Hotel Riu Cabo Verde 5*

Hotel was lovely, it is adults only but on the evening it is shared entertainment with the sister hotel next door. You can go into there side but they can't come across to your side. There are gates with security to stop anyone not wearing a adults only wrist bamd. This felt nice as an adult only guest especially if you don't want to be around children. The security men were lovely and friendly with you. Reception made us feel really welcome on arrival and in general very friendly. They helped my hubby arrange a birthday surprise for me as it was my birthday whilst out in cape Verde. TUI reps are there daily from around 10am and can be found in reception no problem. There is a coffee bar which has air con and is great for an afternoon cool off from the heat. There is a lobby bar that serve alcohol and cocktails and any spirits. There is a indoor and outdoor seating area. With a separate smoking section. As a non smoker this feels nice as your not sat around the smoke. There is a main al a carte restaurant for brekkie, lunch and dinner. This is open at 7.30 until 10.30 for brekkie. There is another al a carte the other end of the complex that does a later start for brekkie at 10.30 which is ideal if you fancy a lie in. They both do lunch too, although we found the top restaurant to be better for the service and more options for food. The bottom end al a carte is closer to the pool so ideal if you didn't want to walk for lunch. You do need to wear a top) coverup to go inside for both. You have to book for the 3 restaurants, Italian, steakhouse and gourmet. This is easier to do via the Riu app although reception can do this too. They do get booked quickly especially the gourmet. We didn't manage to visit that one. The Italian was just a fancy version of the al a carte. Starter is getting up yourself to get it from the buffet and then they bring our your mains. Puddings was same as al a carte. Over all food here was ok. I enjoyed the fish. Steakhouse is the pool side al a carte during the evening. This was a nicer experience. They serve you 3 courses. And general vibe from staff seemed nicer for us. We had pork ribs and I really enjoyed mine although hubby didn't have much meat. Over all the al a carte restaurant was lovely, however towards the end of our holiday we noticed there was less food out. Pool side bar is really good, you can swim up to the car and interact with other guest. All the drinks are served in plastic cups. So doesn't really give you a 5* luxury feel but still good. Cocktails at the pool bar I found to be more like alcohol slushies. But really enjoyed a run and sprite or rum and coke. The main bar in the evening is really good. The staff working on it as so friendly and good to have a laugh with. There is also a lobby bar and a sax player from 7-8pm so lovely for if you like it a little quieter. The entertainment was good. House band was brilliant although we were there for 10 days so saw them twice and it was the same set list. But I enjoyed the music. Karaoke is good although not on for long so have to get your name in quick if you want a sing song. Entertainment during the day is the same thing everyday but they are really friendly and like to make it fun for guest. They really hype you up. Aqua aerobics is good, gets you moving for a bit which is good if you spend all day lounging. Room was clean and spacious with decent size balcony. Block 5 is a good block as it's closer to the pool and far enough away from the lobby/ restaurant/ entertainment so it's quieter for when you want to go sleep. Rooms could do with some improvements, a few light switches were broken and toilet was constantly draining during the night. Not a complaint just little things we noticed that needed improvements. We had ice in our drinks and no belly issues at all. We ate salad every day and again no belly issues. We didnt drink the water or use the tap to brush our teeth as the rep advised against it. We went to Santa Maria town for a visit. It's not a whole day trip. Takes 10 mins for €5 in taxi and same back or a 20 mins walk. You do feel safe although get approached by alot of local lucky lucky men trying to get your into their shops. If you want to avoid this I would advice not going to town. Or be assertive when saying no thank you and walk wway. If I can recommend a day trip I would say don't use TUI and instead use Edgar Experience (top search on Google) he was absolutely fantastic.cheaper than TUI and you get a more in depth experience on the trip. We did the all day 4x4 jeep.. which included.. lemon shark/blue eye/ a mirage for great photos/ salt water lake/ restaurant visit and a little private bay to soak in the seaand a fishing village visit. If you have a party of 4 it works out €75 per couple for the trip plus You pay approx €25 