Vila Gale Ampalius Hotel

Just back from a week in Vila Gale Ampalius and found some of the previous reviews quite useful, so decided to post my own to help future holidaymakers This hotel is in a great location, just across a small parking area from a beach which is cleaned every night and is immaculate, with plenty of beds and umbrellas. We stayed in a standard twin room with no balcony but with nice views over the large patio and outdoor show area at the back of the hotel. Rooms were a little dated, but absolutely spotless and cleaned really well every day. The reception staff offer no advice when you book in, so remember to ask for breakfast times, for pool towel passes and get your safe activator before going up to your room to save you the journey back down. We stayed on a b & b basis with two children aged 7 and 9 and found the range and quality of the food at breakfast to be fine. We ate most mornings at around 9 am and the service area gets very busy. The food at the pool bar is basic but good and the prices are very reasonable. We stayed one evening for dinner in the hotel, but would not suggest going half board as it was €25 per adult and the food was only adequate, with limited choice. Far better value in the restaurants around the Marina - we would recommend The Fairways and the Chinese restaurant with the glass front - can't remember the name, but as good, if not better, than any at home. Try the AquaShow water park - it's the nearest, only about 10 minutes away and also has a tropical bird show. The hotel only scrapes the 4* billing - more like a really good 3*, but would definitely go back for location alone.

We have just returned from a very enjoyable stay at the Vila Gale Ampalius. The hotel was well situated for the beach & Marina as both are within a few hundred yards. We stayed in a suite on the 7th floor which was spacious (dining area, lounge and kitchenette), clean and had good views looking over the front of the hotel towards the marina. We tended to sleep with out patio doors open and found that it could be noisy as boisterous residents returned late. I am sure this wouldn’t be a problem if the doors were closed and air conditioning used to keep you cool. We stayed on a B & B basis and the breakfasts were very good offering a selection of cereals, juice, hot & cold food, toast & fruit. On the downside the toaster was not the best and proved very popular so you often had to queue and I understand the quality of the hot drinks was not great (all provided from a machine). Having said this, the food quality was good and constantly re stocked. I would suggest that you don’t take evening meals in the hotel as there are numerous good restaurants around the Marina or slightly further a field if you have a car. I would certainly recommend Broa (great value & service – we ate here several times), Vitoria (plenty of choice & good quality) both just set back behind the Marina and Il Lamparo (great quality Italian, slightly expensive) located on the Marina. In summary, we had a very enjoyable holiday and the hotel was in a great location and provided good value for money – we will go back sometime soon.

Just got back from an excellent 2 weeks stay at the vila gale ampalius. The last reviews i have read have focused on the negatives and not the positives, my advice is go and see for yourself. I have (in the last 12months) stayed in 3 vila gale hotels in the algarve and the ampalius is by far the most superior. The rooms are great above standard and the bathrooms are like something off MTV cribs, cleaned everyday fresh towels everyday and believe me with me being the slobbiest brit abroad in the UK this is a great advantage. I can understand peoples frustration with the reception staff as it wouldn't hurt them to crack a smile every now and then but the bar staff were really friendly. We only went bed and breakfast and had a few sandwiches and cheeseburgers in the bar but the food was excellent, there was a great choice at breakfast you could have a full english , cereal , fresh fruit or just a coffee and croissant or if your like me and my pal Bob you could have it all. I would highly recommend checking out the spa facilities although quite expensive(7.50euros per day) it is worth it. If your thinking of eating out go to fairways on the marina or don alfonso just near the taxi rank they do wonderful prawns to start and have a great menu for whatever pallet you have. Oh and for a lunchtime snack try the toasties at El Matador they are the biggest toasties in the world bar none(in my opinion) and only 3 euros. If you fancy a day out get yourself to zoomarine the dolphin show is unbelievable, they even have the dolpins ballroom dancing, I mean how do you teach a dolphin how to dance? I still think it's 2 people in big dolphin outfits but maybe being from Leeds and not having too much contact with dolphins i am underestimating them. In closing we absolutely loved every minute of our holiday and would not hesitate to go back. So my advice is Book it pack it and ........well you know the rest!

