We've put together an A-Z guide of useful information which will help answer common questions often asked by our customers before travelling to Cape Verde.
If you have any other questions that are not covered in this section, please do not hesitate to contact our reservations team on 01489 866998 or email your question to us »
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If you have any special requests for your flight, please ensure that they are requested at the time of booking. We will be pleased to pass on your requests to the airline, however we cannot guarantee that they will be met.
Seats together and the carriage of sports equipment are available to book at a supplement outside of 7 days of departure, however these are subject to availability.
It is best to advise us of any requests or requirements as early as possible. For booking requests please contact the Admin Team on 01489 866970.
All airlines are required to collect Advance Passenger Information from all customers (including infants) travelling to and from the UK by air in advance of issuing tickets.
We also need this information in order to pre-arrange your Airport Security Tax (TSA).
What information is needed per passenger?
When is the information required by?
How can I provide this information?
From 1 January 2019, all British nationals (with a passport issued in the UK) can enter Cape Verde as a visitor for stays of up to 30 days without a visa.
However, a new Airport Security Tax (TSA) has been implemented (approx. £30pp). We will arrange the Airport Security Tax (TSA) for all of our package holiday passengers provided that we have all passport information at least 7 days in advance of travel. Prior to travel, you will not receive any documentation regarding your Airport Security Tax (TSA) as this will be checked at passport control.
Please make sure you have given us the passport details for all of your party more than 7 days before your departure for us to arrange your Airport Security Tax (TSA) in advance. Your passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months after the end date of your holiday in Cape Verde. Children under two are exempt from the Airport Security Tax (TSA).
Non British passport holders may require a visa, this is an additional cost of approximately €25 per person and can be obtained on arrival. Most EU/African countries do not require a visa.
For those travelling on a flight only or accommodation only basis, you will need to apply for the Airport Security Tax (TSA) yourself on arrival in Sal or Boa Vista and will also be asked to pay a fee directly to the authorities.
For late bookings made within 7 days of departure our admin team will try to pre-arrange your Airport Security Tax (TSA) however, if unsuccessful, this can be purchased on arrival and the cost refunded by our representative.
For all package holiday bookings, when you receive your booking confirmation please telephone our Admin Team on 01489 866970 to give us the information required to arrange your Airport Security Tax (TSA). You will need to have all passengers' passport details to hand. This should be done as soon as your booking confirmation has been received and no later than 7 days before departure. After this time we cannot guarantee that we will be able to arrange your Airport Security Tax (TSA) before departure from the UK.
You will not be issued with a pre-arranged Airport Security Tax (TSA) payment receipt prior to departure, your details are logged electronically so passport control can access it on your arrival in Cape Verde. If you have already given us your passport details but are asked to pay for your Airport Security Tax (TSA) on arrival, please request the assistance of a Barracuda Tours representative.
If you have booked accommodation only with us, you will need to apply for the Airport Security Tax (TSA) yourself on arrival into Sal or Boa Vista. You will also be asked to pay a fee directly to the authorities.
Your travel documents will be sent by email 2 weeks prior to your date of travel. Your flight timings will be those shown in your travel documents email, please check them carefully as soon as you receive them as the airline may have changed these since the time of booking.
Your free hand baggage allowance is 10kg with TUI flights. Dimensions can vary from airline to airline but the maximum size is typically 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. Please ensure that your hand luggage does not contain any sharp objects.
Most airlines will only carry 1 piece of hand luggage per passenger, which includes handbags and laptop bags.
Infants are not entitled to hand luggage.
Standard luggage allowance on international flights is 20kg per person and any luggage above this weight will be charged for. Please note that most airlines will not accept a bag that is over 23kg for health & safety reasons. It is best to spread your luggage across a couple of bags to avoid this. Usually in addition to an adult's allowance, a pushchair or pram will be carried at no charge.
- If you are Island hopping, your internal flight baggage allowance is also 20kg per person.
If in doubt, please call our Admin Team on 01489 866970. You can also enquire about purchasing extra baggage allowance if required, we will be happy to do this on your behalf. Please note that your luggage will still need to be spread across different bags.
