Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria

Can’t complain! Was a good beautiful hotel with plenty of food and drinks for all guests! Very easy to get there from the airport and everyone speaks English if you don’t speak the native language or similar. Most requests are done via their handy app which is easy to navigate and all inclusive is true to the name! You only pay for anything extra such as treatments in the Spa or items from the shop located on site otherwise everything else is included in the cost of your stay! I would have preferred more options for the 24hr “snack/food option” but this was only used out of hours so not many times for me.

Amazing resort. Will differently be going back soon.

My husband and I came spent 11 nights here from April in to start of May for our honeymoon. The weather was lovely everyday and the hotel was fantastic. This is by far the best holiday we have ever had and we have already booked to come back in May 2025. My parents have also booked as they loved the look of the photos etc. The cleaners and staff at this hotel do an amazing job. Cleaners are constantly cleaning including the swimming pool toilets which is great to see. The food was amazing, and there was always something nice available which is a first for us as on previously holidays not in Cape Verde we'd get bored of the food after a week and start eating out but we didn't do that here. The room was lovely and we had a side sea view which was a bonus. Prosecco on arrival. The drinks were nice as well at this hotel. Just a shame I never got to try the cocoa liqueur as it sold out after a couple days and was not back in stock but there were plenty of other drinks to choose from, even cocktails and sangria! Lovely mojito's too. The beach outside the hotel is beautiful with white sands and palm trees. The pools are great and the waterpark. Yes I did get bitten a few times by mosquitos in the evening but nowhere near as much as I thought I would. This was expected any way! The Riu app is good, staff restock the mini fridge in the room every other day but you can request more drinks sooner if you wish on the app. We did this a few times and staff would restock it for us. Optic drinks in room were nice, but we're not really a whisky fan, so we used the others (barcadi, gin and vodka, all local brands). We had a double bed each right next to each other. The shower was also a lovely waterfall shower. Entertainment was quite good, live band on most nights and a cape verde themed show with dancers was on one night, neon party was really good as well. Daiquiri cocktail bar and patisserie in the lobby were good and the cafe latte with baileys were lovely and the iced coffee. We have only been home a couple days and we're missing it already. We could not fault the hotel and it was only built in 2021 and has a nice modern African look. The themed restaurants were all nice but the steak was our least favourite just because we didn't enjoy our meals in there. I ordered my steak medium rare but it came out blue, I could not eat it. My husband had a beef burger in there but it was minced beef mushed together with no egg or anything to hold it properly together and had a weird taste. We did say we would go back but try something different next time. Other than that, we loved everything about this holiday and you can tell it's a 5 star hotel.

This place is clean and feels new and is huge. The room is comfortable and so is the bed and pillows. Nice big bathroom but very thin towels. The pools are also huge and never a problem to find a place to lounge. Beach is lovely but the shoreline is a fair walk away from the hotel. Also if you’re on a beach lounger you have to walk back to the pool bar to get a drink. They should have a bar or two on the beach would be much nicer and what I’ve seen on other resorts. I didn’t like having to queue up for a drink at the bar. It went quick but it’s the first time I’ve had to do that at an all inclusive. Usually the waiters come to take orders. The food is a mixed bag. Some good some bad. The buffet was pretty much what I expected. I did expect more from the other restaurants though but was disappointed. The Italian was particularly bad. Basically the buffet food served on a plate to your table. You still have to get up for your own starter and dessert from a buffet though! Not ideal when you’re all buffeted out! Staff were mostly friendly but not all of them spoke English very well. The entertainment was pretty good and the white party was especially good. Both kids and adults enjoyed the white party at the sister hotel. All in all we enjoyed our stay - it was relaxing and was worth what we paid for it.

