Galo Resort Hotel Alpino Atlantico

My fourth stay at the Alpino Atlantico with Ayurvedic treatments at the Ashoka Spa was once again wonderful. We were there for a total of 14 days and took a Panchakarma cure on ten of those days. Everything was just perfect: AYURVEDA TREATMENTS The treatments are outstanding. If you're taking a Panchakarma cure, you have one treatment each morning and afternoon. Everything is well-organized, and the therapists are excellent. I've done Ayurvedic treatments in India and Sri Lanka before – the Ashoka can easily compete. The Ayurvedic doctors – both from India – advise and support the guests during their stay. They give lectures twice a week on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic nutrition. FOOD The food is also remarkably good. In the mornings, there are usually two types of porridge and stewed fruit. For guests not doing a Panchakarma treatment, there's also bread and various spreads as well as fresh fruit. The highlight for me was always lunch with rice and three different delicious vegetables, which were incredibly well-seasoned. The wide variety of vegetable dishes was impressive: During our two-week stay, virtually nothing was repeated. The portions are generous, but although I often ate everything, I still lost ten pounds within ten days. For those not undergoing Panchakarma, there's also a large salad buffet and delicious dessert. YOGA There are yoga classes in the mornings and usually also in the late afternoon in a beautiful yoga room overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The teachers are all very competent. The classes are well-planned, with a mix of easy and intermediate asanas. More advanced asanas are not included, which is probably better in the context of an Ayurvedic treatment because you are not supposed to exert yourself too much. You can book aerial yoga and sound healing for an additional fee. The sound healing is fantastic. ACCOMMODATION The hotel is wonderfully located right on the seafront. All rooms have terraces with sea views. They are a bit dated, but still very comfortable, bright and welcoming, with comfy beds and with kettles. The large bathrooms with walk-in showers are spotless. The garden is lovely, with comfortable loungers and picturesque views. Overall, a truly wonderful stay. Thanks to the whole team! I’ll be back!

Spent a long time liaising with Ashoka staff via email to ensure they could help before placing my trust in their care. I arrived from the UK to find the first night's food made me unwell. Despite meeting with the doctor the following morning, this continued, whereby food provided did not cater to aid health or even boost it but instead cause illness and harm. Staff had not communicated my medical history and dietary requirements with one another which was a huge failing! Several of the team apologised to me in person for this. Still struggling to heal from the damage, along with trying desperately to resolve the issue of a refusal to refund for a so called, 'cure' that certainly was far from the advertised name suggests. Treatments of which I could not use. Initially, I was not going to leave a review because one person's experience certainly is not another's. But I feel it is important to share my truth and the failings of this team, along with the very difficult and argumentative behaviour of the owner, Birgit Moukom, which deeply saddens me to share.

Great location with unobstructed direct sea view - wow. The room service staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful. They practically read your requested towel and bathrobe change from your lips. The food is vegetarian, tasty, the portions are optimal and really tailored to the selected treatment. The head chef and the service staff are warm, thoughtful and, in addition to Portuguese and English, even speak a few words in Spanish or German. Hats off to the experienced Ayurveda doctors. Although there are different contact persons, the quality of the diagnosis and corresponding treatment recommendations is consistently top-notch. The yoga teachers and massage therapists get 5 stars from me across the board. This is really sensational and I wish I could book both the yoga teachers and the therapists in my hometown for sessions. As this is unfortunately not feasible, I will just be a repeat offender...