Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Hotel Odjo d’água is located in the city of Santa Maria, right on top of the Beach, on Sal Island. It was built on a small promontory called “Porfirio Point” where the Vera Cruz Lighthouse is located and for this reason a part of its structure is implemented on the sea, which makes the hotel one of the most sought-after places on the island. From the hotel restaurant you can enjoy one of the best views of Santa Maria Bay, and have a wonderful meal to the sound of the ocean.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Harbor View
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Italian and 1 more
Location
Zona do Farolinho, CP 71, Santa Maria, Ilha do Sal 4111 Cape Verde
Odjo D'agua Hotel
896 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Odjo D'agua Hotel, with its prime location near the beach, shops, and restaurants, is highly regarded by travelers for its cleanliness and the charming, quirky ambiance that comes alive with nightly live music. While the hotel's staff receives compliments for their friendliness, some guests mention slower restaurant service.
Room opinions are mixed, with praise for cleanliness but some criticism regarding size and dated aspects. The additional costs for pool use and sun loungers, coupled with concerns about non-guest access to facilities, have led some to question the hotel's value.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Basic
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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The location is excellent, and the pride of ownership is evident in this lovely hotel with great artwork and local history on display. The staff by and large were also very welcoming. Our food experience at the breakfast buffet and for a single dinner was that the food was quite good and reflected a good amount of variety.
Having read about the beach chair situation in other reviews, it was interesting to learn that despite the price of the room there was an additional daily fee to reserve the chairs which explains why folks go early and stay late. The noise level in the rooms was fine....never kept up late by activities of others.
We had a few less than favorable days while staying at this property. One was due to a lack of hot water in our room that continually was explained as being related to the time of day we chose to shower. Over the course of our stay had only ONE hotish shower taken at a "prime time" , the others bordering on cold. At the prices charged at this hotel this should not have been an issue at all. We've stayed at less expensive places on islands and haven't faced this sort of short fall so consistently. On that note, if you go and typically use a blow dryer, bring one with you. The in-room models were more like a gentle warm breeze.
The in-room ductless AC unit worked well until it didn't. On our last night an early morning dash to the bathroom had us waking up to very wet floors. soaked area rugs, and the bottom of our bedspread. When we reported it the next day I'm not clear the gravity of the situation was appreciated (after all we did ask about hot water every day) and when we returned to our room it seems that some work had been done but water continued to seep to the other side of the room under that mattress, we were left without a bed spread, the area rugs were gone, and no instructions about whether or not we could use the unit again. Maybe it was all related our room (Master Suite)...who knows. There was a disconnected printer set up, as well as reference to master suite WiFi access that wasn't correct, so perhaps this is a room that is only used during busy times....get a room change if you're assigned this suite.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Odjo d'Agua Hotel, Marketing at Odjo D'agua Hotel
Responded Feb 27, 2020
Dear , We are glad you took your time to write us this detailed comment. We are happy to know that you enjoyed the location of the hotel , the food and the staff hospitality. This is incredibly helpful. I wanted to let you know we've taken the good and the bad elements you've mentioned in your review to heart. We are sorry to know that your complaint was not taken a good care of. Next time you can call out for a manager and express your insatisfactions! We hope that you will give us another chance to make up for the bad elements of your review. Best Regards, Silvia Varela
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Just returned from an 11 night stay at this hotel. I was worried after reading some of the reviews but let me reassure you. This hotel is in a great location right on the beach with lovely views across the sandy beach. It is also right in the town so you can stroll to the local shops, bars & restaurants that are plentiful nearby. The hotel is kept exceptionally clean and there are hand sanitisers throughout and they clearly took covid distancing seriously when covid was rife. Now things are relaxed the hand sanitisers are in situ but guests are now free to walk freely around the hotel and restaurant. Our room was modern, well appointed with shower and soap dispensers and hairdryer in the bathroom. The shower was super good pressure and no problem with hot water. Towels changed regularly if you placed them ready to be changed. The main room had good lighting plenty of wardrobe space with hangers. TV with lots of channels and Euro sport if your into sport channels. A balcony with two chairs and table, a hammock and a retractable airer. Our room did not have a sea view (332) we were on the first floor accessible by lift or stairs. The balcony overlooked a small garden and fishpond area. Very relaxing to sit outside and read. The air conditioning was efficient and nice and quiet. The restaurant is very good. There is plenty of choice at the breakfast buffet. We were half board and in the evening we were given