Hotel Riu Palace Boavista - All Inclusive

Location: Urb. Morrinho De Baguincho, Praia de Boca Salina, Boa Vista, Boa Vista, CV

Star Rating: 5 Stars

Property Type: property

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 03:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 12:00 PM

Instructions: Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. This property does not permit name changes on reservations. The name on the booking must match the name of the guest who is checking in and staying at the property; photo ID is required.

Amenities & Facilities

• Free breakfast
• Full-service spa
• Fitness facilities
• No single-use plastic straws
• Comprehensive recycling policy
• Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
• Free WiFi
• 24-hour front desk
• Terrace
• Garden
• Karaoke
• Wheelchair accessible
• Evening entertainment
• Elevator
• Fitness facilities
• ATM/banking
• Gift shops or newsstand
• Scuba diving nearby
• Free breakfast
• Multilingual staff
• Full-service spa
• Smoke-free property
• Pool umbrellas
• Wheelchair accessible parking
• Playground on site
• Snorkeling on site
• Surfing/bodyboarding on site
• Free self parking
• Beach umbrellas
• Beach sun loungers
• Pool sun loungers
• Beach volleyball on site
• Free buffet breakfast
• Water dispenser
• Housekeeping on request
• Concerts/live shows
• Eco-friendly toiletries
• LED light bulbs
• Recycling
• Renewable energy source - solar
• Grey water recycling system
• Wheelchair-accessible van parking
• Wheelchair-accessible spa
• Wheelchair-accessible pool
• Wheelchair-accessible fitness center
• Wheelchair-accessible on-site restaurant
• Secured bicycle storage
• Change of towels (on request)
• Vegetarian breakfast available
• Humane animal treatment
• Locally-owned & organized tours & activities
• Showcase for local artists
• Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
• Energy-saving switches
• At least 80% of all lighting comes from LEDs
• Comprehensive food waste policy
• Vegan menu options available
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Comprehensive recycling policy
• Bulk dispenser for toiletries
• No single-use plastic straws

Rooms Available

• Standard Double Room, Balcony (Sofa Bed)

  2 Large Twin Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed OR 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

  301-sq-foot room with a balcony/patio

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels

  Food & Drink - Electric kettle, minibar (stocked with some free items), and 24-hour room service

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, bathrobes, and a hair dryer

  Practical - Safe, iron/ironing board, and phone

  Comfort - Fresh towels (on request), air conditioning, and daily housekeeping

  Accessibility - Tile flooring in room

  Eco-friendly - Eco-friendly toiletries, energy-saving switches, recycling bin, and LED light bulbs

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom
  • Satellite channels
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Room service (24 hours)
  • Free WiFi
  • Balcony or patio
  • Bedsheets provided
  • LED light bulbs
  • Change of towels (on request)
  • Energy-saving switches

• Standard Double Room, Balcony

  2 Large Twin Beds OR 1 King Bed

  301-sq-foot room with a balcony/patio

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels

  Food & Drink - Electric kettle, minibar (stocked with some free items), and 24-hour room service

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, bathrobes, and a hair dryer

  Practical - Safe, iron/ironing board, and phone

  Comfort - Fresh towels (on request), air conditioning, and daily housekeeping

  Accessibility - Tile flooring in room

  Eco-friendly - Eco-friendly toiletries, energy-saving switches, recycling bin, and LED light bulbs

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom
  • Satellite channels
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Room service (24 hours)
  • Free WiFi
  • Balcony or patio
  • Bedsheets provided
  • LED light bulbs
  • Change of towels (on request)
  • Energy-saving switches

• Double Room, Balcony (Swim-up & Adults Only)

  2 Large Twin Beds OR 1 King Bed

  301-sq-foot room with a balcony/patio

  
  

  Relax - Private pool

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels

  Food & Drink - Electric kettle, minibar (stocked with some free items), and 24-hour room service

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, bathrobes, and a hair dryer

  Practical - Safe, iron/ironing board, and phone

  Comfort - Fresh towels (on request), air conditioning, and daily housekeeping

  Accessibility - Tile flooring in room

  Eco-friendly - Eco-friendly toiletries, energy-saving switches, recycling bin, and LED light bulbs

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom
  • Satellite channels
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Electric kettle
  • Private pool
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Room service (24 hours)
  • Free WiFi
  • Balcony or patio
  • Bedsheets provided
  • LED light bulbs
  • Change of towels (on request)
  • Energy-saving switches

