MELIA DUNAS BEACH RESORT - CAPE VERDE - REVIEW

We stayed at Melia Dunas Beach Resort in November 2025, and before travelling we were genuinely excited. We had seen the promotional photos, watched videos, and read numerous positive reviews. Based on everything we had seen, we expected a high-quality five-star holiday experience with excellent facilities, service, and dining options. The resort was more expensive than we would normally pay, but we felt it would be worth it.

The journey from Sal International Airport took around 30 minutes to the resort, and check-in was extremely busy. After a seven-hour flight from Manchester, the last thing we wanted was to spend another 20-30 minutes queuing. Once we reached reception, we paid the tourist tax and were unexpectedly given VIP wristbands. Nobody explained why we had received them, but we assumed it was some sort of upgrade and didn't question it.

The resort itself is enormous, much larger than we expected. After check-in, we were directed towards our room, but because of the size of the complex and the lack of clear guidance, we quickly became lost in the dark. Eventually, a member of staff picked us up in a golf buggy and took us to our accommodation.

Our first impression of the room was positive. We had been allocated a large two-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms, two balconies and a separate living area. It was spacious and comfortable. However, finding our way around the resort that first evening proved difficult, and after unsuccessfully trying to locate the main reception and restaurants, we returned to our room and decided to explore properly the following morning.

Once we got our bearings, we could appreciate how impressive the resort looked. The grounds are attractive, there are numerous swimming pools, plenty of facilities, children's areas, entertainment options, bars and beach access. Visually, it is a beautiful resort and there is certainly no shortage of things to do on site.

Unfortunately, as the holiday progressed, several issues began to affect our experience.

One of the main reasons we chose this hotel was the range of à la carte restaurants advertised. However, securing reservations proved extremely difficult. We repeatedly asked at reception and concierge desks for assistance, but despite seeing many empty tables when walking past the restaurants, we were regularly told there was no availability. We eventually managed to dine at Rancho towards the end of our stay thanks to a helpful member of staff, but overall the booking system was frustrating. Most of our meals ended up being at the buffet restaurants. Spices, the main buffet, was generally good with a wide selection of food.

We also experienced a number of service issues during our stay. There were occasions when we had no water in our room. Housekeeping was inconsistent, with rooms sometimes only being cleaned every two or three days. Towels would be removed but not replaced until much later in the day, occasionally not arriving until the evening. Tea and coffee supplies were also not regularly replenished. Whenever we raised these issues with reception, staff were polite, but there never seemed to be any real urgency to resolve them.

A particularly strange incident occurred one evening when a man knocked on our apartment door shortly after we returned from entertainment. When I answered, he quickly apologised and claimed he was looking for somebody upstairs, despite leaving in the opposite direction. We reported the incident because it felt unusual, but the concern was largely dismissed.

The biggest issue emerged when we spoke to our holiday representative. After explaining some of our concerns, he informed us that we were actually staying in Sol Dunas, a neighbouring four-star hotel, rather than in the five-star Melia Dunas Beach Resort that we had booked. He said it’s where a lot of the staff accommodation is in the resort. Suddenly, many things started to make sense, including why we seemed so far away from the main facilities.

It became clear that the VIP wristbands we had been given were intended to compensate for being accommodated in a lower-rated property. The problem was that nobody had explained this to us at any stage. We only discovered it ourselves several days into the holiday. Had the hotel been transparent from the start, we may have viewed the situation differently, but finding out by chance felt dishonest.

When we challenged reception, we were told the hotels were full and that guests were regularly being moved between properties. While the VIP wristbands did provide some additional benefits, they did not make up for the fact that we had paid for a five-star hotel and had instead been placed in a cheaper four-star property without our knowledge or consent.

Despite these issues, there were positives. The beach is beautiful, with plenty of sunbeds available. The resort grounds are attractive and well-maintained. The Boulevard area was particularly nice, with shops, bars, entertainment and a pleasant atmosphere in the evenings. Most staff members we encountered were friendly and courteous.

However, several operational issues continued throughout the holiday. Reception often seemed overwhelmed and unable to resolve problems effectively. Even simple requests such as changing money or resolving housekeeping issues proved difficult. We also found the luggage storage arrangements on departure surprisingly poor, with bags being left outside reception with little visible supervision.

As for Cape Verde itself, we enjoyed the weather and the beach, but found there wasn't a great deal to do outside the resort. Santa Maria was pleasant enough to visit, but relatively small. If you're looking for a relaxing beach holiday, it may suit you perfectly. If you prefer exploring and sightseeing, you may find the options somewhat limited.

Overall, this holiday was disappointing because the reality did not match what we had booked and paid for. The resort has the potential to be excellent. The facilities are impressive, the grounds are beautiful and many of the staff are friendly. However, the apparent overbooking of the hotel, the lack of transparency about accommodation changes, the difficulty booking restaurants, and the inconsistent housekeeping significantly impacted our stay.

Would I return? No, probably not. While there were certainly aspects we enjoyed, the stress and frustration outweighed the positives. My biggest advice to the resort would be simple: don't overbook, communicate honestly with guests, and address issues when they are raised. If those areas improved, this could genuinely be a fantastic holiday destination.

I'd rate that review around 2.5–3 stars out of 5 overall: beautiful resort, good facilities, but let down by overbooking, communication, and service issues.