Hotel berhampiran Praia Carlota, Sal Rei

Having just returned from a week’s holiday staying at the Touareg, hears my honest review. As other reviews state, it is in the middle of nowhere, there is literally nothing around the hotel, nowhere to walk to apart from a stroll along the beach. First the hotel is massive, 1100 rooms so it’s your after a quiet stay maybe this isn’t the place for you…. We were told the hotel wasn’t full, I’d of hated to see it when it was full….. Check in was smooth and bags delivered to outside of room and left there while we were getting food… we were told the rooms are been updated starting with the left side of the complex ( this is where we stayed, and the opposite end to the adult only area) the room was lovely, great air con, beds super comfy, our room was on the third floor with a great view of the infinity pool and the beach. The negatives of the room was the towels are on the small side ( were not big people). When flushing the toilet the smell was awful but guessing that might be a water conservation thing. Plenty of tea/coffee and bottled water. Maid service every day, who don’t get enough credit for the job they do. We stayed around the infinity pool mostly, even thought there is about 150 + plus beds you never seemed crammed in, and no rush to grab a bed, you can leave your towels to reserve a sun bed, but in the first day we did have our towel peg pinched. You can get fresh pool Towels daily at the pool. There is a bar, but nowhere to get any food unless you walk to the restaurant ( would be great if they added a snack bar where you could Grab a sandwich or toasties or Something like that). The main pool was a lot more busy/ hectic, it’s where all the pool activities happen, and the swim up bar , so most people congregate around there. The beach is just amazing and there is plenty of sun beds under the palm trees, but if you want to use the toilet or get a drink you have to come back to the pool. The sea can be very rough with a very strong undercurrent so the red flag Is up most the time. The food was nice with a good choice, you have to be a fussy eater if you can’t find something you like, yes it gets a little monotonous but it is what it is. I fell ill while there ( nothing to do with the hotel) I visited the onsite medical room, ( booked at reception) I saw a nurse who was lovely and very thorough who then rang a Dr to discuss, who then prescribed antibiotics, it was €60 for the consultation and € 20 for the antibiotics, which I was happy to Pay. The entertainment was good and was on every night. Three bars around the main square/evening entertainment area. Plenty of seating but does get very busy. Over all we had a pleasant stay but wouldn’t return due to the size of the place. I must say the staff were amazing and can’t do enough for you.

This hotel is rated 5 star with tui. this is NOT A 5 star hotel. I’m currently at this hotel and have just arrived for a 2 week stay. ROOM 1018. First thing that hit you is awful damp smelling the room. Our room is very dirty and below standard. There is a rickety old ironing board in the room which collapsed onto my mums feet whilst she was using it. I'm extremely disappointed. We have only been here for two days and found mouldy cheese on the buffet in the main buffet restaurant and the manager tried telling me it’s fine and it’s blue cheese. Was labelled as Gouda. There are fly all over the food and birds helping themselves to the buffet food. My mum is a vegetarian and selected pasta dish for lunch which was labelled vegetarian but contained several meats. The food labelling is often incorrect and there is very Little on offer at lunch time for vegetarians. There are not hot food late night snacks if you are vegetarian either. Late last night the main buffet restaurant was open , probably for late arrivals. I went in the get something vegetarian for my mum and was turned away even though it was clearly open! We booked the Japanese restaurant but the only thing available for my mum was gyoza for starter and fried rice for main. Impossible to get salt for your food. Although all the tables have salt and pepper, the salt pots are filled with rice which blocks the jar. When you tell the staff they simply just bring you another jar of the same Communication with staff is on a very basic level only. Staff are pleasant and friendly.and work very hard. There is no jacuzzi in the spa and the steam rooms are out of action. The main pool area has construction work going on and look awful. There isn’t anywhere picturesque to relax and unwind. It’s virtually impossible to get a bottle of water. You have to make do with what’s in your room. They will not give you a bottle in the restaurants or bars. The fridge isn’t topped up everyday either. Not what you expect from a 5 star hotel. I just wanted to warn you that this is not a 5 start hotel, more like a high 3/low 4. It’s by no means picturesque or beautiful out here. The island is very baron and basic. If I ever is did come back to Cape Verde I would definitely not come to this hotel.

This hotel is very disappointing outdated ie old fashion grounds immaculate rooms not so smelly mouldy shower blocked when I lift the panel it was full of slim and hair disgusting. Bar in reception was quick service but drinks not premium ,cocktails so watery as they just add ice to a ready made mixture not what I expected in a 5 restaurants * food boring same everyday grill and Asian are buffet. Only one with waitress service not brilliant choice limited and rushed. we both got food poisoning imodium a must felt so ill. Take with you as chemist taxi ride away moshi spray a must and sun cream expensive in hotel . Take snacks nuts and crisp 5 euros a bag .what can I say good about pool salt water no chlorine very loud not relaxing. people At swimup bar there for hours drunk loud and loads of kids only 3 ladies toilets for hundreds of people what does that say sunbeds cheap loads broken and very dirty uncomfortable .beach 20 min walk harassed by tour guides loads of sand flies wild dogs and poo and dirty sunbeds only went once bar like an old shack . Don't be fooled by beautiful pictures no money spent in years on upgrading . Entertainment not brill lots of african dancing and very bad karaoke cape verde not for us will not return

Attractive, clean and relaxing hotel with a large stylish pool area. Couldn't always find sunbeds by the pool but we spent quite a bit of time at the beach where there were more than sufficient, even if they were a little close together. The stretch of beach by the hotel was good. The Bounty Beach restaurant was a lovely setting and we generally preferred to eat here. The quality of the food here was always of a very good standard, however the service could be very slow in particular at lunch times. The pool bar was generally a much quicker lunchtime option, but with more limited choices. Drinks were a little expensive so make the most of the various happy hours at each bar.

One of the best hotels we’ve stayed in. True family hotel with roots in the community stretching back generations. The restaurant was fantastic (breakfast did get busy) but the staff were brilliant. The beach bar was so chilled out. The live music was a real treat and each night was live and felt very special. But the setting….omg. I challenge anyone to sit in the bar / restaurant and look around you and not be in love with your surroundings….. There are some really Kak reviews on here about this place. If you like your big corporates with rows of deck chairs, expensive restaurants and looking down your nose then don’t bother. On the other hand, if your a lover of trying quality local food, kicking back with a view to die for and feeling the vibe of ‘no stress’ around the pools then try it….