Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
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Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria

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Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
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Avg. £299 /night, 2/12 - 2/13
£357
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£316
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£274
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About

#2 of 29 hotels in Santa Maria
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Location
4.8 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.8 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to the top 1% of businesses across select categories.
The All Inclusive 24h Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria will open its doors in February 2021 and is situated on an idyllic white sand beach on the island of Sal. RIU Palace is the most elegant category in the RIU hotel chain, with hotels that meet the highest standards in terms of luxury, excellence and sophistication, creating a unique experience. The location is ideal due to its proximity to Santa Maria (2 km)and airport (16 km). The hotel has 1001 comfortably furnished rooms with free Wi-Fi and offers many amenities. Relax in our Wellness Center and on our sunterrace, or get in shape in the gym. 5 outdoor pools, 1 indoor pool, 1children's pool and the “Splash Water World” water park. Day and evening entertainment. For gastronomy lovers, live cooking stations at our main buffet as well as Italian, Fusion, Japanese and Steakhouse specialty restaurants; 6 bars
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Free breakfast
Beach
Diving
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Parking
Wifi
Fitness / spa changing rooms
Fitness classes
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Kid-friendly buffet
Snack bar
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Snorkelling
Water park
Windsurfing
Aerobics
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Waterslide
Kids club
Kids pool
Highchairs available
Airport transportation
Spa
Facial treatments
Massage
Salon
24-hour security
Concierge
Currency exchange
Shops
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
24-hour front desk
Clothes dryer
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Safe
Minibar
Refrigerator
Cable / satellite TV
Walk-in shower
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
5.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, German and 1 more
Hotel links

Location

Santa Maria, Ilha do Sal Cape Verde
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 56 out of 100
56
Amilcar Cabral Intl Airport
10.9 mi
See all flights
Rabil Airport
31.5 mi
See all flights
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,782 reviews
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Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Nestled on a prime beachfront, the Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria is a hit among travelers for its stunning sunsets and tranquility, although some guests have noted noise disturbances. Its expansive grounds and spotless facilities, complemented by a diverse range of amenities, ensure a relaxing stay. The service receives accolades for the staff's dedication, despite occasional slow restaurant service. While the atmosphere buzzes with entertainment, those seeking serenity may desire quieter corners. Rooms are spacious and well-appointed, yet a few guests highlight maintenance needs. Opinions on value vary, reflecting differing guest expectations.
Location
Beachfront
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Noise level
Noisy
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding

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Detailed Reviews
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
SUHDK wrote a review Dec 2023
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Then we are back at one of our favorite hotels, RIU Palace Santa Maria, built in 2020, which is located approx. 2 km outside Santa Maria town.
The hotel is a 24 hour All Inclusive hotel.
Hotel has 1001 rooms, but you don't feel it, the hotel is very spacious.
The hotel is located next to the large south-facing beach, where there are free sunbeds and umbrellas/palm trees.
There are lifeguards on the beach, but watch out for the big waves.

The green areas and pool areas appear neat and clean, and there are always staff cleaning and maintaining the areas.
There is also a water park “Splash Water World”
There are free pool towels, and there is a towel exchange from 0900-1800 at the pool area.

In "Renova Spa" there are both manicures, pedicures, hairdressers, masseurs, a spa and a fitness centre

The Internet gets 4.5 out of 5 stars. There is good bandwidth and it works fine in most of the hotel

The main restaurant (Palmeira) has a sumptuous selection, if you go here hungry it's your own fault.
There is also a Pool restaurant (Praia), where breakfast and lunch are also served, this serves as a restaurant in the evening.
The hotel also has 4 restaurants, where reservations must be made.
La Pappardella (Italian)
Dorayaki (Japanese)
Praia Steakhouse (Grill)
Krystal (Fusion Gourmet)
Unfortunately, we only made it to Krystal, as there was a scramble for places, but it was also worth it.

In the hotel's foyer, there is a barista who makes all kinds of coffee, in good quality.
There are 5 bars in the hotel, of which 2 of them are pool bars, they all have an exquisite drinks menu, with ordinary spirits. If your drink is not on the menu, it will be made anyway, very skilled bar staff everywhere in the hotel.

At the hotel in the evening there is entertainment for both young and old on the 2 stages in the hotel, and on Fridays there is the RIU Party at the neighboring hotel RIU Funana.

