfast buffet is served each morning in the dining room. The hotel’s cosy lobby area has plenty of seating, a library and billiards. Alternatively, guests can relax in Spa Satsanga offering several body treatments and yoga lessons, as well as a hot tub and steam rooms. Vila Gale Praia can arrange rental bikes for exploring the beautiful Algarve coast. Free parking is available at the hotel.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Green
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, German and 1 more
Location
Praia da Gale, Lote 33, Apt. 2204, Albufeira 8201-917 Portugal
Name/address in local language
Vila Gale Collection Praia
4.5 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Many guests laud Vila Gale Collection Praia for its comfortable and spacious rooms offering scenic views, though the decor receives mixed reviews, with a call for more contemporary touches. The hotel's dining options are praised for their quality and value, although some visitors mention the bar's drinks are on the pricier side. The pool area is celebrated for its cleanliness and stylish tranquility; however, there's feedback about a lack of sufficient sunbeds and parasols.
The service at the hotel consistently earns high marks for the staff's warmth and efficiency, and while the atmosphere is generally regarded as serene and upscale, a few guests feel that both the decor and pool area could benefit from more life. The location is favored for its tranquility, proximity to local amenities, and scenic boardwalk.
Location
Secluded
Atmosphere
Serene
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Relaxing
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
We have just returned from an eight night stay at this lovely hotel. We did a short stay here some years ago and always planned to return.We booked directly with the hotel which proved to be the cheapest option and we also got a discount as a returning customer to a Vila Gale property. We arrived very early and were delighted we were able to access our room immediately. Our room (209) was very comfortable, good air-con, huge bed, great shower pressure, large bath towels and nice robe and slippers provided. There was a complimentary bottle of water in the room …there is also a mini bar.No kettle but I think you can hire one. Not all rooms have a pool view, we were on the ground floor with a small patio looking on to a courtyard. We hardly used the patio but it might be a disappointment to some so worth looking , at this at booking time. The pool area was lovely, very quiet while we were there. The pool is unheated but I enjoyed my swims. Most of the reviews here mention how lovely the staff are and I totally agree.
Gale is a very quiet resort and it feels very safe. The beach is amazing ..the sea is often too rough for swimming and is absolutely freezing! We had one cooler cloudy morning so we took the walk over the boardwalk to the next town, Armacao de Pera. The walk will take you about an hour, it runs through the wonderful Praia Grande nature reserve. We had a ramble around Armacao de Pera, ate a nice lunch and walked back. Whoever is responsible for erecting all the boardwalks in the Algarve deserves a Nobel prize, what a fabulous amenity.
Breakfast was lovely and we ate all other meals out and about in Gale. Like everywhere else, eating out is no longer cheap, at lunchtime we almost always had to ask to see the snack menu, this is worth remembering as sometimes you just want a wrap or a toastie. The cafe attached to the supermarked Apolonia is very good. As is the Italian restaurant attached to the hotel. San Domingos is also really good and well worth the 25 minute walk.
We had a lovely holiday and are looking forward to returning later in the year when we might divide our time between here and the Vile Gale, Lagos which we also love.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Having travelled extensively, the Praia Gale Collection Hotel was by far the most sophisticated and peaceful ADULTS ONLY hotel we have stayed in. The food and staff were first class particularly Liliana who was a wonderful host at breakfast. The hotel was so peaceful, no evening entertainment, no music around the pool. Location was quiet but there were plenty of walks from the hotel particularly along the boardwalk. A perfect winter break. Thank-you to all the staff and also to Jet2 who once again were professional and attentive.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Luisa Santos, General Manager at Vila Gale Collection Praia
Responded Mar 3, 2024
Dear Kariba20, Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience at the Praia Gale Collection Hotel. We are thrilled to hear that you consider our hotel the most sophisticated and peaceful ADULTS ONLY hotel you have stayed in during your extensive travels. It's fantastic to know that you found the food and staff to be first-class, with a special mention to Liliana for being a wonderful host at breakfast. We appreciate your kind words regarding the peaceful atmosphere, absence of evening entertainment, and no music around the pool, creating a serene environment for a perfect winter break. We will make sure to pass on your appreciation to our dedicated team, and we are also grateful for your acknowledgment of Jet2's professionalism and attentiveness. Thank you once again for choosing Praia Gale Collection Hotel, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another sophisticated and peaceful stay in the future. If there is anything specific you would like for your next visit or if you have any additional feedback, please feel free to let us know. Warm regards, Luisa Santos
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We had the absolute pleasure of staying at the Hotel Vila Gale Collection Praia in Feb 2022. The proximity to the beautiful coastline is a 5min walk where you can take choice of boardwalk or waters edge. The hotel far exceeded our expectations in every aspect. It was spotlessly clean, bedrooms were a generous portion and really comfortable. There were plenty of places to relax including the well designed outdoor pool, excellent fitness and indoor jacuzzi and steam rooms and relaxing library/lounge area. To pick some highlights would be the bar and dining experiences as the quality of the food, excellent presentation and top class service was simply amazing. The food and beverage staff had that rare quality of friendly and utterly professional and so looking forward to our evening meal each evening was a super treat. Our only regret was that we had booked one week and have already planned to return.
