At the airport they check your covid vaccination and passport only. You can go straight to the machine to scan your passport instead of waiting for a human to check your passport in a longer queue. Download the riu app to help with your stay to book restaurants and get other information regarding pools, bars etc. This hotel is huge so if you get a room further away it’s a tad annoying trying to navigate to find it at first so make sure you don’t get lost. The hotel has no lifts. You can carry bags up yourself or get someone to help. Arriving on a TUI trip with two coaches full meant a very long queue at reception waiting to check in. However you get a non alcoholic drink on arrival. Top tip:Note that you should get your towels as early as possible when the hotel is super busy as they run out and make you wait until new ones arrive. The main buffet is busy every time it opens but you always get a table. Book other fancy restaurants early as they only have two sittings one at 7pm and one at 9pm. WiFi is amazing at this hotel. The room we stayed in isn’t dated it just has an African feel to it. To be honest I am the fussiest person and I really liked it. No iron in room bring your own. If you go on the hunt to get one good luck. Bring a light jacket or shawl for the evening as it can a little breezy for those that may feel cold. The weather in the day is lovely with a slight breeze other than that it’s great in May. Might be worth booking adults only we didn’t but regretted it some days. That section is much quieter. Do take a walk down the beach it’s lovely. Staff are nice. No stray cats near any of the food areas just saw a few near the paths but not many. The main pool area can get really packed which is a bit off putting but luckily we like sitting on the beach so we could escape the masses. Although when you have to navigate through the paths it’s slightly annoying have to walking through an inbetweeners movie scene.…
Great trip away with friends and my baby! Ok I’ll try and keep it brief… We paid just over £600 each for a week, for this price expect a bargain! Food…. If you can’t find something you like you need therapy! Lot of choice, book the restaurants for a little less hustle and bustle. Drink, don’t forget to ask for alcohol in your cocktails. Cleanliness, cleaners work really hard keeping it clean, because of the location and wind there tends to be an orange sand that the cleaners are constantly clearing. (If you pack whites to wear expect to get the vanish out when you get home) Rooms, as I say for the price it’s a bargain, don’t expect Dubai 5* they are clean and functional…. Pack a multi plug as you only get two plugs in the room. Mosquitoes, we did get eaten at night time in the rooms, jungle formula didn’t seem to even help, my baby got bitten a lot, please take a mosquito net if you have a baby, the cots in the room are the mesh style ones so with a net over the top would have stopped them. There are microwaves in the restaurants if you need to sterilise bottles. Go see aisha in her little stall on the beach to the left, she lovely and you’ll for sure get a lovely gift to take home. All in all, great trip, remember the price you’ve paid, lovely people, gorgeous beach (but please don’t swim in the sea) Book and enjoy!…
We'd stayed at the Hotel Touareg in 2019 and had a great time so booked again for the week from 11th May because we knew what to expect. What we didn't expect, or notified of until we checked in at reception, was the infinity pool and bar were closed due to the hotel not being full. I complained to the rep and he indicated it was down to cost and customer numbers but trying to get a sunbed after 9am around the main pool was impossible so if it was full and the adults area was apparently busy why didn't RIU/TUI open the infinity pool, the filters etc were still running?? (and as someone else mentioned the main pool, especially the swim up bar, has drunk loud Brits effing almost every other word or the music is going boom, boom boom - you could hear it from the beach. Remember 18-30's Club...) That's fine if that's what you want but we were looking forward to a quiet time and only occasionally venturing to the main pool area for a drink. Over 2 days it was really windy so impossible to lie on the beach without being sandblasted so we had a look at the infinity area and there were about 30 people laying around it! We decided to join them and the security guys came around and tried to get people to leave but were told 'you find us a bed in the main area and we'll move' which they obviously couldn't do. There were a lot of disappointed people who also complained but TUI rep just brushed us all off with their T&C's. The pool and bar reopened on the day before we left as some guests that were to stay at the Karamboa were moving to the Touareg. Agree with other reviewers that the rooms are getting a bit tatty with drawer knobs missing, curtains hanging down, balcony furniture could do with a good clean. We walked through block 9 and room numbers were