"This was our second stay at Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso and, once again, we had a great holiday.
We came back because we loved the calm, relaxing atmosphere the first time and it didn’t disappoint.
If you want a slightly more luxurious stay, I would definitely recommend the rooms in the 4700s with their own private pools. The infinity-style view looking out over the edge is honestly one of the main reasons we returned, and we would definitely book one again.
The same applies to the two beautiful infinity pools on the rooftop and upper levels. The views are absolutely incredible.
We really enjoyed the food. There was plenty of variety and it was perfect for us. The all-inclusive package is also very good value, with branded beer, lovely wines at mealtimes and local spirits available throughout the day.
That said, there are still a few things the hotel could improve. We mentioned some of these after our last stay, so it is a little disappointing that they haven’t really changed.
1. The lifts
There are currently only two main lifts in service and they are slow, regularly packed and sometimes seem to have a mind of their own!
When you are travelling up or down seven floors in a full lift, it can get pretty uncomfortable.
2. The mini fridge
The mini fridge in our room was terrible. It barely kept anything cold and ours absolutely stank.
This was also an issue on our previous stay.
If somebody had medication that genuinely needed to be kept refrigerated, I think they could have a problem.
3. The room and drinks situation
There is no stocked minibar and you can’t order alcohol through room service.
This is particularly frustrating if you have paid extra for a room with your own private pool. If you want a drink, you physically have to go up a couple of floors, get one and carry it all the way back in a paper cup.
The restaurant wouldn’t even let us take a bottle of water back to our room, which seemed unnecessarily restrictive.
For us, the fridge and drinks situation really needs addressing if we are going to come back for a third visit.
Also, don’t expect to find an iron or fan in the room. You have to hire these, assuming they have some available.
You also need a chip from reception to use the safe, which costs around €10.
4. Air conditioning
The air conditioning works... just about.
I would honestly rate it around 2 or 3 out of 10.
It was exactly the same last year, so unfortunately I’m not convinced this is something that is likely to improve anytime soon.
5. Entertainment
The entertainment is really poor and, if anything, seemed worse this year.
This didn’t bother us too much because we specifically came here for peace, quiet and relaxation.
However, if you want big shows, dancing, audience participation and lively entertainment every evening, this probably isn’t the hotel for you.
6. Staff
This one is a little mixed.
One or two members of staff were genuinely lovely and really friendly.
With quite a few of the others, though, it can sometimes feel as if you are inconveniencing them simply by asking for something.
Some staff struggle to raise a smile, which is a shame because warmer service would make a noticeable difference.
7. Decor
For all the relaxing qualities this hotel has, I do think it is in danger of becoming dated.
From the outside, parts of the hotel have a very 1970s feel and some areas inside are beginning to feel the same way.
A refurbishment in certain areas would make a huge difference.
8. Location
The location is good, but perhaps not if you dislike hills!
You are around a 10-minute walk from the harbour.
You can also take the boat to Puerto de Mogán, which takes roughly 45 minutes and costs around €28 per couple.
9. Sunbeds
The sunbeds were comfortable, none of the ones we used were broken and there were plenty of umbrellas.
You still get the usual towel situation, with some people apparently getting up at the crack of dawn to secure their favourite spots!
That said, even if you wander down around midday, you should still be able to find somewhere.
Beach towels are available from reception and we never had any problems getting them.
10. Cleanliness
Absolutely spotless.
Our room was cleaned extremely well every day and the hotel generally felt very clean and well maintained throughout.
A few things we would definitely recommend
Anfi del Mar Beach
There is a beach around a 15-minute walk from the hotel which is perfectly fine, BUT if you are staying here, 1000% make the effort to visit Anfi del Mar Beach.
It was around a 10–15 minute taxi ride and cost roughly €10.
The beach is beautiful, with soft sand and lovely daybeds available to hire. It had a safe, relaxed atmosphere and felt a little more upmarket.
One warning: beware of the timeshare sales pitch from the little tent on the way in!
Infinity Boat Tours
There was a guy walking around the hotel called Jose who arranged excursions. Lovely chap, and he will probably find you at some point!
We booked a boat trip through him operated by Infinity Boat Tours.
It cost €160 for the two of us and included unlimited drinks and a buffet.
This was easily the best day of our holiday.
We had a lovely daybed on the catamaran, relaxing music and a great atmosphere. We also went on the jet ski and later stopped near some caves where we could snorkel, paddleboard and enjoy the water.
We even saw turtles and flying fish along the way.
Brilliant day and one we would absolutely recommend.
Puerto Rico town
For around €7 you can get a taxi into Puerto Rico. We did this on a few evenings.
There are loads of shops, restaurants and bars.
If you fancy somewhere livelier, Temple Bar was buzzing when we went, with live music and an open-air nightclub right next door.
We had a couple of really good nights around there.
Overall
All in all, another great holiday.
This hotel suits us because we go away primarily to switch off, relax and come home feeling refreshed.
If you want incredible views, beautiful pools, good food, a peaceful atmosphere and a relaxing couples’ holiday, this is a great choice.
There are definitely areas that could be improved, especially the air conditioning, fridges, drinks situation and friendliness of some staff, but none of those things ruined the holiday for us.
We came back for a second visit for a reason, and there is a very good chance we will be back for a third.
If, however, you want a lively hotel with big entertainment, dancing and lots going on every night, you may be happier somewhere else."