Guest Reviews

• L9502XRnataliet (8/5): New year holiday trip for some winter sun. - The staff are absolutely brilliant in this hotel. We couldn't fault them. As a family of adults, I think the hotel could benefit from a designated adult pool and bars in the hotel. I saw multiple families ignoring the no children at the swim up bars and 2 children actually diving off the tables! Whilst I accept this is mainly lazy parenting, I think a pool for adults only would solve this.
• loueeze2013 (8/5): Clean, picturesque, warm and chilled - Fab hotel. No complaints, good food at the buffet and very clean. The staff are friendly. No concerns with flies or poorliness from food (at all!). The beach is gorgeous - you might spot some turtles in the waves if you’re lucky. Only request would be more no smoking areas
• traceyt664 (10/5): Amazing Christmas at Rui Palace Boa Vista - Excellent hotel. Staff couldn’t do enough for us. Amazing food. Entertainment staff very entertaining and really involved the guests. Some shows brilliant some a little basic but they really tried their best. The white party was brilliant.
• PezzerW4 (10/5): Fabulous place - some reviewers need to ger real ! - We went for a family holiday over Christmas & new year and it’s great. Is it a 5 star resort? Well that kind of depends on your view. This isn’t the Ritz Carlton nor does it have a similar price tag. It’s a very well equipped hotel with spacious rooms and great amenities. People have complained an about bedrooms being musty, well ours was a little but only because it hadn’t been used for a while. The rooms are spacious and clean, very comfortable beds too. The food is excellent, there are speciality restaurants such as the steak house (highly recommended) but also snack bars. Sumptuous breakfasts, lunches and buffet dinners at “Africa” are superb. Having read some of the reviews I was concerned about flies and they may be a problem during the rainy season but I can honestly say they are not an issue now. I saw very few flies on food, certainly no more than in any other hot climate, Spain included. At breakfast once you have finished your plate it is hastily cleared away, I came here with 2 fly fans somewhat worried but didn’t use either. The drinks are good, pools lovely and staff amazing. If you are looking for a 5* resort on Lake Garda look elsewhere but for an island off the coast of Africa look no further for a fantastic winter getaway. It’s really really good !!
• 165islam (8/5): Realistic Review - Don’t be put off by the negative reviews, we have just enjoyed a week long stay and I don’t know what people are complaining so much about. It is important to remember five star hotels get their star rating based off accessibility, so I don’t know if people are expecting what you would get for £1000 per night just because it has five stars. We have never done an all-inclusive resort holiday before, we usually stick to DIY travel type adventure holidays so we don’t really have much to compare it to! Pools/Entertainment: There are three pools, the middle one being the quietest as there is no bar or activities at this pool. There is also plenty going on to keep people entertained if that is what you would like including activities for kids fitness classes and evening entertainment. We did use the gym a few times, though this is small and slightly dated, it’s better than nothing. Room: The room was spacious and comfortable (Air-con and fan) and the bathroom the same. Areas are starting to look worn and the sofa in the room could’ve done with a good steam clean. The only negatives I would say on the room is that it was not quite ready when we arrived and a cleaner had left their key card in our room. It also took a long time for our luggage to be brought up, we would have took this ourselves but got told to leave it, therefore could not unpack immediately as we usually would. The mini bar in the room is replenished regularly however there was no water when we arrived and we had to request this via the app -this was acted upon very quickly however once we had finished this water it was not replenished. You can get bottles of water at the bars to take to your room so this wasn’t an issue, but it would’ve been nice if it was replenished like the other drinks are. The TV in the room also barely worked, I tried flicking through the channels but the signal was very poor on most of them and very basic channels. Although we don’t come on holiday to watch TV, we feel like a room should be accommodating for everybody’s needs. An upgrade on the TV would not go a mess even just to have access to things like Netflix and other apps people may want to watch shows on. The use of the app throughout your stay is helpful to find out what is going on and when, to book at the speciality restaurants and to request things such as water to your room, however the Wi-Fi often dropped out at various times throughout the day, meaning you could not always get online to check said things. It was often down for at least an hour at a time, which became quite frustrating. Food: We did not have any issues with the food during our stay there is plenty of choice at the buffet, ranging from solids to meat vegetarian options pastas and varying themes such as Chinese/Japanese/Mexican. All the food is cooked fresh, behind each station any issues with hygiene does not come from the hotel it comes from the people using it (hand sanitizer is provided and various locations at bars and restaurants- please use it!) yes there are some flies about during the day but isn’t this normal in every country when it is warm?! Food is all inside and there are covers on certain things. We have been home a week now and neither of us have been ill. We did get booked in to Krystal (fusion restaurant) and The Steak House and both meals were delicious. I’d highly recommend trying to get in to them, but the Africa restaurant is still great if you don’t. Staff: Finally, a mention to all the staff who were very friendly and attentive, ensuring drinks are always topped up and empty plates cleared away.
• 421bethanym (10/5): Amazing, not 5 star - I say not 5 star as we are used to Caribbean which has the extra touches such as evening turn down service, drinks service at the pools and a better selection of drinks. However i would go back, mainly because of the staff and cleanliness, all of the staff are lovely, friendly and VERY hard working. Welcome drink on arrival, comfy reception with coffee shop however this is not open until 10:30am? seems strange when its normally in the morning you want a nice coffee. Room - Clean, spacious, comfy, large shower however we had to shower with the light off as for some reason there was a large glass panel between the shower and the bedroom? Beds comfy, air con worked well and balcony view for an evening drink was great. We did struggle to get water we had to take bottles from breakfast. You can request water on the RIU app however this often is just one bottle, it would be great to have water delivered everyday so we don't have to go searching for water, no water coolers or fridge at the pool you have to ask from the bar for one glass. Pool - Plenty of sunbeds, sun all day, clean, 3 large pools to chose from. Quiet, entertainment or kid friendly pool. Seats both at pools and beach. It's easier to turn with the sun on the beach. Cons-No seat/bar service you had to go up to the bar. No one comes to collect the glasses for most of the day at the pool or beach can get messy if people do not take their own empty glass back to the bar. Main bar - Service very good, branded drinks, bottled coke, they have certain people taking orders and certain delivering to save time. I just wish they did basic cocktails. Outdoor and indoor seating. Restaurants- Main restaurant - Good selection, fresh fish, salad and fruit. However I did really struggle getting gluten free even the soup has gluten in it. At breakfast i had to spend 5/10 minutes trying to find someone to ask for gluten free bread which was becoming a pain. I would suggest if you have an allergy this is not the best hotel for you. FLIES wow, take a fly fan especially at breakfast, the flies are also all over the food especially the cheese and bread, i would have thought covers would be on this kind of food. TIP-The food for lunch is better at the pool restaurant less flies, fresh and closer to the pool. A' la carte's are the same very limited, same menu week on week. The Japanese restaurant was the worst we got sick after the main dish which is unfortunate as this is normally the better restaurant in RIU chains. The restaurant itself looked lovely however I would not go again. Krystal - Wine was nice as this was the nicer wine rather then the basic you get at all other restaurants/bars. Food was good the atmosphere was lovely, prosecco on arrival !!!!! you cannot get prosecco in any restaurants we used to have to take our own from the bar before entering meals. Steakhouse - In my opinion had the best food, ribs/salmon/burger/vegetables, great service. Although the starter was a selection of cold fish in different sauces and nachos. A bit of a waste as no choice in what you wanted so it was all brought out. Entertainment - the team are friendly and do not harrass you to join in games which was GREAT. They are based at the right hand side pool. Evening mini disco 18:00 each night. Jaz to follow in the bar however not many seats to listen. The evening shows.... the entertainment team are in most of them? I think RIU need to pay for performers like normal, no silent disco. no Michael Jackson or acrobatics. Once a week they have RIU party, you can walk its about 5 minutes walk to next hotel. The white party was a lot better than the NEON which is normally the opposite, a lot of rehearsed dances. Music wasn't great but a lot better then the normal evening entertainment. drinks were easy to get 3 bars set up again great staff at the hotel next door. I cannot comment on the spa/hairdresser, I tried to book twice however it got rejected, seemed odd as the staff were wondering around the hotel all day but when you book the slots were fully booked. Over all the hotel is very well kept and clean, the staff make the place, please TIP, we took euros. I would suggest they look at Japanese restaurant and pool service/clean up at the pools. i would rate this a 4 star good quality hotel i would return to another RIU on the island.
• simontD4461BI (6/5): 3-STAR BRUTALIST MEGA-RESORT OFFERING TIRED BREAK - Firstly: THIS IS NOT 5 STAR. THREE STARS WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE. Positives: very large and comfortable rooms. Beds firm and extremely well upholstered. Lots of hanging space, nice outside patio with views of the palm trees and the sea beyond. Quiet! Good banana and strawberry smoothies at breakfast. Excellent ice cream. Good selection of fresh fruit. Negatives: the staff are good-natured but if there is a manager he must be paid not to interfere. Everything needs a kick up the proverbial. The buffet is okay, but - as others have pointed out - there are flies aggressively helping themselves to whatever is exposed (how difficult can it be to cover food?) You get the impression that unused food is recycled or reworked. It's all a bit tired and unappetising. Coffee dreadful, juices watery, a lot of mislabelling of different foods. Spills ignored. Avoid the raisin pastries: the one I had had obviously been sitting there several days and was inedible. Pools unheated, plenty of sunloungers but very uncomfortable (no cushioning). The loungers on the beach are modern and properly designed. Evening entertainment well-intentioned but pretty naff, unless you like half-an-hour of kids miming to ABBA and bursts of dry ice. Check out is a nightmare once you join the queue at the airport. Took us 90 minutes to be processed by very bored staff. No TUI reps to crack the whip. As a result we left half hour late. The general impression we got is that we didn't matter and both TUI and RIU were trying to get away with the least investment for the most profit. We won't be booking either again.
• coloneld75 (10/5): Hotel is Lovely - Pleasantly surprised, apprehensive as we don’t usually do package hols but this hotel is very good so far (only 1 day in). No problem with flies at all, food is great with plenty of choice. The rooms are large, clean and well kept and the swim up pools to the room are a bonus. Staff are friendly and accommodating so first impressions are great.
• 51xxxx (8/5): Would recommend but needs improvements - I have been coming to this hotel for 3 years. Overall, it's a gorgeous hotel and has many positives: - The staff (entertainment team, wait staff, maids) are the LOVELIEST, KINDEST people. - The views, the grounds, the beach, and the pools are just dreamy! - The food is delicious at breakfast, lunch and dinner - We never stayed up for the entertainment but i believe it is good - 3-minute drive from the airport! However, some improvements that I would hope if i was to return and would note for people looking to book and think about: - The bathroom tiles were completely filled with black mould (there are no extractor fans in the bathrooms and i don't think the in between tiles are ever cleaned) - The water doesn't go down in the shower tray, you have to manually with your feet push it down the drain otherwise you're swimming in ankle deep water! - The maid's room cleaning was very inconsistent (everyday we had to request the number of towels we needed - they didn't seem to note down what the room required and then replace them each day) - We smashed a glass one morning by accident and by the evening once the maid had been the glass 1) hadn't been replaced and 2) we found lots of glass still on the floor and the side so it evidently hadn't been cleaned - The first day when we pulled the blanket out it smelt very bad and had a stain on it - They only offer soya milk at the pool bars and lobby cafe (even though there is oat and almond milk at breakfast - so not good for someone who is female (females should not drink soya milk). - The gym has no air con! And is very very dated with minimal equipment. (You're 100 x better to do the classes with Junior at RUI Fit - he's EXCELLENT). Each year the price has gone up to come to the hotel, so i do expect the things i have noted above to improve year on year (if you're charging more).
• Battyw (8/5): Nice chilled dose of winter sun - Our family of four visited in the middle of December for a week for a little winter sun after a touch couple of years. The TLDR version: Clean, chilled hotel, good buffet, great staff for the most part. Good rooms, nice buffet, a la carte restaurants not great. Good location. We'll be back. War and Peace version: Hygiene: Very clean, staff regularly cleaning surfaces down, washing floors, very clean toilets and even scrubbing down the sun beds. No stomach problems and anti-bac everywhere. Flies: Are an issue only during the day time around food, take a fly fan and this seems to work, wasn't an issue in the evening and even better - no mozzies at all that we noticed. Unlike others I didn't see many flies around the food in the buffets - other than one in a juice jug that I pointed out to staff and they removed. Housekeeping was excellent: Towel arrangements on the bed every day, mini bar restocked as needed, every request such as extra pillows, blankets, robes all dealt with very quickly. Wish I knew the name of whoever was looking after us in 1089 - they were great. Restaurants: Africa the main buffet restaurant was very good, huge selection and swapped out every day. Got a little bit "sharpen your elbows" at busy times but that's to be expected. Service for drinks at tables was very patchy and slow at times. Mitsuki: nice little restaurant, very limited menu, Yakisoba was very sweet, Teppanyaki was very good, portions were good as was service. Krystal: we didn't use this one, menu again very limited Steakhouse: This is Sal Rei during the day and they section off a portion of it for the Steakhouse in the evening which is a bit disappointing in terms of a venue. Menu again very limited, steak in the surf and turf is small, but well cooked, prawns were rubbery. No choice in starters you have some fish dishes and a caesar salad whatever. Wouldn't bother with this one. Bars: Service at the pool bar (Pontchi) was always very good and done with a smile and/or a song. Drinks were okay - if you want a branded spirit, make sure you ask for it or you'll get the generic local brand. Measures are great. Cocktails are all stored in a slushy type machine with spirits added after - they're not great. Wine and fizz are all fine. No poolside service (but that's no biggy) Main bar of an evening is huge. Big outside area for smokers which is nice for them but the smoke then blows into the non-smoking area which is not so good. Service is patchy for drinks here and it was sometimes easier to go to the Sports bar or main bar and order yourself. One waiter was a creep, constantly pestering our daughter until I warned him off and then he avoided us. Sports Bar is very plain, but has TVs, a pool table etc, don't bank on watching Prem league footy though, we rocked up to watch our team on a Monday night and they couldn't get the game on so we ended up watching it on a nice guy's mobile. Bar service is very good in there. The snack food looks ropey though. Pool: The pool was okay - not heated, fine in 26 degrees but when that wind blows it's a bit "cool". Straightforward rectangle pool. Sunbeds were backbreakers! Not comfortable at all. Take towel clips or bands as the wind is strong. Pool hygiene appeared good and I saw staff testing and cleaning throughout the day. Lifeguard is a little bit AWOL, so keep your eyes peeled for little ones. Sea was off limits for the whole week due to the crashing waves and undertow. Room: Very spacious and comfortable, everything we needed, comfy bed, plenty of shower pressure, aircon good, thick walls, so little noise intrusion. The room is perhaps looking a little tired but I've seen far worse. Optics are local spirits, minibar is branded. View from 1089 is pants though - scrubby, sandy courtyard type are. Only other thing - no dressing table as such. Spa: this was okay, not cheap but not too pricey either. Massages were okay but not brilliant. Entertainment: This was okay - a mix of the Ents team doing shows and dances which were okay (although those wigs for the Grease night......). A couple of the bands were very good: don't know the names but the 3 piece covers band was the best: everything from Coldplay to Metallica! A couple of the others - not so much. All in all, we really enjoyed our stay at the hotel, it wasn't perfect and it's absolutely not a five star hotel. But it was clean, fun and chilled - No stress! A nice choice for some winter sun and we might well go back next year.
• KatyC971 (10/5): Stunning location - We enjoyed our stay, the grounds are immaculate, gardeners to a fabulous job. We asked in advance for a quiet room and we were pleased with our room, spacious with an outstanding shower with a tiled seating area in it! We tried 2 of the speciality restaurants and enjoyed them. Food plenty of choices, yes a few flies but not overly concerned. The beach is stunning, you can walk 5km up or down the bay on soft golden sand, paddling on the waters edge. At one end of the bay there is a little natural bathing area protected from the waves which we utilised. Yes it is windy and added exercise on the walk back! We did other longer walks utilising taxis, got to try on work off the lovely food. Boa Vista is underdeveloped, I don’t understand as the beaches are amazing.
• BoredOfBarmston (2/5): Food completely swarming with flies - None of the food is covered and the resort has a fly problem. Very upsetting, totally spoiled the week. Only time we have ever gone to bed hungry on all inclusive. Definitely not a 5 star hotel, stayed in 3 stars that care more about food hygiene. The buffet and snack bars both the same, food uncovered and swarming with flies. No wonder people are getting ill and the island has a shigella problem with this level of apathy about flies. Easy fix to cover the food, hotel chooses not to. TUI reps aren't interested in the slightest. They just say theyve fed back to the hotel but it is Africa.
