Vila Gale Porto

This is an excellent Hotel, we stayed 4 nights March 8th 2006 to 11th. The Hotel is one of the tallest buildings in the City. It takes about 15 - 20 mins stroll into the shopping area down to the River Douro, its downhill all the way. A taxi is about 5 Euros including tip.

We stayed on 11th Floor. Rooms were spotless and large, bathroom all marble and again large.Shampoo/gels nail file shoe polish hair dryer provided. Breakfast in large restraunt had everything from eggs & bacon to cakes and cheese.

A small restraunt across the drive (taxis rank here 24 hrs) the german guy mentions is first rate, packed with locals we paid 34 euros for three people and had the works. Most expensive restraunt we went to was 77 Euros on the river front at Villa Nova Guiea-opposite bank to porto, this was very swish and would cost a fortune in UK for similar standards.

Tourist bus 10 euros is good value takes you right out to Boa Vista-do this when you first arrive. If shoppings your thing the shopping streert Sao Caterina & shopping mall of same name is a must Zara & H&M C&A at fraction of UK prices, we had to buy another suitcase. Majestic cafe is a must old world grandeur at its best.

Enjoy a tremondous place & staff at Hotel and people generally are lovley

We stayed in this hotel from 25 - 28 Nov 05. We had a double room on the 12th floor (they have two floors with non-smoking rooms) The accomodation was very good, the room was very large and always clean.

The breakfast is served as a buffet (perfect).

The price is very low with breakfast included.

All rooms have air conditioning, satellite TV, Minibar, direct dial telephone, fax/modem connection, hair dryer, and 24 hrs room service.

The hotel is located about 8 miles away from the airport, cost for Taxi is approx. 19.00 Euro. To see the city center, its a nice walk for about 10-15 min. To see the river Douro and the historical part of Porto (Ribeira), you may walk for another 10-15 min.

Restaurant: if you walk thru the drive way, on the other site of the street is a typical Portugese Restaurant, we spend 41.00 Euro for 4 people including cheese, soupe, main meal, dessert, wine,

mineral water, and coffe.

I and my wife were in this hotel to celebrate our two year marriage. We were there for two days. We were at the 17th floor, so the view was fantastic, we could see all the city! The accomodation was very good, the room was very large and was always clean.

We had dinner there, so we can say the service was delightful.

Although these strong points, there is two limitations of this hotel: the small capacity of the car park and an unfinished building near it. We talked with the manager about this and he told us that the hotel tried to buy that building many times to build a new car park, but it was not possible until the present, because legal constraints.

A final point is the price: it was very low, comparing with other hotels of the city.

The conclusion is obvious, this is a hotel with a great value added.

I have just got back from a stay at this hotel and found it clean, the staff nice and all in all good value for money, its not in the nicest of areas and its is a little bit of a trek to downtown but i would stay again.

I stayed at the Vila Gale Porto at the beginning of the month for 2 nights and really enjoyed my stay.

The location isn't very appealing but the hotel itself is a good 4 star. I don't agree with the previous review in that. My room was excellent, very clean, large, with all the conforts I needed and a beautiful view to Porto city. The bathroom was marble, with a good range of toiletries . The breakfasts were plentyful and excellent, with a wide choice of pastries, breads, eggs,bacon and sausages.

The lobby is very nice as it is the swimming pool on the last level. Staff was very professional and helpful. The hotel was completly full.

And the best of all: I paid only 40 euros for a single room and 58 euros for a double. The value for money was wonderful! I really don't understand the complaints of the previous reviewers.

They forgot to say how much they had paid for the rooms. With these prices they wanted parking for free and enjoying the spa for free????

I've stayed in some 3 star dump hotels in London and paid almost 200 euros per night!!! And I already stayed at the Savoy in London and , believe me, the Vila Gale rooms are much bettter than the ones in the Savoy.

The only cons , in my opinion is the location , which isn't very nice, but I highly recommend the hotel to everyone who wants excellent value for money.

As before, I rate this hotel 3 not a 4 star.

We had a room on the front, good? - No, it overlooks a ghetto and half built hotel, long abandoned!!!!!!!!!

It's the only hotel I've stayed in that does not have an iorning board.... Staff- not very nice-

But beware.... they want you to stay there and then charge you for parking there?????????????

Far from downtown Porto.......

Won't be going back...........

We stayed in a standard room - comfortable enough, but we weren't informed when we booked (and neither does the hotel web site tell you) that there is an extra charge for the use of the pool and health club.

We were also given incorrect travel information a couple of times when we asked at reception for help with train times to some towns in the north we decided to take day trips to, and their knowledge of what tourist sites, museums, tours, etc. would be operating at the weekend was very limited. Food and room service were good, but we didn't get the view of river and sea advertised on their web page (our view was onto a concrete courtyard, high rise apartments and a shopping centre, but as we were out most of the time, it didn't really bother us). All in all, we would rate the hotel 3 star rather than 4.