Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria

“Excellent Holiday”

The hotel was spotless clean in all areas. Fantastic choice of food and speciality restaurants top class. The staff were very friendly and courteous. Will definitely go back.

“Amazing holiday”

All the negative reviews of this hotel,is so untrue & unfair,it’s AMAZING 5 ⭐️ staff work so hard so helpful & friendly hotel is spotless,rooms are beautiful & stylish restaurants the food choices are wow ,the drinks choices are brilliant the entertainment from morning to night is brilliant!! Thank… more

All the negative reviews of this hotel,is so untrue & unfair,it’s AMAZING 5 ⭐️ staff work so hard so helpful & friendly hotel is spotless,rooms are beautiful & stylish restaurants the food choices are wow ,the drinks choices are brilliant the entertainment from morning to night is brilliant!! Thanks for an amazing holiday we will be back

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“Beautiful Resort”

Our first trip to Cape Verde and it won’t be our last. We were a bit nervous about our holiday after all of the news about sickness, but had absolutely nothing to worry about. The hotel is beautiful, staff are amazing and you couldn’t get a cleaner resort. Buffet restaurant food had so much to choo… more

Our first trip to Cape Verde and it won’t be our last. We were a bit nervous about our holiday after all of the news about sickness, but had absolutely nothing to worry about. The hotel is beautiful, staff are amazing and you couldn’t get a cleaner resort. Buffet restaurant food had so much to choose from and everything was clean and fresh. The rooms were huge and the rainfall shower was amazing. Optics in the room and a mini bar fridge which was topped up every second day, you can’t ask for anything else. Well maybe a light on the balcony for nighttime would have been nice. The beach was out of this world, with tropical sands and clear blue sea. Perfect hotel and destination to chill and relax, highly recommend.

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“Amazing Holiday, a few small improvements could make this a 5*”

Landed back home the early hours of this morning and here is my honest review - AMAZING HOLIDAY! We arrived on 10th May for 2 weeks, flight was fine, obtaining luggage was fine, transfer was fine - 15 minutes using the TUI transfer bus and there was 2 stops before us but it was all very seamless.… more

