Hotel Riu Touareg

It is very hard to write a review about this location without it being prejudiced by my experience which is out of the control of the hotel and it’s staff. The island is amazing, beautifully rugged, very hot with almost guaranteed perfect weather but is so far removed from what we call normal civilisation, it is equally refreshing and moving to see how some societies still live. The people, culture and hospitality are perfect, very friendly and helpful. The hotel is rated as five star premier and upon arrival it certainly looks that way, huge opulent reception area, 24 hour bar service, grand entertainment area and numerous stunning pools. However when you get beneath the outer wrapper the real hotel comes to the front, dated rooms, cracked and dirty walls (see photos), aged bedding and poor air con (room1204). The hotel offers an adults only area for a fee upon booking which I would advise you to consider, you get optics in your room, a mini bar (all part of all in) access to the adults only beach area and pool with its own bar and a fantastic ala carte restaurant (1visit per stay) The food is adequate in the general restaurant with lots of choice and everything is hot and cooked very well. The only problem was all the flies which nothing seems to be being done to try and reduce and prevent, as such all the cold meats, fruit and cheese are exposed and uncovered leaving it open to all the flies. The service is good, with the staff very smart and friendly, but as this hotel is huge (3000 up to) it gets very busy and staff have a large area to cover. The one big comment I have a bout this stunning location is the people it attracts, it seems to be another version of Benidorm but slightly dearer, groups of chavs with vulgar language, JD sports bags over shoulders and drunk by 10am and very loud bring this place down which is such a shame as on the face of it, it seems perfect. I am not sure what the hotel can do about the people it attracts but there were a few comments made about five star hotel attracting three star people, which on reflection seems to be a very suitable description. I don’t agree that this is a five star hotel more of a 3.5-4, there are too many issues with the quality overall that don’t get a full thumbs up. Overall a lovely clean and friendly place which does cater for all people, however under the surface the standards do not continue. My holiday was enjoyable and I am very glad I came, but once is enough for me. Good luck.

Cape Verde has been on my bucket list for a long time, but the build up to this holiday was completely ruined by the reports of illness, thefts and yob like behaviour of guests. We tried to move the holiday 6 weeks before, but First Choice were shockingly unhelpful, so it was a case of lose everything or go and put up with it. So we came but armed with dettol wipes, hand gels and everything you need for dodgy tums, leaving anything valuable at home so no temptation for thieves. So, my review (and “don’t listen to the negative reviews” type comments are really not helpful as others may have different standards- these are mostly facts rather than opinions). When checking in, was told we had a lovely room with a sea view in the adults only section (as booked). He drew on the diagram a room facing the beach so we headed that way, only to find it was not there at all, but a horribly small, filthy and tatty side room. Disgusting bead curtain instead of wardrobe doors that are really grotty, none existent air conditioning and two twin beds (for a honeymoon!) see photos of the cracked shower, filthy walls which include a footprint, bedding that I would have put in the rag pile long ago as grey, bobbled and stained. The pool area at the adults only was quieter than the other pools but the pool is in a poor state with so many tiles missing and rotten wooden pillars on the canopies. The 4 poster day beds were usually taken by people who slept there.... we were out around 6.30 and people asleep on them, we also heard one couple complaining that they had been out to put towels down at 4.20 but when they came after breakfast, someone else was on their beds. I didn’t fancy them as plastic mattresses and all those sweaty bodies.... prefer a normal sun lounger and these were always available. Food- after spotting a deep fried 2inch moth in the potatoes in the snack bar, we stuck to the main restaurant for meals. Vast choice, though we tried to get there early, as it was horribly chaotic later. We avoided anything not cooked fresh in front of us, as the flies all over everything (everywhere, inc the adults only snack bar) made my stomach churn and is highly likely the cause of all the stomach upsets (plenty of it going around). Another possible for the dodgy tummies could be the pool plastic glasses - they are very scratched and stained. The hotel has little control over the actions of its guests, but unless something is done to update the place and address the issues that render this place less like an older version of an 18-30 Benidorm holiday, they will lose their 5 star “premier” status. I would be generous to rate this experience as 3 star, and will never book through Tui or a Riu again if this is the best they do.