What a terrible hotel - Mrs Watkin. Date of travel: Jul 2007
We just came back from Albufeira and booked a week at Da Gale... We did not stay 24hours!!! We arrived at the hotel at approx 23h00 and it was 30 degrees heat as it was. Checked in to a very quiet hotel and the receptionist advised re breakfast etc... we asked about the bar to find out it was closed until the next week (only there a week so no bar!) Got to room and it was the basic of basic I have ever seen. No air conditioning!! 30 degrees! Beds that looked like you were sleeping on a base and not a mattress with 1 sheet (hence the no aircon) and 1 smallest pillow ever seen (we did ask for more and did get them). The plug socket for ironing, drying hair, straighteners etc was near the ceiling so could not reach! The bathroom...looked like something from a horror movie with the old grout and cracked tiles...shower filthy and this did not work as tested this and flew to the ceiling and hit me in the process so looked like a drowned rat within 2 mins of being in the room... (I needed a drink by then!) There was not even a bar of soap to wash hands. Dog barking outside constant. Went to reception and they advised that this was the best room in the hotel!!! Went out for drinks so that could sleep. Next morning went for breakfast whilst writing a long list.... by then the workmen had started outside digging the path... breakfast was bread butter and jam...that's it. Whilst waiting to be moved we sat by pool...only the 2 of us with no atmosphere at all and you could not even have a swim as the water was like an ice bucket literally! Hence all this we moved and can totally recommend a hotel next door called the Estralagem de Cerro which was fantastic which resulted in us having a great week overall. The photos advertised on websites are very out of date and would definitely not recommend staying here. I am no snob however I do like my standards and appreciate this is a 2* hotel. We have stayed in a variety of hotels in Albufeira ranging from very modern to very traditional Portugese, however this was very grim. The only two good things about this hotel was the view and the amount of TV channels to choose from. Book somewhere else to avoid disappointment!!