Hotel Riu Touareg - All Inclusive

This hotel does need a little touch up what doesn’t in time.Located in the middle of nowhere but beautiful white sanded beach tourquoise ocean waves are amazing to look at and be mesmerised. There’s plenty choice of food even for me as a vegetarian . Entertainment needs a bit of upgrade but apart from that the staff and animation team are brilliant. Please don’t read negative reviews like we did and nearly cancelled our holiday and judge it for yourselves.

After reading a particularly bad review, specifically about block 5 I was hesitant about our stay. More so when we were allocated a room in block 5 on arrival! However, I am pleased to report that my worries were unfounded and we have enjoyed a lovely relaxing two week break here. Yes, I agree the hotel needs updating and I believe this is being started in April/May. It has been open 20 years so you should expect some wear and tear. The hotel is kept spotlessly clean and all the staff we encountered were hardworking and friendly. As for the flies reported in other reviews, yes there are flies, the poolside restaurant is open and therefore they can’t be stopped. However I believe holiday makers also have some responsibility and keep items (which are covered by hotel staff) covered otherwise of course flies will be attracted. Honestly, some of the reviews I’ve read are a million miles away from what we experienced and I would stay at this hotel again. All in all we had a lovely stay and had no complaints.

2nd time we have visited, last time was June 2019 and stayed adults only. What can I say about the riu toureg, we paid £2000 for 11 nights with TUI, 9 was same price as 11. We didn't go adults as they wanted 800 more and there were not many kids about anyway. The adults pool was nice from memory and if it wasn't such a huge jump might have considered it. But it is going apparently in renovation anyway. Place is clean tidy and well maintained, gardens are well kept, lots of loungers and shade. Staff very friendly and work so hard and always feel welcomed. It's about to be renovated but I don't think it's that bad really, has an Aztec theme which is cool and yes rooms could be modernised but there not that bad. We did report a smelly toilet and it was fixed same day, and there is one building which has the same smell daily, might be plumbing issues but they had people digging up the floor and fixing it so yes there are sometimes issues but they go out there way to fix. Food, not amazing but for an all inclusive it's still cooked, plenty of Variety. The speciality restaurants are buffet style also just themed, less crazy busy then main buffet but don't expect al la carte meals. The drinks are all made, good coffee and some self service areas to save waiting at bar if you want soft drink or beer/wine. I don't drink wine but I'm told the white is god awful and undrinkable. Nasty stuff! Rose is acceptable and the sangria is terrible. Beer is local and all the soft drinks branded coke from pump. There are activities daily, musicians and lots going on and plenty of quiet time to. Been to many places all over the world and this place is very good. Recommended improvements, self service around pool, put a coke stand and beer on pool side, saves waiting and staff can make the cocktails. Other places have self serve around pool and they have it in lobby and buffet but not pool. Strange! Entertainment. Yeah like most hotels, they try, it's basically a different dance routine to different themes and all lip singing. The shows are ok, they put lots of effort in but more live music, or signing and dancing so it's an actual show. It's entertaining enough but very repetitive and saw the same show twice in the 11 days we were here so not quite a 14 day rota. The live band they have were ok, first time terrible sing choices, second time much better Gym, same equipment when we came before. Some is broken and falling part. Riu seriously sort the gym out it's embarrassing. I hope that's on the renovation plans as it needs some serious attention. Jacuzzi is a cold pool, and very tiredz again hope that's on the renovation plans. Had a lovely holiday and would come again. Absolutely recommend to anyone for a cheap holiday, and it's better then cheap as you get more for your money then more expensive places. Defo happily come again thanks for lovely winter holiday the weather has been crazy hot.

