Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria

I’ve just returned from an amazing 7-night stay at Riu Palace Santa Maria in Cape Verde, and I honestly couldn’t fault it. I travelled as a solo female, so feeling safe and comfortable was really important to me, and from the moment I arrived, I felt completely safe and very well looked after. The hotel itself is beautiful, spacious and exceptionally clean. Everywhere you go, the grounds and public areas are really well maintained. The staff were friendly, welcoming and always happy to help. There are six pools to choose from, so you can easily find somewhere to suit your mood, whether you want a quieter area to relax or somewhere with more atmosphere and activities. There are also loads of sun loungers, which was a huge bonus. I never had that awful experience of having to get up at 6am to put a towel down! 😄 There were always plenty of loungers available, which made such a difference and meant you could actually relax and enjoy your holiday. The beach is absolutely beautiful too — the perfect place to spend an afternoon soaking up the Cape Verde sunshine. 🌊 The choice of food is fantastic. There is so much variety, with plenty of different dishes available, so even after seven nights I still had things I wanted to try. The à la carte restaurants are a lovely addition and definitely worth booking. It’s nice to have the choice of different dining experiences rather than eating in the main restaurant every night. The rooms are comfortable and kept lovely and clean, and I really appreciated the fact that the mini-bar was restocked every day. It’s the little things like that which make an all-inclusive holiday feel extra special. There is loads to do if you don't want to simply sit around the pool all day. There are activities and entertainment throughout the day, so you can be as busy or as relaxed as you want. There are also plenty of excursions and tours available, which is a great way to see more of Sal and experience some of what Cape Verde has to offer. I did a couple of excursions during my stay and absolutely loved getting out and seeing more of the island. I particularly wanted to mention this because I know other women may be wondering whether this hotel is suitable for travelling solo. DO IT As a solo female traveller, I felt safe, comfortable and completely at ease throughout my stay. I never felt uncomfortable being on my own, whether I was around the resort, by the pools, at the restaurants or walking around the hotel. It was actually lovely being able to have a holiday completely on my own and still feel so comfortable and welcome. Riu Palace Santa Maria has given me exactly the holiday I needed. Beautiful surroundings, amazing weather, plenty of food and drink choices, fantastic facilities, a gorgeous beach, lots to do and, most importantly, a really safe and relaxing environment. I genuinely didn't want to come home! 😂 A huge thank you to all the staff for making my stay so enjoyable. I would 100% return to Riu Palace Santa Maria, and I would have absolutely no hesitation recommending it to other solo travellers, couples, families or anyone looking for a relaxing all-inclusive holiday in Cape Verde. Thank you Riu Palace Santa Maria for an unforgettable holiday! 🇨🇻🌴 NO STRESS!!

Ignore the negative reviews and find out for yourself. Would return in a heartbeat. Everywhere is incredibly clean, the staff are incredible across every area. Second visit to this hotel, 4th visit to Cape Verde. Food is plentiful, something for everyone Plenty of sunbeds Entertainment staff NEVER stop! Mojitos are toooooo good! Also coffees are lovely I could go on and on, just book it!