9 of the best hotels on Boa Vista
• Best for romance: Guest House Fusion Villa • Best for adults-only relaxation: Hotel Riu Karamboa• Best for getting back to nature: Spinguera Ecolodge • Best for serenity: AHG Marine Club Beach Resort
This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue
£ | POOL | Best for romance
A ten-minute drive from Sal Rei, this hotel — featuring six Maldives-style thatched villas — is easily one of the most romantic places to stay on the island. The pool is a highlight, wending its way around the curved stone villas, which each sleep two. Inside, the decor is stylish and low-key, with bleached beechwood arches and mirrored patio doors that maintain privacy, while individual balconies let the light flood in.
• More of the best hotels in Cape Verde
£ | Best for beach bums
These chic beach bungalows, best suited to couples, come with spacious decked terraces so you can relax under the palm trees in complete privacy. Each room, decorated in calming colours with natural materials, feels spacious thanks to generous patio doors that open to the beach. A short walk along the sand is Perola d'Chaves, a vibey Caribbean-themed bar that is a good spot for beach barbecues and sundowners — it's so popular that other hotels lay on transport for guests.
£ | Best for getting back to nature
A stay at this magical ecolodge on the protected Norte Natural Park, on the northern shores of Boa Vista, is your chance to experience a wilder side of the island. The old fishing and farming village has been transformed into a set of airy, simplistic bedrooms and sandstone villas, sandwiched between desert and sea. There are plenty of sustainability ticks too: hot water is solar powered, the hair dryers have low energy consumption and the food is locally sourced where possible.
• Which is the best Cape Verde island? Here's how to choose
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for getting away from it all
It is easy to feel as though you are staying at your own remote desert oasis at Riu Touareg, in a plum position on the wide expanse of Lacacao beach. Next door you'll find Santa Monica — another glorious sandy strip. The hotel is all-inclusive and — while large, with more than 1,100 rooms — feels spacious, with palm-lined promenades, grand arches and soothing water features, as well as three saltwater pools tucked into beautiful gardens.
• Discover our full guide to Cape Verde
£ | Best for rooftop views
This no-frills pad is suited to those on a budget: far enough from the centre of Sal Rei to be fairly peaceful but close enough to access the city by foot. Guests can soak in the rooftop hot tub, which commands panoramic views of Estoril beach and the uninhabited Sal Rei Islet across the channel. Rooms are colourful and contemporary, with blackout curtains to keep the sun from interrupting post-cocktail slumbers, and the ferry port is a 20-minute walk away, making it a convenient base for exploring the other islands too.
£ | POOL | Best for serenity
Marine Club Beach Resort stands on a serene rocky cove just north of Sal Rei and has magical views of the bay. It's designed to feel like a mini village and, while rooms are simplistic, there's a small amphitheatre where entertainment is provided most evenings. The town is a 20-minute wander away. All in all, it's the perfect place for those in search of somewhere quiet to kick back near the beach.
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for adults-only relaxation
Grand turquoise domes, bright white turrets and grounds lined with elegant mosaic pools reflecting rustling palm trees give this hotel a sultan-like style. It's surrounded by calming, windswept dunes, and guests can pad along the dramatic sandy stretch of Salines beach, which leads to a clutch of shops selling arts and crafts, sarongs and scuba equipment. Unusually for an adults-only resort, the hotel also includes a water park, so you can be a big kid without worrying about the little ones.
£ | Best for authenticity
Canary-coloured Orquidea, tucked away in a sandy corner of Estoril beach, is one of the most authentic places to stay on the island. Food is a family affair, as guests tuck into homemade guava jam at breakfast, taken in a palm-dappled courtyard. For dinner it's a ten-minute wander to Sodade, a well-regarded restaurant with a museum run by the owner's daughter. Rooms are great value and it is worth plumping for the superior option, with a balcony where you can kick back in a hammock overlooking the bay.
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for familiesDirectly above Chaves beach, one of best stretches of sand on the island, the curvy, colourful Occidental (formerly the Royal Horizon) has a distinctive Mediterranean feel in its rustic terraces and terracotta-coloured villas, most of which come with knockout ocean views. Should you want to keep fit, there are regular free aerobics, aquafit and archery classes, as well as a kids' club and live music most evenings.
