Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria

Beautiful hotel, spotlessly clean and did not get ill! Was worried about the reviews about sickness but fear not third time in Cape Verde and never been ill. Hotel - grounds were kept really well by gardeners and it’s super clean! There is a wide range of pools to use, one being peaceful and quiet and the there are other pools with loungers and then 2x swim up bars. Staff were always polite and friendly, especially reception. The coffee shop is a lovely addition, enjoyed the premium coffees and hot chocolates, they also do little snacks such as sandwiches, quiches and cakes/biscuits. Sports bar - to say it’s quite small for the hotel grounds it was always a nice space to be on an evening or during the day if we fancied a cool down, or to play a game of pool! The husband also watched a couple of football matches! Beach - beautiful white sandy beach with huge open space, always sun beds available. Would be even more perfect if there was a beach bar as part of the all inclusive. The sea is blue and crystal clear but be cautious of the waves they take you by surprise! Room - stayed in 4219 which is a lovely sea view room. Kept very clean during the stay and our water, tea and coffee were kept stocked up at all times. Rainfall shower is a bonus with a lot of room, rain his and her sinks were a nice touch. You also get top shelf whiskey, vodka, gin and rum in your in room optics on the wall. The app is great as you can request extra mixers and soft drinks as and when you needed them! Restaurants / drinks - we visited them all several times during our 10 night stay and all were fabulous, no complaints! Our favourite was the steakhouse. You have the other options of Asian, gourmet and Italian. Gourmet was a high second contender! Easy to book on the app, just double check as sometimes it double booked us for different times and I just cancelled the one we didn’t want. Cocktails are ok, did expect better for a Palace to be honest but still enjoyed them! The wine and spirits are top shelf. Entertainment - piano bar was a lovely sophisticated touch! Enjoyed having a cocktail here before dinner. Night time entertainment in the main theatre was always a good time - the rock show especially! Got to see this twice! There is also the white or neon party every Friday which is a must do in our opinion it’s such a fun evening and good music, a right party! You have to go to the sister hotel but it made a nice change and the drinks were still all inclusive. Golf - if anyone enjoys their golf like us there is a short taxi ride to the golf course (€10) and it was €180 for both of us to do 9 holes but it was such a different experience highly recommend. You get your buggy, equipment, balls and time at the driving range before hand all included. We also did the lemon shark trip and the full island tour which was INCREDIBLE! To see the sharks up close around your legs in their natural habitat was amazing to see, and then we spent the day going around the whole island which was a cultural experience. Swimming in the salt lake was a cool experience too! You finish off at a remote beach bar with the locals and then head back to the resort. All in all - a fantastic resort and we really enjoyed our time there. We would definitely return! Thank you for a great stay, Cape Verde always has our hearts <3

Beautiful hotel and grounds, spacious rooms, delicious food and drinks, and the staff work tirelessly to keep everything clean and tidy. We had a lovely relaxing holiday here.