Hôtel Vila Galé Santa Cruz 4

The hotel is a haven for walkers who are out everyday on an activity. So breakfast and dinner are all you need. Food is good and varied enough - the problem is always not to overeat in a buffet. The bar had a nice range of drinks. There is a wine menu at dinner. There are several nice local restaurants , a cake/bakery shop, and supermarket in Santa Cruz square behind the seafront in which we ate Portuguese delicacies which is a short walk from the hotel. Recommend booking a superior room with sea view as the standard rooms can have a poor outlook (on one side look into a building site with all the attendent noise). A sea view room has a good view straight onto the sea and it was lovely listening to the waves. Rooms are a good size and bathroom is a nice size with a balcony. The hotel never appeared crowded. However there is noise from aircraft landing and taking off - not often and interesting to watch but the noise was there if you are in the hotel and not on an activity. The spa was nice and not crowded and yes plastic caps must be worn in the indoor pool (weird), the spa receptionist may not be apparent but just say “ hello , hello” and she appears. She signs out the spa Towels. The reception and restaurant staff were very friendly and helpful. although there is one guy on reception and also drives the shuttle bus who sucked the life blood out of any situation such as checking in when he was not welcoming and when asked a question looked at you like guests should not ask questions and the answer was monosyllabic - hospitality may not have been a good career move for him!! CAn also get a local bus direct into Funchal and there is a taxi rank close by. Overall I liked the hotel.

Booked this for a get away from UK weather, travelled with Jet2. Booked a standard twin/double room. On arrival reception was good had an hours wait for room as with Jet2 we arrive early. Went to our room nothing wrong with room allocated but it was at front of hotel and balcolny looked out onto street which consisted of closed business and not what I like sitting on my balcolny. Went to reception enquired about a sea view room and for a very reasonable extra payment which was less than what Jet2 charge for exactly same room got a wonderful view and room was great. For that I thank the hotel. IMPORTANT TO NOTE we were there in February and I would suspect that if it was during busier time of year it would not have been available. If you book a Jet2 standard room you may be dissappointed with view unless of course you book a sea view when you first book. Hotel in general was guiet, (February) there were works going on which Jet2 never informed us about and whilst it spoilt view around pool did not detract from experience. Other travel companies do advise about these issues. Room was well appointed daily cleaning unless you decline it. Restraunt was pleasant enough, I have said this many times DO NOT EXPECT ENGLISH FOOD Its a foreign country. Hotels with a UK guests often try and provide a version of an English breakfast as do Vila Gale, Not for me on this occasion but it was enjoyed by many others and I found more than enough to keep me going. Only had dinner once was not bad but did not really reflect the standard of the Hotel. We were Bed and Breakfast so we were not that bothered. In the same vein about UK food Santa Cruz is very much Portugese. The restraunts supply local and national dishes which I have to say were very good, I am now addicted to Picado, such a simple dish Fish or Beef or Chicken with a Sauce/Gravy with chips or fried sliced potato it was excellent. It would be unfair to pick out one restraunt but I am going to, Recanto da Pitada situated just off the promenade and if walking from hotel on the left before tyou get to the Market building. English is not the staffs first language but we muddled through. If you are interested in full reviews on restraunts over next few weeks will review all the locations we used. To sum up hotel borders very close to 4 star but not guite there, rooms were clean and well tended. Room service was quick and efficient, Restraunt was hit and miss for me, my wife was okay with it but I would not go half board or all inclusive because I would look outside for restraunts. B AND B was ok. We used the bar snack service which was quick efficient and very good. Have to mention Sandra who was behind the bar 3rd Feb when we first arrived and several days after that and was an asset to the hotel a lovely lady and good at her job. Just a final nod to the fact this is Portugal, Santa Cruz recognises UK travellers with their written menus but is local food not an english breakfast anywhere. I don't mind this at all but I have heard other british travellers whinging about local dishes and nothing english on menu. The hotel is recommended Santa Cruz is recomended but expect (Quite correctly) it all to be portugese.