• jeanettegX6832TB (2/5): Too many flies on the food - Came here 6 years ago and can’t believe how the standards have dropped. Flies.!! Everywhere. The food in the restaurant at breakfast is bad after one visit at lunchtime we didn’t go again. They were crawling on the food and no effort was made to stop them .There are no electric fly killers . At least the food could be covered some way. One jug of orange had a dead fly floating in it. There was no gluten free area or children’s area as in a lot of hotels now. When I spoke to the TUI reps they were dismissive bordering on rude. 1 walking off when I was speaking to them. Their answer being you’re in Africa! We visited Sal Rei. It has built up massively since we were last here and you are constantly pestered by people trying to sell you tat or get you into their shops. It was like running a gauntlet. Some of the bar staff were rude . They had their favourite customers ( maybe the biggest tippers ) but the majority were friendly. The drink selection has dropped. The cocktails pre mixed and are awful . No branded drinks in the room . Entertainment ok . The staff work hard. The hotel is very tired looking. Needs a total refurbishment. The weather has been mixed. We had a couple of chilly, cloudy days . The pools are chilly then and not too pleasant to be in . We had a pool room . Again tired looking . There appears no change or updates since we came last time Don’t think we’d come again . Which is a shame as we were so looking forward to it but there would have to be massive improvements on the food hygiene.
• lisakY951HX (10/5): Great Resort for a Fly and Flop Holiday - Please dont let the bad reviews worry you from going here. We spent a week at this hotel and had a fantastic time. We were looking for a holiday where we could get sun in the winter on a budget and this was perfect for that. The staff were friendly and attentive and the rooms were nice and clean. The pools were lovely, looking out onto the beach and there were always sun loungers available. We had some spa treatments and they were great and a lot cheaper than England. The food was good, it's not fantastic food but it's decent. I definitely didn't feel too worried about food poisoning but avoided things that you would avoid at any large buffet. They were always putting freshly cooked food out and the meat was completely separate from the fresh salad food. There are flies in the day time, but are just annoying when you eat more than anything. You can just swat them away and only seemed to be at breakfast and lunch time. There were no flies during dinner. And they only cared about food so next to the pool or on the beach they weren't an issue. If you want a cheap, no stress, sunny brain off holiday then this is a great place to go.
• 10SAC (10/5): A perfect getaway… - This was the 3rd time we stayed here. It never disappoints. The staff make this a perfect hotel - they simply can’t do enough to make your stay wonderful. The standards are exceptional. I would recommend both the Krystal and Mitsuki restaurants. If you want a quiet, sunshine holiday to unwind, this place is perfect. The only downside (now) is that it has gone from being an ‘adults only’ hotel to one for families, so if you would rather not put up with kids running around, this may not be for you! I’m hoping that they revert back in the future.
• Maps58660019782 (2/5): Food covered in flies, avoid! - The hotel is nicely presented and the staff clearly work hard but there is one major problem - food hygiene. Simply non existent. Breakfast isnt too bad but the cheese was crawling with flies. Lunch and dinner are a different story - the bread/cheese and fruit are completely uncovered (the bread sometimes has a cloth over it but not maintained) and are covered in flies. We're currently here for a week and the first time ive ever gone to bed hungry on an all inclusive as you simply cant trust the food. Such a shame as its an easy fix to cover up the food but the hotel are unwilling to do so. The cocktails are all premade and not good either, so youre best off ordering a spirit and mixer. The staff clearly work hard in general cleanliness, and everyone is friendly. Informed the TUI rep but the response was 'Well we are in Africa'
• Solanms (6/5): Couples week away.. Disappointed with the Riu brand - My partner and I stayed at this hotel for a week and have just returned. While we had generally positive expectations given the cost for a week's stay with a swim-up room, our experience was somewhat underwhelming. The hotel is okay but does not stand out significantly. Weather: It was warm during the day, but consistently very windy throughout our stay. Unfortunately, this meant we could not enjoy the sea at all, as the red flag was constantly up, which we anticipated. Pool Area: The main pools tend to be quite crowded, although securing sunbeds was not an issue. The water temperature was quite cold, and the persistent wind made it less comfortable to spend extended periods in the pool. Dining/Food: The offerings were similar to typical all-inclusive options, with a good variety of choices. While tables were regularly wiped down, there was a persistent smell and feeling of uncleanliness in the dining area. Entertainment: The evening entertainment was adequate and improved the overall ambiance of the evenings. Room: We stayed in a swim-up room in block 47. There were some minor inconveniences, but nothing major. The primary concern was the cleanliness and hygiene in the room. Upon cleaning, the rooms had a strong, unpleasant odour reminiscent of dirty mop water, suggesting that disinfectants or cleaning practices may be insufficient. We had to use our towels with body wash to absorb the smell from the floors. Additionally, the air conditioning units emitted a foul odour that we believe may be due to lack of proper cleaning, potentially leading to bacteria buildup, which coincided with my wife's sudden development of chest, cough, and sinus issues during our stay. The sofa in the room was also quite dirty and had a foul smell, indicating a need for a thorough steam clean. Service and Staff: Overall, service was acceptable; however, many staff members could display a much friendlier attitude. For example, when requesting towels from the cleaners, they simply threw them at us. We also noticed that some cleaning staff seemed more focused on their phones and took frequent breaks in the hallways. Gym: Despite the size of the hotel, the gym was quite small, accommodating only about eight people at once. It was very warm and not very hygienic, with limited equipment that appeared outdated. Several machines had broken or poorly repaired parts, with worn belts and rubber needing replacement, which compromised their safety and functionality. In summary, the hotel offers a peaceful environment suitable for relaxation. However, the wind made it unsuitable for us. We believe Riu should invest in updating certain areas of the property. Aside from that, we found cleanliness and service to be points of concern, especially when compared to other hotels of lesser stars in different countries. We had higher expectations from the Riu brand and were somewhat disappointed with our experience. Wouldn't return ourselves, but this is not to discourage others from visiting this country or hotel. Should have visited Thailand or Bali again. Would have cost less, hotter weather and where people love to smile.
• _tcordell1968 (8/5): Beautiful hotel and staff - Just returned from a 2nd visit to this hotel, after enjoying it so much last year. First the positives such lovely and friendly staff you could not fault anyone, the housekeeping, gardeners, bar staff (everyone smiling and happy) they were absolutely fantastic and a real credit to this hotel. The entertainment shows in the evening although short had really improved from last year, again these staff members work so hard to get everything right as witnessed during the afternoon watching them practicing their routines. The toilet facilities were cleaned pretty much after each use, all day everyday the ladies were cleaning right up until 11.30 pm, could not fault the cleaning even around the poolside. The staff were at the entrance to the restaurant’s with hand gel which was a big plus for me. Yes there is a lot of flies which should be expected in such a hot climate, I’m not really sure how any hotel could eradicate this, Me and my husband just decided after 4 days to use the inside seating area which was perfect, no flies or maybe 1 or 2 tops.!!! The only reason I didn’t give this a 5 star is for the food, although it was plentiful we was disappointed that whatever meal we tried in 11 days the food was just warm, it didn’t matter what time we went to eat the only hot food was the chips, soups (which were lovely) rice pudding and oats. We was so disappointed and it has put us off booking again for next year. This is a shame because I absolutely loved this hotel and staff but cannot do another 2 weeks of eating soup and rice pudding. Please management try to come up with a solution to keep food warm, no-one want to eat warm meat, cold Yorkshire puddings, warm potatoes, your staff work too hard overall to let them down on the warm food.
• andrewp368 (8/5): Lovely hotel but has a few issues - My wife and myself have just returned from a week's stay at this lovely hotel .It's our second visit this year as we was at this hotel in April.let me start with the positives. We was greeted with a nice refreshing drink on our arrival ,but had to wait an hour for our room to be ready .Not a problem we had a few drinks in the coffee bar .Our room was lovely and clean and had no issues at all .Had optics in the room but never really used them .And the shower was fantastic and you definitely felt refreshed afterwards with the rain shower head ..The hotel is spotless and the gardens are stunning .Had a lovely beach with plenty of sunbeds around the pool or on the beach .no problem at all getting a bed .Like I said the beach was lovely but the sea can get rough and it's normally a red flag .nice walks as well nice bar to the left around a ten minute walk.The food in the hotel was lovely .A large choice to pick from .Night entertainment was ok .Not the best but we thought the bands that were there some nights were better than the main shows .But that's our opinion.Now for the issues .The Flies they were everywhere.food was covered in flies at breakfast and they were that bad that we had to eat inside.lunch time was just as bad so we skipped it after the first day .The evening meal we had no issues with flies at all they just vanished.The bars were really bad to .They were all over the glasses .The hotel really needs to address this problem with electronic zappers in food areas .. Everyone we spoke to had the same issues with flies.Would we return .Yes we would but not at that time of the year .
• CJM550 (6/5): Too many flies for comfort - Second visit to the hotel thought the service in some areas had gone down. The reception staff were not helpful and barely acknowledge you. The main reason for only three stars were the flies it made us give up with eating in the lunchtime restaurant as your food would be covered in flies in minutes. There must be something the hotel could do like putting up electronic devices. If you’re planning on going to Cape Verde I would suggest to take a portable fly swatter device for your table. Also be prepared to spend a couple of hours getting through to the departure area long long queues at both the check in and then at the security queue. Probably one of the worst organised airports we’ve been through.
• peanutandhooverlady (8/5): Nice relaxing holiday - Yet again a lovely holiday at The Palace. We asked in advance for our favourite location and once more the wonderful staff gave us the perfect room (2113). High floor, panoramic views of the ocean and Sal Rai. Food variety remains excellent and well presented. The restaurant and bar staff are so friendly and helpful. Cannot complain about a think. Gardens, beach and pool areas are all well maintained. The only small gripes we had were:- 1/ The flies. They are everywhere !!! Worryingly, and we have never seen this before, they are also on the food in the buffet restaurants. Some deterrent is needed to keep these disease spreading bugs to a minimum. 2/ It appears RIU are cost cutting at the expense of our 5star experience. Some branded drinks are no longer available. A glass of bubbly used to be waiting for you on arrival. Not a serious concern, but it was always a great start to our holiday and the feeling of a warm reception.
• kevins684 (6/5): Inconsistent, from good to bad - First impressions count, which at a hotel is check in. They know how many people to expect off a package holiday flight, are they suitably manned on reception? No. Wait 15/20 minutes if you are back of the queue, Brits waiting correctly. In come Russians queue jumping by go-ing to Customer Service not Reception where we were turned away from, is the queue man-aged correctly, no, a new queue for just Russians. BAD Later back at reception, your app won't work due to poor WiFi at our building the furthest away from reception, we can't try reserving a specialty restaurant for my birthday. BAD A very helpful chap books us in as an exception. GOOD. Our room has a terrible view, can we change it, no we are full, we'll make a note, maybe in a few days. BAD. Actually three days later they do contact us the change the room. GOOD. The pool and beach beds start being blocked by towel bagging at 07.30. The hotel says is it managed by removing towels from unused beds a couple of hours later. Do they apply this rule? No. BAD. The buffet selection of food at breakfast and particularly dinner is comprehensive and good quality. GOOD. The attentiveness of the staff replenishing drinks and removing used dishes is generally excellent, although one evening I did have to serve myself with wine due to missing staff. Two worth a mention were Adilson, Siviane GOOD. The specialty restaurant Krystal was excellent, service and food. GOOD. MISAKYI, ok but not great service or food. The entertainment is karaoke, quizzes, poor quality music that involves little participation dancing to reasonable shows. POOR. And later drunks taking over the stage and music system with absolutely abysmal singing. MORE BAD. What they need is some quiet adults bar with a cocktails, maybe quiet piano player, the saxophone we had at the pool bar during the day again in the evening. No, it's people packed in a main room waiting for slow service, although wandering waiters do their best, while listening to a third rate litany of tunes no one has ever heard before. Seating is for 4 around a table, the vast majority of people are couples. So tables are quite correctly taken by two people and unless you really like making friends spaces quickly run out. BAD. The main Muscat bar is immediately adjacent to the main room, no getting away from the incessant noise. BAD. Five cocktails listed, poor choice, no making of a named cocktail. BAD I want to book another specialty restaurant. There's a high demand. The app booking starts at midnight three days in advance. Yes, guests are set up to compete against each other by being awake at 00.01 to compete on an app for the few spaces. ABSOLUTELY DEMEAING, BAD. The beach is nice, good walks, clean. GOOD. Overall, we are used to far better, not for us, more like 1980's holiday camps I've seen on TV programmes now All Inclusive with noisy not quality shows. Which is a pity, the staff and quality of food mass produced for up to 1000 people a day are great, the rest isn't.
• Paul_McB_13 (6/5): Flies, flies, blooming flies - Flies, flies and more flies. Writing this whike still here waiting for airport transfer. We were so looking forward to another trip to Boa Vista, having previously stayed in the Karamboa and the Touareg. Location to the airport is ideal. The staff were lovely and friendly. They genuinely seemed like they loved what they did. This really came across in the interactions with customers. The site is well laid out and you never felt like it was crowded. The pools were a bit on the chilly side, but once you are in, they were fine. Our room was kept very clean by the housekeeping staff. We enjoyed having the luxury of one of the villas with a small pool. The speciality restaurants were lovely, the Japanese being our favourite. However, the Africa buffet was a different story. Not the food, or the service. Blooming flies. It got to the point where I would not eat in there, opting for something from the coffee shop or the sports bar. There was no effort to cover anything up. One of the chefs just shrugged his shoulders when I pointed it out. Such a shame as the variety of food was very good. I just didn't want to touch it. I did complain to the reception staff and a Tui rep. They are aware there is an issue. If the weather is a factor, as I've seen in other reviews, then do something about it. You can't stop the flies, I get that, but cover the food. You wouldn't have food uncoverd at home. So I would love to give 4 or more on the rating, but because of the flies on the food, I can't. I do have video of the food/fly fiasco. Come on Riu/Tui, I expect better. Never had this issue in Dubai. Do yourselves a favour, for roughly the same journey time take, yourself to the UAE.
• gerdam255 (10/5): Perfect holiday and beautifully Arranged Birthday Celebration - Our stay at Riu Palace Boavista in Cape Verde was truly wonderful! From the very first moments, we felt warmly welcomed – the staff were friendly, helpful, and always ready to assist. The rooms were clean, tidy, cozy, and well-maintained every day. The food was delicious and varied – breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered a wide selection, everything was fresh and tasty. The themed restaurants, especially the Japanese one, left a great impression. The hotel’s entertainment programs were fun and engaging, and the evening shows were professional and high-quality. A special thank you goes to the reception staff member who perfectly organized a surprise for my friend Tomas’s birthday: a beautifully decorated room, a birthday dinner at the Japanese restaurant, and a delicious cake. This added even more joy and warmth to our trip. The surroundings of the hotel are very beautiful and well maintained, and the overall atmosphere invites you to relax and enjoy your holiday. I can confidently recommend this hotel to anyone looking for high-quality vacation and excellent service. We would love to come back!Thank you very much:) Gerda and Tomas❤️❤️❤️
• NorwichBella (10/5): Home from Home - 13th visit to one of our favourite hotels. Check in quick and efficient with the always friendly and helpful reception staff. As always the hotel grounds and areas were well maintained and clean. Our room was spotless with everything we needed. Only used the water from the mini bar and this was replenished regularly. Needed some more shower gel one evening, went on the app, filled up within 15mins. Excellent service. Lovely comfy bed and pillows and the room always smelt lovely. Africa restaurant as good as always for every meal. We don’t eat meat so cannot comment on that but the choice always looked good. The fish always perfect, pasta, pizza, veggie choices excellent. Never ate the same thing over 2 weeks so plenty of choice. Loved the Mexican tacos at lunch. Even the fussiest of eaters, should be able to find something , as the choice is huge. The chefs are all so lovely and always smiling and happy to chat. Massive thanks to the lovely Ethel who looked after us so well at breakfast and lunch and to Milly who we saw most dinners. Paris, Melany, Jose and all of the staff in the restaurant are friendly and welcoming. Pool bar and main bar excellent again. Great selection of drinks and all the staff happy, dancing, and chatty. Massive thanks to Thierry, Sheriff, Kevin, Lany, Ronise, Linda, Gany, Freddie, Anderson and all the others that I’ve forgotten. Always lovely to see the great staff we’ve met over the years. We’re beach lovers so spent the whole time here but there always seemed to be sun beds available round the pool as well as the beach. Had quite a few yellow flags over a two week period and lots of people in the sea. A few people have commented on illnesses, didn’t hear of anyone with a problem when we were there. There is plenty of sanitizer around for guests to use and the staff regularly use this too. Also flies, we live in the countryside and see more flies in a day in the summer than we saw the whole two weeks. Maybe it’s where we sat for meals I don’t know and I didn’t notice many around the food as some people say. This is a lovely hotel with fantastic management and staff, go, enjoy and just chill. Already got 2 holidays for next year booked here so looking forward to returning May
