Vila Gale Tavira Hotel

We've just returned from a week at this hote, booked through Expedial The best holiday - and the most relaxing - we've ever had. Staff were fantastic, helpful and friendly. They couldn't do enough for us. the hotel was spotless, room spacious and linen changed daily. There were so many facilities on offer we didn't get to use them all. the food was SO good in the buffet at night that we ate there for 6 of the 7 nights and forgot our promise of 'sample the local cuisine', which we did once and, though it was nice, it wasn't a patch on the hotel. We felt completely pampered for the whole week and will definitely be back. We booked the car through Expedia as well to pick us up at the airport and take us back. EV tours operate this service and we will use them again. We were delayed for 4 hours and told (Expedia by phone) not to worry - the car would be waiting. It WAS and the EV tours rep gave us printed confirmation of our pick up the following week. What Service. Highly recommend the hotel.

Went last week and found the noise the most annoying of our stay, apart from the constant loudness of people walking past in the corridor we had to contend with the people above pacing up and down. Saga louts were everywhere but they seemed to enjoy sleeping at every opportunity and even during the mediocre entertainment. Loved Tavira and as the purpose of the visit was to buy an apartment we were not disappointed. We ate at the riverside restaurants and loved the food and cordial welcome. If you take the scenic train around town be warned the seats are hard. All in all had brilliant flight with Easy from Stansted and great stay.

Just returned from a week in Tavira. Absolutely loved the place and delighted to see how the town has developed as last went there 10 years ago. The Hotel was not as bad as I expected after reading some of the more negative reviews. I found the rooms spacious, modern and very clean. However I got a room directly opposite the petrol station and was kept aware to 05:30 on saturday morning due to a few drunk kids outside. Not bothered as I was young once too! To be honest, after touring and stopping in Portugal over 10 times, I found the reception staff a little off and unhelpful. This was totally opposite to the fantastic maids who were friendly and a good laugh. I ate in the restaurant on two nights and thought the buffet was excellant for the price. The breakfast buffet was good too. Not good for the waistline. I would agree with other reviewers and avoid at all cost the riverside tavernas. The food was at best average and overpriced compared to the excellant food available over the bridge. I advise folks to use the lovely indoor pool and hot tub. However bring your own beach towel as the hotel will charge you to rent one and bring a swimming cap as they are required for the indoor pool and will insist you buy one (only 2e). My only real complaint was the ignorance of other Hotel users. For some reason a large number of people insisted on slamming their doors and holding conversations along the corridor well into the early hours. Whilst the Hotel cannot be held accountable, it was annoying! As we were out of season, the Hotel had alot of people from Saga and its American sister holiday. The large majority of them were pleasant, but a few were very ignorant and constantly pushing in at the buffet and glared when you walked past! I could complain about the mini bar not always being re-stocked, having no plug in the bath/wash basin and it taking 2 days to get one, or maids cleaning the next room at 7 in the morning, but overall I thought it was a good Hotel for the price we paid. I loved the town and will go back to explore soon. The people are friendly and seem to enjoy us tourists! This Hotel is perfect if you are quite laid back and want a quiet, relaxing break. Don't expect too much rock and roll!

This was our second stay at Vila Gale Tavira, having had a week in June this year too. What impressed us was the peace and quiet of this hotel and of the lovely village. Dont go near the row of restaurants by the waterfront - they try and entice you inside. All were of varying bad quality and charged for bread and olives. Go over the Roman bridge and you'll find a number of fine restaurants run by people who love food. The following will not disappoint: Aspecto; Patio; Aquasul; Basia; Rive Guache - Aquasul being the best. One thing - all these restaurants fill up extremely quickly so I would recommend eating around 7.30pm or leaving it until around 9 - 9.30pm. However Tavira does shut down pretty early and when we ate late we found it difficult to find a bar open after 10pm most nights. The hotel itself is fine - especially if you're over 50. Unfortunately for us, in addition to the majority of guests being SAGA, an American version of this organisation had a large contingent in the hotel. So for a couple of 30-something professionals you can only overhear so many discussions regarding illnesses, trips, and how hot it was so many times without losing the will to live. However the hotel was clean but I agree with previous subscribers in that it doesnt really FEEL like a 4star hotel. Food - we only had breakfast which was fine. Fresh coffee would have been nice rather than sachets. Very busy at breakfast time. Evening entertainment at the hotel was fine again if you were over 50/60yrs but we tended to only have a night cap. Tavira itself is fantastic and we will probably go back next year.

