Santa Maria, Sal Island, Cape Verde .... is a heavenly mix of sun, sand and relaxed African-European culture. ''No stress'' is the mantra here. These studio apartments in the quiet, private resort of Porto Antigo 2 give you the opportunity to try it for yourself, at reasonable cost. Porto Antigo is simply the most sought after development on Sal Island, and probably always will be: tropical garde
ns, communal fresh-water pool, literally seconds to a quiet beach and yet also only a minute from the lively little town of Santa Maria, with its shops, bars, restaurants and unique music scene. Apartment highlights:
Studio apartment 36 - morning sun on the bougainvillea-decked balcony, overlooking tropical garden and with a partial pool-view. This is the more private apartment, on the first floor. Studio apartment XX (coming soon) - full view of the sea/beach all the way to the Santa Maria pier, from the comfort of your bed/living room; enjoy the same view from the ground-floor terrace while watching the sun set. Both studios consist of a bedroom/living area with a separate shower-room. The living area also houses a fully-equipped kitchenette. The furnishing in both studios is to a high standard, recently decorated in a , and with air-conditioning. Studio 36 also has a sofa-bed to accommodate up to 4 people. About Porto Antigo resort:
Porto Antigo 2 is a quiet and relaxed development on the edge of Santa Maria town with a large tropical garden and freshwater pool. The pool overlooks a quiet beach. The resort is patrolled by security guards day and night, so only people staying on the resort are allowed on the premises. Porto Antigo 2 is situated on the edge of the town and is about a minute walk to the town square in the heart of Santa Maria with its wide range of shops, bars and restaurants. Some developments situated in the centre of Santa Maria town can suffer from noise pollution from near by bars, but this is not the case with Porto Antigo 2. Places to eat and drink:
There is an excellent restaurant in the attached resort next door (Porto Antigo 1), and at the other end of the scale (but with an equally good view of the sea), there is Angela's Luncheonette almost next door on the other side of the resort, where you can great a great meal very cheaply and also enjoy happy hour drinks at half price. The town of Santa Maria boasts many bars, cafes and restaurants, most of them just minutes away. There is also a local bakery for fresh bread in the morning and several small supermarkets for all your daily needs. The hotel next door (in Porto Antigo 1) sells a wifi voucher for internet use on your own devices. Arrival and visas:
You need to get a visa on arrival. This is very simple process and it is actually better than having a prearranged visa as you get to bypass the long immigration queue. You get the visa (costs €25 in 2016) at a small ''window'' on the left-hand side of the arrivals area. After that, you by-pass the main queue and go to baggage collection. It is a very small airport, so everything is close at hand (no long walks). After baggage collection, proceed to meet your taxi driver (if pre-arranged) or go outside and get a taxi from the line (costs €15 to Santa Maria). If your taxi is pre-arranged, he will also have the key to the apartment. Housekeeping:
Bedding and bathroom towels are included. Please note the only cleaning and laundry included is at the end of your stay upon 'check out'. If you require any extra cleaning, new towels or bedding 'during your stay' then this can be provided for an extra charge. Please let me know your requirements. CHECK OUT
Check In and Check Out times are very flexible, as long as there are no other guests. We do our best to accommodate late/early arrivals, but sometimes it is necessary to wait until the cleaners can do their job, especially during busy times. However, you can always leave your bags and have a nice drink close by if case you have a short wait. The Studio Apartment Accommodation:
Living Area:
Large double bed, sofa bed (Studio 36 only), sideboard with storage area, wardrobe, bedside tables, coffee table, TV, Air conditioning unit. Kitchenette:
4-ring gas hob, kettle, toaster, cafetiere, cutlery and crockery, pots and pans. Shower room:
Toilet, sink, bidet and shower. Balcony/terrace:
Table and 4 chairs. Contact:
I live in the Netherlands and I always try to be available by phone, email or sms. However, if you need local advice or need to get something fixed, it is probably best to ask the staff at the resort in the first instance (either the staff at the Gest Plain office or the Security Guards). More information is available in my information document which I send out to everyone who books an apartment.
