Name: Blue Bell Hotel
Address: CP 2 , Ponta do Sol, Santo Antao, Santo Antao, Santo Antao, 9999, Cape Verde
Rating: 7

Terrace

General

Safe-deposit box

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Restaurant

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Free parking nearby

Parking

Location

At the hotel

Cesaria Evora International Airport

Blue Bell Hotel

Santo Antao

Lovely staff, but the owners need to invest some cash into the upkeep of the place. Restaurant was closed in the evening probably because we were 1 of 3 couples staying there. Breakfast was very basic. Wardrobe was broken. Most lights weren't working. Water pressure had to turned up manually in the afternoon. We booked and paid for 6 nights in advance, but left after 2 for an alternative hotel. Would have left earlier if the staff weren't so nice. Its cheap for a reason.

In need of maintenance

Was very quiet when I stayed for 3 nights. Owner was very friendly and helpful and spoke english. Room on 3rd floor for some reason, which was basic. No aircon, fan so hot at times. Basic shower which only had a trickle of water after a long days hiking. Mentioned the next day and they had the pressure up straight away for next one. Basic breakfast. It has a restaurant but not open in evening (low season).
Wifi only in reception, not room, but quick.
Great location, but the village is so small that all restaurants are close-by.

Friendly owner

We stayed here for a night after a week of hiking. This hotel must have been a nice place once but suffers from what must be years of neglect. The restaurant mentioned in guide books has long closed. The room was very basic. No hot water early in the morning. Bathroom looked tatty and had a strange smell. Tiny balcony but no chairs. We had to carry luggage two flights of stairs. Key broke in the lock. Someone had done some work on the walls but had read the wrong DIY book. We found a lovely roof terrace with sea view but this too was dilapidated. 

Not good

Positive:
Free wifi in lobby
breakfast was ok

Negative:
Small rooms/bathrooms
Worn out furniture
Reception and floors need renovation -. Wind was howling through the hallways 
Free wifi only in lobby
No help with luggage

Centrally located, but worn down

When in Ponta do Sol we saw that a new hotel has been built close to the harbour, which looks as if it will open soon, but so far the only hotel here is the a bit outdated 'Blue Bell'. Its location is ideal: close to the beautifully restored colonial central square and at the beginning of the pedestrianised main street - both of which we could see from the two balconies of our superior double room in the hotels corner.

We were pleasantly surprised how the hotel accepted the short-term change of our booking due to an injury of mine. Our room had a lot of space, a large bed (with too soft a mattress), two big armchairs, a spacious wardrobe and nightstands on each side of the bed. But we definitely missed a table - for writing or make-up - and stands for the suitcases, which we thus had to open and keep on the floor. There was only one bedlamp, since the other lay broken in all its shards in the drawer of a nightstand.

We liked though the big wardrobe, also the bathroom was okay with a good and strong shower, liquid soap, but no plug for the bathtub (which we anyway never use). The best were the two balconies on each side with lovely views. On top we had here - at the northwestern end of the Cape Verdes - the best WiFi connection anywhere on the islands.

Breakfast buffet was rather poor in comparison to the previous and cheaper accomodation in Mindelo. The hotel's restaurant was closed, when there, but Ponta do Sol has some nice eating places to go to and not far from the hotel.

so far the only hotel in Ponta Do Sol

The absentee Spanish owner is wonderful in his e-mails. However, the young Cabo Verdian manager has no authority to do anything including basic maintenance of the hotel. To begin with only if he can smile a bit, it would have been good but he is so scared. Honestly he acts like a slave. We were a large group staying there for a week doing volunteer dentistry. Some of us were lucky to have our towels changed once but I was not one of them. My bathroom did not have a shower door. I was promised it will be done the first day. At the end of the day I was offered to move. I did not because we were all scattered all over the room with all our stuff. However, I would have expected someone to change the towel on the floor that was soaking up water coming out of the shower. Day after day, I had to hobble (I was injured) downstairs with the soaked towels and asked them to change it. No one ever got the message. Breakfast started going downhill fast. After the first day, it was the leftover from the first day and by the end of the week it was troublesome. There is mold in every room, paints peeling off from everywhere, broken glass in the roof and no one ever cared to perform some basic inspection and maintenance. And this is where the title of my review comes alive. Spanish slavery in all its glory. Needless to say we will not stay here next year.

Spanish slavery in all its glory in Cabo Verde

The Blue Bell is very central, just a short walk to the harbor and the waterfront. It is on the main plaza, shops and restaurants very close. Pleasant staff, good rooms, nice breakfast. There are music venues and good places to eat steps away.

Blue Bell Hotel

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