Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria

Despite many opinions, Riu Palace was not as special as we expected. Good or very good things are the meals - to choose from, plentiful, varied, as fans of fish and seafood, we were satisfied. Drinks and other alcohol in unlimited quantities. The swimming pools are warm and have enough sun loungers, so guests don't have to fight for them. A wonderful, wide, sandy beach. Despite the high waves, it was possible to swim in the sea. An unforgettable experience while visiting the "blue eye", shark bay and salt drying plant. It is also worth mentioning the reception and reception staff - they responded to guests' requests without any problems. And that's all the good stuff. Now the worse ones. - standard rooms, mattresses ok, equipped with a large bar with alcohol; average cleanliness, bathroom equipment is standard, although there is visible wear, there are still noticeable odors from the sewage - probably the drains have not been cleaned for a long time, the same applies to the air conditioning, it has not been cleaned for a long time, with traces of mold; the furniture is either old or warped, opening the drawers is a higher art, difficult and unpleasant; electrical sockets with USB sockets; a small fridge with drinks, and a bit of a problem with refilling, we had to ask several times; - the corridors are cleaned "theoretically" every day, but still dirty, it seems that the staff doesn't like to put much effort into it; - buildings with signs of wear, chipped paint, scratched walls; but it's hard to expect renovations every season; - if it rains, some rooms may be flooded, corridors will definitely be flooded; - around the buildings there is greenery, trees, palm trees, bushes, and basins filled with sand and stones, which has little to do with the aesthetics of the palace, it looked rather poor; - from time to time there were no replacement beach towels; but there was a way around it; - animations - in our opinion, extremely low level, it seemed that the hosts preferred to have fun themselves rather than engage the guests; extremely weak; - guests - mainly from the UK and it was clearly heard and felt in the swimming pool next to the pub - screaming, shouting, some fights, drunk users - unpleasant for those who wanted to use this place, so most of the others avoided these places; - generally, hot and very high air humidity, but the wind mitigates these effects.

Beautiful Hotel with Great Facilities, but Some Areas Could Be Improved Just returned from a week's stay in Sal, Cape Verde. Overall, the hotel is modern, spacious and beautifully designed. Although it doesn't quite have the wow factor, it's still an impressive resort with plenty to offer. Arrival and Facilities We arrived in the evening and were warmly greeted. Check-in was quick and efficient, taking around five minutes. I was particularly impressed by the size of the resort and the variety of facilities, including numerous bars, restaurants and a 24-hour sports bar. Mosquitoes – Be Prepared! One of the biggest downsides was the number of mosquitoes, especially around the lower pool area and even in reception. Unfortunately, I hadn't brought mosquito repellent, but had I known how bad they were, it would have been a priority. Hopefully, this helps future guests come prepared! Food and Restaurants The main buffet restaurant, Palmeira, offered an excellent variety of food, much of which was delicious. However, guests with dietary restrictions, allergies or specific requirements may struggle. I have a milk allergy and only eat halal meat, which significantly reduced my options. I would estimate that around half the dishes contained milk, leaving me with roughly 20% of the overall selection once my other dietary requirements were considered. Although food was generally labelled quite well, communicating with staff about allergens was challenging due to the language barrier. Most staff spoke only basic English, making it difficult to explain my requirements. Desserts were particularly disappointing, as there were very few suitable options. At other resorts, chefs have often prepared dairy-free alternatives using soya or other ingredients, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to arrange anything similar here. The buffet also became repetitive throughout the week. Themed evenings, such as Italian, Asian or Mexican nights, would be a welcome improvement. We also tried two à la carte restaurants, Krystal and Doryaki, but unfortunately, both were underwhelming. Krystal was particularly disappointing in terms of choice and flavour, while the sushi at Doryaki was reasonable. Once again, dessert options were extremely limited, leaving fruit salad as my only real choice. Rooms Our room was a decent size, comfortable and pleasant, although there is room for improvement. I enquired about upgrading, but reception explained that most rooms, including the swim-up options, were similar in size. A wider choice of room upgrades would have been nice. Drinks and Entertainment The drinks selection was very good, including the coffee, although quality occasionally varied depending on who prepared it. Entertainment was another strong point. The resort has a large stage and spacious entertainment area, perfect for guests who enjoy music, dancing and a lively atmosphere. I didn't participate much as it's not really my thing anymore, but there's certainly plenty happening for those who want to let loose! Overall Verdict A beautiful, spacious resort with excellent facilities, a great selection of bars and drinks, and plenty of entertainment. The main buffet was generally very good, but improvements are needed around dietary requirements, staff communication, food variety and the à la carte restaurants. The mosquitoes were also a significant downside, so definitely bring repellent! Despite these issues, we had an enjoyable stay. I'd recommend the hotel, particularly to those who enjoy large, lively all-inclusive resorts, although guests with allergies or specific dietary requirements should be aware of the limitations.