Discussion
Went about 15 years ago when tourism only just started. Went to Boa Vista and stayed in the Riu Keremboa. Amazing resort. Amazing people and towns, only negative was the sea was off limits everyday due to dangerous currents. There was no real supply to the hotels on the island it all needed to be shipped in and the ship delivering the stock couldn't dock due to stormy seas at port so one morning we were lacking bacon.
Like I say that was 15 years ago so sure things have changed. The sun was very very fierce and spf50 only just cut the mustard. Will definitely return when my kids are a bit older. Did an incredible quad bike safari that took in the whole island, well worth the experience.
Like I say that was 15 years ago so sure things have changed. The sun was very very fierce and spf50 only just cut the mustard. Will definitely return when my kids are a bit older. Did an incredible quad bike safari that took in the whole island, well worth the experience.
RATATTAK said:
There's been a bit of food poisoning at some of the hotels recently.
We cancelled our trip earlier this year because of this. 4 Brits dead at the time and two of them were at the hotel we'd planned to stay at.Plenty of other places to go.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy18l59yxxo
Edited by toasty on Thursday 25th June 16:16
Also been twice in the last 4 years.
Each time Boa Vista
Went to Riu Palace both times
Tui hotel all inclusive
The place is spotless, food plentiful and reasonably diverse. Pools good, some had swim up bars.
This hotel adjoins the Karamboa hotel.
It shapes a single weekly night's entertainment with that hotel. Usually neon or white.
For us that was the only night's entertainment we enjoyed. Other night's entertainment was generic and boring. Seems tui have the same format throughout the island.
Beaches are stunning. Walk up to the small town or down to one of the only beach bars just to add variety.
The place seems to be hot regardless of the time of year. I thought it was reasonably cheap given its all inclusive.
Enjoyed both holidays. However won't be going back as my tastes have changed and entertainment matters for me.
Each time Boa Vista
Went to Riu Palace both times
Tui hotel all inclusive
The place is spotless, food plentiful and reasonably diverse. Pools good, some had swim up bars.
This hotel adjoins the Karamboa hotel.
It shapes a single weekly night's entertainment with that hotel. Usually neon or white.
For us that was the only night's entertainment we enjoyed. Other night's entertainment was generic and boring. Seems tui have the same format throughout the island.
Beaches are stunning. Walk up to the small town or down to one of the only beach bars just to add variety.
The place seems to be hot regardless of the time of year. I thought it was reasonably cheap given its all inclusive.
Enjoyed both holidays. However won't be going back as my tastes have changed and entertainment matters for me.
We went just after Covid.
We arrived and there were LOADS of complaints about food poisoning. Sounds like nothing has changed? TUI reps seemed to be quite dismissive about issues and had probably become quite hardened to it all.
Not surprising given the lack hygiene when it comes to the sheer amount of flies on food at the buffets/on tables/around food in general.
We survived, but were very careful with what and how we ate as well as timing buffets to get food that had JUST come out of the kitchens. We also avoided the pools.
We arrived and there were LOADS of complaints about food poisoning. Sounds like nothing has changed? TUI reps seemed to be quite dismissive about issues and had probably become quite hardened to it all.
Not surprising given the lack hygiene when it comes to the sheer amount of flies on food at the buffets/on tables/around food in general.
We survived, but were very careful with what and how we ate as well as timing buffets to get food that had JUST come out of the kitchens. We also avoided the pools.
Cape Verde is usually our destination for a bit of winter sun and run training in nov/dec.
It wouldn't be my go to destination but that time of year and under 1k each all inclusive it ticks the boxes.
Food wise we've never been ill and last nov the kitchen staff were really hot taking and recording food temperatures , i think a lot of the sickness is people not used to the heat outdoors all day drinking in the heat plus lots of people don't use the hand sanitizer provided at the buffet entrances.
We usually go to Sal , pretty nice beaches , really good for kite surfing , slightly pushy salesmen but not Egypt levels
It wouldn't be my go to destination but that time of year and under 1k each all inclusive it ticks the boxes.
Food wise we've never been ill and last nov the kitchen staff were really hot taking and recording food temperatures , i think a lot of the sickness is people not used to the heat outdoors all day drinking in the heat plus lots of people don't use the hand sanitizer provided at the buffet entrances.
We usually go to Sal , pretty nice beaches , really good for kite surfing , slightly pushy salesmen but not Egypt levels
Had a week in the Riu Palace on Boa Vista a few years ago.
It was....OK, would I go back, probably not.
We went in September and it was probably a little too hot for my liking, later in the year would have been better.
We had a white party which was good fun, but we've since been to a Riu hotel on Gran Canaria and guess what they do exactly the same weekly parties, cheaper than Boa Vista, 2 hours less on a plane, Cape Verde isn't classed as long haul so you get the same spec plane for a 6.5 hour flight as a 2 hour flight to Spain.
We've also had friends stay in a Riu in Mexico and guess what....it's white party there too.
We are already planning going back to the hotel in the Canaries, and would pick this over Boa Vista every time, cheaper, closer, the same weather, exactly the same spec hotel, better food/drink, and more to do.
It was....OK, would I go back, probably not.
We went in September and it was probably a little too hot for my liking, later in the year would have been better.