missing, walls needed painting yet that also re-opened for the transferred guests. RIU were boasting on the big screen about all these new and refurbed hotels they're opening up, well they need to start on the Touareg because it's a shame to let it decline. We were on the 2nd floor of block 8 and had a lovely view looking out over the gardens to the sea. Staff are really nice and friendly and we enjoyed the evening entertainment on the main stage - they all work really hard. We also enjoyed the food, sometimes had breakfast or lunch in the snack bar as it was a lot quieter (when it was open) but there isn't as much choice. The food here is under cover however in the main restaurant it's in the open and there are a lot of flies. Couldn't see any zapper machines or anything else to keep them off the food. We didn't suffer any stomach problems but a couple of brandies before bedtime might have helped ;-). Wine was drinkable and other alcoholic drinks tasted no different to home. Take a couple of drinks containers if you intend sunbathing on the beach and it'll save you going back and forwards to the bar. Also take towel pegs or straps for the sunbeds Our room was kept very clean with 2 large bottles of water every day. Only 2 plug sockets were working, one behind the settee and one behind the tv unit and the lead to the kettle wasn't long enough to reach either without moving furniture around so used the plug in the bathroom :-( Tea, coffee and powdered milk are supplied but we filled a container with milk from the restaurant and kept it in the fridge in the room. Bed was huge and very comfortable. Lots of drawers and wardrobe space but you might want to take extra hangers Hairdryer was ok, one heat setting and one speed but done the job. Fan was a bit loud but kept us cool - looked like an engine propeller. Only small bars of soap and shower gel are supplied Don't go expecting 5 star as it isn't but I think, compared to other hotels, this is reflected in the price. We paid about £300pp less than if we'd gone to the Palace. Having said that, if I'd known the pool was closed I would have booked another hotel but they can all close something whenever they want apparently. I know I sound a saddo but I was disppointed lol.…
I really enjoyed my stay in this hotel,but the drains smelled when the toilet was flushed, I reported some issues with our room 6055 , the fan in the bedroom the housing that covers up the wires as they go into the ceiling was not fastened and I could see the wires,a light switch in the lounge room was not working the first light switch on the left as I leave the bedroom, the air conditioner was not working in the lounge room. I had reported These issues on the Rui application but they were not sorted out.
First of all - this hotel is on the south of the island, there is nothing around at all - absolutely nothing. If you want to visit the rest of the island, I recommend renting a car from the hotel and drive round for a day. If you're after a hotel where you can experience Cape Verdean culture, i would go to the Riu Karamboa or the Riu Palace instead. The hotel is beautiful. It's the cleanest, most picturesque hotel I've ever been to. Our rooms were spaceous with a gorgeous balcony. They were cleaned daily, the bars and restaurants were spotless and the walkways were always clear and safe. I am in awe of the staff here who I learned earn barely enough every month. They do long shifts and are always so incredibly polite and helpful. The pools were beautiful but a mid misleading as it says there are 5 pools which *technically* there are, but it's only because 3 of them are together but separated by walkways. In reality there are 3 pools. An infinity pool which is quieter, the main pool with the swim up bar which is full of drunk loud brits, and the adults only pool which is reserved for people who have upgraded to the 'adults only' package. Note that all the pools are unheated salt water. The hotel has a private beach which is absolutely stunning, however the sea is so dangerous and rough that people were getting seriously injured. This is obviously not the hotel's fault, but if you're after a snorkeling holiday or a daily swim in the sea - go to the Karamboa or the Palace as you cannot swim in the sea here. There are cats everywhere! Most of them are super friendly and love a cuddle but don't get too close because I did get scrammed when I touched one on the ear and he didn't like it. The part that we were most disappointed about was the food unfortunately. On the Internet this looked like a hotel with really a high quality, diverse choice of foods. But it's exactly like every other all inclusive Tui holiday. It wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't good. There are 'restaurants' you can visit in the hotel but they're more of the same really. Low quality, mass produced, made to look nice but didn't have any flavour. The spa was lovely. The staff were great, the prices were reasonable and the massage was amazing. I had the Cape Verdean Combination which I highly recommend. My sister had the Aromatherapy Massage which she said could have been firmer. My boyfriend had the pedicure which he thoroughly enjoyed as well. Lastly, there are a lot of mosquitos that give really nasty bites different to other countries. They flare up quite bad so make sure you bring bug spray to keep them off you. TLDR; The hotel is in the middle of nowhere but is gorgeous. Don't go in the sea. Have a quick look at the other 2 Riu hotels before booking. There are 3 salt water pools not 5. Don't get your hopes up about the food. Bring bug spray.…
