Vila Gale Santa Cruz

Hotels
•
Vila Gale
8.4 (534 reviews)
Rua S.Fernando , Santa Cruz , PT
+351 291 529 000

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Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Sea views and beachfront location; easy access to the sea
Close to the airport and free shuttle to Funchal
Comfortable, clean rooms and suite upgrades reported
Spa and pools praised (spa described as excellent)
Good, varied breakfast
Helpful and friendly restaurant/staff in many reports
Private parking available
Welcoming touches (fresh fruit on arrival, upgrades)
Cons:
Value for money concerns; buffet considered expensive by some
Slow or unfriendly reception/service in several reports
Some rooms reported as very hot with weak AC and low shower pressure
Pool water sometimes very cold
Long wait for pool-bar food (example: 40 minutes for a burger)
Indoor pool cap/towel rule disliked by at least one guest

Categories

Cleanliness
9
Repeated mentions of clean, pleasant rooms and welcome amenities (fresh fruit); several reviews explicitly note good housekeeping and room cleanliness.
Service
7.8
Mixed reports: many comments praise friendly, helpful and welcoming staff (especially restaurant/service team), but several reviews flag slow or cold/unwelcoming reception and inconsistent staff attitude.
Location
9.5
Consistently praised: close to the airport, seaside location with easy sea access, shuttle to Funchal, private parking and proximity to beaches—strong location sentiment.
Room Quality
9
Multiple mentions of comfortable, well-appointed rooms and suite upgrades with sea/pool views; one or two reports of weak AC or hot rooms but overall room quality is highly rated.
Amenities
8.2
Spa, pools, shuttle service and family/kids facilities are highlighted positively; some negatives noted (cold pool water, indoor pool cap rule) which reduce but do not negate amenity strength.
Value for Money
6.5
Mixed to negative sentiment: explicit complaints about poor value/price-quality, buffet perceived as expensive for what it offers; some guests still felt rapport qualité-prix was good, but value sentiment leans negative.
Food and Beverage
7.6
Breakfasts are frequently praised for variety and quality, restaurants/bars generally positive; however issues include slow service at the pool bar (long waits) and criticisms of buffet pricing and cold pool water affecting dining experience.
Overall Experience
9.6
Overall stays are described as very positive with many guests noting excellent weekends, special gestures (upgrades, welcome fruit), helpful staff in restaurants and good facilities, producing a strong overall impression despite some service/value issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-11-05 14:18

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation with Ocean Views
Located in a serene area of Madeira, Vila Galé offers deluxe rooms with anti-allergic duvets and private balconies overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The wellness centre, pool, and beauty treatments ensure a relaxing stay.

Culinary Delights and Dining Options
Indulge in regional specialties and international cuisine at the Versatil Restaurant or savor Mediterranean dishes at the Inevitável Pasta Lounge. With a variety of dining options, your taste buds are in for a treat.

Convenient Location and Nearby Attractions
Situated just a 5-minute drive from Madeira International Airport and Pico do Cruz Mountain, Vila Galé provides easy access to both travel hubs and natural wonders. Book now for a memorable stay by the ocean.

Important information:

Please note that access to the indoor pool for children under the age of 12 is allowed accompanied by an adult. Also the use of a swimming cap is mandatory in the indoor pool.

The access to the hot tub, sauna or Turkish bath is limited to people aged over 16 years old.

Please note that when booking more than 9 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: FNC

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 534 reviews
Cleanliness: 9
Service: 7.8
Location: 9.5
Room Quality: 9
Amenities: 8.2
Value for Money: 6.5
Food and Beverage: 7.6
Overall Experience: 9.6
V
Viktor • couple • hu
10
2026-10-30 • via Nuitee
I
Isabel • couple • pt
10
Pros:

Fim de semana excelente.

2026-10-21 • via Nuitee
M
Maya • couple • il
10
מלון מצוין נהניתי מאד
Pros:

מיקום מושלם, חניה פרטית, נקיון ושירות נהדר , חדר נקי ונעים . ספא משובח במיוחד .

2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
S
Sheila • couple • gb
10
Pros:

Everything
Particularly liked the free upgrade to a suite 😊

2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
S
Siegfried • couple • de
9
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
C
Cloé • couple • fr
10
Excellent rapport qualité-prix
Pros:

Propreté, personnel très aimable, petit déjeuner ultra complet, les différents restaurants et bars sont top, nous avons été surclassé pour une chambre vue mer et piscine

Cons:

Rien

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
A
Alfred • couple • ch
7
Madeira ist eine sehr schöne Insel. Natur pur
Pros:

Gratis Shuttlebus nach Funchal vom Hotel. Hatten HP, Abendessen jeden Tag etwas spezielles. Direkt am Meer.aber so wie praktisch überall Steiniger Strand

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
F
Francisco • family_with_children • pt
5
😒
Cons:

Qualidade preço manifestamente má.
Quartos muito quentes, AC com défice de potência.
Duche com fraca pressão.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
A
andrea • family_with_children • it
9
2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
P
Paulo • solo_traveller • pt
8
Pros:

Localização

Cons:

Serviço
40 minutos para servirem um hambúrguer no bar junto á piscina

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
C
Catherine • couple • gb
9
Perfect for the number of hours we were there. The staff were friendly and very helpful.
Pros:

We booked because our flight was cancelled. Great to be able to do that at the last minute.

Cons:

Nothing. I would have liked some toiletries in the bathroom. Eg toothpaste would have been good because of our unplanned stay.

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
A
Aaron • solo_traveller • ch
7
2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
S
Silva • couple • pt
5
Cons:

Ter que usar toca numa piscina interior onde nao faz sentido para mim. Porque viajamos muitos e nunca vimos essa regra e pagar a toca

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
O
Olena • couple • gb
10
2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
R
Rafael • couple • ie
8
Perfect seaside hotel
Pros:

Perfect location for a jump in the sea. Easy access to the airport.

Cons:

No complaints

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
M
maier • solo_traveller • es
9
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
D
David • family_with_children • es
8
Buenas situación y acceso a playas
Pros:

Spa, zona para los niños, ocio en familia y con vehículo para llevarte a Funchal a diario.

Cons:

Piscina con el agua muy fría. El bufete, podría mejorar por el precio que tiene (30 euros/persona).

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
T
Tim • couple • gb
5
Functional for what we needed - wouldn’t want to stay there for any longer period of time.
Pros:

Short stay of 2 nights following flight cancellation.

Very close to the airport so convenient

Cons:

Reception staff were very slow to deal with people and not very welcoming.

A lot of aircraft noise due to it being so close to the airport

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
P
Pierre-Adrien • solo_traveller • lu
9
Pros:

Très bon hôtel - superbe vue sur la mer, personnel agréable et disponible.

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
D
Dobromir • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Sunbathing with the view on palms, hearing Ocean and comfortable and clean room, big bed and climatisation.

Cons:

Staff not showing friendly attitude, very cold staff in my opinion.

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee