Cape Verde

[Pissant]

Any recommendations on where/when to go ?

Considering trying it out in winter - two adults, no DC.

I have a couple of brochures from the travel agent - but there isn't much in there - and the travel agent didn't have that much advice to offer - other than Sal might be the livelier island ?

Wondering the same here.

We stayed at the Rui on Boa Vista. Our DTs were quite small so we didn't really venture out but others who did said there wasn't much to see on the day trips to other areas.

I looked into this myself and did quite a bit of research. came to the conclusion that if you want to go, stay in the hotel and read a book its a fab place to do absolutely nothing in. if you want to go somewhere with a bit of life then go somewhere else.

Thanks for the replies.

Will do a little more research before booking.

Just fancied somewhere for Jan/Feb - which might be more reliably warm than the Canaries which have been a little disappointing the past few trips.

We went to Sal last year and it is beautiful, totally unspoilt and only just starting out in the tourism market. The hotels are fantastic and the beaches are stunning; pure white sand, just beautiful.

The Cape Verdean people are very friendly, but very poor. Most live in shanty towns in the deserts. They will hassle you to buy their wares or visit their shop, you need to be very firm. The hotels all have armed security outside to prevent any locals from attempting to enter. This may seem extreme, but it is creating employment for locals and you don't notice it after a while. There is only one proper road currently built on the island, which runs centrally down the middle. Journeys elsewhere need to be made in 4x4s on dirt tracks. There are a few excursions, one to the salt lakes which is fantastic and worth doing. An island tour will take you to see a mirage, sharks, and an optical illusion created by sunlight.

If you are not phased by any of this, I would say go now before it becomes too commercialised. We would return in a heartbeat for a relaxing all inclusive holiday with spectacular beaches.

Be warned, it can be very windy. We went in late July and there was a steady breeze, but the winds can get to hurricane force. There is also quite a lot of building going on, as new hotels are being built. Currently, there are less than 50 hotels on the whole island ( that's just a guess, probably less than that).

Florida keys has lovely warm weather at that time of year. also Belize. can give you info on both trips if you are interested.

SueDunome If the hotels are all inclusive most of the income and profits will go to the tour operators and not the local economy. The hotels might provide jobs for a few locals, so it's not surprising that the rest of the locals hassle visitors in order to sell their wares.

You might want to be aware that Zika has been reported - so best to take all health recommendations about mosquito protection seriously.

Egypt best value money and weather wise but currently unsafe, sorry to say.
In the future when things improve perhaps.

I didn't know Zika had reached?

Ah well - will keep an eye out for more info - there's plenty of time. I like to break up our winter -and have for the past few years taken a week in the Feb half term in the Canaries. But the weather has been unreliable - so am fed up of being disappointed.

No DC travelling with us any longer so we aren't tied to dates/duration.

Florida is def on my list of possibles.

I have a list of definite no -gos too which does limit winter breaks.I won't go to Egypt or Dubai which are (or have been) quite popular for many people.

Highly recommend the Melia Dunas resort on Sal.
All inclusive, 7 pools, lots of love,y restaurants and bars, super clean, rooms are v spacious, food was delicious, staff could not have been more helpful.
It's near to the fishing village of Santa Maria, but as pp said. Cape Verde is pretty barren and a very poor country, so not a huge amount to do outside of the resorts.
Lovely weather pretty much all year round tho!

NicknameUsed, the reason that all the hotels are AI is because the island is completely barren; nothing is grown here and all the food has to be exported to the island.
Tourism is making a huge difference to the locals; the majority of the staff are locals (exception being holiday company reps!).
I don't have a problem with the locals selling to tourists - we ventured out quite a bit and bought several items. The OP was asking for information, so I was just letting her know. Some people don't being hassled on holiday, in fact several people staying when we were staying did not leave the hotel because of it.

Is it correct then that Sal has a little more to do outside of the hotel complex ?

There are some hotels in the brochures which are bed and breakfast. There look to be some restaurants etc in Santa Maria ?

Santa Maria harbour and beach is lovely. You can watch the fishermen unload the boats into baskets and there's a market -type atmosphere there. There are several cafés and restaurants there, reasonably priced and delicious food.
There is horse riding available, as well as snorkeling and diving.

That sounds more like my type of break Sue

I have never done an AI hotel based holiday before - I think it would drive me crazy if I had to stay in all the time.

Santa Maria it is then :)