• RobotEngineer13 (8/5): As usual very good and relaxing, please stop with emptying bottle bank at 5.30am! - This was our 6th time at a RIU on Cape Verde, as usual we had a great time, lots of sunbeds, relaxing and fantastic food. The only hiccup was the hotel emptying the empty bottle storage at the back of our room, they decided that 5.30 was a good time for this and it went on for an hour. Complained to reception who said it would be passed to manager. 3 days later had exactly the same problem. I get up at this time for work, don’t expect to be woken up at this time on holiday!
• Dexter2270 (10/5): No stress - Nice clean hotel,food in buffet restaurant excellent, 2 swim up pool bars. 1 family pool. Plenty of sun loungers around pool and on beach front. No stress
• James7787 (10/5): Fantastic as always - Just about to check out from another visit to the palace. We’ve been coming since it opened I think in 2019 and it amazing to be able to return to this resort. We stayed in a pool room 4509 which was a nice corner plot with sun from 930/430. The room was very clean as always as is the entire resort. As the review below says there are some sparrow you can feed in this area :) Romira served us in the restaurant most evenings as from night 2 remembered our drinks order she was very professional and polite throughout the visit. The food in my opinion is at good as ever, this week I’ve seen lobster, steak, massive prawns tuna and even avocado for the first time so not cheap ingredients and all nice quality. The drinks are less branded than before but you can as and they do have a wide selection. Our in room drinks got topped us ever two days as usually happens. This is the first of my visit when I’ve seen heavy rain and the staff worked exceptionally hard to ensure the resort kept running. Overall a 10/10 visit
• holidaygirl97 (8/5): The good and not so good…. - Third visit to this hotel and as a repeat customer wanted to note the things we have seen deteriorate since our first visit. Prefix this by saying we do love Boa Vista and the staff at this hotel are on the whole really lovely and hardworking! Problems with our room were sorted quickly and house keeping service is good. Enjoyed the speciality restaurants used all three. Firstly the Sunbeds are not 5* sunbeds. They are in desperate need of replacement as they are uncomfortable, chipped and stained and you feel like you’re lying on a metal pole. Not good. Secondly, the flies - oh the flies! There could be so much more the hotel could do to keep flies off the food and drinks. Simple things like fly fans which many people staying there take themselves now. Covering up the food more especially the cheeses and bread/crackers which are left totally uncovered. It did effect our holiday this time, didn’t eat certain foods due to the flies. Thirdly, the check in at hotel - might be just me but you turn up after a LONG flight and the check in staff look at you like ‘why you here?’! Walk up and down and up and down with a piece of paper mumbling to each other and we had checked in online!!! Took way too long. There are many members of staff checking people in but seem to have little training on doing it quickly and efficiently. It takes ages!!! Lastly, the coffee bar staff mostly nice but wow there are a couple who think you are there to serve them. Point at items for you to get them for them no communication just a stare - very rude. Sort it out RIU. Side note - BOA VISTA AIRPORT- take water/drinks with you when leaving. The check in process is painfully slow and clearing security just as bad, took us 2 hours thought we weren’t going to make our flight.
• 10Splash (8/5): October in the sun - The hotel is very nice and spotlessly clean There’s something for everyone there and the service is very good also The all-inclusive food was plentiful, but could’ve done with a little bit more taste That said we had a great week
• nigels669 (10/5): Fly and Flop Holiday! - Just finished a 10 day holiday (24/11/25). Had a blast. We changed last minute as Jamaica Sandals had closed and understandably in the circumstances. Weather has been fabulous. Although today a bit of rain. Went on two trips out. Sand sledging in the desert, visited a couple of villages then to Santa Monica Beach ( Spectacular). Then an all inclusive catamaran trip with swimming. Also has to be done. What great fun. The hotel is spotless. The room maids work hard to make your stay great. We stayed in room 4510 with a swim pool. Sun all day and highly recommend this room if you can request it. It’s half way between the beach and main complex. 3 pools. One really large and quiet and two with swim up bars. They have aquafit and crazy games at one of the pools but it’s very good natured and not shouty! The bars by the beach have music in the afternoon by local musicians and they are very good. The staff in the restaurants can’t be faulted. Especially in the Africa restaurant where Deisy (Daisy) was brilliant and kept us watered. Delly at breakfast made sure I had champagne every morning! The gardeners and pool staff that cleaned the plunge pool everyday are so happy. Always a hello and a huge smile. Beach is clean and plenty of sunbeds. Lots of palm trees for shade. If you like sea swimming keep a look out for the flags by the life guards. Only had 2 days when the red flag wasn’t flying. No one used kayaks as bad undercurrents. A plus is short transfer time from the airport. If you stay in 4510 the local sparrows appreciate biscuits from the breakfast. Red and white packet. They will hand feed from you. All in all a perfect fly and flop holiday. Oh yes TUI reps are brilliant as well Evening entertainment could be improved but we know talent is at a premium on such a small island. I managed to alter a light in the night venue and couldn’t alter it back. Which my wife thought hilarious. Mainly due to excessive amount of Malibu and coke. So if you find a flashing light it’s my fault! Have a great time on Cape Verde. Thanks Oh before I forget. I have a fussy eater for a wife and the choice was vast. So much choice and a large vegetarian and vegan option if you are one.
• Tangletune (10/5): Ace holiday - We went to the palace for a mid November break. Honestly could not fault the place . The food is everything you can imagine plus more and the staff work so hard to make everything tick along. Don’t understand how people can complain as this is a superb holiday. If you’re looking for sun and relaxation 6 hours from home. Come here. We’ll be back ……
• lynnsE7111FY (10/5): Hotel Riu Boa Vista Palace Cape Verde. Our happy place. - We’ve just spent another two fabulous weeks in our happy place. Had the most amazing holiday meeting up with old friends from previous holidays there and making some new ones also. It was great to catch up with the staff who have become family over the years to us. The hotel is still as lovely as it was when it opened in 2018 and standards are still as consistent. The staf work tirelessly in all areas of the hotel and are friendly and accommodating . Anything you ask of them it is done with a smile. The food as always is plentiful and varied. We like to eat in the speciality restaurants where the service is efficient and the ambience lovely. The bar staff are amazing and the service is efficient and drinks served with a lovely smile and friendly banter. Varied bar menu also. The staff keep the bedrooms spotless and always have a smile on their faces and a friendly hola every day. The garden and pool staff keep the gardens and pool areas well maintained . Lastly the lovely reception staff who greet everyone with a smile and go over and beyond to accommodate your needs. The management team are constantly walking around talking to guests and are very accessible to everyone. Wishing all you lovely people who are there now and those travelling in the near future a very happy holiday. So until next time Thankyou for your hospitality Boa Vista Palace and see you later. 🥰🥰🥰
• olivialindop (10/5): Beautiful honeymoon - We stayed here for our honeymoon at the beginning of November and had an amazing time. One of the nicest hotels we have stayed in, and definitely the best food there is so much choice in the main restaurant we actually preferred to eat in the main restaurant compared to the al la carte which we did try and although they were nice we only visited them once. We went for a swim up room which we definitely recommend, the room was huge and the bathroom was fantastic loads of space with a double sink and massive shower. The bed was comfortable, there is a mini bar in the room which is filled regularly and you can ask for refills on the app if you need it more than they already do. We used the app to report an issue in our room and they came and solved it within an hour so that was excellent, I recommend getting the app it's really useful. Slightly disappointed that our swim up room got hardly any sun on the terrace due to facing North so we often would go down to the beach, if we went again we'd try to request one of the South facing rooms so we could stay at the room for longer and enjoy the sun. All of the staff in the hotel were so friendly and hard working, staff in the restaurant would remember your drink choice and bring it over without you even having to ask. When you sit down for the entertainment staff will come and serve you, in other hotels we've stayed before we've noticed that you don't always get this service until you have left tips whereas here you will get it immediately which is nice and then we were always happy to tip especially after receiving such nice service. We used the spa one day and went for a couples package called "I love you" which we really enjoyed, We had a relaxing aromatherapy massage followed by a hydrating facial and it was great. We spent a lot of time at the beach which was beautiful, always lots of sunbeds no matter what time of day you go down , the sand was super soft and the water was really warm. People did go swimming in the sea whilst we were there so it's not always a red flag on the beach, and it's lovely to walk along the water in either direction they also have some beach stalls to the left side if you are looking to buy some souvenirs. Really enjoyed our holiday here and would definitely like to come back, first time to Cape Verde and were pleasantly surprised at how beautiful it is.
• mpsutcliffe (2/5): Disapointed Diamond customer - In spite what they say on Facebook singing all songs and praises and all the negative ones are quickly deleted my review is: We have visited all the islands over 15 years and watched them grow from opening to now, for the past five years we have always come back to the Palace at Boa Vista a 5 star Rui Hotel and considered this the best however the last two trips have been very disappointing to say the least. 1. Fighting and arguing by the pools and in the main theater leading to customers being kicked out of the hotel. 2. Babies and young children in the adult pool, the last occasion babies with their mothers in the pool with diapers on, this led to the pool being closed due to babies vomiting or other? Once they had put chemicals in the water to clean the pond the following day the babies and children were back unattended, splashing around whilst the parents were busy on the phones or knocking the booze back. 3. Unfortunately, I was struck down with sever gastroenteritis and diarrhea for five days, We were always particular about cleanliness, particularly our hands, many customers did not use the hand sanitizer provided by the restaurants. I had to visit the doctors as my ailment was so severe I was just about passing out. I could not face food there for five days. Speaking to other guests who were at the doctors, 2 others had the same problems. A previous visit I found maggots in the food and this was reported immediately. The fly’s in the dinning area and food hall were abundant, you expect this in hot countries but there are ultra violet lights especially in the food hall that could be used. 4. Our stay In January before this one we always had paid the extra for a lunge pool room, I noticed the pool was full of small white particles which look like skin plus hair I informed the worker who cleans the pool, but the minute flakes remained, hence we did not use the pool again. 5. Vaping in the no smoking areas which I consider more noxious than smoking it seems like customers just ignore the rules. 6. We felt the furniture and décor were becoming dated and the hotel could do with updating. 7. People were complaining about moldy mattresses and the smell of sewage and we agree with them However I complement the staff, hotel workers and entertainment staff were all excellent and couldn’t help you more. My suggestion: the hotel should be for adults only. We will not be visiting the islands again.
• 55beatriceg (10/5): Pleasant hotel - Stayed at the palace from 7th November to 18th November for my mums birthday. Was worried before arriving after seeing so many bad reviews, but wow was we pleasantly surprised. The hotel was beautiful and clean. Welcome drink on arrival at reception was a lovely touch. Food: The food was delicious lots of variety of meats, fish, pasta dishes etc to choose from, we spent most of the time in the Africa restaurant. Had a meal at the Japanese restaurant which was ok, but preferred the food in the main restaurant. Special mentions to Delly and Freddy at the Africa restaurant, always friendly and attentive. One point to mention definitely purchase a fly fan to use at breakfast and lunch, dinner did not see any flies. Entertainment: Shout out to the lovely evening entertainment team, always working hard to provide good entertainment. Had a dance with them a few nights, and they were all lovely and friendly. Junior the day time entertainment again friendly and got everyone going and enjoying themselves. Pool: Lovely swimming pools, would say some people tend to sit round the swim up bar most of the morning/afternoon drinking a lot of alcohol. Preferred the other pool without the swim up bar, less cramped. Lovely pool bars, staff always friendly, dancing and enjoying themselves. Some afternoons there was live music around the pool which was lovely. Only grumble would be maybe some new updated sun beds as they were a little out dated and uncomfortable, also maybe some new parasols as they do not protect you from the sun. Room: We were in room 0187, ground floor not too far from the restaurant. Clean, spacious rooms. Mini bar restocked every 2 days, but if you required more you can order on the app or speak with reception. You can also ask in the restaurant for more bottled water. Bars: The bar in the evening was lovely, sometimes was busy but the staff were all working really hard. Special mention to Kevin at the Muscat bar, friendly, attentive and gave good measures for the drinks, especially the mint liqueur . Good selection of drinks, staff always friendly and cleaning the tables. There was table service for the drinks, but we preferred to go to the bar and chat to the staff. Days Out: We came with Tui but did not use there trips as it was pricey. Spoke to people who have visited the hotel many times, who gave us Andrew Worthingtons tour details. Myself and my mum paid €40 each for a half day tour, and explored different parts of the island, tasting the local grogue, visited a local school and also did sand boarding. Would definitely recommend booking with them. Also booked a taxi from the hotel which was €10, which took us to Sal Rei and picked us back up. Definitely recommend doing things and paying for things locally. The white party at the sister hotel was amazing. We had our face painted at our hotel by the staff before we left. There was a shuttle bus but we walked with other guests, which took about 10 minutes. Definitely would recommend going, music was great and everyone was loving life. Overall one of the best holidays we have been on in a long time, could not fault anything. The staff are lovely, attentive and made the holiday enjoyable. Looking forward to booking for next year. Cabo Verde … No Stress.
• 888naelc (10/5): High quality all inclusive resort - This is our third visit. The food is varied and beautifully prepared. We dined most evenings in the ( Africa) buffet restaurant- in the air conditioned inside section where you are served drinks. Melany- the resraurant supervisor stands out- a loveky fruendly lady. Friday & Saturdayfeatures more seafood. The staff are polite and cheerful . The entertainment good with shows and bands providing entertainment to around 10.45pm. The large pool is excellent for swimming. We avoid the beach because of sandflies which produce very itchy bites but the view is amazing. The entertainment team by the pool- JJ & colleagues provide much fun. November and April are our preferred visit times. So far we've visited Cape Verde some 5 times in November or December. Boa Visra being less windy. The very close location to the main airport is a plus. We also attended the White Party at the neighbouring hotel- it was like a 1980s rave. Better for those younger maybe. Relaxing by the pool and unwinding is our preference here.
• barriem695 (10/5): A place to relax - As a frequent visitor to the islands we have stayed at most of the hotels and can say this is in class of its own. The staff and management have pride not seen in others. Check in quick and efficient with a welcome drink Rooms modern with all requirements with large walk in rainfall shower.Cleaned daily with fresh towels and bedding changed frequently or on request if needed.A stocked mini bar regularly restocked The food choice,quality and presentation made every meal something to look forward to with the waiting staff efficiency with a smile ,it makes such a difference. The gardens are a credit to the non stop gardeners who always welcome you with a smile and the time of day The bar staff serve branded drinks and very passible local beer served to your table or at the bar The 3 pools with plenty of beds and two swim up pools are kept spotless with access to the beach with beds and palm trees .There are plenty of beds with canopies for those with skin that cannot take the excess sun We will be back and riu well done but please spread a little of the magic to the Karamboa the sister hotel ,a hotel we also loved but has lost a lot of its gloss and happy staff, I
• lini1959 (8/5): Still good but not as good as previous years - This is still a beautiful hotel , we didn’t see any signs of sickness and lovely big rooms with fantastic showers We spent our days on the beautiful beach and never had any problem getting a sunbed It is often very busy around the pools with the volume increasing as the day goes on with lots of people enjoying the swim up bars so can be very different holiday depending on your preference The food was very good especially the seafood and the service in the restaurants friendly and efficient from the majority of the staff The reason for 4 stars instead of the usual 5 was that we have always enjoyed BRANDED DRINKS at the palace , we only drink sparkling water during the day and you could take a chilled bottle from the restaurant at breakfast We enjoy a gin and tonic before dinner and despite the bar menu showing branded gin the bartenders served a local cheap gin often with their hand covering the label , this is not what we expect from the RIU chain