Tip….taxi fares to the location from the airport are expensive but the hotel organised driver, which we availed on departure, was a little cheaper
Read more
Date of stay: February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear guest, Many thanks for your lovely review about your experience at our restaurant. We are very happy to know that you have enjoyed our service and have spent a very good time with us. It would be a pleasure to welcome you back at our restaurante in a soon oportunity. Kind regards
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This could've been a lovely stay but unfortunately it was only average for a number of reasons. If I start with the positives first - great location very close to the beach, but also quiet and low key. The rooms are a good size and on the whole quite comfortable. I think the staff here, especially the restaurant/bar staff are first class. They simply cannot do enough for you and every request we made was met with a smile and can do attitude. Special mention to Nicole who is an absolute asset to the hotel. Management should be very grateful to have her as an employee. The less positives however are unfortunately many. The hotel is most definitely short staffed and I feel management expect far too much from their employees. On our last evening in the hotel I felt very sorry for 2 restaurant staff trying to deliver a full a la Carte dinner and drinks table service to 27 dinner guests, as well as serve in the bar. It was chaotic with some guests waiting over 30 minutes just to have menus provided. I waited 45 minutes for a glass of wine to be brought to my table, no bread was offered and it was very hit and miss when it came to whether you received the Amuse-Bouche. This was in no way the fault of the 2 staff who were run off their feet! I felt nothing but sympathy for them doing their absolute best in an impossible scenario. Then there is the outlook of the rooms. The pool view rooms look out over a well maintained garden, but if you are on the other side of the corridor you are looking out over an alley way with pretty awful maintenance and small plastic chairs on the very open room terraces and balconies. The photos attached show the difference between the two areas. The bed in our room was large and comfortable but the mattress protector used is cheap and nasty. It is plastic backed and makes a dreadful crinkly noise when you are lying on it. It really did feel a bit like trying to sleep in a crisp packet! In order to get some sleep, we ended up taking it off the bed and putting it away in the wardrobe for most of our stay. Because of the staff shortage the pool area isn't cleaned as often as it should. There are seagull droppings around the pool which is off putting, and the sun beds are old and need replaced as do the pool umbrellas, many of which are frayed or have broken spokes. It is such a shame that the negatives outweigh the positives at this hotel, but they really do need to address the issues highlighted if they wish to attract returning guests.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Try to secure a pool view room
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Luisa Santos, General Manager at Vila Gale Collection Praia
Responded Oct 3, 2023
Dear guest, Thank you for your review. I am sorry to hear you did not enjoy your stay with us. We do take guest feedback very seriously as we are always looking for ways to improve upon guest experiences. I will certainly share your feedback with the relevant heads of department to ensure maintain the highest standards of service always maintained. I would like the opportunity to welcome you back again and I shall personally oversee your visit. Best regards, Luisa Santos
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This hotel is very good and the staff make the experience excellent. It makes a change to not have to put towels down on beds at daybreak, always plenty of beds available. Nice and quiet around the pool which is what you would expect because mainly couples of a certain age are here. The only thing that lets this place down is that it is at the bottom of a hill and the transfer by bus stops at the roundabout at the top of the hill because they can't turn the bus round at the bottom. You then have to walk with your cases in the heat down to the hotel and you have to walk back to pick the bus up for the return. Jet2 should provide transfers direct to the hotel not expect customers to trek down with cases, especially elderly people. The experience as a whole was positive although the room cleaning was a bit hit and miss.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Book a taxi from airport. If you are not bothered about entertainment than this place is ideal.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Luisa Santos, General Manager at Vila Gale Collection Praia
Comfort and with a typically family atmosphere. The restoration with efficient service and good quality. Good cleaning of the accommodation. Efficient pool support. The location of the unit, practically next to the beach, allows walking along the sand without the need to travel by car to enjoy a swim in the sea.
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This hotel is fantastic, we stayed here for 12 nights in room 303. Upon our arrival at the hotel we were greeted by Luisia Santos ( the hotel manager). She explained all aspects of the hotel to us and made us feel very welcome. The room was really nice, spotlessly clean and we had a nice pool view. We noticed straight away how peaceful the hotel was which suited us as our nightclubbing days are long gone. We ate in the hotel restaurant twice and both times the meals were of outstanding quality and very reasonably priced. We would have eaten there more but we do like to try different restaurants when on holiday. Each and every member of staff was friendly, courteous and are obviously very good at what they do. We can’t remember how to spell his name but Vash… Was very informative, professional and obviously a key member of staff. My wife had an exceptional massage in the hotel spa. Now for the star of the show…LILLIANA She was great fun, great at her job and it was a pleasure to have met such a warm, lovely lady. She is an absolute credit to the hotel and we look forward to seeing her and everyone else again upon our return next spring
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Get a private transfer from airport as coaches can’t turn around at the hotel and so drop about...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Luisa Santos, General Manager at Vila Gale Collection Praia
Responded Apr 19, 2024
Dear Flopsy124, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had an amazing 12-night stay with us. It's delightful to know that you found our hotel fantastic and that I made you feel so welcome upon your arrival. We're pleased that you enjoyed your room with its spotless cleanliness and pleasant pool view. We're also glad to hear that you appreciated the peaceful atmosphere of our hotel, as well as the outstanding quality of the meals in our restaurant. We understand the desire to explore different dining options while on holiday, but we're honored that you chose to dine with us twice. Your kind words about our staff, particularly Vasco and Lilliana, mean a lot to us. We will be sure to pass on your compliments to them. We can't thank you enough for your praise and we're already looking forward to welcoming you back next spring! If there's anything we can do to make your next stay even more enjoyable, please don't hesitate to let us know. Warm regards, Luisa Santos
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A quick fly & flop week, for that purpose it was fine.