for lunch per couple. €6 each for entry into blue eye (amazing photos) and nice little shop. €3 each for lemon shark. It says about shoe hire included. They are crocks! I did have crocks on but didn't want to ruin them in the sea so used their crocks. Flip flops on the trip is fine. But if you have water shoes they are better to save you having to swap footwear. On the back of the truck you dry off so quickly. Take a neck scarf for the dust on the back of the truck and a towel as the seat gets hot in the sun. After the salt lake (unless it's last in the itinerary) I would recommend showering it off. It's €1 for like 30 seconds but I stayed in swim wear washed salt off then dried out in the back of the jeep. Didn't feel the need to change my clothes as you dry so quickly. Advice.. do not get the salt lake water in your eyes! It stings haha!! This was a fantastic trip 100% recommend through Edgar. A driver picks you up takes you next door where Edgar meets you and goes through the day then the driver take you out. We had Marcio and he was fantastic. He take photos all day long and you have the option to purchase them. We did as he captured some great natural ones of us enjoying our day. Take something decent for mosquito bites. We got bit so bad on our legs. Rubbing ice over them helped to sooth it instantly. A night time plug in may help in the room to keep them away. Airport to come home is tiny, there is 2 food shops for sandwiches but once they sell out they are gone. Overall this was a lovely holiday for me and hubby, hot, relaxing and hotel had a lovely vibe. William from the al a carte restaurant is a sweetheart. Pivo from the main evening bar, such a cool dude! Both these lads were so friendly, polite respectful and such a laugh to interact with. We tipped them both at the end of the holiday because we enjoyed their company and they were a lovely part of our holiday. Overall this hotel was great, a few little improvements to make a 5* if you have high standards (we do as we have been to 5*+) but this is definitely a 4* with potential to easily be a 5* would highly recommend this hotel.

We have stayed at several RIU hotels over the years and have always been very satisfied. That is exactly why we chose RIU Cabo Verde for our holiday on Sal Island. Unfortunately, this time our expectations were not fully met. This is not a bad hotel. On the contrary, it has many strong points. However, throughout our stay we felt that the overall standard of service did not match what we expected from a five-star RIU property. ROOM Our room was spacious, and the beds were large and very comfortable. In addition to the air conditioning, there was also a large ceiling fan. The air conditioning was occasionally quite noisy, although not constantly. The bathroom was spacious, and we particularly appreciated having two sinks. What surprised us was that the room did not include slippers, bathrobes or body lotion, which we had always considered standard in other RIU hotels. The biggest disappointment was the wardrobe. From the outside it looked perfectly clean, but the inside of the wardrobe doors was visibly dirty, as if it had not been cleaned for a very long time. Because of this, we did not use the wardrobe at all. We only used the safe, which is located inside it. Wi-Fi worked well throughout most of the resort, although the signal on the beach was weak or unavailable. The effects of the humid tropical climate are noticeable in some interior areas of the hotel. Nevertheless, the resort is well maintained, the gardens are beautiful and the hotel itself looks very attractive from the outside. The sound insulation between rooms was about average. If your neighbours are considerate, you'll have no issues. If they decide to play loud music and sing along late into the evening, you will definitely hear them. One thing that surprised us was the number of mosquitoes in the rooms. Almost every guest we spoke to had mosquito bites. STAFF We were very satisfied with the housekeeping service. The rooms were cleaned every day, and towels were replaced regularly. The entertainment team deserves special praise. The young staff members were friendly, energetic, spoke excellent languages and managed to involve guests without ever being pushy. