Late summer visitors lament “dangerous” food at Sol Dunas hotel, Cape Verde

A British holidaymaker has claimed that she contracted salmonella while staying at the Sol Dunas resort in Santa Maria, Cape Verde, as dozens of disgruntled guests vented their discontent with food hygiene at the resort online.

TUI promote all-inclusive holidays with a ‘4-star’ rating at the 736-room hotel.  The guest posted a review on TripAdvisor and said, “We booked 14 nights and I spent 9 of them in the room with salmonella! The buffet food was average and it was the same stuff most days.”

Burger was “completely raw on the inside”

A number of reviewers commented on poor standards of hygiene and food preparation, with other posters highlighting restaurants “swarmed with flies”, “repetitive” food and a “basic lack of hygiene.”

One contributor branded the food as “dangerous” and elaborated: “Uncooked, un-covered cold food. We were very ill. I needed to stop my son eating a burger that was completely raw on the inside. Will come back to Cape Verde but not this hotel.”

Holiday Claims Bureau’s Litigation Executive Lucy Bevis:

“We’re concerned to hear these reports from the Sol Dunas Hotel.  Holidaymakers , for some of them this will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.  There are numerous hotels across the archipelago that simply don’t have these kinds of issues.  The Tour Operators need to do more to protect their customers from food-borne illness and shouldn’t use the climate or geographical location as an excuse.  We hope that the problems being reported at the will be investigated seriously and not simply swept under the carpet.

We would recommend that anyone who becomes ill out in Cape Verde takes appropriate steps to treat their illness.  They should notify the Tour Operator of their illness and concerns directly, not just to hotel staff.  Also, if you are thinking of claiming compensation, you should get together any evidence you think might help your claim; this includes exchanging details with anyone else you meet who has been stricken by sickness.”

If your stay in Cape Verde has been affected, call our friendly team today on 0161 813 2131.  Alternatively, you can use our contact form and we’ll call you back.