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About
#3 of 6 all-inclusives in Ilha do Sal
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
El Hotel Riu Cabo Verde Todo Incluido 24 horas abre todo el año y está situado directamente en la playa más hermosa de la isla de Sal. Su ubicación es ideal por su proximidad al aeropuerto de Sal SID (15 km) y Santa María (1,5 km) e invita a explorar el entorno volcánico. El hotel dispone de 500 habitaciones acogedoramente amuebladas con WiFi gratuito y ofrece numerosas comodidades. Relájese en la zona de spa del vecino Hotel Riu Funana o, póngase en forma, en nuestro gimnasio. Dos piscinas al aire libre, una piscina infantil. Animación diurna y nocturna, Discoteca Pacha en nuestro hotel vecino. Para los amantes de la gastronomía, ofrecemos estaciones de cocina en vivo en el restaurante principal, italiano, restaurante Krystal Fusion y Steakhouse, así como 5 bares y nuestra Cappuccino Patisserie & Ice Cream Parlor.
#RiuParty en el Hotel Riu Cabo Verde.
¿Te gusta disfrutar de las mejores fiestas durante tus vacaciones? ¡RiuParty está hecho para ti! Baila al ritmo de la música de los mejores Dj's y transfórmate con los espectáculos y performance que te ofrece cada fiesta. ¡Aprovecha tu Todo Incluido y disfruta de la mejor diversión con RIU!
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Property amenities
Parking
Free internet
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Beach
Diving
Children's playground
Public wifi
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Fitness / spa changing rooms
Fitness classes
Sauna
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Outdoor dining area
Snack bar
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Water sport equipment rentals
Windsurfing
Aerobics
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Nightclub / DJ
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids club
Kids pool
Highchairs available
Airport transportation
Car hire
Taxi service
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
Neck massage
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Shared lounge / TV area
Shops
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
ATM on site
First aid kit
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Safe
Sofa
Coffee / tea maker
Cable / satellite TV
Flatscreen TV
Walk-in shower
Telephone
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Laptop safe
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Bath / shower
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Room types
Ocean view
Pool view
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Family Resort
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, German
Location
50Car recommended
Grade: 50 out of 100
13Restaurantswithin 0.75 miles
4Attractionswithin 0.75 miles
Cabocan Lote A2, A3, Santa Maria, Ilha do Sal 4111 Cape Verde
Getting there
Car HireSee all Santa Maria car hire
3699Reviews1965Q+A100Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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+1
Just come back from 10 days stay at this ‘so called’ 5* hotel on the island of Sal in Cape Verde. This hotel could never be described as a 5 star and I have only given it 3 as I can’t find the 2.5 button. The hotel is extremely dated and even according to the hotel manager, Mario , is in need of a refurbishment - his words not mine The hotel reception area is very showy and was made up well for the upcoming Xmas period , the staff are smiley happy people but if you have a problem or concern instantly become invisible and ineffective. Example - 1. the hotel has a system to allow guests with mobility issues to reserve sun beds at the pool, you ask at reception they tell you to see Ronny at the pool, you see Ronny at the pool and he says see reception - so you get the 3 day merry-go-round we had until we sorted this little quandary. 2. Asking for second pillow - 2 days Good points 1. Staff - friendly and always smiling , special praise to Dorivan, Eadie and Joyce who always smiled and stopped to chat 2. Pool - large and 1 pool accessible to all due to the ramp 3. Kulinarium restaurant - food good and a lovely place to eat a decent meal 4. Steakhouse restaurant - decent meal for an evening meal 5. Cappuccino coffee shop - a gem of a place to grab a coffee Bad points 1. Room - real issues with a crack right across the floor - couldn’t open door properly due to this, excessive dirt on air conditioner vent, mouldy curtains, leaks to shower unit, bottles not placed into optics and left open, staining to walls and mirrors 2. Food - horrible - lived on pizza and jelly and sugar puffs for 10 days Had mussels on 1 night and they were freezing cold Food not cooked through - blood running from fresh cooked chicken Same food on every day Breakfast same every day Lunch same every day Dinner same every day Never saw any testing of heat or cooking through by any staff at any time Food is aimed at European tastes more than a British taste Nowhere near the standard of a 5 star Hotel 3. Drinks - haven’t got a clue what the drinks in the mini bar are as they weren’t labelled All cocktails are pre-mixed in slush machines Local alcohol drinks are tasteless and sometimes actually hurt your throat 4. ADULTS ONLY if you are booking this hotel for an adults only hotel beware that all entertainment areas are shared with the next door Riu Funana hotel which is a family hotel and this means all the kids are included in the entertainment - sometimes taking it over - cuts your options down on some evenings 5. FLIES - constantly bombarded and bitten by flys , if you don’t like it or can’t stand flies please don’t go to this hotel - the pool bar is absolutely full of flies and whilst at the pool you are constantly swatting them away - little , in fact, no action taken to even try to stop them 6. Sunbeds - stained and musty ( photos 1 and 2) Overall A very poor 3 star hotel masquerading as a 5 star …
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Go elsewhere
It’s your money spend it somewhere you’ll enjoy
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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.