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about the reception staff. On several occasions, while we were speaking to a receptionist, they interrupted our conversation to deal with another guest or talk to a colleague before finishing with us. We found this rather unprofessional. Another issue was the language skills of some restaurant staff. Ordering simple items was never a problem, but whenever we tried to have a longer conversation in English or Spanish, some employees struggled to understand us. Eventually we limited our communication to very simple requests. RESTAURANTS The selection of food at breakfast, lunch and dinner was more than sufficient, and everyone should be able to find something they enjoy. The vegetables, however, were disappointing. It was obvious that most of them were imported rather than locally grown, and they simply did not taste as fresh. We recommend sitting on the outdoor terrace whenever possible. Inside the main restaurant there was often an unpleasant smell, while dining outside was much more enjoyable. On several occasions we found dirty cups and cutlery already placed on set tables. We were also surprised to see some staff handling prepared food with their bare hands instead of wearing gloves. Every morning we also had to ask separately for regular cow's milk. We cannot really comment on the alcoholic drinks because we only drink wine. However, the coffee served in the air-conditioned café next to the reception was excellent. We visited two à la carte restaurants. Both were worth visiting, although we found the Italian restaurant slightly less impressive than the other one. We did not visit the steakhouse. BEACH AND POOLS The beach is absolutely beautiful. The waves are fantastic, although they are also surprisingly powerful. We witnessed several situations where older guests struggled to get out of the water, but fortunately the lifeguard reacted immediately every time. There were always plenty of sunbeds available both by the pool and on the beach. However, we were surprised that neither the beach nor the sunbeds were maintained very well. The loungers were often covered with sand and guests had to clean and arrange them themselves before use. The beach bar was another disappointment. The range of drinks was very limited and, as far as alcoholic beverages were concerned, beer was practically the only option. We would at least have appreciated being able to order a glass of wine. It is also worth mentioning that although RIU Cabo Verde is an adults-only hotel, the beach is shared with the neighbouring RIU Funana, which welcomes families with children. This did not bother us much because the beach is large enough for everyone to find a quiet spot. One thing we really appreciated was the local conservation programme. Sea turtles and several bird species lay their eggs on the beach, and the eggs are carefully protected in a designated and clearly marked conservation area until they hatch. It was wonderful to see that protecting local wildlife is taken seriously. ENTERTAINMENT AND FACILITIES Various activities are organised throughout the day, including Kahoot quizzes and bingo. In the evenings there are themed shows, including the Neon Party and White Party, with lively music and many well-known songs. The atmosphere was enjoyable. Another advantage is that the amphitheatre is located far enough from the accommodation blocks, so the evening entertainment does not disturb guests who prefer a quiet night. We also highly appreciated the shower facilities near the reception for guests with late departures. Although check-out is at noon, we were able to take a shower before leaving for the airport, and clean towels were provided. This is an excellent service. We stayed in Block 5, which we found to be an ideal location, with easy access to both the beach and the swimming pools. SURROUNDINGS Golf lovers will appreciate the nearby golf course. A taxi costs around €10 each way, and all equipment can be rented there. We also recommend visiting Santa Maria, a pleasant little town with cafés, restaurants and shops that is well worth exploring. WHAT UNFORTUNATELY AFFECTED OUR OVERALL EXPERIENCE Unfortunately, our otherwise enjoyable holiday ended with a very unpleasant experience. During our flight home, my adult daughter suddenly became seriously ill with severe diarrhoea, vomiting and later a high fever. Around twelve hours after arriving back in the Czech Republic, she required emergency medical treatment and was admitted to hospital, where she was treated with antibiotics. We cannot say with certainty what caused her illness. Throughout our stay we drank only bottled water supplied daily by the hotel and even used it for brushing our teeth. Nevertheless, these serious health problems occurred, and unfortunately they became an important part of our overall experience. OVERALL IMPRESSION RIU Cabo Verde is certainly not a bad hotel. It offers a beautiful beach, attractive surroundings, comfortable accommodation and many employees who genuinely do an excellent job. Had this been a four-star hotel, we would probably have been very satisfied. However, from a five-star RIU hotel we expected a higher standard of service, greater professionalism and much more attention to detail. In our opinion, it is precisely those small details that distinguish a good hotel from an excellent one.