I was very sceptical about coming here due to the bad reviews but we put our negativity aside and decided to go. We were here for 10nights for our honeymoon, upon on arrival the reception were lovely, there had been a note on our booking letting them know it was our honeymoon so they upgraded us, we were put in block 6 with a partial sea view and king size bed, although the room was dated it was very clean and spacious. The member of staff who bought our cases to our room was so lovely, his name was Danilson, and he was so polite, my partner formed a bit of a bond with him. The next day we went to reception and my partner being my partner asked if we could possibly be upgraded again to the adults only part, they agreed with a fee. Ivan, who works on reception was absolutely fantastic, he said to come back in a few hours and he could see what he could do, that night we had a note pushed under the door asking if we could go to reception the following morning as they were upgrading us, so the next morning the phone in our room rang and it was Ivan asking my partner to meet him as he had a surprise for him, he asked me to stay in the room. Well Ivan didn’t didn’t disappoint, he got us the best room in the hotel (I’m sure of it haha) the sea view was spectacular, the room was stunning, it even had a jacuzzi in the room and a massive king size bed. Just stunning.. so yes the impression we got was amazing! All the staff was polite, greeted you with a smile, an hello etc. The food was okay, very repetitive but you expect that from all inclusive resorts, the staff in the restaurants work so hard, always on hand to get you a drink, quick to clear plates, only downfall was the flies but that’s not the hotels fault, there were a lot of flies around the food, but fresh food was always being cooked. We didn’t go in the pool as they were freezing, but they were clean although a few tiles in the main pool need some TLC but I’m guessing it’ll get done with the refurbishment. It was never a problem getting a sun bed, there were a lot of people down at the crack of dawn reserving their beds but we didn’t have a problem getting one. If you want to just relax and not do anything then it is perfect but we got bored after 7days and wanted to come home, as it’s so remote there’s nothing to do. If you want to do excursions we booked through a guy called Andrew Worthington, he’s brilliant and gives back to the local community, I messaged him on Facebook and was happy to answer any questions etc. Everything was going brilliantly until the last day, we made the catastrophic mistake and left our wallet in my partners bag with the bag zipped up and didn’t lock it away in the safe when we went for lunch, we were only gone around an hour where we had €140 stolen. We thought it would be okay as the maids had already been in and cleaned our room but the only other staff that would of came in was the guys who filled the fridge and mini bar, but to be honest you don’t expect people to come into your room and thieve, we were mortified because we didn’t realise it had been stolen until it was too late and we were leaving for the airport so the reception staff wouldn’t do anything about it, they told us we needed to go to the police but we didn’t have time, i went and reported it to the TUI rep who reassured me they would email me with the information and statement and I still HAVEN’T heard from them and that a week ago!!!!! Probably our fault as we didn’t lock the bag away but we really didn’t think anyone would enter our room as we weren’t expecting them that day to come and fill our fridge, and to be honest you should be able to leave your things without people coming in and thinking it’s okay to steal!! We will NOT be returning to this hotel, and it’s a shame because at the start of our holiday the staff were amazing and couldn’t do enough for you, it’s just a shame they have thieves working there!!!

Massive hotel, clean friendly, we had fantastic time. No food poisoning. Restaurants are busy and noisy but catering for 1500 people. Food excellent and plentiful, huge fish counter, salads,roasts, pasta, chicken, chips, lots of fresh veg spinach, carrots cauliflower. Porridge, eggs, frittata, bacon ham, pancakes. Staff very friendly, lots of sunbeds. Tables outside for breakfast if you like. Don’t take your suitcases as it’s a long way and no lift in our building. We did 7000 to 10000 steps a day as complex so big. You will get lost but lots of signposts. Not many kids either. Entertainment in day about three half our slots and lovely people. Loved it, oh yes husband had nice massage too. Loved star gazing too.

Great location, beachfront, lovely happy staff. Massive hotel 😮😄 After reading the negative reviews on here I was in 2 minds, I used the hotel forums page which was more helpful & positive. Will be returning again as myself & my husband had an amazing time and didn’t want to leave. We were in block 6, not far away from the Berber restaurant which was more calm, spacious and more things covered over. Few flies but nothing to complain about, variety got alil repetitive but it’s an all inclusive ( the same in all hotels) We used the speciality restaurants book via the RiU app or at reception, only experienced the Italian and Kabuki (pan asian) nice to have a break from the everyday food. Neon night/white night is fab, free transfers bookable via the Riu app Includes return too. I’d recommend to bring a spare extension lead if you wish to have various things plugged in, wasn’t an issue for us as we used the 2 plug 🔌 point that was there. Booked excursions via the GetYourGuide app and via Andrew Worthington…. Both provide great experiences and show you real life Cape Verdian style. The beach huts 🛖 offer some good prices souvenirs, got some good gifts for the family 😊 Looking forward to return in the near future 🇨🇻💙🇨🇻

