Hotel Riu Touareg - All Inclusive

Hello. Absolutely not good place to stay, doesn't meet the description at all! It's not 5* hotel! TUI rated it on their platform as a 5* hotel but it's hardly 3*. Me and my friend were in this hotel from 24/04/26 till 01/05/26. Accommodation The block in which we were staying (room 9059) had no lighting in the communal areas. As a result, we felt extremely unsafe and anxious walking through these areas, particularly in the evenings. In addition, many of the concrete/clay light fittings in the corridor were broken, raising serious health and safety concerns, especially given the lack of visibility. The bed linen was not changed at any point during our stay and had a red stain upon arrival, which appeared to be blood. This is wholly unacceptable and far below the standards expected of a hotel marketed as 5-star accommodation. Furthermore, the body wash and shampoo were not replenished three days prior to our departure. Despite reporting this issue in person to reception in the morning, it was not addressed until I raised it again later that afternoon. Even then, the items were replaced incorrectly with hand soap, as clearly stated on the product label. We also had no hot water for the final three days of our stay. This issue was reported to reception but remained unresolved. Additionally, there was a leak from the toilet, which persisted throughout our stay. This should reasonably have been identified and reported by housekeeping staff, yet no action was taken. Overall, the hygiene standards in the room were unacceptable. We encountered two large cockroaches (approximately 6 cm in length) in the bathroom, which caused significant discomfort and distress. Restaurant Availability The hotel was advertised as having six restaurants. However, upon arrival, only two were operational for the first two days, and for the remainder of the stay only one (the main restaurant) was open. This was extremely frustrating, particularly as there were no alternative dining options outside the resort. In addition, the snack bars were closed from the first day, and the pool bar (at the infinity pool) was also not operational 2 days after our arrival. This is not acceptable given that the package was advertised as all-inclusive, whereas in reality the experience more closely resembled full board with limited options. Reception Staff. My interactions with reception staff were consistently disappointing. On one occasion, we reported an issue with the safe in our room and were advised that a technician would attend between 10:00 and 11:00 the following day. However, no one arrived. I contacted reception at least five times requesting updates, but received no clear response. Eventually, someone attended, but their manner was rude and unprofessional. It also appeared that this individual was a member of the reception team rather than a qualified technician. Conclusion I chose TUI based on its reputation as a leading travel provider and expected a high standard of service. Unf

Our experience was awful, I know people don't want to read long reviews, so I'll try and keep it as brief as possible... Firstly we had 2 single beds as a couple and the towels smelt really bad once used after a shower. We upgraded to the adults only section and the bedding and towels were worse. The previous towels were brown, so I think that hid the stains. We asked for the bedding to be changed, as it was damp where the cleaner had tried to clean the stain on the bedding, rather than change it. Photos included... You can see the wet water mark around it. Day after day of stained sheets, uncomfortable bed, and constant noise every morning, including a hedge strimmer at 6am. The mini bar had cans that looked sticky and disgusting, again, see photos. This is not luxury. This was not a relaxing weekend away. We've stayed in better 3 star hotels. Everything is a massive buffet, the 'restaurants' are just buffet food again, it's all about quantity over quality. Families, maybe it's good for. Romantic couple, absolutely not. People were rude and pushing in, grabbing stuff, touching food and putting it back, it was like a scramble as if it was going to run out. We were already on edge because of the massive issues Tui have had with food poisoning and subsequent deaths (look it up). So to put up with dirty sheets and towels, was not OK. No fresh drinks, all cocktails are a pre mix, and they ran out of pina colada mix for 3 days. The alcohol is cheap and nasty, the wine from a tap is undrinkable. Staff were dismissive, Tui even worse. We ended up being given £100 back as a generic gesture, which didn't even pay for the upgrade we had. This was not the luxury holiday we were sold. We will never return to Cape Verde or use Tui again. How this can be classed as 5 star, is astonishing.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Our stay at RIU Touareg was a mix of highlights and some very unsettling experiences. While the staff and scenery are top-tier, the security issues we witnessed are impossible to ignore. ⚠️ CRITICAL SECURITY WARNING The hotel desperately needs to install CCTV in shared areas and corridors. We encountered several alarming situations: Suspicious Activity: We personally saw a group of men—wearing uniforms but no guest bracelets—walking through the Adult Only building, actively checking room doors to see if they were unlocked. Unauthorized Entry: We were aware of a room being robbed and another instance where a couple found a uniformed intruder inside their room. As a woman, the thought of being alone in a room with an unauthorized intruder is terrifying. Safety Tip: Always double-check your locks. We did not feel entirely secure here. The Resort Experience Amazing Staff: The team is the highlight of the resort—absolutely lovely and professional. Room & Facilities: The buildings look identical and lack signage, making it very easy to get lost. Maintenance & Smells: A major issue was the odor in the bathrooms. Both the public toilets and the bedroom toilets desperately need air fresheners or better ventilation to neutralize ("amortizar") the smell. It is not pleasant to have that lingering in your living space. Dining: The "3-day advance" booking rule for restaurants is frustrating. We only managed to try the Italian, which was horrendous—honestly, don't bother with it. Excursions & Transport: Stick to TUI The "Trap": We tried a local excursion but felt "trapped." We weren't allowed to leave the site until we spent €50 on items that cost €30 at the airport. Taxis: Cabs to town are €30 each way. Our driver tried to bully us into paying an extra €10 for his "friend." It reached a point where we had to open our wallets and show him we had no money left just to get away. Better Alternative: Rent a car for about $70/day. It’s much safer and allows you to see the island without being hassled. Final Verdict The beach is privileged and the staff are stars, but the isolation and security gaps are a major concern. If you are looking for a "cultural vibe," other islands would suit you better. If you stay here, book your activities through TUI—we felt way safer with them. Oh yes and check in online, queue on arrival was MASSIVE!!

Hotel overall good just few but. Food really good staff very friendly. It was few issues what i mentioned into manager and sadly they wasn't done anything with it and we was there for 11 nights. On kids area was lamp broken with sharp objects, as well on kids playground some of the facilities was broken and no secured from use and some of the signs was broken as well

Absolutely terrible hotel looks lovely but I spent nearly 2 weeks in my room being sick. Electric kept going off. Couldn't go in the sea if you wanted as sea was too rough.

Great hotel if you love to eat, sleep and rest by the pool or on the beach. Hotel is very clean and the rooms are well air conditioned. The rooms facilities are good, 2 sinks in the bathroom and a good shower. Very nice pool however the water was salty which I’ve never heard of before but it didn’t bother me too much just be careful about your eyes. The swim up bar was great however the bar tenders clearly have their favourites and take a while to serve the people that don’t go up as often. The beach is lovely and quiet, it’s very nice for relaxing and there are plenty of sun beds for everyone. Just be careful of the sea as it can be very rough. There are lots of options of food in the restaurant and there are some specialty restaurants that you have to book in advance. I never had trouble finding something new to eat everyday and it was all very nice. If you are looking for an exciting and adventurous holiday do not go here as there is very little to do outside of the hotel. But if you are looking to grab a tan and have a relaxing get away lounging, eating and sleeping then this is the perfect choice for you

Lovely place. Yes it’s dated but I do believe there currently closed and having a massive refurb. Staff are amazing, food was lovely. Cocktails even better