different set menus each day which gave fish, meat and vegetarian choices. If you wished you could also choose off their main menu and any additional cost was offset by what would be the cost of your set menu. So lots of choice of good quality food and generous quantities. The pool outside the reception is small and only about a dozen loungers. But we did not particularly get up early and managed to get a lounger each day. The infinity pool is lovely and of course the beach area is deep golden sand so lots of options to enjoy the sunshine. The hotel is quaint with lots of shady areas you could sit in, there are many interesting objects as decor, these give character to the hotel as opposed to the newly built hotels. I can see where the rooms on the lower floor may not be quite so ideal as they are close to the main road and locals do linger nearby. If you are booked for this hotel have a wonderful time and enjoy your holiday. We did and many guests were booking to return as they checked out.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:If possible ask for a first floor room.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The hotel is in a lovely location right on the beach. It is a 3 minute walk to the Main Street with all the bars and restaurants in addition to those actually on the beach itself. (Not really “beach” as it is lovely white sand.)
There are a couple of reasons I didn’t give it 5 stars:
1: it took 2 days for them to replace a faulty safe which had obviously not worked for ages (the battery connections were corroded due to leaking batteries).
2: My room (407) backed on to a staff area and the staff obviously didn’t realise that the noise they made travelled through the extraction vent in my bathroom, making the whole room quite noisy at times.
3: The breakfast (bacon and sausages) were consistently cold, even though they had only just come from the kitchen to the servery.
All of that said, it is probably one of the best hotels on the island and, if they can resolve the above, it wouldn’t be perfect.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Odjo d'Agua Hotel, Marketing at Odjo D'agua Hotel
Responded Mar 2, 2020
Dear, Thank you very much for taking the time to write us this review. We want you to feel comfortable sharing good or bad news with us. I'm so sorry that your stay with us fell short of expectations. We've taken your thoughts to heart and we're planning on making some internal changes based on your recommendations. Hopefully we will have the chance to have you here again Best Regards, Silvia Varela
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Loving our 3 week stay ( yes still here ) our 4 th floor suite is superb with amazing panoramic views .Meals are tasty and now cater for my gluten-free needs . The nightly entertainment is excellent and the closeness to the bars and restaurants is brilliant. I have deducted 1 star as there are only 10 free sun loungers on offer around the small pool in a prime position! All other beds are 4 euros per day per person so this extra cost mounts up especially during our stay ! So as you can imagine , these 10 prime free sun beds obviously attract the ‘towel brigade’ My husband is a keen video maker and decided to film sunrise and the sea on his go pro camera so he went down with his kit early and took his towel down , I was to join him at a more pleasant hour , Whist sat in his ‘prime’ lounger at 7:15am a member of the ‘towel brigade’ approached him and questioned how long he will be there filming! My husband said a few hours so this member actually put his towel on the bed my husband was Lay on !!! and said “ I will be back later then” absolutely unbelievable ! Needless to say we decided to stay there all day! Haha We put up with the ‘brigades ‘ stares of distaste for our amusement. So be aware of this extra cost
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Upgrade to suite
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The location of the hotel is superb, right on the sea front, restaurant almost sitting on the sea and only a few hundred yards away from Santa Maria centre. We had a junior suite and again excellent with good views over the beach, sea and town. We had booked ‘Bon Appetit’, paying £27 per person per meal, so we got three basic meals per week in the hotel restaurant, or you could choose off the full menu and have CVE1900 ( £14.40) knocked off the bill, definitely not worth paying for ‘Bon Appetit’! although the meals are good you can get better and cheaper meals in Santa Maria. There is a nice beach bar, only the closing times are confusing, some days we were told it was shutting at 6, other days it was later, the best comment I heard about the closing time was ‘It’s variable depending on how the staff feel’, however again there are some great bars a few hundred yards away in Santa Maria. The hotel has a number of sun loungers on the beach, however they do charge €4 a day for you to use these, there are also a small number of sun loungers around the small pool, which you are not charged for, however you have to get your towel on these very early in the morning. WiFi is decent throughout the hotel area and even onto the beach area and there is a great shaded seating area, near a kind of library, however we found most of the time these seats to be occupied with the children from the neighbouring complex. It was a good indicator when we went down for breakfast, no children the WiFi must be off. If you are a coeliac, the initial meals we had in the restaurant we started by explaining one of us was strictly gluten free only for the next question from the waiter to be did we both want bread and this was not gluten free bread. We did pursue this with the management and I would like to thank Elder from the management who arranged for gluten free bread, cereal and pasta to be made available, also a big thanks to Jair one of the waiters.
