Hotel Vila Gale Collection Palacio dos Arcos

The staff were all very friendly, attentive, and great with children. There are plenty of options for adults and kids at the resort, and lots of restaurants nearby to choose from. The hotel is beautiful and well maintained, with the beach an easy walk away and Lisbon quick to reach. Breakfast was excellent, with care put into it every day. A wonderful stay that I can fully recommend.

The room was super clean, and daily housekeeping was much appreciated after long days out. Staff were fantastic throughout, from the restaurant to the pool, friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The former palace is stunning, with its own private Baroque chapel, and really feels like a piece of history. Breakfast was the most delicious we’ve ever had, and they even offer a glass of sparkling. We stayed 5 nights on a family holiday and absolutely loved it. It exceeded every expectation. I’d give it 15 out of 10 if I could, and we can’t wait to come back!

The garden was lovely and breakfast was good, but the service fell short and the pool area was crowded and dirty. We arrived to check in just before 4pm, after the advertised 3pm check-in time, and were told without an apology that our room wasn’t ready. They said it would take 15min. We were offered a drink at the bar, but had to chase it up several times. We didn’t get to our room until after 5pm, and only after pushing for it. The way staff handled the delay was not acceptable.

The building is gorgeous, and the room was set up perfectly for our family of 5. We also loved the gardens, kids’ play area, and pools for adults and children. The property and buildings at both Vila Gale hotels we stayed at deserve their 5-star rating, but BOTH fell short on the high-end service we expected for the premium price. Construction was going on right above and beside our room, and nobody told us beforehand. The constant daytime noise disrupted naps for our young children. We asked to move after the first day and were moved, but the noise was still a problem in the new room. Staff said our second room was right beside a door to the kids’ playground, but construction meant the door was locked and unusable throughout our stay. There were ants all around the bathtub in that room, as if some holes needed sealing. I was surprised the cleaners hadn’t noticed.