Just returned from a week at this hotel. There are good points and bad. The beach is stunning, one of the best beaches I've ever seen, goes on for miles, with only the hotel there, location is perfect. If you want to laze around and chill for the week this hotel is ideal. Staff: most staff were friendly and would do whatever to make your stay a pleasant one. Room was tired and dated, however we were offered a refurbished one when we went to reception, but didn't want to pack and unpack again having already unpacked. We were in block 8. Room cleaning was good but replenishment of refreshments in the room was poor so unable to have coffee in the room some mornings/evenings, which you would expect as standard. Unable to use the balcony, balcony furniture wss old and stained, not fit for use. Bed was comfy however and a large room, so plenty of space. Drinks were average, no frills. The food, well, I have to say it was one of the worst hotels I've ever been to as far as the quality and presentation are concerned. Same thing for all meals daily. Poor quality, at best 3 star. Speciality restaurants, Italian service was terrible, cape verdian ok, best one by far for service and quality and presentation was the Asian. However on our last night there were ladies at the entrance to the main buffet restaurant handing out surveys, well it was like a different restaurant, presentation of food and quality was stunning. Different food to what had been there all week, had it of been like that all week then it would have been worth 5 stars. What this showed is that when surveys are being handed out the team effort is 100%. This needs applying 24/7 to keep your guests happy and wanting to return. Entertainment was poor. Although plenty of seating around for guests. If you want a sunbed you have to be up and putting towels on beds at 7am, we went down to the pool areas at 9am on our first day and most were reserved already! Pool areas and hotel grounds were kept clean and tidy. Had we have paid almost twice the price we did to go in july/August I'd be really annoyed at the quality for money, but still if you're going to advertise as a 5 star Hotel then that's what guests expect! …
We spent a very relaxing week at Riu Touareg in May. The weather was lovely, and the hotel was good and very clean. But for us, the best was the staff. All very friendly, caring and profressional. A special note to the entertainment team and to the staff at the bar next to the main pool, that always went above and beyond to make us feel happy and put a smile on our face. We will definitely be going back.
We had a pleasant and relaxing week at the Touareg, though as other reviews suggest, the resort is not at the level you’d expect for a five star resort in Europe. Some TLC is needed in places, such as missing mosaic tiles around the pools. The room was a little dated, but was perfectly comfortable. The air conditioning didn’t work upon arrival but it was fixed very quickly after reporting it. The resort is very clean and tidy, the staff are very attentive and friendly. Bar and restaurant staff were excellent! Housekeeping did a great job too - staff couldn’t be faulted. If travelling without kids I would recommend paying the extra to stay in the adults-only area. We preferred days by the adult only pool as it was quieter. We also enjoyed our meal at the gourmet restaurant, which you only get as guests in the adult area. The food in general is fine - what you’d expect from buffet mass catering. The local population of flies do like to buzz around the buffets, which isn’t great. Perhaps more could be done to try to keep them away from the food, though I accept that’s easier said than done. We enjoyed a couple’s massage at the spa, which was very relaxing. We enjoyed the jacuzzi in the spa area too. The nighttime entertainment on the main stage was a bit underwhelming, though some of the duet singers were very good. We didn’t really get involved in any of the daytime activities, though we did see some of them taking place. The Boa Vista landscape is like the moon due to the lack of water, so the grounds of the resort are a world away from the outside as they are very green and well kept. The beach beside the resort is beautiful, though be aware that it’s unlikely you’ll be able to swim in the ocean due to the huge waves caused by the often heavy wind.…