Helpful
A nice week for a some lazy time. Food was good. Drinks ok. Missing wine in the rooms. 4 bottles gin rum vodka beer but no wine. Why not ?? It is not fair to us not drinking beer or spirits. Cleaning good.
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Everything was great, large room, nice and clean. Wasn't too crowded, was able to get 4 sunbeds together very day at around 9am. Good selection of food. Entertainment area at the sister hotel was just adjacent, seamless to get to. Sometimes a bit of a queue at the bars, the staff really had to work hard there. There was some daytime entertainment but nothing too obtrusive. Would go back for sure.
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Where to start? Winter sun after a 5.5 hour flight from the UK has to be a good thing, but the hotel was a bit of a let down. The food was very repetitive, I’ve been to plenty of all inclusive hotels, and I get that it’s tough to keep things interesting but wow, this place fell very short I’m afraid. Luke warm repetitive food every day, no theme evenings to change things up… Having said that, we didn’t go hungry and we didn’t feel ill during our stay. We went to the Culinarium (?) restaurant which was better but certainly not 5 star. The alcohol offerings, apart from beer, were appalling, pretty much undrinkable unless diluted with sugary mixers. The alcohol offering REALLY needs to be improved. The pool area was pretty nice to be fair. The sun beds though are really crammed together and the covers are stained and grubby. Some of the staff can be nice, others clearly don’t want to be there. It’s quite a large, spread out hotel so dragging our luggage all the way to our room wasn’t ideal, we’ve had our cases delivered, as a matter of course, in 3 star hotels. If this place advertised itself as a 4 star instead of 5, people would expect a 3 - 4 star experience and not have such an issue with it. Many people we spoke to had the same thoughts as us. Given the cost to stay here, it’s obviously not going to be 5 star but calling itself 5 star is asking for trouble. It reminds me of a resort in the Dominican Republic 30 years ago but the Dom Rep had it so much better even back then I’m afraid. If someone other than RIU and they’re ‘partners’ Melia built a proper 5 star resort on Cape Verde, they’d really have to get on top of the many issues but until then I can’t see things improving. Would I recommend going? Possibly with many caveats. Would I return? Definitely not but make your minds up based on what you want/need from a winter holiday versus the cost… it may be fine for you but I certainly won’t be going back.…
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
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.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Emma E, Thank you very much for choosing us and for sharing your review about your last stay. Providing the highest level of hospitality is our number one priority therefore we sincerely apologize for falling short of meeting your expectations. Please rest assured that we will share all your impressions with our management team for a proper follow up as guest service is our absolute main priority. Thank you again for your feedback and we hope to have another opportunity to welcome you back for an enhanced experience. With our best hopes we remain, Hotel Riu Cabo Verde Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Very nice for a week relaxing. Please please ask chef to taste his food !! Some is just tasteless ! Beach great but watch the waves, very powerful. Plenty of sunbeds on the beach. Pools very clean and well kept. Overall a lovely stay.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
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.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde
Responded today
Dear Curious34129410044, It is great to know that you enjoyed your stay with us It was a pleasure hosting you and thank you for taking the time to review your recent stay. We hope we see you soon again! All the best, Hotel Riu Cabo Verde Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We are just about to leave this wonderful resort. We have loved every moment we have been here. Cannot fault anything. The food has been delicious, the pool, restaurants, room, coffee shop… have all been wonderful. Our biggest shout out must be for the brilliant staff at this resort. From the reception team through to the gardeners. I only remember one by name and that was Frank in the main restaurant. So to all the Franks a big thank you Perfect holiday
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Just enjoy yourselves
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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.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde
Responded yesterday
Dear Smiffy1959, Thank you for taking the time out to leave a great review! We are glad to hear our service exceeded your expectations and you had an excellent time at our hotel. We look forward to seeing you back again soon. With our best wishes we remain, Hotel Riu Cabo Verde Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
I can’t recommend this hotel enough. The rooms were spacious, with branded soft drinks and can of lager in the mini bar, in addition to the optics bar. The shower was amazing too! The staff are so professional. The grounds of the hotel are fabulous and immaculate. The pool area was lovely, so clean and the swim up bar was great. We tried all three restaurants and all were great, but the Kulinarium is a must out of the all. The Pumpkin soup and scallop starter was amazing! Breakfast was great every morning and has so much choice. About 10 different types of eggs!! Table service for your morning cup of tea/coffee. The beach that is just outside the hotel grounds is beautiful. Clear blue waters, white sands, no seaweed, and a beach bar which is part of the all inclusive for drinks. We played French Bowls on the beach which was a laugh. Would definitely return here in the future!!…
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Date of stay: November 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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde
Responded 4 days ago
Dear Georgia D, Thank you so much for taking the time to review your stay and for the rating! It was our pleasure taking care of you! We are looking forward to having another chance to welcoming you back in the near future. Have a great day, Hotel Riu Cabo Verde Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A 3* hotel at best. Multiple issues with our room, we had to chase to have things fixed, management didnt seem too bothered as you would expect at a 5* hotel. Nothing sets it apart from standard hotels i have stayed in, and this was a special honeymoon trip. Most of the staff are miserable, food is manageable for 2 days, after that it becomes repetitive and lunch turns into dinner and dinner turns into lunch, just the same thing with everything tasting average at best. Disappointing is how i would sum up this holiday, TUI beautifully mis-sold the dream yet again! The best part about it is the beautiful beach, and the company of my husband, as well as the friends we made whilst here who also felt much the same! You only have to listen to people speak to hear how awful the feedback on all the "special restaurants" is. If you are looking for luxury and service to a 5* standard try somewhere else!…
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Over priced for a very average stay!