Landed back home the early hours of this morning and here is my honest review - AMAZING HOLIDAY! We arrived on 10th May for 2 weeks, flight was fine, obtaining luggage was fine, transfer was fine - 15 minutes using the TUI transfer bus and there was 2 stops before us but it was all very seamless. First impression from the reception area was it was very grand, spotless and massive! Hotel Tax was £22 per person for the 2 week stay (responsible compared to other hotels). We checked in online ahead of checking in so it made the check in process very straight forward. We upgraded to a swim up room at €80 per night but we couldn't move till in the morning. Nilton on reception was great, gave us a couple of options and sent us to have a look at the rooms to pick. We opted for Block 3, one of the furthest blocks out from reception but we didn't mind. Great Sea View, opposite the right main pool, 2 mins from swim up bar etc. Pools - Plenty and so many sunbeds. You dont need to get up at 6am to secure one. Most days we went around 10am after breakfast and got one fine. You get pool towel cards on arrival and these can be redeemed in a little hut next to the main pool restaurant. They have a book exchange here too. The swim up bars are nice but like others have commented, people drink alot in here and you dont see many people getting out to use the loo! You also see people eating in here too which wasnt great again they are polishing off a burger and chips and not getting out to wash their hands! Rooms - Modern, spacious and have everything you need. Iron, Ironing Board, Hair Dryer, Hangers, Kettle, Shampoo, Condition, Shower Gel. Mini Bar with Beer, Coke, Fanta, Sprite. Still water, sparking water. Cases of water are readily available in each block if you do need more you can help yourself. Optic in the room - Whiskey, Gin, Bacardi, Vodka (Smirnoff). You can use the app for anything you need refilling and we did this daily as with having the swim up we drank at our pool. Coffee wasnt replenished enough but I would recommend taking your own tea/coffee as it wasnt great. No milk provided but if you ring reception they will send a carton of milk for you to keep in the fridge. Food - So many choices. I did post separately on the group about the food options. So much choice, you won't go unstuck. We visited both buffet Restaurants, the main one has more choice. All 4 of the A la Cartè were nice, a little off menu at times i.e. You order lobster and get shrimps but still edible non the less. At the swim up bars attached was Pepè food bar/grill - Burgers, Hotdogs, Chicken Drumsticks, Ribs, Chorizo Sausages, Belly Pork, Chips, Salad etc. Only gripe i had was people picking the food up with their hands (tongs are provided). People walking around the buffet again picking food up with their hands and then walking around eating it whilst putting more on your plate with your hands. Its a buffet there is LOTS and if its run out they replenish quick, people pushing in the queue grabbing the last slice of pizza or steak - WAIT YOUR TURN! Sanitiser Stations are plenty around the resorts and restaurants but again limited usage of these. Other gripe was I love Shrimps but unfortunately they were not cleaned. I ate salad daily - no issues. Bars - Plenty of choices, they will make you anything you ask if they can. Jack Sparrow was my personal favourite but I do like an Ameretto and Coke too! Couldnt tell you how many bottles of prosecco we must have gone through during our 2 week stay but its flowing put it that way. I had ice in all my drinks - no issues. Coffee Shop (Capuchino), Located opposite reception - Really nice coffees and cakes. No syrups though but they do make a lovely Latte. On site Shop - Limited. If like us you want crisps, chocolate at times then I would pack your own. Only 3-4 flavours (2 Ruffles, 2 Lays) and €5 a bag. The gifts at the shop were lovely but for Snacks I would take your own or get them outside of the resort. Staff - All really friendly (reception staff where a bit hit and miss at times). Shout outs to Flavio and Nilton on reception, Jihilton the general manager (unfortunately I did experience an issue which I will get onto but dont let this take anything away from the great holiday you will have here). Abufino in the main restaurant, she always looked after us. Bruno at the Swim up Bar for replenishing our drinks before we even asked! Cleaners were great, maintenance were great. Location - Great, right on the beach which goes on for miles. White sand, blue sea. What more can you ask for. Again, plenty of beds on the beach. You can ho in the sea as there is calm bits but them waves are strong. I was pushed back to shore and rolled over like a sausage roll a few times but it was fun! You can go outside the resort its a 15-20 minute walk to Santa Maria town (cut through next to the Hilton - All very Safe). Alternatively you can get a taxi for €5 which is a fixed price. You will get stopped by the locals to go into the shops but a simple no thank you then they will leave you alone. Some make out they know you from the hotel but they dont they just recognise your Riu wrist band! Plenty of bars and restaurants outside all reasonable priced (Seperate review on these). Entertainment - Daytime there is plenty to do, Yoga, Pilates, Darts, Volley Ball, Aqua Gym, Games. There is also RIU ART located near the swim up to the right where you can paint (payable). Evening Entertainment for me is lacking. The shows aren't entertaining - they are painful to watch. Similar things every night - Live Music, Karoke, Abba Show, Live Dancing. One night we attended the Michael Jackson Show, got their and it was part of the Riuland Show (Kids). A dressed up turtle 🐢 dancing to Thriller! The 2 guys were great but I'd recommend moving this to an Adult Show and make it better. The Riu parties were great we attended both the white and the neon so I would recommend these. Its a 15 minute walk to the party and you just follow the floor lights to the Riu Funara next door. Take note of your route as on the first one we took the wrong turn and it took us an hour and a half to find our way back! The alcohol probably didn't help as we staggered back! Drinks are included on these too! The Issue - Unfortunately we did face an issue but it didn't damped our time here. On the 1st Friday evening we were getting ready to go the white party. My partner opened the chest of draws and I had a bottle of perfume on it. It fell off and smashed on the floor. We called reception to send someone to clean the glass but we werent in when them came and unfortunately my partners Ray Ban Sunglasses had been taken (karma if you ask me gor smashing my perfume!!!) and the safe was locked out as someone attempted to put the code in incorrectly multiple times, but they failed to get in the dafe. Jihilton was great, he sent someone to scan the door so they could see who entered the room. He arranged a meeting with us in person and was encouraging us to go the police to report it but the last thing I wanted to do on holiday was to spend hours in a police station. We reported it to TUI too who again said they would take us to the police. It was almost like they knew who it was so were encouraging us. Hopefully they have dealt with this person separately. Met some lovely people and some that werent so nice. People who think they are better than you and look you up and down and make you feel uncomfortable. Sadly as its advertised as a 5* people that go here might think that they are better than you as your outfit might be a bit bright or loud. Its not very nice and people (grown adults) shouldnt comment on other people. Them people should be ashamed of themselves. So there we have it, my honest review. Would I rate it a 5*? Sadly not as its just missing a few tweaks to get it there i.e. the evening entertainment. Definately give it a 4.5*. Will I go back? 100% Yes! Will you go and have a great time? ABSOFRIGGINLUTELY! Tips from me on things to pack - Factor 50 as the UV is extreme, take your own coffee, towel pegs to stop your towels blowing away, EU Round Pin Plugs, own snacks, straws, dehumidifier bags for the wardrobe, €€€ are accepted but you can use your card in most places, you dont need fly fans here unlike Boa Vista, refillable cups, mosquitoes are about but I didn't get bit once my partner did 5 times in 2 weeks. Toilet Pills! Happens to us all on holiday - excessive eating and drinking and the heat is the general reason, nothing to do with the hotel. Thank you for reading x

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