• 995sashab (10/5): Excellent for a relaxing holiday - Excellent Hotel for a fly and flop holiday. Exceptional service form all the staff nothing too luv trouble. Great variety of food both in the main restaurant and the 3 specialist restaurants.
• LoopyL94 (4/5): Lovely staff but serious hygiene issues and not a 5-star experience - We stayed at Riu Palace Boavista from 6th–16th November and while there were some genuinely good points, our overall experience was extremely disappointing — especially considering the 5-star rating and cost. By the end of the trip, I genuinely could not wait to get home. Positives: • WiFi is very good throughout the hotel. • The water park is a great addition and one of the nicer parts of the resort. • Activities and entertainment team are lovely, friendly and hardworking. • Staff overall are great, always polite and helpful. • Good alcohol selection with plenty of options. • The airport is very close, making transfers quick and easy. However, the negatives completely overshadowed the stay: • Food poisoning affected 4 out of 5 in our group, despite very strict hygiene on our part. My partner was severely ill for two days with diarrhoea , fever, headaches and is still not eating properly now. • Flies all over the food, and guests using toilets and barely washing their hands before touching communal utensils — extremely concerning. • We ended up living off chips for most of the holiday, too scared to eat anything else. • The RIU app is pointless — multiple orders placed, none ever arrived, even after reception promised to fix it. • Mini bar restocked once in 10 days and only partially filled on arrival. No bottled water provided after a long flight. • Our room was damp with a mouldy smell, stained cushions, dirty sofa and bed sheets with holes. • Towels barely replaced, leaving us with only two for most of the stay. • Sun loungers filthy, and balcony chairs broken. • Plug socket by the TV didn’t work and the toilet seat was stained. • On our final night, we returned to find three cockroaches in the room. • Our corridor was extremely noisy every morning, with cleaners shouting, banging equipment and having loud conversations with no consideration for guests trying to sleep. Despite the lovely staff and a few good features, this hotel is absolutely not 5-star, and the issues with hygiene, maintenance, noise and food safety ruined what should have been a relaxing break. I honestly counted down the days to get home.
• travellingwomble123 (10/5): First holiday for 24 yrs without our kids and was amazing - Just returned from an amazing week here. Beautiful hotel with staff that are so attentive and friendly. Great choice of food and located right on stunning sandy beach. White party took us back to our youth clubbing days! Shame we couldn’t stay for the Neon party. Will have to back again! Some negative reviews nearly put us off but they must be minority. We and lots of others had great time. Very few flies and saw 4 mosquitoes (and before they got us!). Only gripe we had was RIU only stocking mini bar on alternate days and in the afternoon. We upgraded to pool room and having paid significantly more, it’s reasonable to expect room bar to be stocked daily as naturally we spent our days by our pool. Day1 we rinsed the bar, day2 was therefore empty, day3 stocked in afternoon with warm drinks. Need to think again on this to claim 5 stars. After moaning (which we shouldn’t have to) they did accommodate. Must end on a positive note - the entertainment team are absolutely incredible. So much energy. Felt tired watching them so had to drink more ;-)
• 723DavidM723 (6/5): 3rd visit and just not as good - So we’ve visited this hotel three times now. Previously visits were well rated however this time we noticed a difference in the service being provided. Staff just weren’t as happy as before and we got the feeling there were less of them and hence were being worked hard. Drinks orders in the evenings would frequently not turn up so we just found it easy to go and queue at the bar. Reception used to say hello when you walked past this visit they just ignored you and barely looked up. The sun beds around the pool are tired, paint is peeling and we found a number of them had no support and sagged, resulting in sore backs getting off them. Previous branded alcohol like Jack Daniel’s have been removed from the menu. We also had a lamp in the room that when we went to turn off realised that there was no back plate on the switch and had electrics exposed. The scenery on the island is stunning but the hotel is in need of a bit of tlc. We did visit the Karamboa for the white party at the end of the week which was excellent and found the staff there in the short time that we interacted with them much more happier/friendlier.
• 263lynday (10/5): Enjoyed our stay - We visited end of October beginning of November. I was really worried about our holiday after all the poor reviews and if I could have cancelled I would have done, however we had no issues at all. We found the hotel an excellent all inclusive hotel, the beach and pools and swim up bar are all gorgeous. We didn’t enter the sea and normally we prefer the beach to poolside. However, the sea is quite dangerous here with strong currents and rocks under the water, this wasn’t an issue as we used the beach and then went to the swim-up pool to cool down. The bars at the pool are lovely. There are absolutely no issues with getting a sun bed or a seat in the bars. The hotel is quite spread out so it never feels especially busy or crowded or full of children. The food, we mainly ate at the main buffet restaurant Africa and found this good. There’s a massive choice of food but I mainly stuck to the food under heat lamps as I was concerned about stomach problems from previous reviews. We didn’t have any issues with sickness or stomach problems (although we took lots of wet wipes and cleaned our hands after selecting food, just because lots of people all use the same food tongs). We went to the Japanese restaurant twice which was nice, I found the food ok, but my husband loved it. We didn’t really do the evening entertainment, mainly because it felt quite uncomfortable from other guests smoking, we sat inside but the fans seem to drag the smoke in. We went to the white party next door and that was such a good night, would highly recommend. My husband loved the sports bar next to the evening entertainment (there was no smoke in there) and lots of football on so he was happy. All the staff from restaurants, bars, cleaning, spa, reception all excellent. We did have couples massage and then went into the jacuzzi which was lovely. The only negatives about the hotel, I did not like the room, it was at the side/back of the hotel and felt damp and musty to start off with. It was ok after a couple of days and did not spoil our holiday. Also we went for my 50th and asked for some special requests which were not referred to at all by the hotel, again didn’t spoil our stay. All in all an excellent hotel but probably not 5 star, not really the attention to detail and is getting ready for a refurb in the rooms. Still thoroughly enjoyed and probably would return.
• 601kamile (2/5): Hotel with steal room service - Never recommend a hotel in which the service is stealing the money from their customers during cleaning or maintaining the room. Even a 10 star hotel which hires a criminalist does not deserve a pinch of star. If you like someone to touch your personal belongings and plundering your wardrobes in search for money then the hotel is the best choice. Manager without qualification for the job doesn’t now how to solve the issue…. This is ***** star hotel
• 940Caz10 (10/5): Another great stay - Fifth time here and just as good as it's always been. Really can't fault it. Service, staff, food all excellent. Well done to the management team for keeping up the high standards. Will definitely be back. If you want to lie back and relax, read a book, swim, walk in a lovely climate then you won't be disappointed. Couple of tips. 1. Use the Riu app to order services for room and book restaurants. Once you get it working it makes life so easy. You need to make sure you book in to the app using your room number on arrival. 2. Some reviews mention a smell in the rooms when they arrive. The hotel has more repeat visitors than most and often they have a favourite room. So first timers may get a room that's not been used for a while. Nothing wrong with these rooms (our favourite room was one of these when we first visited) but it may need airing as it could have been closed up for a while. Just leave the patio doors open with the net curtains across for the first day (with the bathroom door open). If the toilet or air con still smell room after that then maintenance will come out and sort. The air con works by the way but sometimes takes a day to get a grip in a room that's not been used in a while.
• spucher (2/5): Worst hotel ever - The worst hotel we have ever been. We travel a lot, also in other parts of Africa, but this was a nightmare. Mold in the rooms - we changed room several times and it was the same situation in every room. Mold on the pillows, on the matress, in the carpet. The food seemed to be good but we, and several other guests, faced gastrointestinal problems. We heard that this is an issue for several months now. Management is not able to find the source and resolve it. I would not recommend it to anybody to come here.
• Sia29_V (4/5): A Palace in Name Only - Let me start by saying that I’m fully aware this is Africa — but there’s Africa, and then there’s Africa. Simply putting the word “Palace” in your name doesn’t make it one. The name should reflect reality. And above all, if you’re presenting yourself as a 5-star resort, you should be ready to welcome guests who have paid enough for that experience and have flown from far away to enjoy it. When I book a five-star hotel, I expect and pay for five stars — not a single one less. And if those expectations aren’t met, I leave a low rating and no recommendation. I’m not someone used only to boutique hotels, but I do expect fair play. And no, a running toilet and a cracked sink are not what I consider five-star standards. Pro: - Close to the airport – fantastic location, just a 2-minute drive. You can easily pre-book a taxi to wait for you with a name sign — absolutely hassle-free. - Fast check-in – we arrived around noon, well before the official time, but were checked in immediately 👏🏻 - Mini bar concept – truly unique. It’s stocked with bottles of whisky, Mediterranean gin, vodka, and some mysterious “long drink” spirit. It smelled like pure alcohol, so we didn’t dare try it. - Ice machine between the villas – very convenient when it works (you serve yourself). Unfortunately, ours was often out of order, so we had to walk to the next section. Cons: - Poor welcome and information – things were explained very briefly, and we had to find our way to the room ourselves. You get a map of the resort, and that’s about it. Maybe it depends on the person at reception, but not everyone seems motivated to help. - The room – this was the first real disappointment. The toilet was leaking, the mini bar half-empty (even though our arrival was known), and the bathroom sink cracked in several places (I’ve attached photos). My advice: inspect rooms before assigning them to guests! Even if you don’t know what time they’ll arrive, you know which day. If there are issues, either seal the room for maintenance or fix them in advance. - After a while, the bathroom began to smell terribly of sewage. One of the cleaning ladies eventually put in a disinfectant tablet, which helped. - For a “5-star resort,” there’s no sense of fragrance or freshness anywhere. The only scent comes from the floor cleaner — and it disappears in 5–6 minutes. Public restrooms are also scent-free. - No welcome amenities in the rooms — no slippers, no beach bag. Bring your own. - The Food: An impressive variety — no doubt about that — and in this area, they truly deserve their five stars. But the quality of the food depends entirely on the chef of the day. We loved the salad bar (mainly because we made our own salads, and the ingredients were excellent). Interesting detail: a huge selection of vinegar, but almost no olive oil. Not a big deal, but noticeable. However, I have to confirm another guest’s comment about flies from the kitchen. We were in the main restaurant; as soon as they brought out freshly chopped onions for salads, I found a dead fly in the first spoonful. Needless to say, I lost my appetite. Clearly, there’s a problem with flies they haven’t managed to solve. - Special mention to Fatima and Helena – absolutely top-notch waitresses, attentive and kind. In contrast, Ethel (in the “Africa” restaurant) was the exact opposite – arrogant, never smiling, and visibly unhappy to serve guests. Very unpleasant attitude, not just toward us but in general. As for the food itself – quality was uneven at best. Some dishes were decent, but most were either completely bland or way too salty. If you’re offering European dishes, please hire a European chef or at least someone trained by one. Serving “moussaka” that tastes nothing like moussaka is not acceptable. The pasta and pizza station was the only consistently good one, except for the so-called “lasagna” – which was far from the real thing. A word on mussels – cleaning them properly is not optional! It’s disappointing to have to remove the beard from each mussel myself in a supposed 5-star resort. That’s not how quality mussels are prepared. - Mini Bar as a minus- Great idea, terrible execution – at least in our villa. It’s written that the bar is restocked every two days. Not true. You have to ask for it, and even then, it’s inconsistent — random items, no attention to detail. I lost count of how many times we asked for tonic water; I’m not sure the staff even knew what that was. And don’t get me started on the gin situation. One word: disaster. It’s not enough just to keep opening hotels around the world like mushrooms after the rain — maintaining them with consistent quality over time is just as important. And never forget: there will always be guests who expect to get the quality they’ve paid for — not smoke and mirrors. They notice. And they write about it.
• kirstyhA7535PL (10/5): Amazing Hotel - Amazing Hotel. Staff were so helpful and always cheerful. The hotel was very clean the staff working constantly. We had a brilliant week with many opportunities for excursions all over this amazing island. The Tui reps were on hand if needed. Cleanliness in the dining areas were second to none , with staff cleaning the food areas constantly. Many food options for breakfast lunch and dinner. I would recommend booking the 3 restaurants when arrive as these get booked up quickly. We spoke to many other people on holiday who had been several years running, one even 8 years running.
• sharonof2 (10/5): Lovely holiday and would return. - Lovely modern hotel reception. Air con is so welcome. We came as a family of four and enjoyed every minute of it. Our rooms were very spacious and the bathroom and shower were huge, the shower pressure is amazing, wish it was like this back home. Nice to have the optics and tea and coffee facilities and also a stocked mini fridge. First time using a swim up pool bar, service was pretty good even though it was busy at times. But disappointed they didn’t have the original Tia Maria like advertised just a copy of it so I ended up choosing something else. Staff generally smiley and helpful. We were lucky enough to book into all three speciality restaurants which were all lovely. African and Sal Rei restaurant were all very nice as well and so much choice. I do agree about the fly situation being quite bad and hopefully the hotel may come up with a solution in the future to try and lessen them. On the morning of our departure my daughter became unwell with V&D then when we got to the airport I was taken unwell and ended up in a wheelchair to the first aid room. Unsure if it was caused by the prawns my daughter and I had in the Japanese the night before as the other two members didn’t have them and they were fine. Who knows? Could just be coincidence. A big shout out to the cleaners, they work so hard. One morning coming out of the room one was literally scrubbing the corridors. We also noted how some guests were quite rude to the staff, there was just no need at all, as they were always perfectly pleasant. I’ve seen all the reviews about the sickness etc, but the hotel can’t be blamed 100% of the time. The amount of people I seen (and the male members of our group) using the facilities and not washing their hands afterwards or going into the restaurants without using the hand sanitizer that was plentiful even they staff where giving it out at the entrance so there was no excuse. Go and enjoy and just use basic hygiene.
• jockeycfc (8/5): Capo Verde No Stress..and they reached the world cup when we were there brilliant - Lovely Holiday ..3rd Time.. back for more next year Stayed from 6th October till 17th October After a slight hicup at the start that was quickly sorted out by the staff thank you reception It was great to see familiar staff ..with thier happy smiling faces..who always had time to say hola from all the bar staff,,the pool guys..the gardeners..the cleaning staff,the restaurant staff in both the food halls some of the reviews are misleading on here yes there is flies but not a huge amount and the cooking area as well as the holiday makers had fly fans to help,its off the Coast of Africa remember The food for the whole time we were there was excelent and definitely nothing to complain about. We went to both the specialist restaurants..we preferd the Japanese..the Ala carte was good but just not to our taste..but nothing wrong with either of them just a preference of taste.Didnt do the steak house this year as we had been before . We had a swin up room as the last three years and will have next year aswell Yes there is bits of the hotel that need abit of TLC but when you are open 365 days a year it must be very hard to keep up with the things that go wrong.the hotel was full when we were there so how and when are they supposed to do it People have reported sicknes in the hotel at the same time were there ,we never heard anything about it All the times we have been there we have never had any problems with health,but in saying that we never have spent all day drinking in the swim up pools with the bars.Maybe there is a connection ? Thank you Hotel and we will see you next time for another woderful holiday
• Jordmckenzie (10/5): Book a swim up room - Fantastic holiday ,we came for our honeymoon and a week of relaxing ,swim up room with sun for most of the day So quiet in the swim ups Will 100 per cent come again