A standard room is 29 m2, with nice big beds (110 cm), but just on the hard side.
There is good wardrobe space, both for hanging and lying clothes, and there is an iron in the room.
The bathroom is nicely large with a double sink and a large shower cubicle with soaps/creams.
There is a minibar in the hotel, with 4 liters of spirits on the wall (whiskey, rum, gin and vodka) and in the fridge there is water, soda and beer, plus an ice cube machine in the hallway.
Cleaning in the room is extremely satisfactory and towels are changed every day.
The room has air conditioning and a safe.

In general, the staff at the hotel are very happy, smiling and helpful.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina R wrote a review Apr 2023
Düsseldorf, Germany
+1
Hotel's Favourite
5.0 of 5 bubbles
The hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria is a very spacious, modern and well-kept 24/7 all-inclusive resort directly on the beautiful and very wide beach with a private section. Due to the waves, swimming in the sea is not always possible, especially for children. Alternatively, 8 pools, an attractive children pool area with slides and the "Splash Water World" water park are also available for adults. There are enough loungers and parasols available at all times of the day on the beach and the pools. An subtle animation during the day as well as evening shows and live music with a delicious cocktail from one of the bars completed the day. WiFi is available in all hotel areas and is free of charge.

The staff is very friendly and accommodating everywhere. The gastronomy is very good with a wide selection of dishes for every taste, especially in the buffet restaurant with some live cooking stations. It does not require a reservation and it was never a problem getting a seat there during our stay. Reservations in the 4 a-la-carte restaurants (Italian, Japanese, steak house and fusion kitchen) can be easily made via app. Likewise, the reservations in the highly recommended spa, which is not included in the price.

The sea view rooms are very spacious, comfortable and clean. The bathroom has a large rain shower and a separate toilet. The minibar and the drinks dispenser on the wall with various alcoholic beverages were regularly refilled. If something was missing in our room, a short phone call or information via the app was enough and a few minutes later everything was taken care of.
Since the two-storey building complexes are spread over the large area and don't have an elevator, I recommend booking a room on the ground floor for families with buggies and people with mobility problems.

We can also recommend this hotel for its proximity to the slightly larger village of Santa Maria with some good restaurants, bars and shopping opportunities, which is easily accessible by taxi for € 4-5 or a 20 minute walk along the beach. If you want to unwind and let yourself be pampered in a great hotel with a pleasant atmosphere, you've come to this place. Sal is also very famous for kite surfing.

Please don't forget medicines for stomach and intestinal problems as we have been aware of some of these cases!!
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Rooms with sea view
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Other at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
Responded 21 Apr 2023
Dear 3010ChristinaR, Thank you very much for sharing your comments, It has been a pleasure to serve you and we look forward to welcoming you back. We are proud to know that you had an unforgettable stay thanks to our beautiful facilities and the excellent and professional service provided. See you soon! Yours faithfully, Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Sally P wrote a review May 2024
Worthing, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Booking Island Tours & other Trips!

Yesterday we did the most amazing Island day tour, which we booked through Edgar a very fun filled, knowledgeable man who many many, guests use. He offers quality transportation & lots of WhatsApp messages over 350 to introduce his services and info on the Riu Palace hotel Santa Maria.
He was courteous & paid attention to every small detail to make the booking process and pick up easy and fun. Including a photo of us all before we departed.

Our guide for the day Daniel & Marcio our photographer were without doubt exceptional.

We like many others read reviews and decided to book our island tour through Edgar.

There are however a number of other vendors situated on the beach outside our hotel. Offering the same half day or full day trips around Sal.

We booked a horse ride along the beach with with one of these other vendors. I rode with 2 others, they were guest who work with horses in the uk. She said she was impressed how healthy the horses were.

Our 1hr horse ride along the beach which was awesome, a dream come true, which we booked through Anthony, one of the other vendors on the beach.

He always has his bike with him & his falling apart chairs, under his umbrella.

I so wish I'd of had access to new files for all the gentleman on the beach & new chairs but "hey" my case was already over weight on my way out.

If anyone reading this review feels they can bring presentation files with plastic sleeves inside, out with them on your flight, you would make this ladies heart very happy.

All the guys on the beach would be encouraged Im sure.

If this message touches your heart, maybe together we can bring about a little change in this corner of paradise.

Many guests also enjoyed a VIP coach tour through Tui. Which you can get from €115 per person and includes lunch.