Overall excellent accommodation and after a few upsets the meals and service was OK.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had the pleasure of spending a delightful week at Odjo D'Agua this April, and I couldn't have been happier with my stay. Situated at the serene end of Santa Maria beach, the hotel boasts a breathtaking view across the bay that instantly sets the tone for a tranquil getaway.
Upon arrival, I found myself initially placed in a room that felt a bit secluded. However, the attentive staff swiftly accommodated my request for a room swap, and the next day, I was moved to a ground-level room with a mesmerizing sea view. It was simply perfect.
Throughout my stay, the staff remained busy attending to various tasks, yet they always managed to greet guests with genuine warmth and courtesy. The beach bar, with its selection of sandwiches and wraps, became a favorite spot of mine to unwind while overlooking the private beach. The only downside was the slightly pricey wine selection, but the overall value for money was still commendable.
Opting for the half-board package, with breakfast and dinner included. While breakfast offered a decent spread, I did wish for a bit more variety as the options seemed to repeat each day. However, dinner never disappointed, with a selection of starters, mains, and desserts to choose from. Admittedly, service could be slow at times, but it's understandable given the bustling nature of the restaurant, catering not only to hotel guests but also to visitors drawn by its prime location.
In essence, Odjo D'Agua epitomises everything I cherish in a hotel experience: charm, romance, warmth, and relaxation. It's a refreshing departure from the impersonal atmosphere of larger complexes, and I can't wait to return.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Take mosquito repellent.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed at this lovely hotel for two weeks arriving Christmas Day. My first visit to Cape Verde and as I'd only received my passport a few weeks before, the choice of hotels were limited but after looking at reviews/pictures I chose this hotel. Went for the B&B option so I could chose other places to eat if I wanted. The hotel is situated at the far end of the bay with gorgeous views and a lovely sandy beach. It was in a fairly quiet spot but close enough to Santa Maria centre with plenty of shops and places to eat Stayed in room 427 which was on the first floor overlooking a small courtyard with a pond and lovely trees and plants. This room doesn't have a private terrace as the outside serves as part of a corridor, not a huge problem for me but I can see it would be for some. The decor is quite dark and old fashioned but everywhere is spotlessly clean. My room was bigger than I expected with a double bed, large wardrobe, long sideboard and a TV. The bathroom had a bath with a powerful shower and a hairdryer. My room was cleaned and towels were replaced every day. I did try to make a coffee one evening but there were only tea bags, the plugs were hidden behind the sideboard which was a bit awkward. I then realised that the kettle didn't work anyway so I gave up! Breakfast was served in both dinning rooms with plenty of choices: cereal, yoghurt, fruit, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, cold meat, cheese, bread rolls, toast, crêpes, cake, biscuits. I really can't see how anyone can complain about this, there was always plenty of everything including juices, tea and coffee. There's a small pool with fre sunbeds but you had to get up very early to grab one of those. There were further sunbeds by the beach bar and infinity pool and also on the beach. There was an extra fee for these but most people were happy to pay. The beach bar served a fairly simple menu for lunch but plenty of choices and freshly cooked. It was always busy with a nice atmosphere and the staff there were lovely, friendly and always helpful. The restaurant had plenty of choice for your evening meal and the food was delicious. The fresh tuna was definitely a favourite of mine. As I was there for New Year's Eve, they laid on a six course meal for us which was delicious. This was followed by a brilliant firework display on the other side of the bay. I was sat at the beach bar for this event and the staff had gone that extra mile to decorate it beautifully and made sure every guest was looked after. While I was there I discovered that this hotel was one of only two family run hotels at this resort so I was glad I chose it. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this hotel and I would certainly consider going back. I'd book early enough and chose a room with a sea view next time.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hotel is great. Staff very friendly and great food. The hotel is furthermore situated so you are out of the wind at almost all times. The best hotel in Santa Town. We saw people lying on a windy beach at the expensive resorts wishing for something like Odjo...
