Hotel Riu Karamboa - All Inclusive - Adults Only

Second visit to Cape Verde, first stay at Karamboa, WOW just WOW! Totally LOVED every minute! So clean, amazing staff, amazing food so much choice and all fresh, brilliant entertainment....Everything was just perfect. Thank you!

We checked on line, but we still had to join the que to checkin. There is little benefit to this option. Room. The room is a good size. Our room was a long way from the pool area. The bathroom had dirty floors and stains on the toilet seat and bottom of the pedestal was stained. The shower door didn't close properly and the door seal was coming off/broken. Towels were not always replaced and had to ask for them. Bedding was overused with bubbly bits on the bed sheets. Stains on the sofa. Again, had to ask for the sheets as they had only left one sheet instead of 2. There were hairs, stains and bits on the sheets. You could often find others peoples hairs on the floor. Floor in bedroom also not very clean. Mini bar was not restocked every 2 days as stated. Damp patches on the walls near the door. Dead fly in room which I had to remove as it had just been left my the maid. Cobwebs on the ceiling. Pool. Getting to the pool area was a long way. At no point are you made aware how far it was to walk to the pools and beach. The pool area is dirty with stains on the floor around the sunbeds. This area never gets swept. This is from drinks being spilled and food being left. There are flies everywhere. The bars areas spray but there are many flies. You see dead flies all over the floors. The shower for cleaning feet from the beach is always full and with stagnant water. Men do try to get rid of the water but it back within a hour or so. Many of the sunbeds are ripped /broken and we fell through. Be aware. Many of the parasols are broken. Restaurant Food is often over cooked and cold including the soup. Always very similar each day. You can often find food and cutlery on the floor around the tables. It can be there for a couple’s days. Placemats are often stained. You could not get a tomato for 4 days. Entertainment area. Stained floors, seats is falling apart and cushions ripped. Rui Party. It might be part of the activities for the hotel. However, it does not say anywhere that other RUI hotels would be attending. The manager said 2 or 3 thousand people. We had to use plastic glasses!. The manager said they use polycarbonate glasses (still plastic!) . This was because of the people getting drunk. I do not like be stereotyped as a drunk! I have never been treated like this in a real 5 start hotel. This party was not held in the entertainment area it spilled out into the nonsmoking area and the lobby area. The bars were often 3 fold to get a drink and a very long waiting time. This meant for us and many more there was no alternative place for us, only our bedroom. There needs to be an area where you can stay if you do not wish to go the loud party. The hotel is very tired and needs a good overall. Well below other RUI hotels, this is Not 5*.

This hotel is lovely in a beautiful location. Rooms are very clean & serviced daily. Pool area’s & gardens are immaculate and never an issue getting a sun lounger. Most of the staff are lovely and will go above and beyond however the staff in the pool bar areas are a bit arrogant and unprofessional. There’s a good variety of food however I struggled with wheat free options, the information is not clear and not everything has wheat information displayed. One day i almost ate a toastie that didn't have the correct Information displayed and it did it contain wheat but i was only made aware when i doubled checked. When you ask the staff, not all of them understand! So, lots of guess work. Often the utensils for wheat free are contaminated with other ingredients with guest and staff mixing them up and putting them in the wrong place. No information with any of the food in the sports bar or pool bars so avoid if you are wheat free. Very little choice for people with allergies in general especially the desserts and if you ask, they just point to the fruit. a big hotel group like Riu could do a lot better and maybe have a separate area for allergies.

We just did 11 nights at this hotel and it was amazing! I don’t know where the bad reviewers are staying because it definitely wasn’t here! I’ve tried to summarise each area as clear as possible so I hope it helps! FOOD - Amazing! Honestly you need to be the fussiest eater in the world to struggle with the food. The buffet is the best buffet I have been to in a very long time. There’s the main buffet is outstanding, plenty of choice. The lunch buffet has slightly less choice but it is still worth a visit. - Speciality restaurants. The al le carte is wow, just wow! The food and service is amazing, felt very special. Worth a visit (we booked it at 2 in the morning to get in). The Italian and Asian are nice but since they are buffets there’s not that much difference. The only negative here was they were slow bringing drinks out in the Asian an Italian like awkwardly slow. DRINK - The drinks are lovely! Cocktails are brilliant they can make anything if you ask! The pina coladas were our favourite! - Wine was lovely! Only negative was they didn’t serve fizz at all. ROOMS - So so clean! Never saw the cleaner’s and they always left the room so pretty with flowers. Drinks in the mini bar always refilled. The shower was a bit hit and miss but the bed was very comfy! We had a double room, just beautiful. POOLS - Just lovely! They are heated slightly so it’s lovely to walk into. The swim up bars were brilliant the the fact there was TWO! The main pools are nice as well. You could get a sun bed at any time there was plenty! BEACH - The beach itself was beautiful. Soft sand, lovely waters and very comfy beds. The only problem was the sellers. I don’t mind one or two but the was a lot and after a while we pretended to be asleep so they wouldn’t stop by. I think the hotel needs to control the amount that is there. ENTERTAINMENT - So the animation team work their butts off and are amazing!!! The Friday night parties are out of this world so well done staff!! The woman who sings at 7:30 is so so good! Is the entertainment cheesy, yes! But that’s what you go for you aren’t in Vegas or paying 1000s to go to the west end they are working so hard! The only bad one was the rock night. We found the singer very rude and awkward to watch as he kept having strops On stage! STAFF - All staff were very good but here’s some that shone! Carlos in the main restaurant for dinner (what a gem!) Augusta in the main restaurant Samir and Camara in the pool bar you legends!

Quiet laid back and stress free. Just what the wife and I needed. Can’t fault the hotel, staff or anything. Hotel was immaculately kept clean. Staff always cleaning. Best kept poolside toilets I’ve ever used. Nothing but praise for the place and people.

We had an okay holiday but both went down with a stomach bug and still suffering a week after getting home. Travelled with friends who really made our holiday. The food was actually pretty good but there is an issue as a number of people we met also went down with the dreaded stomach cramps etc. Room was nice and cleaners good although problem with towels not being left on a number of days. Entertainment was okay and Friday night Party good fun. Bar staff worked hard to supply the worst all inclusive alcohol I have tasted. It was dire. Only found out in second week there was a small selection of branded drinks available if you asked. Cocktails were discusting !! Grounds were lovely and very well maintained. Sun beds were available all day although parasols in great demand with many broken ones laying around. The beach is good and a nice bar a 15 minute stroll away if you fancy a change. Unlikely to return and would give the hotel next door a go instead as really liked Boa Vista.