Praca dos Navegantes 1, Ericeira, Portugal | (408) 416-3881
Cliffside location a few minutes' walk to beach and town center
Sprawling ocean-view terrace with two pools and a kiddy pool
Spacious rooms with AC, mini-fridges, and hairdryers; suites with balconies
Restaurant with buffet and a la carte menus
Year-round pirate-themed bar and seasonal pool bar
Free access to health club's gym, sauna, steam room, and whirlpool
Spa offering massages and beauty treatments
Kids' club and outdoor playground
Free stays and meals for kids under 12
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Dated decor and fixtures in need of an update
Fee for in-room safes and parking
Can be chaotic in peak summer months
The mid-range Vila Gale Ericeira is a cliffside hotel with dated interiors in the small fishing village and beach town of Ericeira. Its hillside location means fantastic panoramic views, plus restaurants and beaches are nearby. This 1950s property was last renovated before its reopening in 2002 and is due for an update, especially in the rooms. The 202 spacious rooms are outfitted in colored carpet, striped curtains, and dated furniture, but come with mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and AC; suites have balconies. Notable features include a large cliffside pool terrace with three pools (one kiddy pool), free access to a wellness center (spa treatments cost extra), a pirate-themed bar, and buffet restaurant with a la carte options. There are also a kids' club, meeting room, and free Wi-Fi. For a more sophisticated feel, check out the Hotel Arribas in Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
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Scene
Old-fashioned hotel with nautical decor reflecting the history of the village
Vila Gale Ericeira was inaugurated in the 1950s by a local and was then sold to the Vila Gale Group who refurbished and restored it before reopening in 2002. From the nautical motifs to the traditional tiles of the region, the hotel tries to maintain the rustic and nautical style from its beginnings. However, while the building itself is beautiful, details like carpeting and old fixtures lend an overall out-of-date style. Nonetheless, the hotel manages to stay charming, no doubt partially due to its solid list of features and its fantastic cliffside location overlooking the ocean and close to the action. The hotel sees about equal numbers of couples and families, and it's worth noting that it can be chaotic in peak summer months.
Location
Beautiful coastal cliffside location within walking distance to several restaurants
Vila Gale Ericeira is located on the western coast of Portugal about a 45-minute drive southeast of Lisbon. The hotel is situated in the small fishing village of Ericeira, which is known for having the best surf spots in western Portugal and superb seafood. The town center is around five minutes away on foot, housing several restaurants and a grocery store. There are four beaches within a 10-minute walk. - 12-minute drive to Cova da Baleia Adventure Park
Rooms
Spacious but dated rooms with carpeting, flat-screen TVs, water-stocked minibars (fee), and safes (fee)
With green or red carpet, green-and-yellow striped linens, and dated furniture, it's no secret that guest rooms here could use a refresh (think an old Holiday Inn). Of the 202 units, 116 have views of the sea, and some have large furnished balconies. Flat-screen LCD TVs with cable channels, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges stocked with bottles of water (fee), air-conditioning, and old-school safes (fee) come standard. Kettles are available on request, depending on availability. Bathrooms have basic toiletries, hairdryers, bidets, and shower/tub combos. Upgrading to Junior Suites means adding seating areas.
Features
A massive terrace with three pools, two bars, wellness center, and buffet restaurant
The hotel's crowning features is its gorgeous cliffside terrace with three pools -- a saltwater pool, freshwater pool, and kids' pool -- plus a large terra-cotta deck with loungers and umbrellas. From here, guests have stunning panoramic views of the sea and adjacent town on the hill. Guests 16 and over get free access to the health club's whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and gym, while massages and beauty treatments are available for extra charges. The Pirata Bar has tasteful, pirate-themed decor, plus table games and cliffside views. There's also a seasonal pool bar open from mid-June through mid-September, where travelers can get snack and beverage service. The Ocidental Restaurant serves a buffet breakfast (fee) and a buffet lunch and dinner with additional a la carte menus. Rooms service is available 24/7. Vila Gale Ericeira manages to be an exceptionally family-friendly hotel without being designed specifically for families. Along with kid-friendly features like a nice-sized kids' pool with dinosaur slides, an outdoor playground, and kids' club, this hotel has free stays and meals for children under 12, as long as they're on parents' meal plans.Meeting rooms that fit an audience of up to 80, a two-computer business center, and parking are also available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