The main differences for us between a full days island coach tour (Tui) & The 4x4 full day island tour (vendors on the beach) are you can opt for a private tour for 2 - 8 people this way you can, as a smaller group, decide how long you stay at each place of interest & if you need an extra loo break. On occasions you can end up waiting for stragglers when on a larger coach tour.

My sister & I choose a 4x4 option and buddied up with 2 other ladies. Cost of a private tour was €150÷4= €37.50 each. With entrance fees per person of:
€6 to float in the salt lake
€3 for crocs & entrance to the lemon sharks
€3 entrance fee into the Blue Eye.
Lunch if you want it was aprox €15 depending on what you choose.

Many take up the cheaper way of doing the fabulous Island tours through a beach vendor.

We followed suit & booked through Edgar. But any one of the beach vendors can give you the same deals.

The choice is yours as everyone looks for something different.

I hope this helps.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: I have travelled widely this hotel is in my top 2. thank you to gardeners, entertainments team,...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K8chris wrote a review Jan 2025
Hinckley, United Kingdom
1.0 of 5 bubbles
I see that quite a few people had tummy issues at this hotel. 3 out of our party of 8 suffered over Christmas. I am well aware that different climate, food etc can cause problems, and may not be caused by contaminated food. However, I firmly believe that the problem lays with the tourists who do not clean their hands before entering the restaurants. Though there are plenty of tongs available to pick up food, dirty hands still have to work these tongs leaving their germs all over them. Children were not supervised and often did not bother/couldn’t use the tongs.
There were plenty of hand sanitising stations - they just weren’t used.
Another issue was shortage of toilet cubicles in the female toilets. Queues were awful and very difficult for people with an unstable stomach. Also, no toilets in the main buffet restaurant, necessitating a long uncomfortable walk to reception, or parents taking little ones behind a bush.
My husband mentioned that one small boy in the gents could not reach the soap container and then when he pressed the hand drier, it blasted home in the face. These facilities should be at a lower level for children.
We brought these issues up with the customer relation manager, and also the TUI rep (who was about as helpful as a chocolate fireguard). Though customer relations listened and made the appropriate noises in response, she promised to get back to us. She didn’t.
I expect we will get the same placatory response from whoever writes the responses saying they are very sorry and they hope that next time we go they will meet our expectations. However, I suspect that nothing with be done to address these issues.
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Date of stay: December 2024
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Massive hotel. 1000 rooms
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
Responded 5 weeks ago
Dear Christine R, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with regards to your recent stay. Health is Hotels & Resorts priority. We wish to explain that in accordance with our high standards, we guarantee our guests the highest quality service, which goes far beyond the legal requirements, especially when it comes to food safety. Therefore, we follow a food safety protocol, ensuring product safety and quality, in all our F&B processing, preparation and service processes. We can guarantee that our regular H&S inspections show optimal results in this area. Travelling to different countries with different climates may lead to gastrointestinal problems, which may not necessarily be related to food. We follow strict procedures while handling our food products, in order to prevent and avoid any kind of alimentary risks or hazards. However, we wish to underline this is a public platform where opinions and experiences are responded, no name nor proof of the statements in the reviews are required, by no means, this is a platform where formal complaints are placed and assisted. If you wish you may place a formal complaint in order to be assisted. Needless to say, we are deeply sorry to read some members of your party felt sick. Sincerely, Hotel Riu Palace Santa María Online Reputation Manager
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valijo wrote a review Jan 2025
Lyon, France
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Very well placed at the tip of the island with a huge beach.
For a 5* It would be nice to add in the rooms: bathrobes and slippers
For deckchairs, the mattress would be welcome, because not very comfortable!
For deckchairs at the pool, as in many hotels, systematically booked very early, lines of towels laid and nobody on
It didn't bother us, because there is plenty of room on the beach and
There are beautiful sunsets!
Very satisfied also with the restaurants and the variety of food offered
The staff is very friendly and customer service.
Do not hesitate to take taxis if you want to go out (not much to visit on the island), we found that the price of a race was not given anyway (counting 5 euros to go to Santa Maria: 10 euros round trip), it is easy to walk by the beach also.
We rented electric bikes in santa maria, it allowed us to visit quietly
Overall we are very satisfied with our stay
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: January 2025
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tim c wrote a review 3 Feb
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Generally good hotel, Pools were excellent. I guess 3 x 50m
Good for swimming & enough room for general splashing around.
Food was good, However there was a serious problem with Sparrows in all the main food areas. both outside & inthe food service areas.
I did complain to the Tui rep but guess not much has changed, I find this concerning as I did hear of some problems with some of the guests.