• Is it safe to visit Cape Verde? Everything to know after holiday illness claims• Best things to do in Cape Verde
Have you visited Cape Verde? Share your favourite spots in the comments
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Telegraph
The best beaches in Suffolk
Suffolk doesn't receive the same attention as its close cousin Norfolk when it comes to beaches, but the coast is one of the county's highlights, and its beaches offer more variety than you might think. Aldeburgh and Southwold offer coastal chic in bucketloads, while places like Covehithe and Shingle Street are as far off the beaten track as you ever get in England. Plus, there's a dash of kiss-me-quick charm in some of the places you would least expect it, like Felixstowe and Lowestoft. The great thing is, nowhere is close to a main road or major transport route, so wherever you go, you feel a little bit away from things. Lowestoft Lowestoft doesn't spring to mind when you think of beaches, but it is both England's most easterly beach and also one of its best; a long ribbon of fine sand, backed by a classically English mixture of beach huts, pristinely manicured gardens and Edwardian terraces. Getting there: Trains run from Norwich on the so-called Wherry Line from Norwich to Lowestoft's train station, which is handily placed near the seafront, just across the bridge from the pier and the main beach. By car, there are several car parks along the beach promenade. Insider tip: Lowestoft is also the southern tip of the Broads National Park, so you can also enjoy freshwater adventures a little way inland at Oulton Broad, where you can rent your own boat for the day or take a river cruise. You can reach it by train in two minutes. Covehithe This unique spot, a slender strip of sand backed by low bracken-topped cliffs, is reachable via a footpath from Covehithe's ruined church. If you prefer your beaches empty, this is the one for you. Getting there: Follow the signs to Covehithe off the main A12 from nearby Wrentham. Park your car by the ruined church of St Andrew and walk the rest of the way. Insider tip: The church is very atmospheric, and there's a five-mile circular walk you can do just inland from here, north around Benacre Broad and back down the coast to the beach. Southwold Genteel Southwold has a lot going for it – a handsome town centre crammed with pubs, restaurants and cafés, an iconic lighthouse and brewery and one of Suffolk's best sandy beaches, famously backed by some of the most expensive beach huts in the country. Getting there: The closest car park to the beach is the one just to the north of the pier, but there's another within easy walking distance, just the other side of the high street on York Road. Insider tip: Southwold Pier is delightfully low-key, with a restaurant that's a cut above the usual seaside pier offerings, and attractions like the wacky Under the Pier Show. Walberswick Its annual crabbing festival was stopped a few years ago due to overwhelming popularity, but Walberswick remains the crabbing capital of the east coast. But that's not the only reason to come here: its beach (a mixture of sand and shingle depending on the tides) is lovely – not too crowded and backed by grassy dunes. Getting there: The nicest way to reach Walberswick is on the quaint foot ferry across the river from Southwold's harbour, but it's also easy to reach by car and there's plenty of parking close to the river and beach. Insider tip: Walberswick is home to two excellent pubs – the cosy Bell, closest to the beach, and the slightly better-known Anchor, on the main road into the village. Both have rooms and serve food, with The Anchor in particular a destination pub for dining. Aldeburgh Benjamin Britten used to gaze out over Aldeburgh's beach from his seaside cottage before he moved to the Red House on the other side of town, and he'd still recognise the view today; a lumpy pebble and shingle strand dotted with fishing boats that stretches the length of the town and is backed by huts selling the freshest fish and seafood. How to get there: Aldeburgh is a 10-minute drive from the main A12 coast road. There's parking on the high street, which runs parallel to the beach, and car parks at either end of the town, right by the beach in both cases. Insider tip: Take a stroll up the beach in the direction of Thorpeness to Maggi Hambling's impressive Scallop shell sculpture, inscribed with words from the George Herbert poem that inspired Britten's opera, Peter Grimes. Shingle Street Shingle Street is perhaps the most unique of Suffolk's beaches, and indeed one of its most remote spots, at the end of a minor road that leads across the marshes south of Woodbridge. The name is a bit of a misnomer, since there are no streets here whatsoever, just a line of holiday homes and seaside shacks behind a wide stretch of shingle that looks onto a lagoon. Shingle Street never quite recovered after a World War II evacuation, and it remains an eerie and rather atmospheric spot, one more suited for contemplation than sun-worshipping. Getting there: It's easy to get here by car – the road leads here and nowhere else. There are a couple of parking areas, but nothing official. Insider tip: The beach is more of a nature reserve than somewhere for swimming, with seals basking on the shingle around the lagoon. Felixstowe Felixstowe is another Suffolk town that doesn't spring to mind when thinking of beaches, but it actually has a pretty good one – a four-mile stretch of Blue Flag sand and shingle with all the traditional trappings of a seaside resort – beach huts, a pier and a garden promenade. How to get there: You can reach Felixstowe on the train from Ipswich, and the station is just a 10-minute walk from the seafront. Coming by car, there are car parks near the pier and leisure centre and at the other end near Arwela Road. Insider tip: The Alex is a popular café, bar and restaurant that's open all day every day, and is right on the seafront road, not far from the pier and leisure centre. How we choose Every beach in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser known corners – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Martin Dunford Dividing my time between East Anglia and London, I've always been a big fan of the Suffolk Coast and the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, and am never happier than when following old footpaths between medieval churches and ancient pubs.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Selfish' holiday habit divides travellers who can't decide which is correct plane etiquette – where do you stand?
