Hotel
Convivial, Santa Maria, Sal
Beachfront Santa Maria
A Belgian owned hotel which is the best hotel in Santa Maria. It
was built in 1957 as a family home, not an hotel. It is now run
by the grand-daughter of the founder of the hotel, who speaks good
English. Each room in the hotel has a balcony looking onto a beautiful
garden or across this towards the sea. The hotel is set back from
the beach but with a fine sea view and swimming pool. You can dine
under mature trees and stars in the hotel courtyard. The Cape Verde
buffet on Saturday nights is an excellent array of local dishes.
The hotel offers archery, billiards, windsdurfing and diving and
has an attractive beach restaurant and a bar with a Happy Hour for
caprinhias in the main hotel bar.
Quarter Board is offerred at £65 which includes the Saturday
Cape Verde Buffet and arrival and departure evening meals. Full
board £ 260 pp per week, Half board £ 130 pp per week (evening meal,
choice of 2 starters, 2 main courses, 2 desserts, coffee/tea and
water included), It has just 140 rooms Every room has satellite
TV, fridge, free safe, telephone, ceiling fan and/or air conditioning
balcony and private shower room or bathroom.
Happy Hour
at the Verandah Bar upstairs from 1830 is a mecca for english-speaking
visitors.
The arrogant approach of Tommy has been rejected by Sophie, the
owner, so you will be spared the type of holidaymakers so infamous
in the Canaries and the Balearics.
Room |
Beds |
Jan-April |
May-June |
July-Dec |
Nights B&B £pp |
|
7 |
14 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
14 |
Seaview |
2 |
£527 |
£1055 |
£340 |
£680 |
£393 |
£787 |
Garden |
2 |
£474 |
£948 |
£313 |
£626 |
£367 |
£734 |
Duplex, Sea |
4 |
£461 |
£922 |
£302 |
£604 |
£347 |
£695 |
Family |
4 |
£322 |
£644 |
£221 |
£442 |
£254 |
£509 |
Sea Suite |
3 |
£490 |
£980 |
£317 |
£634 |
£366 |
£722 |
Garden Suite |
3 |
£377 |
£754 |
£249 |
£498 |
£285 |
£570 |
Master |
2 |
£815 |
£1630 |
£511 |
£1120 |
£598 |
£1196 |
Single room occupancy 60% surcharge |
All prices are subject to change. Children aged 3 to 11 in double
rooms with 1 adult pay 50% of the adult rate. There is no reduction
in suites. Infants under 2 are free. Special rates apply for Christmas
and New Year feasts
M from Kent T from the Midlands and C from Manchester and R from
Kent all prefer it.
"It`s a lovely place, the best site in town, the best place
to stay, a great bar."
"Stayed in the hotel and loved the laid back atmosphere
and rustic charm. I can`t wait to go back."
"The hotel was lovely. It looks like they`re doing an expansion.
It`s good that they`ve got that amount of land. It`s a lovely spot.
The food was wonderful. I couldn't fault the hotel at all. The service
was great."
"A great location - near the beach - 2 restaurants and bars,
lovely gardens and common areas. The one let down are the rooms
- they are basic, but you don't spend that much time in your room.
The staff is mostly pleasant. Food is good and it`s a stone's throw
from the centre of Santa Maria".
G from London had problems but not with the hotel
"We had a fantastic time- thanks so much for your help and organisation.
We loved Sal and the weather was great. We had a few "interesting"
moments with a hire car break down (but the office came out straight
away) and unfortunately we were unable to do a day trip to Boavista
because the boat had minor problems and the tour was cancelled,
but everyone was really helpful. The hotel was very nice and we
enjoyed some fantastic meals and drinks at the hotel dining room-
the restaurant and bar there are first class. We also ate at the
hotel next door which was very nice. On the hire car day we drove
all round the island to the natural swimming pool and the salt mines
(where we swam) which was great, and we did a half day boat trip
from Palmeira which we really enjoyed. We'd both recommend it to
anyone!"
For R from Herts initial mix-ups were easily sorted out.
"Hotel - Good, the best we saw anywhere on the island. The
complete antithesis of that RIU monstrosity (we called it Alcatraz).
Initial problems with room allocation (Room 019) quickly sorted
out by Joanna. We ended up with a Junior Suite (Room 007) which
was very good. Beach fantastic"
A&L from Cheshire liked the Beach Bar
"the hotel was great and the rooms very clean we were so glad
that was where we were staying: the food at the hotel was basic
but well cooked and presented, but the food at the beach club was
fantastic. I still dream about the prawns, the staff there also
very friendly. We had some great walks everyday along the beach
to the point and watched the surfers- it was idyllic.The weather
was perfect - not too hot,with a constant wind which kept you cool
and it was great to be just the two of us"
W from Devon liked the shower
"Had the most fantastic relaxing holiday on Sal, staying at the
wonderful hotel- all rooms been refurbised. Our`s was decorated
in modern muted colours with a mini fridge and ice maker - a must
for the G & T at the end of the day. The bathroom was stunning with
a huge shower you could fit 6 people in, a shower head the size
of a dinner plate and good lighting. Beds were comfy and the room
was fresh and cleaned everyday. The staff was lovely, The animation
team couldn`t do enough for you and made an effort to chat each
day. The Cape Verdean evening is not to be missed . Breakfast was
wonderful with fresh exotic fruits, cakes, croissant and brioche.
They make bacon and eggs how you want them A fabulous relaxing holiday
with good food everywhere. Came home more relaxed than any other
holiday I have ever been on."
Hotel upgrade
The Convivial has refurbished and upgraded its rooms. It now offers
double rooms with airconditioning and seaviews in the East Wing.
It also offers suites of three rooms with two double bedrooms and
a shared living room and balcony with seaview. These are less expensive
for four people.