VILA GALE HOTEL SANT CRUZ MADEIRA

Advantages: Quick Transfer from Airport
Disadvantages: None if you like a quiet village setting.

...This is a review of the Vila Gale Hotel at Santa Cruz on the Island of Madeira. We have just returned from a three day break. We booked the Vial Gale as we have used their Hotel in Tavira for a few years and find them very good. Hotel Location, is best described as if the Plane Toppled off the end of the Short Runway at Funchal Airport then it could land in the Hotel Swimming Pool. Having said that do not let it put you off, it does not intrude and the closeness is slightly less than that, and it is quite exciting to watch the landings and takeoffs. The Hotel is in the small village of Santa Cruz a mere 6 Euro Taxi ride from the airport gets you there. Checkin was very efficient in a very large modern Reception Area. Cost for the Three Nights for Double room with Breakfast was £111. This was for a Sea View Room...

poshtroika 19.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Vila Gale Hotels

Villa Gale Tavira in January

Advantages: Everything you want for the after Christmas rush
Disadvantages: None

...We have also stayed at this hotel, out of season. We were there in Jan 07 just as they were dismantling the Christmas tree in the entrance. We were sat outside at a little bar, talking to other visitors who where staying at the sister hotel to Villa Gale, that use to be a tuna canning factory............................this is on the sand splits, with a connecting shuttle bus between the two hotels. The tree came out through the main doors in two halves and was carried round the side and into the under ground car park, no doubt we will see it again in Jan 08 splendid with it's decorations. It took six men to carry each half and it was "egg and milk" to watch them. The hotel is just so friendly, welcoming, light airy, clean, the food is great and breakfast can take as long as you like. There are a lot of golfers in the hotel but...

bostonianbeer 11.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Vila Gale Tavira, Tavira

Santa Cruz, just cruz along.............

Advantages: Just excellent
Disadvantages: A little plane spotting

...We are now Vila Gale loyal customers. Personally we have stayed in their hotels as follows, Vila Gale Marina, Vila Gale Ampalius, both in Villamoura, on the Algarve. Vila Gale Tavira also on the Algarve and then last week Vila Gale Santa Cruz, Madeira. I can recommend all of the above, but the Santa Cruz is the newest and modernist of all. The reception is a vast expanse of glass, marble and big soft sofas and a view of the ocean, just for good measure. It somewhat reminds you of the old Art novo cinemas. Staff on reception where very polite and speak better English then I do Portuguese, excellent. The main areas of the hotel are all on -1 level, with magnificent views of the sea which is only 150 yards away. The restaurants have the same view, so does the fitness room, pools and Jacuzzi. There are two outside...

bostonianbeer 21.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Vila Gale Hotels

Sunshine, sardines and spoilt fishing villages in the Algarve

Advantages: Sunshine, beaches and scenic rocky coves, interesting inner towns
Disadvantages: Irish bars, fast food and tacky tourist shops

...Just in case there is anyone who doesn't know, the Algarve is on the coast in Southern Portugal. Most tourists get there by flying to Faro and many of the cheaper airlines fly into Faro. Therre are about a dozen options for hire cars at the Airport so you can select your favourite comapany and then drive off to find your accomodation in the Algarve. Driving seems safe and with the help of our Tomtom we found our way around easily rememberring of course to drive on the right side of the road. The Algarve; Having been unimpressed with our accommodation (Albufiera Jardim 1) and stayed in for an appointment with our representative from Resort Point Services or Resort Promotions ( another long tale of woe) we decided that we were not going to be put off the area by this and decided we would explore. ALBUFIRA: On Sunday after our abortive...

catsholiday 16.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Algarve (Portugal)

Blowing A Gale

Advantages: Good acting, thought-provoking theme
Disadvantages: Plot holes, inconsistencies.

...David Gale has been on Death Row for six years. Convicted of the sadistic rape and murder of his friend and colleague, it is just three days before his execution and all appeals and stays are exhausted. In return for a payment of half a million dollars, he grants his first interviews ? one two hour session for each of the three days ? to "kiddie porn" investigative journalist Bitsey Bloom. Gale had been a successful college professor and ? in a supreme irony - a committed campaigner against the death penalty in Texas. Some time ago, a drunken one-night-stand with a student who filed a rape charge against him had ruined Gale's career. Although the student dropped the charges eventually, mud had stuck as it always sticks. Gale's wife left him, taking their young son - and light of Gale's life - with her. He lost his job and sunk into...

jillmurphy 23.03.2004 · Read review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

This is my 1st choice hotel for Albufeira.....

