DESIGN SUITES Boutique Hotel - Adults Only

* Location: Design Suites is favorably situated on R. Amilcar Cabral, smack-dab in the nightlife/dining center of the island. If you’re visiting looking for a party atmosphere, you’ll be glad you b stayed at Design Suites. * The Rooms: barring a little wear/discoloration I noticed on the shower wall in my room, the rooms are as clean and okay-sized as the photos suggest. It’s by no means a palace, but a respectably appointed modern space. * Tour Recommendation: As my eyes glazed over from scouring booking sites looking for the best tour options, I asked (the person I assume was) the manager if she had any local tour operators she could recommend. She led me to Evandro, who provided excellent experiences on two separate days, that really made the trip magical.

* Staffing & Operations: Yes, it advertises itself as a boutique hotel, but it feels like this whole operation is run and staffed by no more than 4 people. There's no front desk, and the “welcome office” is often unmanned, meaning any luggage you leave there may end up picked up by someone else. 
Similarly, while they were helpful enough to retrieve my key once after I’d forgotten it, their solution was for me to retrieve it upon my return, from the table on the first floor. Meaning anyone who'd wanted to explore my room and belongings could just grab the card from the table, and thanks to the room name on the envelope, they’d know exactly what door it opened. * The “Views”: I paid extra for an ocean-view room. What I got was… well, I’ll attach a photo. I complained and was moved up by one floor, so I could see the rooftop mattresses and debris from a slightly higher angle. * The Service: Breakfast consists of the same mediocre offerings daily. My first morning, I was asked how I'd like my eggs. But subsequent breakfasts saw them preparing whatever style eggs they saw fit (and in one case, altogether forgetting I might want any). 
I was there for 4 nights, and while the beds were made and main table neatened, never once was a vessel cleaned or replaced. Not the glass I used on the first day, not the espresso cup or glass I used on the 2nd (as the first glass was still dirty). As I checked out after four nights, all 3 vessels remained in the state I left them on the 2nd day. * The Building: This hotel is almost certainly a converted apartment building. To access it, you must enter the provided code each time (without revealing it to often-present bystanders). The super-slow elevator is too tiny to accommodate more than 3-4 guests, let alone their luggage. The rooftop bar, where breakfast is served, leaks like a basket during rainfall, so position yourself (and your meal) strategically.

Die Lage war super. Das Zimmer war angenehm und das Personal sehr hilfsbereit trotz einigen Sprachbarrieren.

Das Frühstück war mangelhaft. Von den tausend guten Bewertungen hatten wir nichts gespürt. Es hatte keine wirkliche Reception und das Office wurde um 19.00 Uhr geschlossen weswegen wir unser Gepäck den ganzen Abend mitschleppen mussten da wir erst in der Nacht geflogen sind.

Grote kamer, met groot comfotabel bed. Ligging is prima, dat er ovrral gebouwd wordt kan hotel niets aan doen. Ontbijt op dakterras.

Slechte, dunne handdoeken, zelfs kapot.

The location of the hotel is fabulous. The room was fantastic. WIFI was 100% the whole time. Cleanliness could not be faulted. Everyday cleaned by house cleaner. Security is great. Didn’t use tv which was a good size, too complicated for connection. Overall, worth the money.

Rooftop garden has no management. Breakfast was random, no staff to pour drinks in the afternoon. No staff at night not even for New Year’s Eve. We had to spend our whole time out of the hotel which worked out expensive. Santa Maria is UK prices for dining and drinking by locals who live in Shanties! I understand everything on SAL is imported but still costly.

Ubicación perfecta. Muy buenas instalaciones. Piscina “infinita” en la azotea, pequeña pero cumplía perfectamente.

Los desayunos un poco “pobres”, pero hay que tener en cuenta las limitaciones de la isla.

Posizione

Non c’è nessuna reception quindi se si hanno problemi è impossibile risolvere, si può soltanto inviare messaggi su booking e ricevere risposta a distanza di 24 ore, ACQUA MARRONE CHE SCORRE DA RUBINETTI E DOCCE, piscina inaccessibile e utilizzata solo dai piccioni, colazione immangiabile con ZERO SCELTA (ogni giorno le stesse cose anche su richiesta) mai fatta in 7 giorni, la stanza non veniva mai pulita se non su esplicita richiesta, lo staff ovvero due ragazze tuttofare non parlano inglese per cui comunicazione avvenuta solo tramite segni e tramite google translate, TV non funzionante, phon praticamente inutile

l'accueil et la gentillesse du personnel ainsi que la qualité de l'hébergement