Anyone been to Cape Verde?

[StarlitTrees]

Booked a holiday this weekend to Sal, Cape Verde in July, for 2 adults and a 10 and 7 year old.
It's the most we've ever spent by far on a holiday so maybe thats why I'm now having a panic...

The more videos on YouTube I watch and photos/Google earth I look at the more I'm panicking there's absolutely nothing to do there. Just looks like a desert with a few hotels....
I thought Santa Maria was more of a large town, but can't see much there. And every video I see is windy and grey and people being thrown about in the sea.

Really hoping someone who has been can put my mind at rest. Is Sal a good place to go on a family holiday?

Dh and I did but we went to Boa Vista where I’m told there is even less to do! Even so, TUI have fabulously monopolised every commodity there is out there (not much but enough) and we went on a couple of their excursions and had an amazing time. There was a nice breeze but it was flipping roasting and we appreciated it, never once felt cold (apart from getting into the pool but it was fine once in!). Truly beautiful and still relatively unspoilt part of the world, at least Boa Vista was, can’t speak for Sal but know a few people who have been there, both couples never left the resort so no idea what’s to do out and about there!

Yeah, those holidays are really about the hotel experience rather than the country. We went in Jan and it was gorgeous weather. Beach is fab.

There are excursions (salt water lake, quad bikes, swimming with baby sharks) and there's a marina/town but 95% of most guests' time is spent at the hotels.

To be fair though, the best night we had was dancing and boozing in a locals bar!

No but I really want to do I'm placemarking

Its normally about the hotel amd what the hotel has to offer
6 swimming pools, 4 different restaurants etc

I went to Sal, and very nearly drowned in the sea , first and last time i went in

No lifeguards or anyone infact. Very deserted.
Luckily i was with a friend who saved me.

Yes I will say that the sea is incredibly rough, we went in for a swim and a paddle on a couple of occasions and once you get part the heavy breaking waves right at the shore it’s lovely but getting to that part is hard going and not something I’d want to do with kids at all, but the hotel pools were fine for the times we wanted to just chill out there. Plus the swim up bar is a big bonus (we were there without dc!). At our hotel we heard about a couple of beach bars to either side of the hotel, one was a 20 minute walk and the other closer to an hour. We visited these both a couple of times and had a dinner at one of them, all such fab experiences to be honest, it was just a tiny patch of paradise!

I personally haven't been, but reviewed and looked into it in detail recently, and a friend went there last year.

I like to explore, see museums, day trips, try local food and see local sights. I got the impression that majority of food is imported- so expensive. Most people stay at their resort- because there simply isn't much else to see and do and weather and sea conditions can be unpredictable. If you like all inclusive things and stay in the hotel most of the time- it might be ok. We decided against it though.

I've been to Sal more than once, stayed in Sol/Melia Dunas.

The island is not exotic. When you land you might get a bit nervous as it is a desert landscape with not much vegetation. They don't grow anything on the island so everything is imported in. The hotels are obviously well stocked with plenty of vegetation but it is a dry island, Sal means 'salt'. That said, the beaches are absolutely stunning.

It is windy. You'll need towel pegs for example to keep your towels on the sunbeds. No worse than Tenerife though. It also helps from overheating, but watch out for sunburn.

There are things to do like island tours, swimming with lemon sharks, zip lining, visiting Santa Maria etc. Depending on the hotel there's lots to do for kids there too.

Santa Maria isn't huge but does have plenty of restaurants/bars. Just turn your hotel bands inside out otherwise you'll have people "who work at your hotel" trying to sell you things.

Aside from all that, the attitude of the island is "always tomorrow, no stress" so it's a very relaxed vibe, the people are friendly, the hotels are stunning and for me, there is a good mix of things to do without feeling pressured to do lots of excursions.

I've been to Sal

It was windy

We went on buggy ride to the salt flats
We went on a sailing boat with snorkeling
We went to see the small sharks in the sea

The best thing was horse riding, galloping on the sandy beach

It is not Spain or the Canary Islands, it is fairly undeveloped

Take a book to read

just wondering about vaccinations for kids? im going with my 5 year old and wondering if shes needs any vaccines before travel?

I went with my kids who were 11 and 8 at the time. There’s not loads to do but there’s a few excursions - volcano trip, boat trip, swimming with sharks. Santa Maria is small and the shops are most touristy trinkets but there’s some nice beach bars and a very laid back vibe.

I have been to Sal

It is not like Spain, Portugal or France

It is a new holiday destination, so there is not much there

We went on a buggy ride to the salt mines, went on a sailing boat, horse riding on beach, went to a place with non biting sharks. The town is very small, with just a few cafes & shops selling souvenirs

It can be very windy

Take some books or magazines to read, card games

You may need to pay £20 visa per person on entry at the airport

Good luck

Look at Nathnac online