As seasoned travellers as a couple, and a very extensive business traveller as well, I have experienced all manner of hotels all over the world, so I have no hesitation in saying this is a good three star complex, but no more. Many of the staff are friendly and engaging but many not so. My main concern is that the hotel does not seem interested in resolving issues in a timely manner. I appreciate issues can arise, and if they are dealt with quickly and appropriately then I’ll let it pass, but slow service on top of a problem is where I draw the line. Our first issue was that the room safe was locked on arrival. That was opened but it took walking up to reception to remind them, to get it done. This was clearly more than a locked safe however, as through the first week it took upwards of ten minutes to open and a nice accompanying beep didn’t help when you wanted to sleep. This wasn’t resolved however, and only when I was finally unable to access it at all ,did someone come to look at it again. Batteries were changed, but I was told a technician was needed, and it shouldn’t be trusted until then. Again three days later after a third reminder, it was fixed, so for three days I lugged around all of our valuables in a rucksack. I sat on a plastic stool in the bathroom and it promptly collapsed. I don’t blame the hotel because on closer inspection it had clearly been broken previously and reassembled. However when you go to reception to ask about first aid or a doctor following an accident, to check your resulting head injury, being asked if you will cover a call-out charge for a doctor might not be the appropriate response when the hotel could be held responsible. Lovers of cashew nuts will be disappointed by the chicken and cashew nut curry served in the oriental restaurant- there are no cashews and apparently it’s a standing joke. What isn’t funny however is the unpleasant chewiness of the kitchen paper towel that was cooked onto my meal. On complaining it is obvious where this originated as the chicken is sitting on paper towels prior to frying and addition of the curry sauce. Maybe cooking in front of guests demands better procedures but I pointed this out and showed the paper towel - a very flippant sorry and my plate was taken off me without further ado. Again attention to detail and managing problems isn’t a skill staff have it seems. Don’t get me wrong, the hotel is clean and the grounds lovely. We were in the adult section which is quiet and a little less crowded. I hate that if you want a bed you must go down and reserve it with towels by six at latest or you’ll be struggling - yes this is selfish guests, who often don’t even appear until late in the day, but if you don’t join in, you don’t get a bed… If like me, you enjoy snorkelling or swimming in the sea, this is not for you. The waves are extremely powerful on crashing onto the beach and even when yellow flags flew, it was clearly dangerous and we witnessed a couple of people tossed around like rag-dolls. During the last few weeks there have been several serious injuries and one guest tragically lost their life during our stay, so be clear that red flags are there for a reason. The evening entertainment is disappointing with a group repeating exactly the same set on at least five occasions over our two week stay, and the rest is animators miming to playlists. It’s akin to watching your kids in a school play - you clap but wonder why they can’t see that it’s not really very good. Our room wasn’t serviced one day but we reported it via the app and it was done within a couple of hours. Our mini bar wasn’t topped up as scheduled but again reporting via the app gets it done, so the app is a must if just to report issues, but it does make booking restaurants easy too. I’m leaving today. I won’t return here although it has been OK it wasn’t amazing. I’m not usually troubled but myself included, everyone seems to have been bitten frequently this week and action is needed. I don’t think it was all mosquitoes either. The saving grace this holiday was the incredible performance that the humpback whales put on one afternoon. Clearly visible from the beach and pool area it was spectacular- but nothing to do with the hotel obviously. Sadly the hotel has only itself to blame for all the minor issues but I guess recouping losses de to COVID is top priority right now.…
I’m currently here as writing this review. I’m not picky. Far from it. I’m not sure who dishes out these ratings as it definitely is not five star. Definitely a 3 star. It pictures very well and in all fairness it is clean. The staff are quite miserable and could do with cheering up. The food is shocking in my opinion. Everything is fresh but once it’s been out a few minutes it doesn’t look or taste fresh. Pretty much the same rubbish for dinner and tea. The worse thing is you can’t just go down the road for a curry or a bit of decent food so this is making me very hangry as a result I’m hating everything about the place right now and can’t wait to get home. Would definitely not come back again
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