Inter island flights are detailed on your confirmation invoice, however please be aware that these flight times can still be subject to change as the airline can amend their schedule without much notice and flights can be delayed, moved by 1 day or even cancelled; unfortunately this is beyond our control. In circumstances such as this, you will be advised immediately and your booking will be amended to the most appropriate alternative flight. Your internal flight tickets will be issued upon arrival in Cape Verde by your representative. Baggage allowance is 20kg on the inter island flights.
There have been a small number of cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus report in Cape Verde, the majority on the Capital Island Praia. You should follow the advice of the National Travel Health Network and Centre, particularly if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and seek guidance from a health professional if you have any further questions or concerns.
Bank transfers
Please quote your booking reference number on all bank transfer transactions
Credit and Debit cards (no handling charge, unless a business credit card is used when a 1.6% charge will apply)
Unfortunately, we are not able to accept Solo or American Express cards
Cheques
Please make payable to Cape Verde Experience and add your holiday reference to the reverse of the cheque along with your name and address.
Occasionally, despite the best efforts of all concerned, flights are delayed for reasons beyond our control. In the event of such a delay we will always do our very best to provide a snack or meal when appropriate. Should there be an extended delay to your homeward flight we will endeavour to delay your departure from your holiday accommodation, and in the case of an overnight delay, overnight accommodation will be provided, although this may not be at your final holiday accommodation.
Any amendment will be subject to availability, amendment charges, plus any difference in cost. This is in addition to any carriers' amendment or cancellation fees. Further details can be obtained from our Admin Team on 01489 866970 or via email at admin@gambia.co.uk. Amendments within 14 days of travel are not always possible and cancellation changes will apply.
The crime rate in Cape Verde is generally low. As in all destinations, especially in the larger towns, we advise you to exercise caution and not show valuables or large amounts of cash. Taxis are recommended at night on Santiago as it has fewer tourists and have more residential areas than the other islands. Taxis are available and are generally of a good standard, although it is advisable to agree the fare before setting off.
The currency is the Cape Verdean escudo or CV esc which can only be obtained in the islands. You can take Sterling or Euros to exchange, Sal and Boa Vista and some of the other islands accept Euro's as currency as well as Escudo's. The fixed exchange rate is 110 CV Esc to €1. Currently only Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Cash points are in major towns and airports to withdraw local currency, however we recommend that you do not rely solely on these.
If island hopping Escudos are more advisable on the less touristic islands. .
There are excursions available, dependent on internal flying schedule. You can speak to your representative in resort about what is available and to how to book. Please note that some excursions are subject to minimum numbers. You can view some of the excursions and approximate prices on our website.
UK mobile phones do work in Cape Verde (except pay as you go) however calls and web browsing can be expensive. A cheaper option is to buy a pre-paid SIM card for your phone on arrival in Cape Verde which will give you a local number. Remember, you will need to take a handset which is not locked to a network to be able to use this option. You can also contact your mobile provider, and discuss additional bolt ons for your time abroad, plus many of our hotels have Wi-Fi, so you can use internet messaging apps such as Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger to avoid cost.
Check - in times do vary but as a general rule hotel rooms are available from 3pm on arrival, with you being asked to vacate your room by midday on the day of departure. We can request early and late check out however this is usually not guaranteed and the hotel will provide luggage storage and a shower room instead.
We are working with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to do all we can to help British travellers stay safe overseas. Their website at: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo is packed with essential tips, travel advice and up-to-date country specific information.
If you have booked a package holiday with us, private transfers will be included to and from your arrival airport at no extra supplement (where operationally possible). As the Islands are small, the transfer time from the airport to your hotel will on average take around 30 minutes. Transfers will usually be by private car, taxi or 4 wheel drive depending on your itinerary.
For all stays on Santo Antão, Fogo, or São Nicolau, we include, an arrival Panoramic Transfer Tour, taking approximately three-hours, showcasing some of the highlights of the islands.
Most all inclusive hotels include locally produced alcoholic drinks and unlimited soft drinks, however some hotels do not include internationally known drinks brands, and may also charge for bottled water. For more specific hotel information please contact our Admin Team on 01489 866970.
During GMT the Islands are 1 hour behind the UK.
During British Summer Time, the Islands are 2 hours behind the UK.
