Tiduca Hotel

The main issue for us was the lack of a door to the bathroom area. We’re sharing a room on a group trip and don’t know each other very well, so it feels uncomfortable. Also, the rooms facing inside have no windows, which makes them good for sleeping but means there’s no view. The hotel itself is lovely, clean and comfortable, with a generous buffet breakfast. There are extra toilets on the ground floor, opposite reception.

Our tour group all noticed how much the interior rooms affected the experience. They have no exterior window, just one onto the corridor, so people walking past can be seen and heard. There’s also no bathroom door, meaning you can hear everything from the toilet. The hotel is otherwise new, clean and well located, but they kept losing people’s keys.

The ocean view from the balcony was lovely, and the staff were friendly. We had a spacious room and got an extra blanket when we asked. The coffee was among the best we tried in Cabo Verde, and the rooftop terrace was a nice place to watch the sunset. Still, for the price, I expected more. The blanket had no sheet, and the mattress bounced so much that we woke whenever the other person moved. Twin beds would be better. The AC was broken, and the toilet door wouldn’t close properly. Breakfast was poor: juice, eggs, bread, milk and muesli, but no marmalade or proper spreads, and the “honey” was molasses. The gym was basically unusable, and there wasn’t actually a rooftop bar. Laundry cost too much. Room cleaning staff weren’t attentive either. We left a note about a problem and got no response.

I’m only reviewing the restaurant, since I didn’t stay at the hotel. I went for dinner around 6:00 pm on January 1, when it seemed to be the only place open in town. There was just one occupied table and a single bartender on duty, who spoke very little English. I pointed to my choice on the menu, she nodded and told me to sit down. Then nothing happened for an hour and a half. I asked about the food several times and got a nod each time, but she clearly hadn’t understood me. When a waiter finally showed up, he started serving other guests who had just arrived. I stopped him to ask about my order, and the dish came about 15-20 minutes later. If I could, I’d give the restaurant zero stars. The hotel reception staff, on the other hand, spoke excellent English and were extremely helpful. They called a taxi for me.