• K4784KRemilyc (10/5): Paradise. Don’t believe all the bad reviews you read!! This hotel is PERFECTION - I honestly can not fault the hotel in any way at all. Read lots of reports of of illness and issues with cleanliness but the hotel is immaculate!! The pool is clean as is the area around it - they are regularly sweeping and mopping. The main pool was closed twice while we were there as a kid poo’d, and they don’t just close and scoop, it was closed for the rest of the day to be properly cleaned. The pool bars are open from 1030 and we watched them dismantle all the machines and clean. We drank from the pool cups and had ice in our drinks - we were reluctant to begin with but my partner watched them fill the ice machine with bottled water so after that we had it. Recommend the side pool to the right as you walk to the beach if you want to be involved in the entertainment in the day. The staff work so hard, but there’s no pressure to join in if you don’t want to. Never an issue for sunbeds. No towel wars at all. Food wise there was SO much choice. We got to lunch and dinner within 15 mins of it opening each day so there was less chance of other peoples germs 😂 and everything was fresh. They are constantly replenishing the food and there are chefs behind each section cooking fresh food. I’m a fussy eater so didn’t try too much but my partner and step son ate EVERYTHING. Fish, meats, pastas, pizza, the roast, sushi, salads, cheese. You name it, they tried it. And the only issue we had all week was me having prickly heat. No belly issues whatsoever, and no one else in the hotel seemed to be poorly. We heard nothing about illness At the hotel or on the plane home. The place is stunning. The staff are just incredible. I wish I hadn’t read so much beforehand as it really did ruin the beginning of my holiday. If I had been given the choice I would have changed destinations and I’m so glad I didn’t because I would have missed out on a beautiful place with beautiful people. My advice would honestly be to leave the groups, go with an open mind, and enjoy your holiday. ((I was in a specific group on Facebook just for Cape Verde d+v and got kicked out once I left this review on there. I’m not discounting people who really have been poorly, but does makes me wonder how many people are jumping on the band wagon for £££)). People get poorly all over the world at all inclusive hotels. It’s just part of it. But if you have the experience there that we had, you’re going to have the best time. The motto there is No Stress. And trust me, you really won’t stress a second while you’re there.
• Q189RAsusanm (6/5): Lovely place but beware - Just returned from holiday here loved it great staff, really good holiday. The room (1021) smelt really damp and the bedding was damp and we had to iron our clothes before we went out as they were damp, our room had no sun whatsoever from morning till night so this probably did not help, everyone else had lovely high back chairs on their balcony ours was a mouldy white one which I wouldn't have sat on even if there had been sunshine.We also kept getting cockroaches in the bathroom,despite this we discussed about returning but requesting a different room. A few days before we were due to come home I had a dodgy stomach which I didn't think too much of at the time and took imodium, upon my return home this got worse and I had to see the doctors and send a sample of which showed that I have Shigella picked up from the hotel, and before people start saying that's its down to poor personal hygiene I can assure you that is not the case and anyone who knows me knows me knows how meticulous I am, I always wash my hands after using the bathroom we always used hand sanitiser and I always took my food from the bottom as there was a lot of flies around the food. We have decided we would never come back again as its a lot of money to pay for a holiday just to become unwell
• emmaa2014 (10/5): Another amazing holiday - My husband & I have just returned home from our 3rd visit to Riu Palace, however this time was without our teenage daughter, so we were able to have swim up room, which made the holiday even better than previous. Room was clean & always serviced when asked. Mini bar restocked regularly. There was an occasional smell when flushing toilet but quickly went away & might be expected in West Africa in a hotel of this size. Food was lovely in Africa, Mitsuki & Krystal, didn’t go to the steak one, although have done previously. Snack bar & coffee shop also nice. Gym is small but other than first thing in the morning was generally quiet. The spa is lovely, had 2 massages there which were amazing. Didn't spend time around the pool, occasionally had a drink at the bar there when there was live music but otherwise preferred to stay by our own pool, use the piano bar or go to beach bars. Service amazing across the board, from the pool cleaner, gardeners, cleaners, bar & restaurant staff. Entertainment is fine, not sure what people expect, the team try really hard & it's good enough to pass an hour with a drink following dinner. The neon & white parties are great fun though, so would definitely recommend. The whole hotel is beautiful & spotlessly clean. We ate in both Perola & Morabeza, as well as Casa Rosa, Sal Rei, which was one of the highlights, great experience. I feel very sorry for those who were ill or those who were disappointed by their stay, but this was not our experience & we are lucky to be in a position to compare with holidays to lots of other countries. We will definitely return.
• Topspeed007 (10/5): Superb stay here - Flew fromw LGW to Boa Vista - 737 max. Absolutely the worst part of the holiday, very busy and seats 3x3 formation are cramped. However thats nothing to do with the hotel. The hotel is spotless in the main, staff are super attentive and nothing is too much trouble. We had a plunge pool and would be very happy to have again. The main pools always had beds easily though. Restaurants and food choice is excellent, lots of variety. There were some flies but it's a natural habitat for them and zero to do with how the hotel manages its cleanliness. Flies were not a problem in the main though, bring a fly fan and all is good and certainly not put off. No Mosquitos seen. Speciality restaurants choice was moderate but Africa and the snack bar are excellent. Room was very goodf, air con nice and bed was fine, walk in shower amazing. USB B sockets in wall and numerous options for sockets. Wall to wall sunshine and hot (30c). No creepie crawlies. It's not 5* like you would get in Dubai or Europe but its very good and we shall go back for sure.
• suzannerO9838YF (6/5): Sickness on my visit - Visited Palace 10/10 to 17/10 , we have been before so we were looking forward to returning, 5 days in and started to feel poorly which got worse I has S&D but nothing like I have had before, when returning to UK and seemed medical attention it was confirmed I had Shigella and treated with Antibiotics & Sickness meds , I am on day 14 and still not good , there were a lot of flys but nothing more than normal, the food is left uncovered , we are always careful with cleanliness and not big drinkers so no over indulging there , never seen any staff spray tables only wipe with clothes ( obviously only doing what there trained to do ) there was a odour in the air so could be in water they use for the plants / trees but definitely something amiss there. There’s not alot to do in CV but most people know this when going and they heavily rely on tourist so they really need to take this seriously, because of my illness I would never return as it had left me with physically & mentally not good and I wouldn’t never want to go through this again . There Hotel is a lovely looking Hotel but definitely needs a bit of a upgrade , things are starts to look tired , furniture , beds , showers , etc and restaurant needs to be more covered , we took fly fan which helps but didn’t stop me becoming ill 🤒
• jazzyjenny (10/5): Another beautiful stay in paradise - This was our 2nd visit this year to The Palace. First was In July with daughter, partner and granddaughter. We loved it so much we went back end of September on our own. We did get a taxi on arrival at the airport and also leaving at the end of the holiday. It does save queuing at the airport. It is only 3 minutes from the airport and €10 well worth it. What a wonderful week. It was boiling hot with a breeze that was needed. About 38 degrees all week. We did have a bit stronger wind at the end of the week so had red flag up 3 days on the beach. Can venture into the sea but not swim. It is so beautiful. Like paradise. We used the beach sunbeds every day near the pool bar. The bar really need some fly fans on the counter as there are lots around. All staff happy and friendly. Had a lovely room again. Lovely big comfy bed, nice bedding. We did seem to get missed with bottles of water. Had to ask on the app a few times. The Africa restaurant is all we need. Didn't use the speciality ones this time. There is everything you need in there. Lovely fresh cooked food in abundance. I agree with few comments re flies. There are some fly fans in the restaurant but more are needed. The bread on a morning for example is covered but some people take the covers off and don't bother putting back!! Chef at breakfast cooking fresh omelettes. Whatever you want in one, just ask. Lovely The staff in the Africa are wonderful. So friendly. Nothing is too much bother for them. I did give a few a few gifts of toiletries and painkillers which they do appreciate. We did this time take a fly repellent for our table at breakfast and lunch, they work great keeping the flies away from your food whilst eating. The bar area is lovely, can get a bit breezy in there as it is open plan. The staff are lovely and drinks good. We are not into the entertainment but they do work very hard. The muscat bar is nice and cosy and enjoy the table service from the staff It was the Neon party at the next door hotel Karamboa on the Friday. We did go this time and it was excellent. About 10 minutes walk. A massive hotel and a very good night. Live entertainment and great decor. Obviously all inclusive so really great night. Another great holiday and hopefully going back again next year. If you like chilling out, doing nothing, this is the place
• A5969IAmichaelc (10/5): Great hotel - We have stayed at many hotels, and this is the best large hotel we have experienced. The room and grounds were immaculately clean, the food was good, and the staff were very helpful.
• Lounbev (6/5): Disappointing second visit - Returned to the RIU palace after first visiting in 2022. We felt that the standards had dropped since our first visit. The grounds are well maintained however the rooms and other areas are starting to look tired. Our first 24 hours at the resort were disappointing with one issue after another. Initially our minbar was empty on arrival, after numerous requests to top it up, our daughter went back to the room to find the guy who had topped up the minbar having a wash in the sink. The room was not fully set up for 3 people. We were left with 2 white plastic chairs on the balcony, eventually these were changed for 3 better quality chairs. Day 2 the toilet flush did not work, again this was sorted. On the second evening my wife went to turn off the lamp and got an electric shock from the switch. There was no back on the switch and the cables were exposed. The food was good on the first week however the quality seemed to drop on the second week. The entertainment is all bit repetitive and the gymnasium is poor for a hotel of this size. They also don’t supply towels for the guests in the gymnasium. The staff tried their best and Junior at the pool was full of energy. We visited the beach bar, Parola D’Chaves on a couple of lunch times just for a break from the hotel. Enjoyed the Krystal and Japanese restaurants.. did not try the steakhouse. Recommend you take a fly fan for dining outside.
• richardwE6375DN (10/5): Not enough choice yer right! - If you are generally happy with a buffet then food is superb and the choice the best I have ever enjoyed! And I am lucky to have travelled to a lot of 5 star resorts, hotels and cruises. Luckily, unlike the last few reviews I have not been ill (yet!) and can say that the restaurant, pool and beach are full of people who are also not ill.. although I do feel sorry for those who are... I was sick for 3 days at a 5 star resort in Greece this July so I sympathise! This is a really amazing place with hard working staff and very worth a visit. Yes, you may get sick but I remember every trip I took abroad in the 1980's - 'yellow water' on every one!
• mandybG3913RO (2/5): terribly ill - worst holiday we have had, we were so sick and poorly we didnt get to do or see much. Food halls were full of flies, Im sure this was the root of our illness, we sanitised, didnt drink anything but bottled water, too ill for alcohol and sunshine. Reported on several occasions with no response.
• R6427VMclarew (4/5): Serious stomach bugs and frustration with reception staff. - Too much illness in our group (4 out of 5 guests) for this not to be linked to this hotel. One became ill on 3rd day, one on 4th day other 2 on 5th day. 4 days in room for the worst hit and 2 for the others, this followed by a diet of water, white bread, rice and banana when stomach cramps allowed. We have met others who have been bedridden with D&S for days also. As I write this the pool had just been quartered off as someone has been sick in it! We asked for a doctor on Friday and were told by reception that the doctor would only see emergencies. We also requested addition water, we requested we collect from reception as didn’t want to wake baby, reception said this was not possible. We requested the sheets in our room to be changed, this did not happen. I think hospitality training would benefit the reception team. On a positive note the waiting and entertainment team are beautifully kind and professional but sadly we won’t be returning to see them again.
• michaeleX2200BS (6/5): Not for Us. Need to Address the Stomach Problems mentioned in Several Reviews. - There are a lot of plus's to this hotel so I am not going to go into lengthy criticisms about why we didn't particularly enjoy our holiday. Firstly, we knew that what was on offer was not really our type of holiday, but we were hoping to find somewhere for future winter sun without having to travel half way round the world. Unfortunately, Boa Vista isn't it. An all inclusive hotel more or less in the middle of nowhere, on an island with little to commend it, for us equalled utter boredom by the end of 14 days. But that was our fault not the hotel's. Secondly, however, despite the cleaning that goes on, I think Riu Palace has a problem with hygiene, which is mentioned in numerous recent reviews. My wife and I also suffered as did other reviewers with badly upset stomachs. The timeline: Arrived 11th Oct. 14th wife started needing the loo big time. 16th I got it too and between us we lost 3 or 4 days stuck in our room alternately running to the loo or in bed with shivers despite the heat. 20th Still not feeling completely better, we took a taxi into Sal Rei (exceedingly underwhelming town) and got some "sand and cement" from a pharmacy. That seemed to do the trick with me but now back in UK, my wife is still not completely 100%. We do not believe, as one review suggested, that we caught a bug from the pools. We too witnessed the unhygienic practices of some guests toilet habits at the swimming pools, but we avoided the pools like the plague. (Crowded, noisy even raucous at times. Our idea of hell. We went on the beautiful, never crowded beach.) We can only think that we caught the bug from food in the self service buffet, where the fact that the food is open to the air meant that the ubiquitous, nuisance flies had plenty of landing spots. It needs thinking about. Finally, even if we had loved the holiday, I wouldn't go back to Boa Vista because I don't wish to re-experience the perfect sauna that is Rabil Airport. I decided that whoever designed it was drunk at the time and only the person/people who approved the design were drunker!!
• Wanderer42305347325 (6/5): Poor food hygiene! - The hotel complex is great, the staff are lovely, the weather is fab and it’s a great location if you just want to chill. BUT I was mortified by the amount of flies on the food. My friend ended up with S&D on day 3 and visited the clinic on site where thankfully they gave her IV antibiotics, electrolytes and anti sickness then a course of each for a few days. It is obvious that the TUI rep and doctor are used to dealing with this. We didn’t over indulge on food or drink, my friend ate salmon at Krystal restaurant the night before. People who have visited before that I spoke to said they had never seen so many flies, I get it may be due to recent storms but get food covers for goodness sake. If the food hygiene was an acceptable level I would go back as everything else was ok (apart from having to move rooms due to lots of cockroaches in my room) but we were ground floor and were moved to level 1. Like I said I can’t fault the staff, I feel sorry for them!
• Sparky775 (8/5): Got of to a disappointing start but.... - Booked for 2 weeks to celebrate our 60 years being together and emailed Riu Palace to ask for flowers in our room on arrival as a surprise for my wife. Riu replied informing that flowers are not plentiful on the island but they would supply an arrangement of towel displays which I thought would be good. This never happened and nothing was in the room. I also informed Tui and they said an announcement would be made on the plane and drinks would be served also a bottle of bubbly in the room. Nothing was arranged. So after this very disappointing start we were very impressed with the hotel, staff, food, accommodation and facilities and made us forget about our disappointments. Unfortunately however after our 1st week my wife suffered a stomach bug and an eye infection and had to visit the hotel doctor. My wife has a cornea graft in her eye from many years ago and we were very concerned on the safety of this. The doctor supplied her with some drops and said come back in 3 days if it did not improve. There are no ophthalmic specialist on the island and was informed that a specialist would have to be flown in from another island. Being that the infection did not improve we were nearing the end of our holiday so decided we would wait and visit her cornea specialist on return. Upon talking to other people in the departure airport we discovered other people had suffered stomach problems of which this could also effect the eye. Although we thought that hygiene and food in the restaurants was very good there were a lot of flies and a few cats walking around. And cat lovers were actually feeding these cats from their table which only encouraged them more. It would be good if the restaurant had signs asking not to feed the cats. People on the whole are also to blame for hygiene standards as I witnessed a guy actually dipping his finger into the yogurt buffet to taste before putting in his bowl (ugh) I would highly recommend that you take fly fans with you for your table.
• keeleym2013 (6/5): Our 4th visit - bit disappointed! - Our 4th visit to the hotel . Sadly we both ended up ill and had to see the doctor on site who confirmed us with gasterenteritus and had to prescribe antibiotics, rehydration sachets, anti sickness and pain relief for the cramps . According to the TUI rep the hotel had a 1% sickness at this time so please always report it to the rep and reception who will ensure room is fully fumigated. The hotel had started ensuring people used hand gel and cleaning activity seemed to be stepped up . However people will insist on walking around the pool in bare feet and going to the toilet with bare feet then getting in the pool! People don’t wash their hands and some seem to be at the pool bar for hours without moving making you wonder if the are also using it as a toilet ! . The hotel itself needs a little refresh now in the corridors and also the bathrooms in the rooms . We have always loved this hotel as the food entertainment etc have been great however this year we are disappointed as there needs to be better prevention of contamination where the food and drinks are concerned and better hygiene processes as well as guests doing their bit . There was also an incident whereby scaffolding was put around the huge light fittings in the reception area for cleaning and bulb changing . The guy had a safety helmet but the girl holding the scaffolding below didn’t and ended up with 6 stitches when the whole fitting fell down and caught her head ! It could have been even worse had guests been passing - fortunately we had got about 20 yds ahead when we heard it fall!