We are just home from a 2 week holiday in Vilamoura, staying at the Vila Gale Ampalius hotel, we stayed at its sister hotel last year, and thought we would give this one a chance. Personally I don't think it is a 4* hotel, I would give it a 3*. There are no kettles or iron in the rooms, so to me this makes it a 3* hotel. They would prefer that you use room service for coffee and laundry. I found some of the staff unhelpful, although pool staff were excellent. We booked a junior suite, as this had a kitchen, they refused to open the kitchen up. We bought a drink in the hotel, our first and last, hubby bought a vodka and bottle of coke, cost 4.80 euros. His next drink was a vodka, cost 4.50euros, so we thought we had been over charged, as a bottle of coke on it own is 1.80euros. When we complained, they said the vodka and coke was a special promotion, I advised there was nothing to indicate this, and that there should be a menu for the prices on the tables, there should have been, but there wasn't. The casino was cheaper for drink, vodka 4.00euros and the coke free. We went for the show and meal, and can't fault it, well worth the money. The rooms were cleaned everyday, and spotless, no problems there. We also asked if we could keep on our room until 4pm as we had a late pickup transfer to the airport, was advised that as it was Saturday, they are busy so not possible. On our second last day, we came back from the pool area. Was just about to go for a shower, so we could walk into the next town for the day. A maintainance man appeared to chek our toilet, as there was a leak going into the room below. He left, 5 mins later another maintainance appeared and checked again. He left and 5 mins later, 4 maintainance men arrived, checked the problem again, apoligised for disturbing us again, then left. Finally we could get our shower. NO! it wasn't to be, we had no water, they had turned the water off without advising us. Hubby phoned down twice, to advise we had no water, no problem we will turn it back on. At 4pm still no water, hubby went down to reception, they weren't aware we didn't have any water, we will see to it soon, and have the water back on. At 5pm we still had no water, hubby again went down to the reception, and he was advised that the water would not be turned on and that we would have to be moved. Hubby just about had a fit. He advised that if we were being moved, we wanted the room to be the same as what we had booked, (junior suite) they didn't have any available, and as they can't downgrade you they had to upgrade us to a senior suite. Hubby also demanded that as our afternoon had been wasted (3 hrs without water) and as a goodwill gester, we be allowed to keep our room on until 4pm, this was agreed. The new room we got didn't have a seaview, and was on the first floor, but you could have knocked us over with a feather. As you walked into the room, there was a kitchen, which was opened, toliet/shower room, a dining area, living area. Upstairs there was a small hall, 2 bedrooms with 2 en-suites. We went on the Lisbon trip, which was an early start, so would miss breakfast. We asked a member of staff the day before, who advised that we could get a packed lunch instead of breakfast and we could order this the day before and collect from reception on the day. We went down at 5.30, to collect out food box only to be met with a shrug of the shoulders. I then asked if the restaurant could be open so I could grab a quick cup of coffee, after 10 mins they did this, with only 5mins to get to the bus stop to catch the bus for Lisbon Count your change. The wee bar beside the caddy shack, can't remember its name, does a happy hour between 7-8, much cheaper, this is the place that over charged us. I wanted to complain, but hubby said to let it go. We didn't go back to that bar. Plenty of bars to choose from for food and drink. If you are coming back to the hotel late at night from the marina I suggest you use the back road as I call it. The front road, by way of the beach to the marina, has no lights on the last section of the road, and the small pier before you get to the marina, has rats running about the rocks. There are also a lot of beggers, something I didn't see when I was there in October 2005. Faro, Lisbon and Albefuria, also has its share of beggers, and they were right in your face. The cruise BBQ, historical Algarve, and the Lisbon trip were good value for money, and drink and food much cheaper than in Vilamoura

Stayed at the Ampalius for a week found the location perfect for Beach (excellent) marina and other bars. Hotel staff a bit miserable, but to be fair that seemed to be most people in the resort. Hotel was good, not sure i would class it as 4star, was cleaned every day, bathrooms nice bedroom functional. Marina a bit pricey and food a much of a muchness. found excellent idian restaurant called Gate way of India probably best indian meal i have ever had (and i go to curry mile in manchester) I had fish madras, fantastic and very friendly, next door but one is another restaurant (just before the steps) equally really good food.