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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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde
Responded 1 week ago
Dear pjeetley, We always recommend to leave the full name on feedbacks, so we can do the proper follow up of what you are stating and assist you when applicable. Your evaluation is very helpful when applying changes and improvements. Nevertheless, we will take note of your observations for future arrangements. Best Regards, Hotel Riu Cabo Verde Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Don’t be fooled that this is anywhere near 5*. TUI have a monopoly on the island and clearly make up the ratings! It is a good 3*. We stayed a week and after day 5 were ready to head home. The Good: - Decent size bedroom - Hotel and TUI apps work really well - Good size pools - Clean - Great coffee shop with Irish and Jamaican coffees. - Turtle hatchery run by NGO located on the beach by the hotel. The Bad: - Staff clearly don’t want to be there. Never met such disengaged staff at an all inclusive. You will never get an automatic drink top up at the table. You will always be searching down a waiter/ress. We tried really hard to be friendly and were always polite but rarely got a response and more often than not just a grunt! They do work really hard but you get a general feeling of dissatisfaction amongst staff. - Food same every night. Tasteless and boring. No theme nights. Very little local cuisine - all western. One semi-decent alternative restaurant with table service but food overall very poor. - Drinks local and unpleasant. Cocktails are pre made and awful. Nothing like the quality at a proper 5* - Sunbeds, whilst plentiful are crammed side by side. Also cushions are filthy dirty with gritty stains on most of them. Pretty nasty to be honest. - Towels. Pool runs out of them if you don’t time it well. Bedroom towels are tiny and worse than Travelodge towels. Really thin and worn. - Decor all around the hotel is tired and in need of an update. - There is no recycling on the island. The hotel still used everything plastic which then gets sent off for burning. No attempt to be sustainable…
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Pay more and stay somewhere decent!
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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.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Fabulous holiday with family to celebrate a special birthday, we were not let down everything and everyone was brilliant rooms were cleaned everyday food was excellent plenty of choice to cater for all and drinks weren’t watered down highly recommend and it being adults only was just fab and the weather of 30* just fab
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Online Reputation Manager, Owner at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde
Responded 1 week ago
Dear dianner194, Thank you so much for choosing Riu Hotels & Resorts and for sharing your experience! We are very happy to hear that we were able to exceed your expectations and you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to welcoming you back in the near future! Best wishes, Hotel Riu Cabo Verde Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Santa Maria area.
PRICE RANGE
£194 - £244 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
riu funana santa maria
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Hotel Riu Palace Cabo Verde
LOCATION
Cape VerdeIlha do SalSanta Maria
NUMBER OF ROOMS
500
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Claim Your ListingHOTEL RIU CABO VERDE - Updated 2023 (Santa Maria, Cape Verde)
Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Riu Cabo Verde
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
Nearby attractions include Projeto Biodiversidade (0.3 miles), Casino Royal (0.5 miles), and Murdeira (0.4 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
Top room amenities include a flat screen TV, a pool view, and a sofa.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
Conveniently located restaurants include By Valeria, The Bounty Beach Restaurant, and Restaurant Ponta Preta.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness centre, and a sauna during their stay.
Does Hotel Riu Cabo Verde have airport transportation?
Yes, Hotel Riu Cabo Verde offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and German.
Are there any historical sites close to Hotel Riu Cabo Verde?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Paroquia de Nossa Senhora das Dores (1.2 miles) and Nazarene Church (1.2 miles).