House Guide & Local Tips

🔑 Keys & Access

• Adrian your host will be waiting for you with the keys when you arrive. You will receive 1 large key for the main gate/front door and 1 key for the apartment.

• Tip: The apartment key can feel a bit tricky. It works perfectly, just gently move it back and forth a little while turning.

⚡ Important: Airco, Water & Electricity

Water and electricity are extremely scarce and expensive in Cape Verde. Please use them very sparingly.

• ⚡ Critical power warning: Never use the Air Conditioning, hair dryer and the kitchen induction hob at the same time. This will blow the main fuse. It can only be reset by building management, meaning you could be left without power until the next day if it happens at night.

• ❄️ Airco rules: Keep all windows and doors tightly closed when the AC is running. Always turn the AC completely off whenever you leave the house.

• 🚰 Tap water: You can safely drink the tap water only in the kitchen! A special water filter is installed on the cold water tap, so you do not need to buy/carry heavy plastic bottles.

🛏️ Towels, Linens & Laundry

• The apartment is fully equipped with bed linen, bath towels, and beach towels. No need to pack your own.

• Every guest receives 2 standard towels and 1 large towel (which can be used as a beach towel), placed neatly on the bed.

• Extra change: If you want a fresh set of linens and towels during the week, we charge €7.50 per person.

• Washing: You will find a washing machine in the bathroom of the beach house and the pool house, and a drying rack, steamer, iron, and ironing board.

🧹 Cleaning, House Rules & Trash

• Quiet hours: We live here alongside permanent residents and friends. Please keep noise to a minimum after 23:00 (11 PM) on weekdays.

• Mid-stay clean: There is a broom on the balcony for beach sand. If you would like a quick extra clean (sweeping, tidying, making beds), just ask Adrian. You can pay our cleaning lady, Mirla, per clean directly.

• Note: The windows might look dusty; they are actually clean but permanently sandblasted by the island wind.

• Trash disposal: !!! Since you live in a country with high temperatures, it is very important to do the dishes every day and not leave behind any food scraps or crumbs, in order to prevent pests.

• Beach & Surf house: Trash bags are located under the sink. Walk down the stairs, go all the way past the pool to the far right corner of Leme Bedje (or the far right corner when entering from the beach side). You will find the storage room with the garbage bins there. Please take glass bottles directly there.

• For the Pool house in the city center: When you exit the building and go to your right you will find a big parking lot with containers.

🍽️ Groceries & Restaurants

Check out our personal favorites, supermarkets, and ATMs on our custom Google Maps Local Guide Map.

• Breakfast & Coffee: Right next door you will find Giramundo a lovely coffee/ice cream shop selling delicious sandwiches and croissants for €2.50. We also highly recommend Cape Fruit (a 200m walk) for amazing smoothies, healthy breakfasts, and pancakes.

• Supermarkets: There is a Chinese supermarket just around the corner behind Leme Bedje. Larger grocery stores are marked on our Google Maps link.

• Local Wine Tips: Try the local white wine Chã (from Fogo)—it is delicious and available almost everywhere. For red wine, look for Pêra Doce at the Chinese shops.

💶 Currency & Payments

• The local currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), but Euros (EUR) are widely accepted everywhere.

• Exchange tip: The official rate is around 1 EUR = 110 CVE. However, local shops and restaurants usually calculate cash Euros as 1 EUR = 100 CVE for convenience.

• Cash is King: Credit cards are rarely accepted on the island. Always keep enough cash on hand.

• ATMs: There are plenty of banks in Santa Maria (see our map). ATM withdrawals are capped at 20,000 CVE (~€200) per transaction, and local banks charge a €5 fee per withdrawal.

🚪 Check-Out Checklist

The final cleaning is included, but we kindly ask you to leave the house tidy by following this checklist before you go. The guests before you will do the same, so you can have a check-in as early as possible:

1. Linens & Towels: Strip the beds and place all used sheets and towels in a pile on the bathroom floor.

2. Dishes: Please wash any dishes you have used.

3. Trash: Take all rubbish to the bins by the pool area. You can leave any unopened food or drinks in the fridge.

4. Cooking: Double-check that all knobs on the induction hob are completely off.

5. Power: Turn off the Air Conditioning and all lights.

6. Keys: WhatsApp Adrian to let him know your departure time so he can collect the keys.

📞 Emergency Contacts

If you have any questions or in case of an emergency, you can always reach us via phone or WhatsApp:

• Local Host (Adrian):                 +238  91 986 16

• First Back-up (Germaine):       +316 54 712 724

• Second Back-up (Gerard):       +316 10 722 901

🚭 Smoking Policy

Sorry no smoking! Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the house. You may smoke on the balcony, but please bring the ashtray back inside when finished.

🌐 Internet & WiFi

• At the house: You will receive the WiFi code by email, when you send us your flight details.

• Around town: Many cafes and restaurants in Santa Maria offer free WiFi. Great local spots include Angulo Beach Club, Ocean Café, Cape Fruit, Giramundo

🔆🔆🔆 We wish you a fantastic, sunny holiday! 🔆🔆🔆