Check in OK, it was late so nice and quick.
Room was fine decor dated all leather and glass so a bit 80's not enough storage so hard to keep room tidy. Bathroom small but fine cheap toiletries, towels & robes fine.
Balcony looking over pool was fine a bit small.
Pool area quiet and relaxing, beds & umbrellas have seen better days, all grey colour a little dull.
Breakfast this was the worst really, cheap products no decent yoghurts, berries, nuts, egg station was OK but when I saw that the egg mixture was in a plastic bottle (for omelettes, gross ) I had fried eggs. Bread & pastries were a bit better. Tea fine.
Staff I found slow and they do not seem happy, Marcos was about the best and seemed to work hard so left him a tip.
Did not eat in the restuarant or drink in the bar so cannot comment.
Gym was good with all you need, room a bit small.
All other other areas were clean.
The surrounding area is fine near the beach and a good long boardwalk to get your steps in.
I would not rate it 4 stars and I would not stay here again.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear guest VickilOM, Thank you for taking the time to provide detailed feedback on your recent stay with us. We are glad to hear that your check-in process was smooth and that you found our location, pool area, and gym to be convenient and relaxing. However, we are sorry to learn that certain aspects of your stay did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your honesty regarding the room decor, breakfast, and pool facilities. Your feedback is invaluable and will be shared with the relevant teams to improve the overall guest experience. We are especially sorry to hear that our team’s service did not meet your expectations, and we will work on enhancing our staff training to ensure a more welcoming and positive atmosphere. Thank you for recognizing Marcos' hard work, and for sharing your insights. We hope you will reconsider and give us the opportunity to provide a better experience in the future. Best regards, Luisa Santos
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I totally agree with all the comments made in "Finlaysathome" review of the 20th Sept, the staff are wonderful, hard working, friendly and competent but there are not enough of them. The hotel has a problem with seagulls and they are dominant, make a mess around the pool area and during our visit the mess was only cleaned up properly twice in fourteen days It is no fun navigating this mess on a daily basis. It would help if the hotel had a pool attendant as does every other hotel we have visited. We were on a half board basis and after a week expected some changes in the menu, unfortunately not, so we ended up eating out on five occasions. The bar menu provides a very good choice and the food is excellent. We had a room with a pool view which was large and airy, but lacks storage space for clothes etc. I also agree with "Finlaysathome" about the mattress protectors they are terrible, cheap and nasty and should be deposed of immediately. Lastly if guests want to pay with American Express it is not an easy process. I did address all my comments with the hotel director during our stay.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â If you want to use American Express check with the hotel before leaving home as we had...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Luisa Santos, General Manager at Vila Gale Collection Praia
Responded Oct 3, 2023
Dear guest, Thank you for your review. I am sorry to hear you did not enjoy your stay with us. We do take guest feedback very seriously as we are always looking for ways to improve upon guest experiences. I will certainly share your feedback with the relevant heads of department to ensure maintain the highest standards of service always maintained. I would like the opportunity to welcome you back again and I shall personally oversee your visit. Best regards, Luisa Santos
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed 3 wonderful nights (Nov. 27-29) at this beautiful hotel which is a 2 minute walk to the gorgeous beach. Our room had a perfect little balcony overlooking the meticulously maintained pool area. The spotlessly clean room was perfect for us. Hotel breakfast was delicious. It’s a quiet and relaxed location in a nice upscale residential neighbourhood with a couple of nice little restaurants just a few steps outside the door.
Every member of the staff we encountered was knowledgeable professional, helpful and welcoming. They make you feel special. The hotel manager is superb and hands-on. She runs everything so well.
I highly recommend this hotel.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Try for a pool view room. Take a walk to the beach. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The weather is generally settled from May to October but like most countries they can experience random weather conditions anytime. We had a lovely week in August last year but there was a storm with high winds during the night which locals said was very unusual.
There are more places to choose from in the Albufeira area.
PRICE RANGE
C$190 - C$379 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
vila gale praia hotel, vila gale praia albufeira
LOCATION
PortugalAlgarveFaro DistrictAlbufeira
NUMBER OF ROOMS
40
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