Another comment about the Trips available on Sol.
We opted for the Adult VIP Tour of the island, cost was £124 each !
There really was very little to see! Brief walk around a market = One room of meat one of fish & one of veg total size about the same as Hotel reception.
Quick look at a church, almost a prefab building. Dip in the water at the salt mine was about the highlight, not to everyones taste, a few had issues with splashing in the eyes causing severe irritation. The guide, who was very good had fresh water on hand to help rinse the people that got into trouble.
The food on the trip was Okay, we opted for the lobster upgrade not a good but the chicken looks fine.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2025
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Beware of Food hygiene especially in the buffet restaurant.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
Responded 1 week ago
Dear tim c, Thank you very much for choosing Riu and for sharing your feedback. As we strongly believe that guests come first, it is truly saddening to find that you are not happy with your recent stay and that there were some aspects that overshadowed your experience due to the inconveniences. We have passed your concerns to the management department for an appropriate follow up. Best Regards, Hotel Riu Palace Santa María Online Reputation Manager
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Elena wrote a review Oct 2024
Cugnasco, Switzerland
4.0 of 5 bubbles
In early October 2024 we stayed at the Riu Palace Santa Maria and we definitely enjoyed it. Resort very large so that our step counter went up in smoke by dint of walking between the beach, pool, room and restaurants. But this has not affected the pleasure of staying at the Palace in the slightest.
Upon arrival we were allocated a standard room. Unfortunately the same had a very strong smell of musty certainly for the fact that it was located in a sunny position and probably the room had not been used for a while. The fact is that the next day we complained at the reception and after a few hours they changed our room to a much more fragrant one.
In general the staff is friendly especially those who are in charge of the rooms and maintenance. This is very different with regard to the reception and waiters of restaurants/bars/shop. Here you should definitely do a course of manners and good hospitality. A kind word and a smile help the guest to enjoy the holiday better.
In the Resort there are several possibilities for lunch and dinner. As for us we ate very well in the two main restaurants. The choice was wide and quite varied day by day.
Where instead we ate terrible, is at the Japanese restaurant (Dorayaki) and the Italian restaurant (La Pappardella). Of Japanese and Italian they have nothing!! Dispassionate tip: don't go unless you want to continue your dinner at the central restaurant.
The pools are very well maintained and with many sun loungers available.
There are also two swimming pools with bars where many tourists (especially from northern Europe) spent practically all day immersed in glasses of beer, Wodka, Cocktails and more.
The top for us was the beach. Sunbeds and umbrellas available for everyone, immense beach even if sea not suitable for everyone as it is quite wavy. But the beauty of those immense beaches, those colors from blue to turquoise ... well a dream.
Bottom line. The Resort is worth all the cost (including All inclusive so you can eat and drink as much as you want) and the beach is definitely the icing on the cake.
Very recommended.
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: October 2024
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
realistNotts wrote a review Jan 2025
Notts
4.0 of 5 bubbles
This hotel is very large and modern rooms spacious with fantastic shower. Rooms very well cleaned everyday.
Food is plentiful however a lot of cross contamination with utensils by staff and guests! I saw a member of staff checking the temperature of the yoghurts though. There are a family if 5 dogs mum dad and 3 well grown pups that roam the beach and even on the grass next to the tables in the restaurant we witnessed guests feeding them here with food off their plates!. Guests also take so much food from the grill at the pool sausages burgers and chicken legs that the dogs were burying it next to trees they ate not starving dogs and the staff fill cut off water bottles for them to drink! They also pee up all the trees so be careful where you put your bags.
Both my husband and I I and several other guests have been very ill with stomach issues glad we brought our own pills. This is definitely a hotel for older and larger people and people who want drinks dispensers in their room (even if it is cheap watered down spirits)
Read more
Date of stay: January 2025
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: This place is like a small town dining hall gets very busy. Plenty of sunbeds on the beach pool...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
Responded 1 week ago
Dear realistNotts, We will pass on your comments to our team. Health is Hotels & Resorts priority. We wish to explain that in accordance with our high standards, we guarantee our guests the highest quality service, which goes far beyond the legal requirements, especially when it comes to food safety. Therefore, we follow a food safety protocol, ensuring product safety and quality, in all our F&B processing, preparation and service processes. We can guarantee that our regular H&S inspections show optimal results in this area. Travelling to different countries with different climates may lead to gastrointestinal problems, which may not necessarily be related to food. Needless to say, we are deeply sorry to read that you felt sick. We follow strict procedures while handling our food products, in order to prevent and avoid any kind of alimentary risks or hazards. We would like to apologize for any discomfort. Wishing to welcome you again. Kindest Regards, Hotel Riu Palace Santa María Online Reputation Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Yvonne D wrote a review Apr 2024
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Hotel rooms are very spacious, all areas around the hotel are very well-maintained and spotlessly cleaned.