• Escape52754690531 (4/5): Disappointing 50th Birthday – Illness and Unmet Promises - I’ve just returned home after a week at RIU Palace Boa Vista, which was meant to be a special 50th birthday celebration. Unfortunately, my experience was far from what I’d hoped. During my stay, I became unwell with a high fever, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps, which continued after returning home. This was very distressing and affected my enjoyment of the holiday. Check-in was also frustrating. We waited 3 hours to get into our room. After 2.5 hours we asked for an update and were told it was because the balcony door was broken, and they were waiting for it to be fixed. When we said we didn’t mind, we were allowed in immediately, so most of the wait seemed unnecessary. To make matters worse, elements of my booking confirmed over the phone with TUI, such as a birthday cake, never materialised, making the milestone trip even more disappointing. Pros: Beautiful location Friendly staff Cons: Became unwell during stay Long and unnecessary check-in delays I hope the resort takes these issues seriously to improve guest experience and ensure everyone enjoys their stay.
• Jayne0481 (6/5): Last Minute Getaway - Our Last Minute Getaway. Not quite a RIU Palace as expected and definitely NOT 5 star! Booked last minute with TUI in a RIU hotel. Booked Wednesday, departed Saturday. Flights & Transfer good. Arrived to the hotel with a nice welcome. Room as expected. Went for a wander and found out there was a dive centre on site. Unexpected but glad I brought my equipment. The lady at the RIU Palace desk by the pool was very unhelpful and suggested we went to the dive centre desk at the next door hotel. Scuba Caribe team helpful although not recognised by the TUI rep when discussing this the following day at the welcome meeting. Neither did we not know we shouldn’t be using the sister hotel, although we did go in and we did get a beer. Must of been lucky. At the welcome meeting we booked an adults 4x4 full day tour, good island experience. Speciality restaurants- Usual hassle of having to book reservations for the restaurants via the app! You need to be awake at midnight to get a 7pm table in any of the speciality restaurants. Out of a 10 night stay managed each of the specialists restaurants once (x3). Buffet restaurant ‘Africa’ very similar each night. Difficult to make a dinner from all the options. With a bit of this and that. Towards end of the week you get a little fed up! Only good thing - yes Gentlemen you have to wear long trousers in the specialty restaurants, don’t worry if you’ve forgotten them, reception have some you can borrow! Housekeeping - Hit & Miss. Soap dispensers low on arrival, on day 3 had to ask for them to be refilled. Towels very thin and marked so requested fresh daily by leaving them on the floor. Attention to detail poor especially in the bathroom. They also never re-locked the balcony door, always returned to it being unlocked. Mini Bar - only refilled every 2 days, if you’re lucky! Bottles not clearly marked which is Gin or Vokda. No fresh bottled water left. Had to collect from the bar if required. Along with additional soft drinks. Tea bags also not replenished and had to request from the bar. Pool areas - Ok. Could be better looked after. Sun loungers broken but never removed, just left as is. Staff - very hit and miss. Reception very poor, if you pass comment they speak amongst themselves in their own language. Not even standing to acknowledge or have a care - very poor customer service. Restaurant staff - friendly & attentive. Although not always understanding your request. Bar staff in Sports bar were good. Bar staff in Muscat were a mix bag - some thought it funny to mock the brits by trying to speak in a Birmingham accent! Not funny! Bar staff at pool bar were also hit & miss. They would continue conversations with colleagues or their phone rather than you the customer. One day, after asking for water the bar man decided to pour our water then to drink from the plastic bottles in front of us, then through it away. Entertainment team. By the pool - not great. No get up and go. In the evening, they worked reasonably well but heard so much of ‘same as previous years’. Nothing very original. Also at night, as speaking various languages you couldn’t tell the languages apart so difficult to understand. Would I return to this RIU hotel, doubtful.
• Bjelsom (8/5): Room for improvement but an amazing hotel - What an amazing hotel, all staff are hard working, polite and wanting to please. The hotel is beautiful. Always sub-beds available never needing to worry about being up early to get one. No queuing for anything which is fabulous definitely stress free. However the sun loungers could benefit from a padded mattress I found them very uncomfortable definitely not 5 star even at a 3 star hotel they provide a mattress for sub-beds. The subbed left bruising to my lower back and my bottom was numb after a short time laying on the sun-beds, when speaking to other people they and they also said to have noticed either bruising or bad backs. The food was plentiful and the variety was brilliant. However the food hygiene I struggled with ! foods not being hot but warm. Stake was always undercooked and for me who can eat medium rear that was a big problem. I asked for staff to cook it longer. The food had flies all over it especially the cold meats, bread, fish puddings and cheese not enough was done to cover or protect the food from flies. Despite being put off on many foods due to flys I came down with D&V after the first week so I spent few days in my room for 2-3 days after I had nausea and diarrhoea. I am never usually ill so definitely put this down to the food hygiene. With some adjustments to the food and subbeds this would definitely be a 5 plus hotel.
• alisonjanes2021 (8/5): The good, the bad. & the ugly - The Good- Arguably the best hotel on the island . Clean, modern, spacious. Staff were absolutely gorgeous, couldn’t do enough for you. Shout out to Junior and all pool staff. Elisa( lilly) hostess and dancer. The restaurant staff , so attentive and professional. Room cleaned daily. Activities in hotel great ( except painting class) that never happened. Bad-Hotel food was good but no traditional dishes. Entertainment was very great as performances were by the local , but embarrassing as needs to be the island culture not dressed up in blonde wigs and western music ( really smacked a bit colonial). Ugly- Airport facilities as greater number of travelers now. Just needs more cover as sat waiting for flight in 30 degree heat
• Z606EQlesleyd (8/5): Lovely holiday - Hotel Riu Palace was a lovely holiday but had a few issues.. Staff all friendly and helpful. ,apart from the young lady that serviced our room each day.,she didn't replace items we used.[towels,tea,coffee.hand soap.toilet rolls) we had to keep asking for things. The flies in the restaurant were a major issue: bread,deserts, fresh fruit,and all the salads had flies on them so could never choose any of these options as had concerns with getting stomach problems so this was very concerning,and felt more effort should be made to cover these foods.. We didnt want for anything, anytime of the day..,was a realy nice place to stay and "no stress"
• leepyleeb (4/5): 3rd visit, never returning - This is my 2nd attempt at reviewing as my original seems to have “disappeared “ mysteriously. Our holiday was ruined as on day 3 my partner developed salmonella. Profuse, green diarrhoea which did not resolve until he began taking ciprofloxacin. The incubation period solely points to the hotel food. There are numerous reports of illness during and since our stay too so why has my review disappeared? Even the on-site medical staff agreed he had salmonella. Aside this situation I totally agree with the other reviews that state standards have slipped. This is not a 5 star hotel and the management should be held accountable.
• biggriff03 (4/5): Golden wedding anniversary holiday - We never received a drink on arrival as stated, we booked a swim up room in the lock we asked for which was good, after a few days we had a strong sewerage smell in the bathroom which we reported and it was dealt with but later came back and in our neighbours too. Our pool was grimy around the outside, and tiles missing which was dealt with on our last day. We found the meals in Africa was ok but surrounded by flies everywhere on food especially cheese section which wasn’t covered, management need to look at this. A lot of the tables were saved at meal times when nobody was in and we were one of the 1st to enter, we thought you would pay a tip when you are well looked after but it seems you have to pay a tip to get looked after which is wrong.We booked a meal in the steak house which was terrible, then booked the Mitsuki restaurant which we enjoyed, we had to cancel our last booking at the Krystal due to us both having sickness and diarrhoea.We always used the hand gel before entering the restaurants but was surprised how Many didn’t. The pool bar used plastic glasses which we know must be used for health and safety, but they were badly scratched splits in them and loads and loads of flies on them, surely they should be covered, they all need replacing. The entertainment was average but they do work hard on all of their dance routines. We found 1 member of staff outstanding on the bar, a pleasure to be served by Linda ❤️ We both became ill after a week and ended up in bed with sickness and diarrhoea and are at home now still feeling the same, overall it was our second time to this hotel but the standards have dropped and so disappointed for our golden wedding anniversary will not return.
• bongobms (10/5): No stress holiday - We chose Boa Vista Palace for a Fly and Flop holiday - ten nights in the sun. This resort is spacious and gives the impression of being relatively new in terms of decor and style. The rooms are big and comfortable, the bed is enormous! The bathrooms have double sinks and a large shower cubicle - the water is hot and powerful. There is a kettle in the room and optics so you can have your choice of drinks when you get back to your room. Air conditioning is fab and gives a break from the heat of the day and night. The food is varied - the buffet has plenty of choice. We had no problems choosing something to eat in the buffet - the orange ice cream was delicious! Would recommend all of the a la carte restaurants - good to try different foods. All in all would recommend this hotel - the place, the staff and the food are fab. Only criticism is the cocktails as they use a pre made base for most of them. But the ice coffee with Baileys is lush.
• 875duncant (10/5): Another fantastic holiday at this fantastic hotel - Well done to the Riu Palace team. Another fantastic holiday at this fantastic hotel. Rooms are great – clean, spacious and have everything you need and everything (drinks in fridge/coffee/tea/shampoos etc) was topped up regularly. Food is great and a wide range to suit our needs and almost certainly everyone’s. Speciality restaurants are well worth going to – you should easily be able to get into at least one, and more if you are quick and keep looking at the app. The drinks are of great variety including many branded options. Service in the bars, reception, pool bars, restaurants is spot on – well staffed and friendly. Pools are excellent and surrounds kept clean. Plenty of toilets around pools and in the hotel. Hotel grounds are spotless and very well laid out and maintained. Spa is great though not cheap. We did not use the gym but did some activities which were fun. The beach is superb – clean and soft. Beware some rocks in the sea though. Entertainment - nice addition with some live music down at the pool bar in some late afternoons. Early evening live music in the bar was very pleasant but did not tend to listen into the later evening stuff. Water park between the Palace and Karamboa great fun and not heavily used that I could see. Minor grumbles. The food service areas were not as cold as in the past so seemed to be a few more flies around. The in-room optics were not branded varieties so not as advertised. Staffing at the pool side of the pool bars was occasionally light. But very minor grumbles
• jmcnulty1471 (8/5): It’s ok - Suzette at the coffee bar in reception please at least try and look a little bit friendly 🤣sorry but looks you up and down and slams the coffee down I’m sorry but I can’t help but laugh
• Curious14220701146 (8/5): Nice hotel but I wouldn’t say it was 5 star service - Hotel is lovely. However, I wouldn’t say this was a 5 star hotel. The rooms need updating. Our room in particular smelt musty and we had mould on our bed runner and up the curtains. It felt like everything needed a scrub. The swimming pools are great. Food was good but practically the same choices every evening. I would recommend bringing a fly fan as the flies were ridiculous.
• ashleighgracecook (10/5): Fab Stay & Cape Verde has our hearts! - Myself & my partner have just spent a week here at the Riu Palace Boavista & really enjoyed our stay! The rooms are clean, well kept & the grounds are STUNNING! 😍, especially the beach! The staff truly cannot do enough for you, bringing the luggage to the rooms, serving drinks at the evening entrainment & meal times! They’re so so caring & welcoming!❤️ The staff really want to get to know their guests personally! They are very good at learning names & what you want to drink! Haha. The food is good. Nothing crazy but always warm & staff are always going around and checking it / clearing up. There were loads of flies when we came, but I think that’s due to it being October, as when we came in the summer there was nowhere near as many. The flies do land on the food, which cannot be avoided really, the hotel have tried to cover most foods over to avoid this. This hotel is very quiet & relaxed, not much going on at all. No entertainment in the day around the main large pool, and very little by the swim up bar pools, but we didn’t mind this😊 The entertainment at night is okay, some nights were good such as the quizzes and tribute acts but others were rubbish - same for Karamboa. The Neon party is very fun, but SO BUSY. You can hardly move. We only stayed for an hour or so. This is not the Palaces fault. We have previously stayed at the hotel next door, Riu Karamboa, adults only, which we would return to in a heartbeat as it is more for us - a young couple with no kids. My review on The Palace & Karamboa stand the same, apart from the liveliness. They’re both fantastic riu hotels & would deffo return to both!
• B6142JRjank (2/5): Never again – health risks and disastrous service - We stayed at the RIU Palace Boavista for seven nights in September 2025 as a couple and unfortunately cannot recommend this hotel at all. The rooms were musty and moldy, and even after we changed rooms, the mold remained. The furniture was badly damaged, the fittings were rusty, the tiles were cracked, and the couch was unusable. The double bed consisted of two single beds pushed together on wheels; one of them collapsed during the night. The towels were dirty, and the sun loungers by the pool were badly worn. The hygiene standards in the restaurant were disastrous: flies and dead insects on food, no chain of cooling, staff working unhygienically with their hands, mixers at the bars cleaned with undrinkable tap water. The buffet and à la carte restaurants were only cleaned sporadically, and hygiene was usually only maintained under pressure from guests. The food was monotonous, predominantly meat-heavy, and of poor quality. The à la carte restaurants were a big disappointment—small menus, hectic service, no difference from the buffet. The cocktail menu was also disappointing, with hardly any choice. After eating raw salmon at the gourmet restaurant “Krystal,” my girlfriend suffered severe food poisoning, which required hospitalization after our return. The staff was often unfriendly, with little knowledge of English and no German at all. Requests or questions were usually met with a shrug. Management showed no interest in the obvious problems at the hotel. Public toilets were only cleaned sporadically. Unfortunately, “no stress” here means “no effort.” The pool was large and the water was pleasant, but the sun loungers were very worn and some were damaged. Towels were only available in limited quantities. The beach is beautiful, but the entrance is rocky and the sea for snorkeling directly at the hotel is rough. Apart from its beach location, this hotel does not meet 5-star standards at all. Hygiene, food, service, and management are disastrous. Absolutely not recommended—if you value cleanliness, safety, and service, you should avoid this hotel.
• W6854SFgailw (10/5): Another lovely stay at the Riu Palace Boa Vista - A lovely return visit to the Riu palace Boa Vista where we have visited many times previously. The three A La Carte restaurants were all excellent and breakfast and lunch in the Africa buffet restaurant was also excellent. Jose the restaurant manager looked after us extremely well, loved our room 2118 which we had requested as we like that area. We look forward to returning next year.
• stigg33 (8/5): Great hotel but not a 5* anymore. - Just returned from the Riu Palace Boa Vista and would like to say that when we went there before Covid it was a 5* hotel but now I would say it's a good 4* which is a shame as it's just small things that have been let slip. On arrival the checking in is quick and very professional with your bags taken to your room and a nice cold drink at reception. The room was very nice and clean and our swim up pool was lovely. Pros:- Pools are great with lots of sun beds and the bars are well stocked and very friendly. Grounds are kept lovely. Main buffet is very clean, waiters are good and the food is great with plenty of choice. Themed restaurants are nice and food is good. Main bar has plenty of seating and the shows are pretty good. Weather was very hot. Beach is very nice with plenty of beds. Cons:- Our shower and pool could do with a little maintenance with some tiles missing and the grouting is starting to show it's age! Getting a waiter outside the main bar is a mission and your better to go to the bar yourself for your drinks, I think we got a waiter about 4/5 times in all our 11 nights, and I did tip! I saw the pool staff taking money from people to save their beds which accounts for some of them always managing to get the same bet every day! The shows are ok but a couple of the members are very over the top camp which is not to everyones taste! Overall we had a very good holiday but feel that we would try another hotel next time which is a shame as with a little attention to the small details this could be a really super hotel.
• ambridgemallon (10/5): Excellent - We have just returned from staying at this hotel. What can I say it was amazing. The staff were superb and the Rui fun animation team were incredible. Especially Junior and JJ. The rooms were lovely and spacious and spotlessly clean. The food at the African restaurant was superb. The only criticism would be there cocktails as they were not good. All pre-mixed mixtures. For a Rui palace I think they should make proper cocktails. Will definitely be returning
• Z5675UBandyd (10/5): Paradise on earth - The most beautiful venue real 5 star quality all oversold thoroughly recommend anybody to come here who wants sun sea beach and a relaxing holiday
• GlobeTrotting401751 (10/5): Consistently Excellent - Ignore the negative reviews, we have been to this hotel 6 times and it has been consistently excellent every time. Some people would complain about paradise !
