I stayed in 17b owned by Ocean Club Holidays. My view was overlooking the pool and the beach and I have to say it was fantastic. The apartment was clean and well furnished and the staff friendly and helpful, although they didn't speak much english we made ourselves understood. It was quiet 24/7 security so no need to worry. In my opinion it's the best place to stay, very central to the town, 2 mins to the town for restuarants and supermarkets. Blu bar at the end of the street near the pier was lovely and a place where alot of the expats go, they really made me feel very welcome. Locals are friendly although watch the senegals they are alright but have lots of tricks to entice you to their shops, just say hello and keep walking if you don't want to buy. Santa Maria is lovely, there is alot of building going on and it will change over the next 5 years so go now to experience it. We went past the big hotels concrete jungles so glad we didn't stay there. Fine if you want to stay in the hotel all the time, but if you want to experience real Cape Verde stay at Porto Antigo.

the two bedroomed apartment was one bed and a mezanine floor which looked over the lounge/kitchen area, not very private and it had very squeaky floorboards. no kettle, no toaster no oven only a hob unit. we asked for a kettle but never got one. the restaurant on site, papayas, was great, very clean with good food and great pizzas. O'Learys was good but with a limited menu, good food though. The turtle shack is good on Saturdays with good meals and a caberet. Next door the hotel had a good restaurant and the reception had a book exchange which was excellent because there wasn't much else to do except read. It was very windy which burnt you without you realising it. We were there for 2 wks but the towels were only changed twice as were the sheets. Also themaids only came 5 days out of the 7. Food in mini mercados very, very expensive \i suppose because its all imported. Even a little tin of tuna was £2.20! Take lots of tins with you and a travel kettle if you have one. Only go if you really want to relax as there is absolutely nothing to do.

Just returned from a holiday at Porto Antigo Residence in Sal Cape Verde Islands.
I had a wonderful time and enjoyed the apartments and the area very much indeed.
The location of these apartments in my opinion is simply the best
I have previously stayed at both the Rui Funana and the Rui Garopa but you are isolated and do not feel the "flavour" of the island.
If you are looking for the elegance of Barbados you wont find it here, but the beaches are just as wonderful, natural, and are not ruined (yet) by all the beach umbrellas, and loungers etc.
The walled beach at the Porto Antigo Residence is an absolute delight, and is private to the establishment.
The apartment I stayed in was very clean and very well equipped, had a fantastic view of the pool and the sea beyond.
The locals are a pure delight, simple, humble people, and the "lookie lookie" men that try to sell to you, are happy with a smile and a "not today thank you" (unlike teneriffe or the Canary Islands)
I found the restaurants very simple places, but the food was a great experience, fish was so fresh, and it tasted wonderful.
English is being learned, and the locals try very hard to help and accommodate you in any way they can.
If I were younger and had more energy I would without a doubt try my hand at all the wonderful water sports on offer, but the lack of energy did not stop me having a very special time that I want to repeat on this Island and most especially in Porto Antigo Residence. Jane

Please go to Cape Verde with an open mind.
I had read so many bad reviews that for the first time ever, I really wasn't looking forward to my holiday. For us, it was a fantastic experience to enjoy a totally unspoilt way of life.

Our apartment was at the far end of Santa Maria town, next to the Odjo Agua Hotel. It had its own Restaurant and Bar called Papaya's, also open to non residents. Lovely terrace overlooking the sea. The locals don't speak a lot of English so sometimes our orders were a little hit and miss, but everyone we met was extremely friendly and helpful so it was all part of the charm of the place.

None of our party of 5 (including a 77 yr old and 2 kids) got sick.
We were extremely careful with the water as it is not even safe for teeth cleaning. (Also contaminating hands when washing too).
We took hand gel and used often, particularly after handling money etc. We took antibac wipes and handwash for the room and all had a course of probiotics before and during our visit.
Fruit and salad as much as I love it, were a no go area for the week. We ate out for breakfast lunch and dinner everyday of our holiday, including the Odjo Hotel and were perfectly fine.

Santa Maria is not a frightening place at all. It is not dirty, just very untidy, lots of building going on and lots of rubble and broken pavements everywhere. I don't know where the brothel is as mentioned in the Odjo review. It cannot be that obvious as we must have walked by it every day of our holiday without even noticing it was there!

The most annoying thing about Santa Maria are the African traders from Senegal who pester you as you walk along the street. They walk along with you so you can't really say 'no thanks' and walk away. They are only trying to get you to go to their shop but during the process ask where you are from, your names etc etc. It is quite exhausting too, to go into this conversation over and over again! Anyway, by the second day, a smile and a wave as we said 'no thank you' seemed to do the trick as we didn't go into any further conversation.
The local Cape Verde residents don't do this, they are much more polite and unasuming.

We went to the Morabeza hotel for their Cape Verde night on Sat.
You must book in advance and it is 21 Euro per adult, half for kids. The buffet meal is followed by Cape Verde singing and dancing. We got a taxi back as a little unsure about walking all the way across town (only about 10 mins walk) but longer for us as our 77 yr old has mobility problems and we would perhaps be slightly more vunerable after dark.

Also took a jeep tour with a guy called Danny Lopez who parks along the 'Prom' just west of the pier (just past the Morabeza).
He charged 18 E each and took us to all the places of interest. If you sit in the open in the back of the Jeep it is great fun but you will get very dusty!

So go and enjoy, if you like places like Benidorm and Tenerife you will probably hate it. Also, I think you would have a totally different holiday based on your location as some of the hotels were a little way out of town. The beaches are as lovely as the Caribbean, we have been there many times over the last 25 years. Watch the currents though as some days the sea can be quite rough!