Rubens Hotels Royal Village Gaia

"We booked this online via a travel company, then read the reviews on Trip Advisor and were more than a little worried! What we discovered was totally different to some of the poor reviews left recently. We were greeted by friendly and helpful staff with excellent English. The hotel is well kept and our room was spotlessly clean and had good quality beds and bedding. Breakfast was great with a good selection of food and drinks on offer. The outside pool area was well maintained and the pool cleaned daily by some little robotic device. The location is good for getting to the metro and train station. The bridge and old town are about 10 - 15 minutes walk away. My only slight gripe is that you have to pay to use the inside heated pool - or at least you do if it’s not in your package - this is more about LoveHolidays than the hotel though. Well worth considering and I’d certainly come again."

"A mixed experience at this hotel. Overall ok but could have been so much better if the owners had a rethink. The positive; Location is about 20 mins walk or v cheap cab to gaia and porto, so very doable. Reception and check in was efficient. Reception staff very helpful and lovely. Hotel decor lovely. Meal had in the restaurant (chicken cesar) was delicious. Rooms big enough (212) and cleaned well where possible (see below). Great TV. Spar pool relaxing and clean and tidy Outside pool lovely and clean and tidy with nice decor. The negative; Shocking music played on repeat - please turn it off!!! It felt like sound torture after 1 day. To enjoy sitting outside the restaurant means guests sit in a car park The absence of a poor bar is rediculous. As is not having staff ask guests if they would like a drink and fetching it from a bar away from where people sit and relax. This is a 4 star hotel after all! The outside pool towels are kept in the indoor spa which means walking around the car park back into the main hotel into the spa and back again. Rediculous design that could so easiely be fixed. Drinks take forever to make by all staff & we wondered why things seem so hard for them to do their job? They seemed to have several jobs to do at the same time. The facilities in the bedroom are poor - no bottled water, too few hangers, no drawers to put clothes in, hook on wall broken, no iron, bathroom tiles wall-papered over so look dirty (cant be cleaned) and the bed was very hard and uncomfortable. The vending machine is of little use when you need it most (arrival) as it requires change. So the absence of water in the room, plus an inability to buy extra was just unbelievable for a 4 star hotel. Staff all lovely when aksed for anything and work so hard but seem anxious and did not spontaneously engage (or even say hello) with guests in a away that relaxes guests. I hope they are not penalised for complaints as all my issues related to ownership and management decisions in my view. The owners could do so much more at this hotel as it has such potential if they considerd the needs of guests and staff more."

"The hotel is located about a 15-minute walk from the main area.. there is a spa on site and I indulged in a facial which was absolutely fantastic ..the rooms are reasonable size, the windows open so you can have some fresh air and the beds are comfortable and it's quite clean.. be aware that the bathrooms are very very small"