Vila Gale Coimbra

Terrible service for a hotel presenting itself as a four-star establishment aimed at business travellers. I needed an iron, so I called reception three times, waiting at least three or four minutes each time. No one answered. I could hear members of the housekeeping team chatting outside my room, so I went out to ask them. One person, who appeared to be a supervisor and spoke English, told me that they did not have irons or ironing boards and that I should call reception. An excellent suggestion—if reception ever answered the phone. I also asked whether they provided slippers. He thought slippers might only be available to guests staying on the fifth floor or above and, once again, advised me to call reception. After several more unanswered calls, I eventually walked downstairs. When I mentioned that nobody had answered the phone, the receptionist merely shrugged and explained that they had been busy with customers. This did make me wonder whether hotel guests are included in that category. She then informed me that the hotel does not provide irons at all. If guests need anything ironed, they must pay for the laundry service. Ideal for anyone attending a business meeting or event. As for the slippers, apparently I could only have them if I paid to rent a bathrobe—which I neither wanted nor needed. A wonderfully imaginative approach to four-star hospitality. In the end, I used the old trick of hanging my clothes in the bathroom and running a hot shower. I am not sure what costs the hotel more: all that hot water or simply providing guests with an iron. PS The staff seem genuinely trying but the whole system doesn't work. Four-star prices, one-star solutions.

I have been staying at Vila Galé Coimbra on and off for nearly 15 years, and it was once my preferred hotel in the city. Unfortunately, this visit left me disappointed. Communication before arrival was surprisingly difficult, and at check-in it took quite some time for staff to locate our reservation. Throughout the stay, the service felt inconsistent, with several team members appearing inexperienced and not particularly welcoming. The hotel still has some strong points. The rooms were clean and comfortable, the pool-facing rooms offer lovely views over the pool and river, and the bathroom water pressure was excellent. The outdoor pool looked inviting, although the water was extremely cold. The indoor pool, meanwhile, appeared to have an excessively high chlorine level, causing eye irritation even from spending time in the area. What disappointed me most was the noticeable decline in the overall guest experience. Many of the amenities that once helped distinguish the Vila Galé brand have disappeared, while even simple requests felt unnecessarily complicated. There was also a general sense of cost-cutting throughout the property. The biggest letdown was the food. Both breakfast and dinner were far below what I remembered from previous stays. The selection was limited, vegetarian options were scarce, and there was a noticeable lack of fresh fruit and vegetables. In the past, the dining experience felt much more generous and thoughtfully prepared. Overall, the hotel was perfectly acceptable, but it no longer feels like the Vila Galé Coimbra I remembered. While the rooms remain clean and the location is very good, the decline in service, dining quality, and attention to detail was impossible to ignore. For the first time in many years, I left feeling that it may be time to explore other options in Coimbra.

Worst dinner I could have in Coimbra. Sangria was juice with 7-up, got a complementary croquete from the chef due to a 25min wait and the tagliatelle was full of olive oil. The entry plate tasted like sauce. On top of it, the plate was so bright that it make me blind. Just go to some other restaurant

Very well located, nice view to the river and close by to turistics interest palces. Safe location, there are , pharmacies, banks and restaurants close by. Family friendly.