"We stayed at Robinson Cabo Verde for a week and had a mixed experience. There were plenty of positives, including the beach, the choice of food and drinks, and the overall cleanliness of our room, but there were also a few areas where we felt the hotel could improve.
Staff and service
The staff were generally polite, although we noticed that many of the front-of-house staff mainly spoke German. When we arrived, we were given a tour of the resort, but it felt quite rushed. When checking out, we didn’t feel there was much interest in how our stay had been.
Rooms
Our room was clean and had a small porch area, but we found it quite small and lacking in privacy. There was a large gap underneath the door, meaning we could hear noise from outside quite clearly. The glass door to the toilet and bathroom was also see-through, which wasn’t ideal if you’re sharing a room with someone.
The air conditioning wasn’t particularly effective, and the room felt warm, reaching around 27°C. Toiletries were also very basic, with a two-in-one body wash provided rather than separate shampoo and conditioner or any body lotion.
Housekeeping didn’t enter our room on the first day, so we had to ask for it to be cleaned. After that, however, the cleaning service was great.
Pools, facilities and entertainment
There are two swimming pools and plenty of sun loungers, although we struggled to find loungers in the shade. Cabanas are available to hire for €25 per day each, which is worth bearing in mind if you prefer somewhere shaded.
We didn’t see the pools being cleaned during our stay, although this doesn’t necessarily mean they weren’t maintained. Towels could be changed once a day.
There are three bars. We particularly liked the Relax Bar, while the main bar never seemed particularly busy during our stay. The beach bar was convenient, although it only offered a more limited selection of drinks.
The beach itself was a real highlight, with lovely clear water and clean surroundings. Unfortunately, we experienced a storm during our holiday and couldn’t go out on the beach one day. There wasn’t a huge amount to do in bad weather unless you enjoy spending time in the gym, so alternative indoor activities would have been welcome.
The entertainment was also quite late for us, although this will obviously depend on personal preference. There is a shop on site, which was nice to have, but the prices were expensive.
Food and drinks
We enjoyed the selection of cocktails and the variety of food available, with different options each day. Overall, we couldn’t complain about the food selection.
However, we did witness someone being served a piece of chicken that appeared to be raw in the middle, which was concerning. Birds also managed to get inside the restaurant and fly around, which wasn’t particularly pleasant while eating.
On our first evening, we were surprised to see guests rushing in as soon as the restaurant opened to secure what appeared to be the best tables. This was quite an unusual sight and made the start of dinner feel a little hectic.
Our main frustration was that tables weren’t always cleared quickly enough. Later in the dinner service, it was sometimes difficult to tell whether a table was free or whether guests were still away getting food, which made finding somewhere to sit unnecessarily difficult.
Overall
There are some lovely aspects to this resort, particularly the beach, the choice of cocktails, the variety of food and the cleanliness of the room once housekeeping got going. However, we felt that certain details let the experience down, particularly the lack of privacy in the room, the air conditioning, and the organisation of the restaurant.
We still enjoyed parts of our holiday, but there are improvements that could make the experience much better. I would recommend considering these points when deciding whether this resort is the right choice for you."