Ignore the doom and gloomers! Spent a week here mid January and could not fault it, staff so friendly, hotel CLEAN! We stayed in block 6 with was a perfect spot, we spent our time at the infinity pool plenty of sun loungers, although more windy than the main pools area but hardly any children. We ate at the Bereber restaurant for breakfast and spot of lunch, plenty of selection for breakfast, typical full English +chips? Continental, fruit, juices, if going to the coffee machine, top tip, use a tea pot! Also please leave the condiments at the end of the stations and not to your table, it's selfish. Lunch was a good selection of fresh salads and pasta dishes in area that had the covered dishes, please remember to close them when finished, burgers, hotdogs are available at the left station and chicken and fish on the right. If you want to book the bookable restaurants, you are going to have to be fast, either through the rui app or reception, you can book each once during you week stay, we managed to book tge Italian and Asian whilst we were there, Asian was fab, lots of sushi which went down a treat. Italian was also good, selection of pastas, pizza's, cooked meats, I had pork steaks with blue cheese sauce with rosemary potatoes, fantastic. The main restaurant, people seem to leave their manners and hygiene as soon as they walk through the door! Dining room is huge and the hotel was quite full, people sat with miserable faces waiting to be served wine, your about 30 seconds away from where you pull it yourself, you have to go past it to go to the food. Also the amount of people that cannot work a pair of metal tongs was unbelievable and used their hands instead to handle the food, not on! Food, lots of variety, meat, fish, vegetables, pasta, pizza, carvery, large salad station, deli counter and the British staple Chips! If you are expecting typical british holiday food,this isnt for you, you will live on pizza and chips. I had the fish, cooked differently daily and was fantastic. Lots of variety for pudding and ice-cream. Bar outside the main restaurant was really busy as entertainment starts early and in finished by 10pm which i found a bit early as we were only just coming out of the restaurant and missed things, lots moved into the lobby bar and played cards, so often it was bed early, cocktails and local beer (stella) are fine by the way, try the local drink ,Caipirina, nice and tangy. Grounds of the hotel are well maintained and kept clean, well done to ground keepers. Rooms are all due for a refurbishment the the hotel closes in May, our room was absolutely fine, it was clean, well maintained, everything worked,bottle water replaced daily (drink your water) Beds are really comfortable and CLEAN. Please take bad review with a pinch of salt, you just can't please some people, enjoy your holiday

having stayed in several riu hotels this is the worse, its a 3 star hotel definitely not 5 star. The location is isolated. My 1st room tv didn't work & my bed was broke. The mini bar only had 2 bottles of water, you have to upgrade to a expensive adult only section if you want mini bar/optics. upgraded to adults only section, air con didn’t work & had cockroaches, large gap under the door. no sun loungers due to people reserving with towels. lots of bars but only a choice of 6 cocktails (which are pre made) no premium spirits The flies are a health hazard in restaurants & bars. Ask the waitress 4 times for coffee with my breakfast apx 1/2 hr eaten my breakfast left without my drink (terrible service) You can use 1 ala carte restaurant a weekend (if there is space) buffet style & the food was cold. Sports bar, the tv wasn’t working & couldn't watch any matches

VERY HONEST REVIEW We visited ths hotel for 11 days, January 2026. We had never visited Cape Verde before and this was our first time booking with TUI and staying at a RIU Hotel. This hotel is not a ‘Platinum 5 Star Hotel’ it is a 3 star minimum, old dated Hotel. Very disappointed. We stayed in the Adults Only Area, initially given a ground floor room. After arriving in the room we realised the TV wasn’t working and reported it via the RIU App which you use to book, report issues and keep up to date with general information about the hotel. After a short time a maintenance man came with quite a brand new smart TV (a huge upgrade from the ancient tv already in the room) and quickly hooked it up. After leaving room secured for dinner we came back to find the TV wasn’t working missing and immediately informed the hotel. The ‘maintenance’ man came and spoke no English, phone also broken so had to call with his mobile phone. Again no English spoken so we used translation on our phone to communicate the issue. We asked if this TV wasn’t taken by the hotel or if it had been stolen, he smirked and said he didn’t know, the balcony door was insecure after ensuring it was locked before we left so we immediately got a room change as we had definitely been broken into and the TV stolen. All other personal items were untouched. This is unacceptable from a hotel which should be a 5 star Platinum as stated on the TUI website. The staff were not professional, did not care and not even an apology. Theft was reported to TUI Rep the next morning, no action taken. We moved room to the top floor to another dated, horrible room. Food 2 stars, flies all over the food, microwaves to heat up the food! Very dissatisfying. The beach is the only lovely thing about the hotel. The weather was very warm on The second week, very windy however. I should also mention Police are patrolling the full hotel at nighttime so that tells you everything. Airport is a small hut. Take water with you for travel home as you will be waiting for a very long time to check in for the flight. Duty Free extortionate, small bag of Cadbury’s Caramel Chocolate Chunks, €16!! No cosmetics or luxury skincare brands, cigarettes/alcohol, no cheaper than the uk. Flight very very long, 6 hours, very average service, you would be cheaper flying on a scheduled long haul carrier to a nicer destination. I definitely will never return to Cape Verde and this horrible hotel, very poor TUI, avoid at all costs, high crime and not safe.

Second visit to this hotel, everything was perfect. The hotel is very big but the facilities are well spread out so you don’t have to walk too far to find a swimming pool, a bar or something to eat. The staff are amazing and work really hard to make sure everything is right. The food is plentiful and varied and you can always find something different and delicious to eat. The entertainment team work really hard but are not pushy, they try to get everyone involved but are happy to walk past if you politely say no thank you. The rooms have a really authentic African feel which we loved. The hotel is spotlessly clean and staff are cleaning all day long. Overall another fantastic holiday and would no hesitate to return.