Cape Verde
Author
Discussion

Jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,236 posts

255 months

Yesterday (16:02)
quotequote all
Anyone been? Is it worth the cost?


RATATTAK

18,397 posts

215 months

Yesterday (16:04)
quotequote all
There's been a bit of food poisoning at some of the hotels recently.

tribalsurfer

1,248 posts

145 months

Yesterday (16:12)
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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.

toasty

8,323 posts

246 months

Yesterday (16:14)
quotequote all
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

twing

5,719 posts

157 months

Yesterday (16:31)
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Been to Boa Vista twice in recent years. Loved it both times, never had any illness. Not everyone's cup of tea and usually gets slated on PH but if you make a bit of an effort and leave your hotel there's plenty to do and the people are fantastic.

mikebradford

3,111 posts

171 months

Yesterday (16:40)
quotequote all
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.

twing

5,719 posts

157 months

Yesterday (17:00)
quotequote all
Agree re the entertainment, White and Neon parties are brilliant fun but the rest are pretty forgettable. Saying that, the barbecue nights at both bars outside the hotel and a couple of nights at Morembeza was enough for us over the course of ten days

Billy_Rosewood

3,464 posts

190 months

Yesterday (17:28)
quotequote all
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.

egor110

17,662 posts

229 months

Yesterday (17:38)
quotequote all
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

Rob 131 Sport

4,622 posts

78 months

Mrs 131 Sport and I are thinking of going for our winter holiday as a change from the Canaries.

However the recent food poisoning issues have really put us off. Moreover, I detest buffets so would need to look at alternative accommodation where the food wasn’t included.

egor110

17,662 posts

229 months

Thing is the holiday is so cheap you can eat out every night despite being a.i.

Rob 131 Sport

4,622 posts

78 months

egor110 said:
Thing is the holiday is so cheap you can eat out every night despite being a.i.
Because of Mrs 131 Sports job, we need to go in the school holidays and it’s never cheap.

Jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,236 posts

255 months

Yeah it's the food poisoning I am concerned about, have seen a few issues lately...... There are some lovely animals and things to make it worth going but no good if we spend the holiday on the toilet...

raceboy

13,785 posts

306 months

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. wink
We've also had friends stay in a Riu in Mexico and guess what....it's white party there too. hehe
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. sun

Every day a journey

2,916 posts

64 months

windy

twing

5,719 posts

157 months

Just got me searching and can go for a week in August (RIU Karamboa) and it's £891pp.
Can both eat and drink outside the hotel all afternoon for 65 Euros. It's making me think twice about staying around here for my Summer break now.