Cape Verde

markwilkinson

Hello fellow travellers

Has anyone been to Cape Verde?

It cartainly looks intruiging but I have some questions if I may.

Thompson etc seem to be only offering all-inclusive holidays which makes me wonder if there arn't enough bars and restaraunts in the local areas to accomodate tourists?

Whilst photo's on the web look stunning is there actually anything else to do other than lie on beech and use the watersports facilities?

Are there any times of year to avoid, weather-wise I mean.

Thanks for your help!

blue_haddock

I went three years ago to Sal which is one of the Cape Verde islands, they also go to boa vista now although i think these comments will cover both.

I didnt stay in the big all inclusive Rui hotel so cant comment on the accomadation but the 'town' was barely a small village with a handful of bars and restaurants.

There is little to do apart from lie on the beach or use the hotel facilities, the sea is very rough and choppy so sea swimming would be difficult. There is also a strong wind all the time so on the beach there is quite a bit of sand being blown around.

The island itself has very little to see and do, yes there are a few options of trips but lets just say if you want to actually get out and do things then Cape Verde is not for you.

markwilkinson

Thanks Blue Haddock - doesn't sound like our thing really. The wife might enjoy it but i'd be bored rigid within about 18 hours:rotfl:

Thanks for taking the trouble to respond to my post.

blue_haddock

No problem chap - i went as i fancied something a bit different to spain nad portugal. For me it wasnt a problem as on my holidays i like peace and quiet which wasnt hard to get there!

Dont get me wrong i did enjoy things but you do need to be prepared for something quite different to a usual holiday destination. A couple of the bars and restaurants were good such as one that was on the old harbour wall which did great pizzas and was ideal for watching the sun go down.

silvercar

I met people who had been there and they said the wind spoils everything. Too windy on the beach, too windy for boat trips. Its marketed as a luxury place but they felt the all inclusive hotels were more like Butlins.

kaya

My friend brought a villa there that was being built 5 years ago, he visited once for 2 days and vowed never to go back there as he hated it so much!

markwilkinson

Shame really - it looks a lovely place. Like Blue Haddock we were looking for somewhere as an alternative to Spain and Greece. Trouble is we don't like All Inclusive so much, we always go self-catering. We arn't clubbers but we are 'foodie' types and one of the biggest parts of a holiday for us is to hunt out good bars and restaurants - one of our first jobs on arrival is to have a wander about and have a look at the local places menus etc, select a few we want to try and discount the majority lol.

kathandgeoff

we like something to do, don't want to spend our holiday lying on the beach. Have you looked at Croatia? Dubrovnik is nice & interesting. Also Turkey, Side is interesting!

Both Turkey & Croatia food is good and people are friendly! Out of the Euro zone too so not so expensive - esp. Turkey!

blue_haddock

silvercar wrote: »

I met people who had been there and they said the wind spoils everything. Too windy on the beach, too windy for boat trips. Its marketed as a luxury place but they felt the all inclusive hotels were more like Butlins.

I wouldnt say it spoils it, for me it was quite nice to have a refreshing breeze however it does mean that sun bathing on the beach is difficult as you get blasted by the sand.

I never ventured into the big all inclusive hotels but there was a strip of them all backing onto the main beach, they all looked nice but the lack of infrastructure (like a paved road!) around them is the problem.

If your into self catering and eating out it would not be a good destination for you. i would recommend dubrovnik though as i went there the year before Cape Verde and i loved it.