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Date of stay: March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is the hotel I have stayed at. I have stayed in many all over the world and have only ever left a rave review for one- Muang Kulay Pan in Thailand which was amazing. If you ever come to Sal I highly recommend this place. Firstly its beautiful. Secondly. The staff are amazing. Thirdly the family that run it are on site and not only do they win first prize for being the most beautiful family ever because the whole family looks like they're runway models but they are so friendly and warm. Extra special shout out to the son Rafael who not only has no qualms about hanging out with guests but will hook you up for anything you need and get you a discount. I had a running joke with him daily that I had a complaint. His face would drop for a second then he'd laugh cos my complaint was I had no complaints! Oh. And its a cape verdian family so even better!!! I have seen some fancy looking hotels in the area but this one has an old worldly charm. Beautiful music constantly playing at just the right volume in the chill out areas, beautiful artwork, beautiful gardens, all areas clean, all staff friendly from the cleaners up, beautiful clean rooms. I recommend getting a sea view room where you will be lulled by the sounds of the waves at night. Good food, good cocktails, good breakfasts ( I only went bed and breakfast because it would be a shame to not patronise the local run restaurants in a place such as this which is an African island and of course they got hit hard by the pandemic). It is also on a very good stretch of the beach because some parts of the beach are bleak. So all in all 10/10 for this hotel if you come to Sal. And although it's a 4 star it's actually not expensive at all but even if it was I think it would be worth it!! If I come back this will be the only place I stay.❤❤❤ this hotel will destress you like no other living up to the cape verdian motto of "no stress".
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very nice little hotel. Right on the beach. Nice infinity pool that is right against the ocean water, just spectacular view. Every night beach stuff such as bands, fitness games, all kinds of stuff happening. Nice shops everywhere. Prices are ridiculous lol. If you want to buy a gift for someone make sure you don’t pay more then half the price they’ll tell you at first. I’m serious. If the item is 200 Euro don’t pay more then 100 Euro and really for most stuff I was able to get it at about 30% of asking price. The entire town is very small and lives of tourism. That’s why they will try to take all tour money lol. At hotel food was good but small portions. Bottled water only to drink. Don’t take a chance. Very Clean Rooms. Has WiFi.
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Date of stay: July 2019Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Odjo d'Agua Hotel, Marketing at Odjo D'agua Hotel
Responded Mar 1, 2020
Dear, We are glad you took some time to write this review. Great tips for the future guest and we could see you are a great at bargaining hehe :) keep it up :) We hope to have your here again with us . Best Regards, Silvia Varela
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Manchester, United Kingdom16 contributions12 helpful votes
Not too busy in November. Situation with sun loungers is disgraceful. They charge 4Euro per person per day, public can use them and there is no proiority shown for hotel guests, plus, there are nowhere near enough loungers.
Manchester, United Kingdom16 contributions12 helpful votes
Beach towels from reception, replace is possible every 3 days. Bottle of water on arrival then you buy your own from local shops.
Be aware that you pay for sun beds on beach and there are not enough.
There are more places to choose from in the Santa Maria area.
PRICE RANGE
$120 - $173 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
odjo d agua hotel, hotel odjo d agua
LOCATION
Cape VerdeIlha do SalSanta Maria
NUMBER OF ROOMS
113
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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