Located in a traditional fishing town, on the edge of town by the salt flats, so dont expect picturesque views - unless you pay more for a pool view. We looked out over an old part of the town so had the interesting chimney pots and stork nests to look at! I got the impression that it had been a long season and that they had probably just let a lot of seasonal staff go - no way of backing that up, but maid service was often late afternoon unless you chivved them up! Only one person on the bar throughout the day. Breakfast buffet was excellant always with a good choice and varied slightly each day. Ate there on our first night and it was fine - typical international buffet - but once was enough. Plently of choice around the town - avoid the river front with tables outside (one excellant one by the fishmarket /old market but can't remember its name, although it was on the only one that didn't have tables and chairs outside! Plenty of choice across the roman bridge in the back streets. At the back of the town near the police headquarters there is an excellant fish restaurant Vela2 - also got good reviews on the Tavira forum - fresh whole fish straight off the grill - a meal for two, with as much fresh fish as you can eat, wine and water - 23E! But dont expect posh surroundings, only 3/4 mins walk from the hotel. We enjoyed our break and would recommend it, ideal if you want to chill out and do nothing - which suited us.

We spent 4 nights at the Vila Gale in Tavira and loved the experience, the guest rooms are spacious as are all the public areas including the pool. The entire hotel has tiled floors which gives a clean spacious feel to the property. The staff were friendly and aways helpful and the buffet breakfast is generous and of excellent choice and quality. The town of Tavira is unspoilt and quiet and the food at the local restaurants is inexpensive and good quality.

We stayed here for 2 nigts in September whilst tourning Spain/ Portugal . On arrival the first thing we thought was that it was no where as good as the last 4 star hotel we stayed in. I have no complaints about the hotel other than its not what we expected from a 4 star hotel considering the cost . The staff were friendly and the location was good although the view from our balcony was of a dusty car park and a main road . The hotel had a car park priced at 4.5 euros per day . The bedroom was clean and basic but didnt have any wow factor . 2 single beds were pushed together instead of a double. An extra charge was made for the safe. Breakfast was not brilliant and on the last day the breakfast was cold especially the baked beans that had not been heated up at all. One night we asked at the bar for a bucket of ice. We were given some ice cubes in a plastic bag .Never ate in the restaurant ( assumed it was same chef who cooked breakfast). The outdoor pool was ok. The hotel advertised sauna, gym etc but there was an extra charge to use these. The indoor pool was free but a headcap must be worn, the hotel happily sold these. Tavira itself is not really my kind of place as it is too quiet and the bars by the river charge well over the odds. For example a few streets back a bottle of beer was 70c but at some bars 2 or 3 euros. Charges for food not ordered but put on your table ( bread and olives) was a common trick.

Stayed ther for a week in September 06. In truth the hotel was OK as far as it went but certainly not 4 star if classed by normal international standards. Good points: Pool is large and didn't get too crowded. Location is OK for access to the town centre but it certainly is not in the most salubrious part of what is a very pleasant and unspoiled town. Buffet breakfasts are also better than the average. What let it down for us was the overall tiredness of the rooms, (scuffed paintwork, no safe lock provided, door lock not working, flickering lamp bulb, towel rail hanging off etc.) and the general lack of helpfulness from the staff. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived - not much of an apology , no complimentary coffee and no smile. I never could get to speak to a receptionist as the front desk was constantly under-staffed and over worked with guests who had problems with their rooms. Overall, I would go back to Tavira, but I would be reluctant to pay 4 star prices to stay in the Vila Gale.

We stayed 1st September until 9th September Very good hotel, rooms clean and air conditioning good. Breakfast catered for everyone, Fruit & Cereals, Cold Meats and excellent cooked breakfast. Location is close to the town and very handy for the boat to the beach. Large pool area which gets the sun all day, very little shade until late afternoon. Tavira was a quite town; I would recommend the restaurants on the far side of the river over the roman bridge. Aquasol probably the best value in terms of food and price. Do the train trip early on it helps you with identifying the places to see. Had a car which is essential if you want to go further a field, very close to Spain if you want to try it. Would go back again and would recommend to any one looking for a relaxing holiday George 14th September 2006

We stayed at the Vila Gale in Tavira on our first (and certainly not last) trip to Portugal. The hotel was amazing: great breakfast buffet, fabulous full length pool, rooms were spotless and staff were friendly. Tavira itself is a wondeful little town with a range on shops and restaurants. I would recommend the boat trip to the beach - we only got round to it on the last day and would have gone again if we had the chance. Tavira, and especially the Vila Gale hotel are perfect for couples who want a chilled out holiday in pleasant surroundings.