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Riu Karamboa `Hotel Ocean Storm`All-inclusive out on the Desert ShorelineUnlike the Riu Funana and Riu Garopa Hotel the Riu Karamboa on Boa Vista which may open in very late 2008 or early 2009 is actually built on the edge of the beach at Praia de Salinas. Riu Karmboa is between the open desert and the sea a couple of miles out of Sal Rei and stretches about half a mile back from the beach. The position is quite windy and the sea is rough here in winter. Riu Karamboa has more conventional block buildings than the Sal Rius and some rooms will have sea views, But these are not guranteed at Riu Katramboa. . It is a holiday camp or sun factory aimed at the Ibiza or Tenerife tourist who wants better winter sun. The staff is German and Spanish with Cape Verdean waiters.Riu Karambioat offers school food - pasta, pizza, hamburgers, frankfurters etc enlivened by the occasional paella. Local drinks are free, dispensed from push-button faucets. But the wine is poor Spanish plonk imported in powder form which could give you a bad headache and the beer a thin local brew. Riu Karamboa has the largest beds and the largest bedrooms on the island, with nice furniture. Riu Karamboa has free gyms, jacuzzis and saunas (not yet ready), to divert but the children`s area is disappointing. Most visitors are Italian. Riu Karamboa pools are likely to be crowded by breakfast. Rooms mainly look out onto bare brown sandy pitch, on which they are trying to grow shrubs. The Riu Karamboa provides free local alcoholic and soft drinks, but watch your head. Currently it is an all-day building site as they build other complexes all around the Riu Karamboa. Problems at Boa Vista port have led to some shortagesThe truth about the Riu Funana Garopa - Hayley`s tale N from Yorskhire found Riu Karamboa too Italian "We booked to go to Riu Karamboa for Christmas and New Year. But Riu Karamboa hotel is not exclusive to UK customers as I heard mainly Italians go to Cape Verde so there's not much in English (menus/entertainment etc)? "J from London found that it was not ready on time due to the BUREACRACY in TUI. "I booked a week at Riu Karamboa on 7 November - which I understand is the first winter flight direct to Boa Vista. I was concerned to be told by Riu that the hotel did not open until the end of November."R from Yorkshire was saddened that little of his money benefits local people " Riu Karamboa has 750 room . Very barren island, not a lot to see. Not enough shade by pool and beach. Cape Verde is ideal for kite/windsurfing as it is a very windy place. The island is very poor and we did our best to spend time/money in the local village. The beach was quiet in contrast to the hotel, which was too busy, with construction work. There are often no sun umbrellas for shade. Most of the Riu Karamboa is flat, ideal for the less able bodied but spread out over a large area. I would hope that some money reaches the locals as they are very poor. It is not everybody's cup of tea but worth a visit as the sun is almost guaranteed."N from Yorkshire heard thast Riu Karamboa was aimed at Italians "Some returning tourists said things appeared to be geared up to mainly the Italian visitors at the Riu Karamboa i.e. entertainment/menus etc. I know it may sound silly but it is a concern to me. The toilets do not flush in the same way as in England and it is hard to get bottled drinking water in Boa Vista"G from Belgium reports on the opening problems. "Some Dutch tourists were there soon after opening. They say everything is OK, nice large rooms. The hotel is not suitable for wheelchairs because there are no lifts.,Some drinks are missing in the bars, sauna not finished yet, watersports not there yet. Just some teething faults but they say they should be solved in time."Book directly with the hotel at a discount |