Villa C Boutique Hotel

Visited last month and really enjoyed the stay. The hotel has a great location and lovely views, with modern décor that still feels cozy and welcoming. The facilities are very good, and the pool was at a perfect temperature. The food was tasty, with a good range of choices. My husband had a massage at the Spa, and the service was fantastic. The staff were all polite and friendly. Highly recommended!

In 15 years of traveling, this was one of the worst hotels I've stayed in. We almost never want to leave a hotel right away, but this was the second time. We even booked somewhere else for two nights so we could spend less time here. We overlooked negative reviews because of the positive ones and the overall rating, and that was a mistake. Some of what we encountered was unacceptable at any price. We booked through Booking and didn't try to get a refund. Luckily we had a car and could move to another hotel for a few nights. Even a same-day booking at the same price turned up better choices. I hope others can avoid the mistake we made. I'm sharing photos of the mold, rust, and pool. There were a few positives: the staff were very friendly, the reception and restaurant looked nice at first glance, and breakfast was acceptable. Underground parking was available, though the spaces were tight. It was about a 15-minute walk to the beach on a decent path, and the beach had a beautiful walking route stretching for many kilometers, long enough for runs over 10 km in the morning or evening. There were several pillow options and plenty of places to sit, talk, or work. For the price, the maintenance was poor. Maybe it had been a great hotel in the past, but it didn't seem properly maintained for some time. Rust showed on stairs, walls, heaters, and around the pool. With metal used throughout the décor, the ocean climate made it look even worse. The indoor pool was in bad shape, with algae or mildew visible on the floor, below our standards. It was heavily chlorinated, and the strong smell spread through the entire hotel, including reception and every floor. It was unpleasant to breathe even without respiratory problems. Reception seemed cared for, but the floors didn't, and the first-floor carpet was an obvious sign of poor cleanliness. The most unacceptable problems were in the room. There was visible mold on the walls, left untreated, which felt unhealthy. The rooms also smelled very bad, constantly damp and moldy. Ventilation brought in more bad odors, and leaving the balcony open all the time didn't help. In the mornings, a terrible sewer smell came from the bathroom and quickly filled the room. We tried changing rooms, but the suggested room had the same problems.

The staff were excellent, and when we had trouble closing the window in our road-facing room because it was a bit noisy, reception arranged a new room facing the sea. The views were great, and we appreciated the help. This is a very friendly, nice hotel with a good Spar wellness area. The outdoor areas feel a bit old and neglected and could use some TLC.

I was in town for a business meeting with HB Fuller and stayed at Villa C. The lobby is beautifully handcrafted, with a lovely view over Mindelo, and the hotel itself is gorgeous. What stood out most was how warm and caring every staff member was. A shoutout to the young man at the front desk who also handled food delivery, and to the silver-haired gentleman at the spa. The room floors feel dated and need some attention. The hallways are a bit stale, with stains on the carpet, and the walls between rooms are very thin. There were a few quirks too, including showers that sometimes shifted between hot and cold. If these things were fixed, I think the hotel could really shine.