This does depend very much on the island. In Santa Maria on Sal and Mindelo on São Vicente there are some very good restaurants in and outside the hotels. A selection of Creole, Portuguese, international and seafood will generally be on the menu, however due to the laid back lifestyle service can be a little slow. On other islands such as Boa Vista and Santo Antão, there are only a few restaurants with no specific menu and sometimes only the special dish of the day is available.
Most hotels and restaurants (especially 4 & 5* hotels) prefer gentlemen to wear long trousers and sleeves for dinner in the evenings and no beach wear for all hotel restaurants. Out and about if it is windy in the evening and it can feel quite cool, so taking a sweater or a wrap with you is advisable. For cultural sensitivity we advise you to dress modestly when visiting any towns or countryside.
The climate is pleasantly tropical with year round temperatures between the mid to late twenties, with uninterrupted sunshine from November to May and a rainy season between the months of August and October. Due to the location of the Islands it can be windy particularly between November and April. Between December and February The Bruma Secca a dry mist/haze can appear over the islands.
All prices shown on this site for package bookings include:
Children are welcome everywhere as the Cape Verdeans love and take excellent care of their young ones. They will love playing on the beaches and some of the hotels have small play areas and sections of the pool for children (mostly unsupervised). Apart from the hotels with kids clubs,there are few organised activities for children. Babysitting services are also limited.
For all package holidays we include FREE access to our UK airport lounges. This will automatically be included on your booking. Please call us if you do not see it on your booking. This will be detailed in your ticket pack. Please note that some lounges have dress codes - please call us to clarify.
Examples of a hotel request are: Quiet room, low or high floor, specific room number or room locations, honeymoon or special occasion, special diets or drinks, early arrival or late check out. If you have any special requests for your hotel(s) please mention them to us at the time of booking and we will advise the hotel. Unfortunately we can never guarantee that your requests will happen, nor can the hotels.
We do not recommend car hire on any of the islands due to inproper roads/lighting outside of the main resorts.
There is a tourist tax of €2.50 per person per night, payable on check out of each hotel for a maximum of 10 nights at each property. Children under 16 are not required to pay.
Cape Verde is NOT RECOMMENDED for those with limited mobility or needing walking aids due to uneven streets and pathways. Wheelchairs can be hired on the island of Sal and Boa Vista, however there are still limitations of transportation around the island and to and from the airport for wheelchair users.
There is an in-flight menu to purchase hot food, drinks and snacks. Please note there is no in-flight entertainment on flights to Cape Verde so it is advisable to take a book, e-reader or tablet or games.
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If you test positive in your destination before you’re due to return home to the UK, you’ll need to inform your representative, your insurance company and your hotel as soon as possible. You’ll then need to follow the specific guidance given to you by your insurance company, which may include the need to self-isolate in a medical facility or your hotel room and our resort team will be on hand to assist you.
Our deposit is 20% of the total cost of your holiday, which needs to be paid at the time of confirming your holiday. Your balance will be detailed on your invoice and must be paid in full no later than 12 weeks before your departure.
There is no official system of classification for hotels in Cape Verde.
Hotel service levels and standards in Cape Verde should not be compared to those in other holiday destinations, therefore we have created our own rating system based upon standards available within the islands and taking into consideration feedback from our customers.
Our ratings are illustrated by hibiscus flowers. Half a flower illustrates a midway grade. It should also be noted that service levels and health and safety standards within some hotels are below those in Europe and other more established holiday destinations.
We believe it is essential that we match the right hotel with the right client. Our descriptions show whether a hotel is quiet or lively, fun or tranquil, suitable for couples or families. Our staff will be happy to discuss in more detail which hotels are good for groups or those with limited mobility or a disability. They have all visited and stayed in the hotels on many occasions, please use their personal knowledge and call them on 01489 866969.
All the properties we feature have been thoroughly inspected by our staff in the UK and Cape Verde and are visited on a regular basis.
There are plenty of places in Cape Verde that you can go in the sea. The island of Sal is better known for calmer seas, especially Santa Maria beach which is where our flagship hotel Morabeza is situated. However like many other places, there are some areas on Sal and on the other islands that have very large waves, and its slightly tidal, so the current can be strong. Many beaches have a flag system, so any with the red flag on certain days is recommended to not swim.
Pool towels are available on a token or hire system at most of our hotels that feature a pool, apart from Hotel Pontao where you will need to take your own pool towels.
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