Of late the tabloid press has been awash with horror stories of a shigella outbreak tearing its way though some of the Riu hotels in Cape Verde, with a firm focus on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista. With a family holiday on the horizon, we were of course concerned – this is what we experienced when we got there… plus some advice on how to avoid getting ill while you are there!
Beach Bar at Riu Palace © Kerry McCarthy
Staying at Riu Palace
I must start by saying that from the moment we arrived, I felt all of my worries about one of our party getting ill melt away. Riu Palace Boa Vista’s 5-star status is well justified. And spoiler alert – none of our party got ill.
We did go in well informed and well prepared though, whether it would have been a different story without our fly fans for the dining table and our hospital grade sanitiser, who knows? I do think the hotel did everything in their control to minimise the risks for guests though.
There is a whole section below dedicated to the Shigella risk, but first I want to share the high points of our choice of holiday!
Why we chose this holiday destination
We wanted a hot sunny break where we could focus on being together as a family and relax at the same time. Cape Verde is a pretty predictable sunny 25 degrees (plus) all year round and Boa Vista in particular is known as a place to go if you just want to relax to the max.
We were 6 adults and 1 child in total, making the most of the all-inclusive vibe with a variety of activities to choose from.
One of three pools to choose form at Riu Palace © Kerry McCarthy
Facilities and things to do at Riu Palace
Boa Vista translates as Beautiful View, and if all you decide to do on your holiday is sit on the beach under a palm tree and stare out to sea you’d be a very happy bunny indeed!
As it is, Riu Palace is a large complex with plenty going on, and you could certainly be here for a couple of weeks and not get bored!
- Swimming pools – 3 in total, two with swim-up bars, plenty of space to splash, loads of loungers with parasols, and wonderful views of the beach from them all.
- Water park – this was actually in the next hotel along, the adults only option, Riu Karamboa. The two hotels are connected down by the beach and access is easy and the slides were a LOT of fun for kids and adults alike.
- Water sports – the hotel offers snorkels and kayaks to guests for free, but the time of year might dictate what you can do. In February the sea was really quite rough.
- Beach games – volley ball and other beach-based games were available to guests
Volleyball on the beach © Kerry McCarthy
- Activity classes for adults – yoga, zumba, HIIT and other gym class staples were held daily down by the beach.
- Activities for kids – one pool was very activity focussed for the kids, and there were also kids club facilities.
- Spa – a serene space for a massage and numerous beauty treatments available. I had a massage which was DELIGHTFUL!
- Gym – really quite well equipped with bikes, free-weights, benches, and a couple of weights machines.
Sand Dunes in Boa Vista © Kerry McCarthy
- Entertainment – evening shows, cabaret, and access to “nightclub” experiences at the hotel next door.
- Retail therapy – the shop has a stunning selection of locally crafted trinkets, ornaments and jewellery, plus holiday clothes and gifts to take home.
- Excursions – explore the sand dunes, go on a boat trip, visit local towns, hire quad bikes… plenty on offer daily if you book early!
Water Park with a view at neighbouring Karramboa Hotel © Kerry McCarthy
Food and Drink at Riu Palace Boa Vista
The quality of the cocktails seemed to vary by staff member, but there was certainly a wide selection of tipples to choose from and plenty of well-known alcohol brands to choose from!
The wine in our humble opinions was nothing to write home about and we wouldn’t ordinarily class ourselves as having a particularly well-educated palate! Avoid if you know your vino!
The food in the buffet was actually incredible. High quality, tasty, and a huge range of options to choose from.
The only restaurant we ate in (included in the all-inclusive package) was Mitsuki, an oriental-themed eatery that sadly served up plate after plate of disappointment and had an even more disappointingly limited choice when it came to ordering.
Honestly, the buffet experience was so much better, and the quality of service was also better at the buffet that we cancelled our other restaurant bookings based on this experience.
Buffet Delights at Riu Palace © Kerry McCarthy
Hotel hygiene
It was 5-star standard throughout – in the lobby, spa, restrooms, hotel rooms and pools were kept meticulously clean and I didn’t once spot anything that had been overlooked in terms of cleanliness.
The restaurants, buffets, and bars were also top notch, the food had a high turnover and for the most part was well covered and there were automatic doors to keep flies out from the service area as guests went in and out. There were plenty of hand sanitiser dispensers throughout so even if you didn’t pack your own, the hotel was giving you every opportunity to keep hands clean!
What is shigella and why has it been so hot in the press?
Shigella is a bacteria that can cause a particularly nasty infection (shigellosis) causing severe diarrhoea, sickness, fever and dehydration. It is very easily spread, it doesn’t take much to cause an infection, and in some cases people who have been infected have died as it comes with a whole host of potential complications.
It is these cases, along with particularly high rates of infection at certain hotels and locations, that have been the centre of media attention. Sal and Boa Vista in Cape Verde are two such locations, and the Riu hotels that host holidaymakers on behalf of Tui and First Choice are the centre of attention. You can see what the .gov website has to say about it here.
How to avoid shigellosis
Pretty simple – good hygiene. But it takes two to tango.
Firstly the hotel needs to be notching 5-star cleanliness EVERYWHERE, and the guests also need to make sure they are doing their bit too by thoroughly washing hands after using the loo. Yes, it is a fecal-bourne disease, the sheer thought of catching it is enough to give anyone the chills.
Aside from clean facilities, the hotel needs to make sure that flies are banished, especially wherever a buffet is involved. A few flies on your food that have been in contact with infected faeces is all it might take to catch this nasty bug. But there is only so much a hotel can do.
To minimise risk the following is recommended:
- Wash hands after touching shared surfaces
- Use hospital grade hand sanitiser where handwashing isn’t practical or possible – such as using items at a buffet
- Stick to freshly cooked hot food – flies are much less likely to land on this
- Choose foods that have just been laid out, or are under a cloche
- Take a fly fan and use it whenever you are dining in the open
Other measures:
- Pack some electrolyte/rehydration medication in case you become unwell as the risk to health from dehydration is severe.
- Get decent travel insurance as this could easily wipe you out for your whole holiday, and should you have added complications, getting the medical help you might need isn’t as easy as it is in the UK.
Holiday first aid kit
What we loved (and didn’t love) about staying at Riu Palace Boa Vista
It was beautifully laid out, the staff were friendly, the facilities did not disappoint, the buffet food was great and honestly, this is such a fabulous location to “get away from it all”.
The views are just stunning and you can really feel the difference a 5-star experience makes compared to other Riu hotels in the area.
As mentioned the restaurant was really not worth going to, and the reception staff on arrival were not entirely welcoming, but neither of these things were a dealbreaker.
Rui Palace Boa Vista © Kerry McCarthy
Would we stay here again?
In a heartbeat! In fact due to issues with Tui and disrupted travel, (more on that in a separate article!) we had most of our holiday costs refunded and plan to spend it on a return trip as soon as we are able!
Travel Writer Bio
Kerry McCarthy is a Writer and Artist who loves to travel. You can find out more about her adventures over on instagram at @kerrymccarthystars
Family Photo at Sunset in Boa Vista © Kerry McCarthy
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