VILLA AO MAR
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Hotel with a modern decor, including practical facilities in Santa Maria.
You couldn't be better placed to choose an apartment right on the beach, and that's what Villa ao Mar offers - and what can I say about the view! The place lends itself wonderfully to families or groups of friends who want to be independent, prepare their own meals and opt for an experience different from the traditional hotel. In addition to modern decor, the facilities include practical amenities such as dishwashers and appliances. And for the ultimate in luxury, there's also the Penthouse with its sublime terrace - just magical!
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While there are certainly cheaper options and ones that may include some amenities like breakfast included or a swimming pool, these are just a distraction and leaving out some of those amenities will lead to a better trip.
Location:
Villa ao Mar has the single best possible location in Santa Maria. It’s right on the beach close to the main pier, but nestled in a quiet spot. Its location keeps it and the beach in front of it sheltered from the strong consistent breeze. Even a short walk in either direction makes a huge difference. The beach in front of it also has a soft sandy bottom and gentler waves. There is a nice wave break too just to the left so if you’re here to surf, you’ll be spoiled. Hotels to the left and right face stronger winds, a rocky shore and rip currents which make getting in and out of the water difficult. Also, many of the other ‘beachfront’ hotels and resorts in the area have quite a big buffer between their beach entrance and the actual shore. If I chose one of those places instead, I’d be disappointed about being barely able to see the shore or having to walk a long distance to the beach itself. The town needs time to polish up its vibe, you really want to be in a front line accommodation, ideally with a water view. 10/10
Apartment:
Villa ao Mar offers both sea view and city view apartments. I switched from a city view to a sea view when one became available and it was a great choice. The city view is not bad, but I’d rather feel like I’m at the beach during a beach holiday, rather than facing the city. All the apartments are well equipped, spacious, clean and secure. Beds are comfortable, showers are amazing. Apartments are also well decorated with local artwork and subtle touches that make them so much more homey and comfortable than bland hotel rooms or cheap accommodation. I stayed at one of the ground level sea view apartments and loved being able to walk from the patio right onto the beach. The floor level patios are huge, great for a morning workout and the palm trees out front offer a refreshing bit of shade when it gets too hot to stay at the beach mid day.
Amenities:
While this place doesn’t have a pool, guests can use a nice nearby infinity pool for a small fee. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to trade a fine sand beach and crystal clear salt water for a chemical filled tub, but everyone’s got their preferences. I find not having a pool allowed me to better connect with the natural beauty of the place. There is no restaurant at Villa ao Mar so no breakfast either, but the fully equipped kitchen is great for any and all meals. I’d go to the local market nearby for breakfast ingredients and have really nice chats with the locals. I’d take that over a boring buffet any day, but again that’s a preference. Long story short, this place strikes the perfect balance between comfort while bringing you closer to the beauty and culture of Cabo Verde.
Internet:
Important for many people nowdays. Each apartment has it’s own router. I’m a digital nomad and often have to stream or upload files. I did a bit of tech detox while there, but I clocked the download speed at 600mbps+. You’ll be fine. Apartments also have small work stations.
The bad?
When unexpected things happen you quickly know what kind of place and people you’re dealing with. Our reservation got lost so arrival was a bit chaotic, there were some other miscommunications along the way, and a small construction project happened in the front yard. There were some equipment malfunctions and just small things that were starting to add up. But, the team at Villa ao Mar is amazing. Coming in after hours to fix issues, offering quick solutions, being responsive and a great source of information. You’re dealing with real caring people here who’ve built something great and are proud of it.
Limpeza ímpar. Grande prestabilidade dos house keepers Sara e Nadir, fosse para arranjar utensílios necessários ao nosso bebé, fosse extra apartamento, no aluguer de carro ou transfers.
Detalhe de vidros duplos que anularam qualquer barulho do exterior para noites mais descansadas. Muito obrigado por tudo!