Advantages: Excellent Location, Clean, Good Food
Disadvantages: No fridges in rooms

...This is my third time staying in Albufeira (March 2007). I have previously stayed at the Paraisio and Brisa Sol which are also four star hotels next door to the Vale Gale Cerra Alagoa. Out of all three hotels this is my first choice, followed by the paraisio. The staff in the hotel speak good english and service was very efficient. I was also give an upgrade to my room. I was put on 2nd floor and got moved to the 3rd floor in a newer room. (the hotel are in the process of modernising all the rooms, so I would recommend you try to get one with at least the number 42 at the end i.e. 142,242,342,44) The hotel operate on a key card system as opposed to having to carry keys around. I also lost my key card and the staff did not charge me, nor seem unduly worried. The room itself was large with two twin beds pushed together...

Cojoba 23.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Vila Gale Cerro Alagoa, Albufeira

TAVIRA A QUIET TOWN ON THE ALGARVE

Advantages: Small and friendly
Disadvantages: None for us.

..., no extra charge. We have always stayed at the VILA GALE Hotel See Seperate Review. This year we payed 114 Euros for 3 nights Double Room with large Buffet Breakfast (Approx £14 per night per person) As said Tavira is not Large. The Hotel is located Near the River, and there is a large Modern Market just behind the Hotel. This sells Fresh Produce and is also the Fish Market. It is well worth a stroll around, and you do not have to be up at the crack of Dawn, gets going about 09:00. Tavira Stands on the river, and there is a pleasant Promenard for a 10 min stroll. On the bank is the Old Fish Market that has been transferrred in to a Pleasant Hall with a few Shops and Cafes. Along this side of the river are about a dozen eateries, not bad but suggest you see my review on O PATIO, our favourite eating place...

poshtroika 21.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

Gale Whips Up A Storm

Advantages: Brilliantly written
Disadvantages: A little confusing at the start

...Notes from an Exhibition was one of the many books that I purchased with book vouchers a friend gave me for my birthday. Although this event was over 6 months ago now I have just finished reading the book. Now although I enjoyed reading the book and found author Patrick Gale's style to very pleasant to read I don't think it is a book that I could read again. So what is the book about? Well the book tells the story of a famous artist called Rachel Kelly. Rachel is bipolar and so her moods can be rather erratic although it is these moods that she accredits some of her best work to. Throughout her life she has remained an enigma to her husband Anthony and her four children and so it is only after her death that they can truly begin to understand her. After leaving a strange message on the answer phone of one of her children Rachel...

MI9to5 26.11.2008 (16.02.2009) · Read review
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Review of Notes from an Exhibition - Patrick Gale

  MOOSES GUIDE TO THE ALGARVE

Advantages: Loads to do/see, reasonably priced, great for seafood lovers
Disadvantages: Many places will rip you off, bull fighting

...I quite like this travel-writing lark ~ so if anyone needs a holiday tester, please let me know! The Algarve, Portugal was not really my holiday of choice, but more a holiday of cheapness and convenience. You see I can only take holiday in the school holidays due to teaching so this generally hikes up the price of my holiday and also means that wherever I go, I am almost guaranteed to have hoards of kids dive bombing me in the hotel swimming pool! Myself and a couple of mates were looking for a cheap holiday and managed to find one for £250 to the Algarve, the only trouble was that we wouldn't know where we were staying and to be honest, the Algarve never really appealed, but it was cheap so off we went, and one of the biggest bonuses was that the flight was only 2 hours 15 mins from Stansted ~ superb for 30+ degree heat!!! GENERAL...

moose 31.07.2002 (01.08.2002) · Read review
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Review of Algarve (Portugal)

Family fun in the Algarve.

Advantages: Water parks, weather and accomodation.
Disadvantages: Three tired kids this morning!

...I went on holiday with my partner and my three step childen (ages 4, 8 and 10) so this is basically a run down of our family holiday in the Algarve. So where should I begin? With the price I suppose. About six months ago we rang up a travel agent and asked them for the cheapest holiday they had any time in September (the prices in August are that ridiculous we couldn?t afford to go). We didn?t really want a ?package? holiday as we were quite happy to hire a car so we could be mobile. A few days later they came back to us with a price of 800 pounds (my pound sign on my keyboard doesn?t work by the way!), considering there is five of us two adults and three children, I thought this very reasonable. For 800 pounds we got flights from Manchester to Faro and a weeks stay in ?Quitas das palmerias? apartments self catering. We had never...

carminator 19.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Algarve (Portugal)