We arrived 3 hours before our room was ready so we were told to leave our cases and come back. I felt this could of been handled in a more friendly manner!. When we did return we were offered the choice of rooms which was good as one did not have a balcony. We were given no information other than our room number and the time of breakfast. Generally we found the Reception Staff were OK. Not over helpful, lacking a bit of friendliness, spark & personality. The in room safe (additional charge) needed a disc to enable it to be used. I felt we should of been told this at check in and not have to go to reception and ask. We were given no details of the gym, spa etc (daily charge and not cheap) and only found out about the pool towels because my wife asked. The Restaurant Staff also lacked personality and you felt you were an inconvenience for asking them to do anything. The pool staff though were very friendly and helpful. If you asked for a sun umbrella they would insist on setting it up for you and did so with a smile. The pool is freezing and should be heated! The Room we had was very nice and could not complain about it. We did have a repair done though and a small amount of change I left in the room disappeared. The in room fridge was very handy. Vilamoura is lovely, and the location of Ampalius is excellent. Right on the beach and a few minutes from the Marina, which was beautiful. It is a very nice hotel, but we left feeling it could be a lot better.

We are just home from a weeks holiday in Vilamoura, staying at the Vila Gale Ampalius hotel! This hotel is lovely and I would recommend it to anyone thinking of visiting Vilamoura. We have been 3 times to Vilamoura, and last year we stayed in the Tivoli Marinotel! For anyone who has visited the Tivoli you will know that the place is really 5 star! I have to stay that for a fraction of the price, you get just as good a service at the Vila Gale Ampalius! The bedrooms were modern and spotless, and cleaned everyday! Breakfast was great, a good choice for everyone! The pool area was a good size and again spotless! Some things were quite pricey! Fresh orange and Lemonde 7 euros! However all in all, there were good lunch and dinner menus available at reasonable prices! Just a short walk from the marina! We had a sea view room and I would recommend to anyone thinking of visiting to book one of these rooms, as not all of the rooms in this hotel have balconies! There were seven of us on holiday, we all had a great time and will hopefully return to this hotel sometime in the future!

I took my niece to the Vila Gale Ampalius to celebrate my birthday. This hotel is excellent and spotless and staff very friendly. We stayed Bed & Breakfast but what a choice we had for Breakfast it was fabulous. We had Dinner on our last evening and huge choice once again service was first class . The hotels entertainment was very good as well, this hotel suits all but I wouldn’t recommend it for young people at all.(18 to 25) The hotel is situated right on the beach and next to the Marina, once again we found the beach spotless, there are some lovely eating places on the Marina. Prices are about the same as the UK so take plenty of spending money. Recommended the Jeep Safari if you do this say hello to Paulo from Tanya & Serena, the drivers made this a real fun trip but beware it can get very dusty you will need to take swim wear, sun hat, and water and a sense of humour is best as his is a fun trip. Also the Casino which is right next door to the hotel did a really good Dinner and Show as we celebrated my birthday there even Birthday cake and Champagne supplied by the Casino and the Portuguese waiters singing Happy Birthday to me . If we were to return to Villamoura we would defiantly stay at this hotel again.Well worth the 4 Star rating.

Have just returned from a week's holidays in Villamoura. We were there from 28th May until 4th June. We stayed at Hotel Vila Gale Ampalius. I have to say the holiday was really great. It was nice and relaxing. The hotel was very nice. Rooms were comfortable and pool area was lovely. Added bonus of fresh beach towels each day. Villamoura is a very nice resort. There's not many loud bars which is good. Don Alfonso restaurant and Platana are really nice. They are just behind the marina. Go up the steps beside figo's bar (bar Sete). Overall a really nice holiday. We will return and we will stay in Hotel Vila Gale Ampalius.

Found the staff rude at reception and unhelpful. Had to track staff down to open up the tennis court. Some at the breakfast had attitude and grumpy. Breakfasts were so so and got boring after 4 days - didn't really seem appealing and 1 toaster for the whole restarurant is a joke Also avoid the 19th hole on the Marina - they add "mysterious" drinks to your bill and the food is overpriced rubbish.