Hotel berhampiran Praça Amílcar Cabral, Mindelo

We stayed at this hotel for 5 days (22-28 June) as part of our island hopping holiday. First the good points - location is excellent in the centre of town and just 5 mins walk to the port and beach areas. Room was fine (would recommend one looking over the square). Food and drink (and service) in the bar was good. Nice swimming pool. Bad points - no complementary water in room which seems to be normal in other CV hotels we stayed. Breakfast poor, food uncovered and empty food trays not refilled. The worst issue was the poor service from some reception staff. We asked for an additional pillow (at 10pm) to be told ‘No! laundry room closed’ and the phone was abruptly put down. On another occasion (during the afternoon) we asked if we could exchange some money and was told simply ‘No!’ When we asked why she said she didn’t have the ‘cash box’. While maybe this was correct she didn’t offer any other suggestions or say when the ‘cash box’ would be open. Then again she abruptly put the phone down. Not all reception staff were poor though, some offered a friendly greeting we passed. One lady (she may have been a supervisor) was very helpful exchanged money and offered advice. Unfortunately it is only the unfriendly ones that you tend to remember!

My wife and I stayed 3 nights, arriving at 8 PM by taxi(1200 escudos) from the VXE Airport. Reception was on the “0” floor, up 2 floors from ground level by a slow elevator, or in our case, tired of waiting, we climbed the stairs with our bags. A smiling multilingual receptionist copied our passports, gave the wifi info and breakfast hours, and our key card. We took the lone elevator up three floors to room #304, spacious, clean and tiled, with firm twins, nice closet, bathroom with tiled shower, good AC and an opening window with a side view of the port. Nice TV but no English, good open unsecured wifi and a wonderful 7AM breakfast with all food groups including fresh fruit, many varieties of eggs/omelets and some fresh cakes. The location is excellent with an Italian restaurant, ice cream shop, Fragata Central grocery and the 1.6km port promenade (extends from the Belem Tower Replica to the beautiful Laginha Beach) is all within a block.

(I am updating the review I wrote in January 2022; we stayed there again in Jan 2023 and certain things have improved.) The hotel has free internet, but that is mainly in reception - most rooms do not have it. However, room 301 (larger than most others, and more expensive) had good wifi - maybe because it is quite near reception. Also, the air conditioning in this bedroom (and maybe others?) has been improved - quieter and more adjustable than previously. There is a pool but no gym/fitness room. We were traveling with a baby and needed various cups washed and sterilised, and the restaurant staff were very helpful and friendly - in fact all the staff are friendly. There is a new manager who seems to be very active in trying to improve things - he also speaks excellent English, unlike some of the staff. (A previous review suggested that the hotel was under-managed - I think that has changed now!)