• mollydodd11 (6/5): NOT A 5* - Not a 5* hotel We stayed at Riu Palace Boavista for 10 nights and unfortunately had a disappointing experience overall. On arrival, after traveling all night, we were told to wait three hours for our room, with no drinks, snacks, or assistance with luggage offered. Our first room was filthy: blood on the curtains, a sofa covered in stains, dirty bedding, shower tiles falling out, and an empty mini-bar. After complaining, we were moved to a cleaner room, which was much better, but still had issues: a loose shower door hinge, a crack in the balcony glass, and no sea view. The food was nice with lots of variety, but the cocktail menu was poor, and there was no dedicated gluten-free or dairy-free section, which could be limiting for other guests. Many sunbeds were grubby, with holes, stains, and peeling paint, and the mini-bar was often not replenished, requiring us to request water most days. There were lots of flies, understandable given the climate, and the walk from room 2035 to the beach/lift was long. We were told by other guests and family staying there that standards at the hotel have dropped compared to previous years. On a positive note, the staff were fantastic. The animation team (JJ, Junior, William, Nadine, Riccardo, Stacey and Stefanie), bartenders (Bruno, Djorge, Hermany, Fredy), and restaurant staff (especially Jose) were attentive, friendly, and professional. The entertainment shows were brilliant, and the beach is stunning. Neon party and White party were very good , we also booked quad biking and a boat trip and was great fun. Overall, while the natural beauty and staff are excellent, the poor room standards, maintenance issues, lack of guest care on arrival, and general drop in hotel quality made the stay difficult to enjoy fully. That said, we would consider returning to the hotel if standards improved and we were offered a better price, as the location, staff, and beach are truly excellent.
• lisacullen890 (2/5): Worst hotel visited - Filthy hotel. Horrendous food. Poor cocktails. Absolutely filthy bedding with pictures to prove complaint. Mattress replaced in room and pillows and bedding. Rooms old and poor quality need updating.
• nicw701 (10/5): Another amazing holiday - This was the 3rd visit to this hotel this year and another amazing experience. It never disappoints and I can see why people return so regularly. The hotel is spotless with all the staff working so hard to keep it looking so good. It’s right on the beach which is stunning and we also had a couple of green flags whilst we were there. We also went down to the local beach in Sal Rei just past the Morabeza late one afternoon and sat and watched the locals as the sun started to set. One of the reasons we keep coming back is how safe we feel on the island. I had read some reviews about the amount of mosquitoes, flies and crickets there were but it was either over exaggerated or had started to resolve. We’ve visited at different times of year and I didn’t feel the flies were any worse than previous visits and were only really noticeable around the pool bars. We ate inside and had also used fly fans on the table. We did see a few crickets especially at the white party at the Karamboa and I had 2 bites all holiday (one of them was from the airport on the way home). I did make my own citronella spray and also added some oil to my toiletries so that may have put them off! We did have a couple of mornings where it rained and following that it was unbearably hot, but no real issues like some other reviews or ‘experts’ would have you believe. The food was plentiful and choices amazing. It was always hot, regularly replenished and we saw the chefs checking temps etc. I am quite a fussy eater, mainly vegetarian and I never struggled to find things to eat. Rooms are a very good size, with a large bathroom, amazing shower and really comfy beds. We had a sea view which was lovely to sit on the balcony and watch the sea and the swaying palm trees. One of the main reasons for us returning are the people. You are genuinely welcomed the minute you arrive. Everyone you pass says hello. The staff in the restaurants and the bars provide excellent service, getting to know your orders and one of the restaurant staff would always make sure our drinks were on the table waiting for us every evening. The animation team are a credit to the hotel. They work hard both night and day taking time to get to know the guests and encourage you to join in the activities which are spread out over the day. The shows are excellent and the team deliver them with maximum effort. The Riu party night is a great night out. Special mentions are needed for JJ, Junior and Riccardo who go above and beyond and always have a smile and time for everyone. We didn’t do any trips this time but have previously done an island tour (North and South), the BBQ night at Perola de Chaves bar and the African night at the Morabeza bar, all amazing and worth doing and all organised with Boa Vista Carefy who I would highly recommend. Typing this review has made me start to think about my next visit and whether I can get a 4th in the bag before the end of the year. If you’re reading this and thinking about booking just do it! This too could become your happy place!
• J8716IOtracyw (10/5): A week in paradise - We booked for a week’s holiday and from the moment we checked in we knew we had made an excellent decision booking this hotel. The whole place is spotless, food best we have ever had in an all inclusive and the staff cannot do enough for you. The only slight criticism I would have is the sunbeds are slightly uncomfortable and the umbrellas around the pool do not shelter you from the sun. However, if you are planning a holiday in Cape Verde, then don’t hesitate to book the Rui Palace
• elvia30 (6/5): Nice hotel, Not nice food - Visited this hotel supported by its promise of luxury, superb beaches, sunshine good food and service. Most of the said promises were accurate and welcomed upon our arrival. Great facilities, Excellent room with swim up pool, Fab service and a beautiful tropical climate, there the good bits. The not so good bits were the unbearable flies and mosquitoes but in fairness not the hotels fault. The control off flies on the food areas could have been better though. The area of greatest disappointment was the food !!! Without being unreasonable it was poor !!! The buffet area offered choice but it was cooking to an amateurish standard (almost without care) . The themed restaurants you have to book in advance sadly were no better. The standards received bared no resemblance in some cases to what was offered. Bland, Cold and either over or undercooked with little obvious care!. The worst was the steak restaurant, the steak was tough an had livery taste (oxidised) I left it all but NO questions ask, just cleared... as with the other restaurants it felt like a process and not a special occasion. My picture is the dessert offered and what was received in your Crystal restaurant, just one example of many, not good enough !! sorry.... All in all a pleasant hotel facility with lovely staff except the poor food offered. Would we go again......... No
• debstay (6/5): Disappointing - Good points - beautiful Beach and great staff (apart from the one who very rudely demanded a cigarette whilst I was sat on my own) There is nothing outside the hotel and so A week was long enough ! Bad points- Buffet offering covered in flies so we opted for the ‘restaurants’ on site - Steak house was not good - surf n turf was tiny and my husbands veal was inedible. Japanese restaurant was the better of the three options. The restaurant Krystal !!!! expectations far out weighed the reality. (See photos) Even the waiting staff laughed at what we received !!! The entertainment was repetitive and not very exciting. To top it all off, my husband ended up with a severe stomach upset and is still not 100% after 3 days at home.
• am02dab (10/5): Lovely week away - We spent a lovely week here. The hotel is spotless and the choice of food plentiful. The staff were so friendly and always had a smile on their faces. The hotel room was large with a really good shower. We did try the Steak house restaurant which was okay but found it had no atmosphere which was a shame. We spent our days by the middle pool with the sunken beds and this was lovely. The other two pools with the pool bars seemed a little more livelier so we didn’t use these. All in all a good week away but would consider the hotel to be 4 star rather than 5 star.
• 62pearlp (8/5): Super Hotel & Staff - We had a 2 week stay from 8th-22nd September. Upon reading the reviews before we left we were just a little apprehensive for our trip! But I must say we had a fabulous time, yes the flies and mozzies were a pain but you are in Africa so we just put up with them around the pool but around the food was a little disturbing my husband and a few of the people we met had dicky tummies but only for 24 hours. Not sure how hotel would get over this?? Our room was fabulous super clean and well stocked, the shower is amazing! if we ran out of anything we just went on the app and it was delivered to our room. Food was just like lots of AI hotels, a little repetitive but there was always something to eat and it was hot. We only ate in the Sal Rai restaurant steak house but that was yummy. The staff make this hotel, friendly, funny and welcoming. A few to mention, the 2 Bruno’s at the pool bar where great always happy and smiling The pool entertainment crew (apologies don’t know all the names) Junior, Tatiana and the rest of the crew where fantastic, and yes I did getup and do aqua aerobics a few time 🤣 “don’t be lazy be crazy” All in all we had a great time. Like other reviews we may try different months November-March but we will return. Just a little observation, sun beds could do with being changed, the paint comes off and they are a little worn, also the sunbed umbrellas are no use to man nor beast, they don’t offer any shade or protection from the rain.
• davidmR9973UT (10/5): Wonderful Experience - We’ve just returned from the RIU Palace Boavista and i’m delighted to say that we had a wonderful time whilst there. The hotel itself is stunning and all of the staff (without exception) were absolutely brilliant throughout our stay. The amenities were very good. Food was always fresh, extremely varied and well displayed with an incredible choice for every meal time. Entertainment was of a good standard. Drinks were recognized brands for the most part and i liked the idea of having a bi-daily restocked mini fridge in our room with optics above for whisky, gin, vodka & bacardi. The pools were all clean and well maintained, the beach likewise. There are 3 speciality ala carte restaurants on site. We went to and enjoyed the Japanese restaurant and Krystal Fusion where both the food and service provided was 1st class. I think (in brief) i’ve covered everything, but if i’ve missed something, that was good too. 😂 All in all, a wonderful stay in a beautiful hotel and one that we’re already looking forward to returning to. Well done RIU and all of your staff, we really enjoyed our trip ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• SophieW1222 (4/5): We won't be returning - We've been coming to Cape Verde for last 8 years and have been staying at Riu Palace for last 4 years. Lets start with with good points. Location excellent, weather brilliant apart from couple days of rain but what do you expect in raining season, it didn't last long and was still hot. We also had a couple of cracking thunderstorms which was a bonus who doesn't love a good thunderstorm, bar staff excellent. Unfortunately that is where the good points end. Cleaning of the room was not up to standard, stained sheets, stained bath towels. We had cockroaches in our room every day. The sheets were making our skin itch. Bath towels are clearly not big enough for the average size person. We were having to ask for extra towels nearly every other day. The whole cleanliness was not up to standard of a basic 5 Star hotel and fell short compared to previous years. Food one word awful, no where near as good as last year or previous years. The standard of food has definitely slipped, food was lukewarm, files crawling over food, vegetables undercooked and rock hard, some of the meat under cooked, knives couldn't even cut the meat up. No gluten free options or diary free options. Food labelling inadequate. Staff in Sal Rai restaurant at lunch time were miserable, food was literally same each lunchtime. The whole standard of the hotel has slipped and I feel that this hotel is no longer 5 star and probably 4 star at a real push or more like 3 star. I ended up catching the stomach bug that was going around as well so lost 3 days of my holiday. Also had upset stomach for majority of the whole two weeks I was there. Entertainment was same as previous years so nothing has changed there, bar staff of the evening were excellent and always making sure we had a drink. I had already booked to return to this hotel next year but in light of everything and how the standards have slipped so much we won't be returning and I will now be changing our holiday destination. Riu I am disappointed that you have let the standards of this hotel slip so much. You've taken your eye off the ball and become too comfortable. I also feel that the hotel staff have their favourite guests and they get the "special treatment". Whether you have been once, four times or twenty times to this hotel, every hotel guest should be treated the same and expect the same level of service.
• Ben365 (4/5): 1 week stay in September 2025 - We, as a couple, stayed for 7 nights in September 2025 Weather wasn't bad, it was cloudy but warm with spells of sunshine. There were a couple of days where it rained persistently. On our 2nd day we were hit with an illness, sickness and diarrhea which knocked us of our feet for 4 days. We flew with TUI and our rep told us to remain in our room until 48 hours after all symptoms had passed. During our illness we ran out of water in our room, it took the hotel 24 hours to replenish our water even though they called asking if we had received it and me informing them we hadn't. I emailed the hotel twice and didn't receive a single response to my complaint. The food was covered in flies, the staff did little to prevent flies coming into contact with the food and unfortunately the food was not changed enough to prevent issues. The bar areas were often covered in flies and again there were little precautions put in place to prevent the flies coming into contact with drinks. I have a nut allergy and had concerns about the desserts so I spoke to a waiter who unfortunately could not speak English. He then asked a Chef to help who said I could eat any of the desserts available even though some had labels clearly showing nuts. When I raised this concern with the Chef they simply told me it was fine and to eat them. I could not take the risk and chose not to eat any of the desserts on offer. The rooms were cleaned daily but we still had cockroaches in our room. The towels were of poor quality and did not smell fresh. We had optics in our room which were not refilled. There were leakages from one of the bottles which had stained the area and was never cleaned. The Rum optic was brown and discolored looking very dirty. The hotel itself was beautiful and the link to the beach sunbeds was great. The swim up bar was excellent. Overall our stay was overshadowed by the poor standards of food hygiene causing us, along with many others to fall ill. TUI have been no help at all since our return. After 1 week at home we are still unwell with diarrhea. I have had calls from the TUI team trying to discuss the situation with me but unfortunately, it is an overseas call centre who struggle with English language so it has been very frustrating. Would I return to this hotel, no! This is not a 5 star hotel, 3 star at best. The staff try very hard to make your stay great but if the food is not up to scratch and not taken seriously then there is little that can be done to prevent illness.
• Said (8/5): Très bon service et quelques améliorations to do - Le personnel et le service était très bien . Variété et qualité des repas très bien. Standing a rénové dans les accès aux chambres , peinture mur etc.. nous sommes dans un palace ! Désinfection des chambres nous étions envahis par des petits cafards dans la salle de bain et la chambre ! Nous sommes dans un palace ! Activités et spectacle étaient au Rendez vous pour nous faire passer de belles soirées
• carpy2025 (10/5): Absolutely Fantastic Hotel( Best i have ever stayed in and I have travelled the world) - This Hotel and its facilities are mind blowing. Everything is available, optics in room, 2 swim up bars which are Amazing. Pools are so nice and big right next to the Beautiful Beach.The Restaurants and Bars are so upper class, you don't even need to go to the bar for a drink just sit down and the amazing friendly staff will serve you all day, just Amazing. I don't have enough time in a day to tell you how amazing this place is, my advise is to get Cape Verde Booked as it's a hidden gem and definitely go to Hotel Riu Palace as its the best Hotel on the Island Fact. NO STRESS
• TejHeero20 (10/5): Loved it as always! It ticks all the boxes and is currently my all time favourite location 😃 - 3rd year in a row and we had another fantastic trip. The beach is amazing, the pools are spacious and the waterpark is brilliant for the kids. Food options are good too but the drinks are even better 😉 We met some great people and as always the staff were absolutely brilliant. They always make every visit memorable...I did promise them I would add a review for them so here goes.....A special Thank you to Kevin number 1 & 2, Will-i-am, Ricardo, Anderson, Dennis, Eduarte, Maria, Linda, Jaqulieno, Julinho, Cristiano, Junior, Thierry, Deli, Jose x2, Merino, Mercia, Vania, Edvaldo, Bruno, Yanik, Freddy, Gany, DJ Euginho, Cristiano, Denise, and then to everyother member of staff i may i have missed.... keep shining ✨️ 💛 💖. See you again next year ❤️
• OnMeHolidays1987 (8/5): Perfect for relaxing and going on long beach walks. - Arrived on the 1st July for 10 nights, we are 2 ladies in our 30's. We found this hotel to be very relaxing, lovely staff, very clean, lots of food choice, although it does get repetitive but what all-inclusive doesn’t, drinks are good as have branded options like Captain Morgan Rum, cocktails could have room for improvement though. Room was big and the shower huge, there was alcohol optics and a mini fridge which is stocked every 2 days but you could request more cans and bottled water on the Riu App. Beach and sand dunes are stunning and lovely for long beach walks, just take notice of the flag colour as there are rip tides, we had a green flag twice in 10 days. The negatives I will say is the swim up bars for over 18’s had children there, and as always people saving sunbeds and not arriving until midday, I am a Brit and it's frustrating to see that we are still doing this. Sometimes we would get to the pool at 10am and still find a bed so this is unnecessary. The flies are an absolute nuisance so invest in some table fly fans to keep them away, a few times I saw flies swimming in the buffet food. Also, as much as I was impressed with seeing the food labelled up with allergen icons, a lot of the time the food was labelled incorrectly, and people were using the same utensils for multiple dishes which obviously causes cross contamination. I wanted to be able to tell my Mum she could come here as she is Coeliac (can't have gluten) but seeing the food labelled up wrong and the cross contamination happening it really worried me, also no gluten free toaster or gluten free bread. Also the donkeys, dogs and cats could be treated better by some of the male workers. One guy had a pet monkey and was letting people hold it, in 2025 animals should not be exploited for our entertainment! If these issues could be addressed, it would be a 5 star. Please note: If you have any left-over medication like painkillers and toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, hair care, etc, or if you can take extra out, please do give to the staff, they are very appreciative of this, we gave ours to our lovely waitress at breakfast.

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