Barceló Marine Boa Vista - Adults Only

So we arrived on the first week in June 25 and we knew that this hotel had only just reopened after a major refit just a few weeks before. First impressions were very good as we got into our brand new room, the seals still on the fridge, the tie wraps left on the hairdryer and the safe with all the warranty papers for the boiler in it. First issue was that there was no hot water going to the shower head! (Quickly sorted by the engineers) then the safe wouldn’t work (still not resolved when we left). Second issue was the amount of security around the grounds was a tad unnerving especially as one of their lookout posts was right outside our room on the balcony leading to the room door (142) we kept hearing them walking up and down the walkway and the occasional cackle of his radio. The staff around the hotel were very polite and helpful (although there was still a lot of training going on) The entertainment was non existent throughout the day with the team just milling around trying to look busy. None of the activities on the daily agenda actually happened with the exception of the local cocktail and food afternoon and the bowls. The evening entertainment was shocking.. ( again I guess the hotel is still trying things out and finding its feet). The food.. The snack bar took an absolute age to get our food once ordered.. longest we waited was 35 mins for a club sandwich! Luckily for the chef there was less than a quarter of the guests at the hotel, as if it had been any busier then nobody would of eaten until the evening meal, which again due to the amount of guests the options of food was minimal! The hot grill was only warm as it took about 4 mins to do an omelette never mind the steaks and fish on an evening.. the hot plate chef needs to start multi tasking as they only do one order at a time! Long queues at dinner when there’s only 20 or so guests in the restaurant. If you’re going away to do absolutely nothing but chill in nice surroundings then this is the spot. I think that most of these issues are purely teething problems and if they are resolved then it would make for a very nice place to spend a week. I know I’ve done nowt but be negative but I guess this is the gamble you take picking a newly refurbed hotel over an established hotel like Rui for example.

We stayed for 2 weeks and we wanted a quiet relaxing break this complex did not disappoint. The staff where very polite and very helpful, they worked very hard to ensure the complex was clean and the guests were catered for. The food was great with plenty to choose from, you have to remember they are only catering for a small number of guests so you do not have the same selection like you do at a large resort. We were expecting teething problems due to it only just opening but they were to a minimum and we were impressed that guest comments were listened to and acted on, things like ice cream been available at the pool bar and beach towels exchange coming available near the pool. If you you want a quiet relaxing holiday this is the place to go. We will be going back