Name: Gest Plain Apartments
Address: Rua 15 de Agosto SANTA MARIA, Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 1234, Cape Verde
Rating: 7

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Amilcar Cabral International Airport

Rabil Airport

Gest Plain Apartments

Santa Maria

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I stayed in a lovely room (2nd floor) wich had the balcony on the side of the path to the swimming pool. Surrounded with flowers so you'll  have some privacy. 24/7 security outside. Just 20 meters walking and I could plunch in the pool or swim in the sea. 5 min walk to the main beach and it's just at the start of the centre. Cafes ,restaurants and mini market just 1 min walking. So as for location this is a good deal I think. And pretty quiet too. The room was for 4 people but I ended up here and enjoyed it. Bathroom of good size. The one upstairs small and didn't use it. Big fridge and kitchen with utensils. Tv present but didn't use it,  so not sure what channels there are. Slept upstairs as the other room was near the entrance of the other rooms so could be noisy.  No WiFi in the room, just at reception, but lots of cafes around that do. Reception by the way is a 2/3 min walk from the room(s). I  think they combine with the other hotel Porto Antiga, as my room was in theire building. Water pressure in the shower isnt great but enough and is semi hot. Its all pretty basic but it works and enough pluginns to charge. Just trelax and enjoy and head out to the beach or just stay around the pool.

Great stay

Lovely spacious apartment with everything you need. Good sized pool with plenty of deck chairs and its own little beach area with sun loungers and shade. 

Could do with somewhere to get a drink around the pool area. However nearest places is only a couple minute walk.

Good value 

Great location on the beach with its own big pool.
Plenty of sunbeds around pool or facing sea.
24 hour security.
Studio was big  with everything except a microwave and WiFi.Cleaned alternate days.
Very convenient for restaurants and bars
I got a good deal but I notice price has risen since January.

Hits the spot.

In front of the "Porto Antigo II" we booked a Gestplain tour, 20eur/person from 9 to 15h. It was an absolute disgrace and waste of time, and I recommend to avoid at all costs. Here the reasons:
1. The trip started with the driver going around the streets slowly, in circles, until after 20 minutes he told us that we have to stop to pick two more people. 
2. With the 2 couples in the car, he started driving at max 50 km/h. At first I thought it was to allow us to enjoy the views. But even with no views he NEVER went above 50km/h. That's OK the first half an hour. When every car is passing you, it's silly.
3. No much info nor interesting facts about the island. After stopping at the two firsts spots, one realises that the island has no much to give. Every stop is in fact a tourist trap. 
4. At 10:30h, in one stop, the driver offered a menu for our lunch, to decide in advance the dishes. Well, prices were expensive compared to any other place, and when we showed hesitation the driver threaten that going to other places could cause a major delay "it can take 2 hours to have lunch in other places". We decided to only eat a sandwich. Or nothing, given the ways things were. 
5. Why do we have to drive through the "favelas" as if it was a highlight? It's embarrassing.
6. Buracona is a ridiculous tourist trap. I can't find why people would find this interesting. Unless you've never seen waves hitting rocks or water reflecting the sky.
7. The driver sensed our boredom, and since then he was totally off.
8. After 11:30h, I seriously start doubting that this driver has a licence for driving. He flooded the car at one point and with the car stopped it took him a few seconds to realise that the car was waiting for someone to start it again.
9. We stopped at the restaurant in Palmeira; no prices and no local people inside (it was empty). We finally ordered ham&cheese sandwiches for 100 escudos each, indeed checking the prices first. 
10. The driver did not know what to do. So we told him that we would eat our sandwiches walking around the small village. We happily found a harbor after the next turn, with fisherman arriving with the catch. The driver appeared after 10 minutes, as he suddenly realised that he is expected to be with us.
11. We go to the shark bay experience. Thank you for NOT telling us in advance that a protective footwear is expected. We went into the water with our trail shoes. Not because we cannot afford renting shoes, but because we were tired of being treated as objects. The driver threaten us again saying that there are sea urchins. The experience itself is OK.
12. We go to the salines. Another OK experience. But what about thinking that this could be the last stop? after this we have to go around with a heavy layer of salt, quite uncomfortable.
13. the driver hits 60. He slows down back to 40 again. It's a boring long straight road.
14. the view point is ok, but nothing else.
How this could be improved:
- Foot down  and do the trip from 9h to 12h. Do not waste my time and let me have lunch at a place of my own choice. I am sorry for your friends at the restaurant. 
- Do not hide info, let us know if we have to rent stuff at places or pay for the entry. Else, expect to be hated.
- Do not threat my decisions.
- Do not ever let your 4 clients to walk away from you. 
Best of the day: 
- arrive home at 15h. After rushing at 40km/h the entire day.
- the invisibles sea urchins.

Gestplain Island tour excursion - AVOID!

If you're looking for somewhere worth your money and to be treated respectfully, keep looking!
Things started well, with good communication. Romina, who runs the agency, arranged for her husband to collect me form the airport at an agreed standard price (1500 escudos). My flight from one of Cape Verde's other islands kept being delayed, and I kept Romina informed of my time of arrival through whatsapp and booking.com. I arrived 4 hours late at 22.30 and after a dangerous 140 km/hr car journey with no seat belt, I was charged 2000 escudos. When I refused, he called Romina who insisted I had to pay 2000 due to arriving late and it being late in the evening - she insisted this was a standard price for that time in the evening (I paid 1500 the previous week when I arrived at 2:00 am). 
The apartment itself wasn't much better! There was no lightbulb in the fitting, no socket within reach of the lamp (why provide it?), sockets couldn't fit a plug with adaptor, other sockets had cables in wall exposed, shelf in shower wasn't useable (everything slid off as it wasn't flat). 
Not to mention that because I arrived after 18:00, I wasn't given the wifi password and there was no information provided in the apartment.
FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO STAY!

Gest Plain Apartments

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