We had a white party which was good fun, but we've since been to a Riu hotel on Gran Canaria and guess what they do exactly the same weekly parties, cheaper than Boa Vista, 2 hours less on a plane, Cape Verde isn't classed as long haul so you get the same spec plane for a 6.5 hour flight as a 2 hour flight to Spain.
We've also had friends stay in a Riu in Mexico and guess what....it's white party there too.
We are already planning going back to the hotel in the Canaries, and would pick this over Boa Vista every time, cheaper, closer, the same weather, exactly the same spec hotel, better food/drink, and more to do.
We loved Cape Verde when we went over Christmas 2023. We did not stay in any of the AI resorts, and booked everything ourselves.
Flew into São Vicente with TAP Air Portugal via Lisbon. Stayed a couple of nights in Mindelo, then the early morning ferry across to Santo Antão where we had a car hire waiting. Drove around the island to Questel BronQ. Returned and stayed a night right by the airport.
Cost was about £1100 per person - £350 on accommodation, £750 on flights. Don't have a record of the car hire cost - we probably didn't need it, but it did allow us to see more of the island.
Mindelo
Accommodation
Inland
Private beach
Flew into São Vicente with TAP Air Portugal via Lisbon. Stayed a couple of nights in Mindelo, then the early morning ferry across to Santo Antão where we had a car hire waiting. Drove around the island to Questel BronQ. Returned and stayed a night right by the airport.
Cost was about £1100 per person - £350 on accommodation, £750 on flights. Don't have a record of the car hire cost - we probably didn't need it, but it did allow us to see more of the island.
Mindelo
Accommodation
Inland
Private beach
I went to Boa Vista in 2014, then 2018 (I think)
Riu Touareg
First visit bullet points
> The place is like the surface of Mars. Nothing there, no vegetation, nothing to see. There's a small town by the airport. Nothing else
> Hotel was massive and really nice. Ideal to do nothing, just sit by a pool.
> Food good
> Entertainment poor, there's a limited pool to draw from
> Enjoyed it, but we were ready to leave at the end - someone described it as a luxury prison camp
Second visit - Same hotel
> The place is like the surface of Mars. Nothing there, no vegetation, nothing to see. There's a small town by the airport. Nothing else
> Hotel was massive but clientele had noticeably dropped in terms of.....class
> Food iffy - wife got food poisoning (thankfully fairly mild). I had it a little - don't eat the ice cream is my advice. I was fine when I steered clear of that.
> Entertainment poor, there's a limited pool to draw from
> Enjoyed it, but grateful to leave - standards noticeably dropped.
Riu Touareg
First visit bullet points
> The place is like the surface of Mars. Nothing there, no vegetation, nothing to see. There's a small town by the airport. Nothing else
> Hotel was massive and really nice. Ideal to do nothing, just sit by a pool.
> Food good
> Entertainment poor, there's a limited pool to draw from
> Enjoyed it, but we were ready to leave at the end - someone described it as a luxury prison camp
Second visit - Same hotel
> The place is like the surface of Mars. Nothing there, no vegetation, nothing to see. There's a small town by the airport. Nothing else
> Hotel was massive but clientele had noticeably dropped in terms of.....class
> Food iffy - wife got food poisoning (thankfully fairly mild). I had it a little - don't eat the ice cream is my advice. I was fine when I steered clear of that.
> Entertainment poor, there's a limited pool to draw from
> Enjoyed it, but grateful to leave - standards noticeably dropped.
Muzzer79 said:
I went to Boa Vista in 2014, then 2018 (I think)
Riu Touareg
First visit bullet points
> The place is like the surface of Mars. Nothing there, no vegetation, nothing to see. There's a small town by the airport. Nothing else
> Hotel was massive and really nice. Ideal to do nothing, just sit by a pool.
> Food good
> Entertainment poor, there's a limited pool to draw from
> Enjoyed it, but we were ready to leave at the end - someone described it as a luxury prison camp
Second visit - Same hotel
> The place is like the surface of Mars. Nothing there, no vegetation, nothing to see. There's a small town by the airport. Nothing else
> Hotel was massive but clientele had noticeably dropped in terms of.....class
> Food iffy - wife got food poisoning (thankfully fairly mild). I had it a little - don't eat the ice cream is my advice. I was fine when I steered clear of that.
> Entertainment poor, there's a limited pool to draw from
> Enjoyed it, but grateful to leave - standards noticeably dropped.
Riu Touareg
First visit bullet points
> The place is like the surface of Mars. Nothing there, no vegetation, nothing to see. There's a small town by the airport. Nothing else
> Hotel was massive and really nice. Ideal to do nothing, just sit by a pool.
> Food good
> Entertainment poor, there's a limited pool to draw from
> Enjoyed it, but we were ready to leave at the end - someone described it as a luxury prison camp
Second visit - Same hotel
> The place is like the surface of Mars. Nothing there, no vegetation, nothing to see. There's a small town by the airport. Nothing else
> Hotel was massive but clientele had noticeably dropped in terms of.....class
> Food iffy - wife got food poisoning (thankfully fairly mild). I had it a little - don't eat the ice cream is my advice. I was fine when I steered clear of that.
> Entertainment poor, there's a limited pool to draw from
> Enjoyed it, but grateful to leave - standards noticeably dropped.
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