A TRAVELLER has shared how they got in trouble for being 'selfish' while travelling. Taking to social media, the jet-setter was solo travelling on a flight when they decided to make themselves more comfortable. 2 2 Taking to Reddit, they revealed that they decided to recline their seat back, but the woman behind was not happy. 'This lady behind me just screeches and swears,' the poster shared. 'I turn around, because I had reclined my seat, her drink had spilled. "I felt so terrible, apologised and she just says don't recline your seat and proceeds to say it's fine.' The traveller said they then waited for the woman to finish her drink for almost an hour, but the damage was already done. The woman behind refused to let them recline their seat again. Fortunately, the flight attendant was on the traveller's side and attempted to diffuse the situation. The poster said they then contacted a flight attendant for assistance, who, fortunately, had their back. 'He tells me that I can just recline the seat without asking her, and I say that I got yelled at and she was just mean,' the poster said. 'He just looks at me confused, goes to the lady and says that I want to recline my seat, therefore he's going to do it for me. The deeply selfish holiday trend sweeping Europe's beaches this summer – and it's WORSE than sunbed hogging "She gets angry, she says the table hits her belly, she can't watch her movie, says she doesn't have enough space and just complains. 'The flight attendant just says 'This is how the aircraft is built, if you look around there are multiple people who have their seats reclined. If you want to complain, you are free to do so on the Qatar Airways site'.' But the fight didn't end there, with more shoving and complaining from the woman for the rest of the flight. The Reddit user shared their story hoping for sympathy, but it seems many deemed their actions selfish to others on the flight. "I've had food spilled all over me on Qatar flights multiple times because someone tried to recline their seat during meals,' said one person. Another wrote: 'In my humble and no doubt unpopular opinion, aircraft seating should not recline." 'I have never reclined my seat on an airplane, because I know it makes it uncomfortable for the person behind me. So I just don't do it,' penned a third. 'Everyone knows the airlines have made it so crowded that reclining your seat is just rude now. I don't recline my seat because I have respect for my fellow passengers,' added a fourth person. Plane etiquette IF you're planning on going away any time soon, you'll need to pay attention to the following unwritten plane etiquette rules... RECLINING SEAT: Podcast host and etiquette expert Nick Leighton explained that you shouldn't recline your seat if the passenger behind you is working on their laptop. He said: "Nobody likes their laptop snapped in half." Before you recline your seat, it's best to check to see what the passenger behind you is doing. If they are on a laptop, ask before you move your seat back. FEET: A flight attendant told The Sun: "Your boarding card tells you a number and a letter, this will be the reserved seat that you have paid for. "Your feet, which are attached to your body, should do their best to reside within this space and stay far away from anyone else. "If you do insist on stretching out, please make sure your feet are covered up." CHAT: TV travel expert Samantha Brown explained that conversations from strangers aren't welcome, suggesting that others shouldn't expect a chat. She added: "I'm not a talker. Plane time is me time."
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
I went to the exotic island named the most beautiful in the world – and it's about to be even easier to visit
THE world's most beautiful islands have been revealed - and the top spot is about to be easier to travel to from the UK. Big 7 Travel announced their annual top 50 best islands in the world, with Sri Lanka coming in no.1. 6 6 They explained: "This teardrop-shaped island off the southern coast of India has it all, from golden beaches to terraced tea plantations. "Whiling away blissful days beach-hopping along the 833-mile coastline is part of the charm, but Sri Lanka offers much more beyond the shore. "Itineraries fill up quickly here, between the timeworn temples, colonial towns, misty mountains, and wildlife safaris in Yala National Park, home to tigers and elephants." I was lucky enough to visit back in 2023, and realised quickly how the island really does have everything despite it's size. Being slightly smaller than the size of Ireland, I explored more than half of the island in just a week, travelling from the west to the south. One of the main draws of Sri Lanka are the 6,000 elephants on the island, many of which are free-roaming. I was left in awe during a private safari tour when we stumbled across a huge herd of them, relaxing in the fields. Don't worry about forgoing your morning cuppa - popular on the island is tea with huge plantations scattered throughout. A word of warning for foodies - the spice levels are up a notch from the standard UK Sri Lankan curries. But the delicious food is worth the steam coming out of your ears, as I gorged on rice and poppadoms and freshly cooked dishes. The exotic holiday island with beautiful beaches and elephant safaris You'll easily be able to catch a cricket game as well, remaining as a huge part of the culture following the British colonization of the island. Brits can even drive on the left side of the road, so getting around the island by car is easy. Not only that, but the island also has award-winning hotels, Cape Weligama which is often named one of the best hotels in the world. I sadly only stayed for one night, so was sad to miss the many activities from whale-watching trips to free-cocktail happy hours. I instead spent my evening in the beautiful crescent moon-shaped pool overlooking the ocean. I also stayed at Jetwing Vil Uyana, named one of the best eco-hotels in the world with its own infinity pool and Slender Loris book private tours. 6 6 6 And of course the island has award-winning beaches including Unawatuna Beach - said to be the best on the island - or Hiriketiya for surfers. If all of this has persuaded you to book a holiday, its about to be even easier to visit from the UK. Sri Lanka has confirmed plans to scrap visa fees for 33 countries, which includes the UK. This means Brits could save £37.50 each - meaning more than £100 for families. Tourists will instead have be able to apply for a much faster, and free, electronic travel authorisation. An official start date is yet to be confirmed. The cheapest direct flights operate from London Heathrow to Colombo from £627 with Sri Lankan Airlines, taking around 11 hours. Or you can book week-long TUI holiday packages from £912 each. 6