Palace Santa Maria is huge, so I can't understand how the team manage to do what they do. I have been to many Riu Palace hotels and this one is as good as most others despite its size. It is clean, well manicured and well run. The rooms are typically Riu Palace. Clean and well maintained (balcony was a bit tiny) but not overly indulgent. The reception area, lounge and coffee bar area is very clean and bright (but some of the chairs are rather uncomfortable). The outdoor bar area is good and well ventilated and smoking is not aloud The main buffet area is very big, all seating is outside so again, great ventilation. Service was OK but to be honest, there simply isn't enough staff to accommodate the number of customers. The food, however was fabulous, no complaints there. Good choice and nothing was left standing for long. There are 4 speciality restaurants but didn't use them as they are the same throughout the chain. Pepe's snack bar provides grilled chicken and pork from noon to 6pm and was very good. Poolside bars were fab. So, so busy but the staff there are amazing. Rosa, thank you to you and your team. There are 3 good pools on the hotel front which were always busy but we don't use them as we prefer the beach. The beach is fantastic. It's huge, soft and roomy. Felt like it belonged just to ourselves. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes a beach holiday. Yes it is windy but the constant breeze was a huge plus as it meditates the heat. We did not sweat once the entire holiday even though temperatures were well into the 30's Only downside for us was the plane, 737 max is not suitable for a 6 hour flight and the Sal Airport is a joke. Far too small. Took 2 hours to get through check-in and customs and there were only two flights leaving, both TUI. So we had to run through the tiny departure lounge and board pronto. That said, we are probably going to return next April as we enjoyed what we called the African Caribbean

The hotel, gardens and pool areas are spotlessly cleaned by lots of friendly staff. Yes, it’s not really 5 star, but it’s a fabulous 4. The particular highlights for us was the quality of the buffet, at all meal times, freshly cooked, so much choice, with subtle variations each day. We tried all four of the a la carte, but to be honest very under whelmed by the food, staff all fabulous. The bars have a good selection, great cocktail menu, helpful bar staff, yes they aren’t mixologist level amazing, but certainly kept us happy holidaymakers! The bedrooms are clean, comfortable beds, great shower (no bath) twin sinks, very limited toiletries, so need to take everything! The RIU app was great, only had to message housekeeping & straight on it! Plenty of bottled water, again, just message if you need more & they arrive within the hour. More hangers, no problem, arrived quickly. Take plenty of factor 50 it’s hot hot hot, and long sleeved cover ups. You will need mosquito repellent, there aren’t loads, but they are about. Definitely would recommend to family & friends, great value for money, great holiday. Sunbeds were taken early around the pool areas, but loads of beds & parasols just away from the main areas. The beach was stunning, the sea wasn’t a mill pond, you’ll need to go further round the coast for snorkelling & swimming. We did a day tour of the island, well worth the 40 euros pp, really enjoyed the salt lakes, lemon sharks & the blue eye cave, the desert mirage and the fishing village with lunch in a local restaurant.

Location - 30 mins from airport & bang on the beach (white clean sand) - short but pleasant 20 mins walk to Santa Maria Hotel - 5*... Super clean... Beautiful comfortable bed (twin but double would be better).... Managed to get a sea view Food - large variety but the lamb stew is to die for... Great selection of puddings & fruit... Avoid popular times in the restaurant 19:30... For a quieter experience Staff - all attentive & hard working... A little Ola goes a long way... Entertainment - look out for the capoeira display... Very impressive... Neon party night has everything - dancers, robots, balloons, balls, smoke, top DJ... Hard to resist getting involved & raving the night away Excursions - salt lake a must... (Warning: take your smart watch off before you dip)

Firstly ignore the negative comments on here. We were almost put off from going because of them but didn't find any of them to be true at all. Also people are saying the hotel is BIG, its not really its just spread out. Plenty of facilities etc around for everyone. If I had to give any feedback that was slightly negative is that the tables aren't cleared quick enough and relaid but this is because they are usually busy. Secondly we loved the hotel, 24 hour open sports bar (speak to Vanderly for a decent cocktail), day and night entertainment, splash park and a mini one for kids, LOADS of food choices all week long, rooms and bathrooms clean and tidy. Staff are very friendly and work really hard. Some people seem to expect instant service rather than waiting, hence the negative comments. The beach is yellow sand and the water crystal clear blue. The waves can be a bit intense at times so just be mindful when going in. There's no a lot to do there in Sal but there's plenty to do in the hotel We had a fantastic time and would happily go back tomorrow.