Boa Vista - Cape Verde

I recently visited Cape Verde for the first time, flying directly from Glasgow to Boa Vista; a relatively short trip of 6 ½ hours. We stayed at the Riu Karamboa set on a lovely sandy beach within a mile of the airport (the transfer time is on about 5 minutes!)

Riu Karamboa is a lovely complex. The rooms are nicely decorated in an African style and feature a balcony or terrace with lovely views. There is a huge lagoon style pool area and swim-up bar and guests also benefit from a large beach area with sunbeds and umbrellas so there are plenty of options!

The hotel is all-inclusive and offers a fantastic choice of food for all main meals; so much so you could eat here for 2 weeks and still not sample all they have to offer. The dinner menu changes daily and wine, beer and soft drinks are available continuously. For those who prefer something different, there are other restaurant options include local African and Asian cuisine. Some of the hotel’s bars got quite busy at peak times, but staff were friendly and there was a great selection of drinks. The live shows in the evening were some of the best I have experienced in this style of hotel, with a very varied programme.

As well as the evening entertainment and great pool area, guests can also enjoy a full varied activity programme, a spa and wellness centre, shops and even a nightclub! The hotel is perfect for children as well with a ‘Kids Club’, a playground and a separate pool for children, away from the main pool area.

For me, if you are looking for a totally relaxing holiday, and are happy to forget about shopping for a week or two, then I would thoroughly recommend this hotel. The beaches stretch for miles, with golden sands which are great for walks, and there is a constant breeze which takes the sting out of the sun. Apart from the hotel complexes, there isn’t a lot to do on the island, but they provide more than enough entertainment and high quality food and drink to give you a memorable holiday experience!