My mother has mobility issues, we were able to hire a mobility scooter, which was delivered to the hotel and was ready and waiting in reception when we arrived.

The entertainment was very well done by the animation team, who worked really very hard and were absolutely delightful. Every single member of staff was fabulous, wonderfully friendly, welcoming and hardworking. We had lots of fun and jokes with many members of the team, especially around the pools. The cleaners do a brilliant job, there's none stop cleaning and garden maintenance. The maintenance team even take the sun beds and umbrellas away to wash them, so they are always clean.

Take plenty of high factor suncream, there's hardly any choice at all in the hotel shop and the suncream I bought from the town was definitely fake. I bought a baby factor 50 which cost me 15 euros, and I was so sunburnt after just two hours in the sun, that I had to wear a top to cover up for 4 entire days. Thankfully people leave leftover cream in the luggage room, so if you get caught out, you can find some there.

I highly recommend the boat trips from the pier at Santa Maria. In fact, just sitting on the pier is wonderful. You see lots of amazing sites and the local people are a joy.

We saw a whale from the beach. A crowd formed and everyone was pointing out to sea. It was a spectacular sight.

We made sure to leave tips and spend money around the town. Yes some of the street vendors have some ambitious prices, but the wages are low so we wanted to make sure to spend and support people.

The main restaurant has lots of choice, but the way it's designed forces you to stand in a long queue. It could have been designed with a better layout to prevent this. It feels a bit busy and overwhelming in there. But the servers and cooks do a brilliant job and are extremely attentive.

We loved our stay and were sad to leave. We will definitely visit again.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
Responded 12 Apr 2024
Dear Yvonne D, Thank you for taking the time to write a good review of our hotel. We sincerely hope that you will visit us again soon and we will be able to offer you another good experience. We remain with best wishes, Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria Online Reputation Manager
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Peter R wrote a review Jun 2024
Darwen, United Kingdom
+1
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Very nice hotel, we really can't complain we do have some reservations to make that may help others make their holiday decisions.

The Hotel
Excellent well kept gardens, rooms very spacious BUT there are no lifts so if you are not too mobile this could be a problem unless you request a ground floor room.
It's a long walk to the pools/sunbeds, and even further once you get to the beach to get to the shoreline, you will do easy 10k steps a day so again if you are not mobile it could be an issue.

Sunbeds
Lots and lots of them, you still get the reserved towel issue but its not a problem, even more on the beach if you can walk that far. We did however find the sunbeds around the pool areas dirty, we took wet wipes to give ours a clean. The sunshade umbrellas are a disgrace, filthy and most we saw were damaged.

There are two swim up bars, drinks are okay but ask for the branded spirits or you will get the local crap. there are two pepe's grill food outlets at each pool bar, but beware the smoke is horrendous although the barbecued food is good, i would say the extraction is is none existent.

The beach is amazing and once you get to the sea is a lovely colour of blue. It is a windy island so even though its hot you can sunbathe with the cool breeze, Factor 50 folks as the UZ level is always extreme.

The staff
All and i mean all were excellent always a smile and never an issue, remember it's a big hotel 1000 rooms so there can be queues but you really dont wait long, also there is waiter service in the lounges and stage areas.

Food
There are 4 specialised restaurants, Pria {Steak house)near the beach, Krystal, Dorayaki (japanese) La Pappardella (Italian) all these are next to the reception area, also a buffet Palmeria, we tae at the palmeria every night as we have stayed the the Riu palace in Boa Vista in January and it was exactly the same. We did hear the some people had been ill but hey upwards of 1500 people from all parts of the world some are going to get ill either too much sun and drink or eating the wrong food they are not used too. Stick to what you know and you wont go wrong.

