Hotel RIU di Santa Maria

Second stay at the Funana and it was every bit as good as the first stay. Came with parents and sister and brother in law this time. Accommodation absolutely fine, not European 5 star but not European 5 star price either so be realistic in your expectations. Food was great, one vegan, one vegetarian amongst party. Good selection of drinks. One of our party is a wheel chair user and the whole hotel is easily accessible. (could do with a wooden walkway on the first part of the beach or a beach wheelchair). Did a couple of tours and walked into Santa Maria again a couple of times. Weather was windy and sunny. Cannot fault it really, great value and just booked again. We don't have kids, and didn't find it too busy with children, actually added a bit of life into the place which can be lacking in all adult hotels.

I recently stayed at the RIU Palace Santa Maria in Cape Verde for a week away with my family, and overall, it was a fantastic experience. The resort itself is absolutely massive, with plenty of pools, restaurants, and entertainment areas spread out across the complex. The food was excellent, with a great variety at the buffets and à la carte restaurants. Whether you’re after fresh seafood, international dishes, or local specialties, there’s something for everyone. The staff were a real highlight—always friendly, helpful, and incredibly attentive, making sure guests had everything they needed. However, there were a few downsides. One of the most noticeable issues was the lack of clearly signposted toilets around the pool areas. This often meant that many guests stayed in the pool for hours without leaving, especially as you people watch near the swim up bar. It obviously isn’t ideal for hygiene. It’s something the hotel could improve with better signage or more restroom facilities nearby. Another minor inconvenience was the small towels provided in the rooms for showers. I've got kitchen towels at home bigger than the provided ones, after a long day at the beach or pool, a larger towel would have been much appreciated. Additionally, while the resort has multiple bars, there’s a lack of bar facilities towards the beach end of the complex in the evenings. We stayed in block 6, it's a steady 5-10 minute walk from the main area. Small pointers that would make the hotel even greater. - drink mats for drinks - paper straws - larger room towels - more toilet facilities - a light on the balcony would make the balcony useable in the evening - general lighting from the main complex to the rooms could be improved as it's bordering pitch black in some spots Despite these small issues, the overall experience was great, and I’d definitely recommend RIU Palace Santa Maria for a relaxing and enjoyable holiday in Cape Verde.

Ignore the poor reviews . The people who wrote them don’t have their eyes open . Firstly the buffet is so good that we don’t want to book the a la carte restaurants for fear of missing something. We are choosy about food ,don’t eat ready meals, takeaways or upf I am vegetarian or pescatarian , don’t like labels and am into whole and natural foods .,The choice is amazing , fresh fruit, shakes eggs anyway plus , breads galore, desserts plus , fish +++. Ok you get the picture. The staff are wonderful, nothing is too much trouble and there is always a smile .The caffee bar has cakes all day long and snacks at lunchtime and will make any coffee you like - I’ve just had a super soya milk frappe . The rooms are fine,spacious and comfortable,cleaned spotlessly each day and…no dust. Ok there may be a mark on the paint here and there . Big deal ! Any fault reported has been dealt with,only minor things ,the air con is fine but not needed much. It puts other all inclusives we have been to in the shade . There is always somewhere to sit,in or out of the sun Plenty of room on the beach,just ignore the tour sellers or be firm and they don’t follow you . No lookee lookee men !To be quite honest we haven’t been to the pool yet as we are not big sunbathing fans , that is for another day. Neither do we know what’s around here,have been catching up on writing, reading and relaxing.But the food … 11/10 Staff 11/10 Have already booked for next year ! Thanks to all staff for your welcome and hard work! We have already booked for next year