Checkin/out
Very smooth but i feel there is no need to charge 24 euro per hour to keep your room on, 15 euro would be a more reasonable cost.

Conclusion
Would we return, probably not, too many kids, the hotel is big enough to have an adults only area, if that was the case we would probably return. The pools are great, rooms cleaned daily, sort out the sunbeds and umbrellas (clean), but as we mentioned at the start of this review, if you have mobility issues it could be an issue, we did see you can rent local battery mobility scooters so that may be the way to go. I hope this helps as a holiday is a big expense. value for money excellent.
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Date of stay: June 2024
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: when you check in go straight to reception you get your room number to stick onto your suitcases,...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Online Reputation Director, Owner at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
Responded 2 Jul 2024
Dear S2130IZpeterr, Thank you so much for your outstanding review! It was a pleasure to have you with us. We are glad to know how much you enjoyed your stay, in the Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria. It is our hope to be able to welcome you back for many stays to come! Best wishes, Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Answer from plsdeluno
United Kingdom360 contributions199 helpful votes
The WiFi was ok, I can imagine that it will be fine.
Answer from Biscuitbeth1
Walsall, United Kingdom556 contributions174 helpful votes
We booked with Tui and the payment was already taken in with our holiday. Go on the gov website if you don’t get a link from your travel agent. Fill in the form at least a week before you go or you may get charged again. It’s the traveler entry form. If they charge you and you’ve already paid (ie with Tui) the rep will refund you.
Patrick F asked a question 4 Feb
Gillingham, United Kingdom3 contributions5 helpful votes
Hi do the rooms come with a kettle and tea/coffee also are there any English channels on the tv
Answer from Janice687
Devizes, United Kingdom13 contributions21 helpful votes
Yes they do, as well as bottled water and a mini bar.
debrich372017 asked a question 2 Feb
Devon, United Kingdom14 contributions6 helpful votes
Hi How much do you have to pay at the hotel for tax?is this in English currency/ euros? Thanks
Answer from Andrea
Durham, United Kingdom
We paid €2.5 per person per night up to a maximum of 10 nights. So for 2weeks it was €25 each. They took payment in €s.
Jonny B asked a question 1 Feb
Birmingham, United Kingdom81 contributions176 helpful votes
Only there for a week and want to make sure we get into ala cartes, any tips please…
Answer from Andrea M
Milngavie, United Kingdom1 contribution
I don’t see it being an issue, they didn’t look fully booked to us. They have 2 sittings every evening and I think you can book through the app
Cathy W wrote a tip 9 Feb
Ipswich, United Kingdom43 contributions53 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Restaurants do become quite busy between seven and eight so either go before or after these times"
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Alison F wrote a tip 8 Feb
Fife, United Kingdom99 contributions9 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Don’t go"
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Simon R wrote a tip 8 Feb
Berkshire, United Kingdom100 contributions48 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"If you love dogs and cats, Offer support to the OSPA Dog rescue sanctuary nr Santa maria. they need your help as they rely 100% on donation"
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johnbrookside wrote a tip 8 Feb
St Austell, United Kingdom100 contributions43 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"if you need help, just ask. The hotel staff are more than helpful."
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Julie G wrote a tip 3 Feb
Tonbridge, United Kingdom23 contributions2 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"There are three big pools across the hotel plus two swim up pools! The Two pools at either end of the hotel are quieter! Plenty of Sun-beds"
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Not the right property for you?
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PRICE RANGE
£274 - £304 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Cape VerdeIlha do SalSanta Maria
NUMBER OF ROOMS
1,001
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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HOTEL RIU PALACE SANTA MARIA - Updated 2025 Reviews, Photos & Prices

Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Nearby attractions include Projeto Biodiversidade (0.4 miles), Praia de Santa Maria (0.7 miles), and Casino Royal (0.5 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, free wifi, and free breakfast.
Which room amenities are available at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is parking available at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Bounty Beach Restaurant, Magellan Restaurant at Hilton, and The Britannia @Bailey's Cafe Bar.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness centre, and fitness classes during their stay.
Does Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria have airport transportation?
Yes, Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese.
Are there any historical sites close to Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Paroquia de Nossa Senhora das Dores (1.2 miles) and Nazarene Church (1.3 miles).
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