Votre séjour — Encosta Azul
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La propriété — Encosta Azul
Encosta Azul perches on a low hillside a short walk from Praia city centre. The lobby is blancmange-beige with blue-trimmed windows, ceiling fans turning slowly, and a small reception desk staffed by two people who remember repeat guests by name. It is a three-star in the truest sense: clean tiled floors, a modest breakfast of papaya and bread rolls, and a terrace with views over the rooftops to the sea. This is for independent travellers who want a proper base rather than a resort bubble.
Chroniques de Praia
Praia was founded in the early 17th century when the natural harbour of Ribeira Grande (now Cidade Velha) silted up and forced the colonial capital to move. It grew slowly as a port for the transatlantic slave trade and later as a coaling station for steam ships. The plateau (Platô) still holds its 19th-century Portuguese colonial grid, pastel-painted buildings and the presidential palace. Today Praia is a bustling West African capital with a creole soul, where morna music drifts from bars and markets sell fresh tuna and mangoes alongside Chinese-imported electronics.
Meilleur moment pour visiter
Guide complet de Praia →Meilleurs mois
January and February: peak dry season with 24-26°C days, very little rain, and the Atlantic breeze keeps things pleasant. June also works well for early-summer sun before the main saison.
Peak / Festival surge
July to early September. This is the 'summer' rainy season, so conditions are humid with brief heavy showers. It's also when local holidays (Independence Day 5 July) and European summer flights push hotel prices 20-30% higher. Book well ahead.
La saison des épaules
October-November and April-May. Prices drop after the rainy season ends (Oct) and before the Christmas surge (Nov), with warm seas and fewer tourists. May is similarly pleasant.
Météo & Emballage
July is the start of the rainy season, so expect sticky heat (25-28°C) and sudden downpours. Pack a light rain jacket or umbrella, plus loose cotton clothes, and always a reusable water bottle.
Briefing de la ville — Praia
- Praia's airport (Nelson Mandela International) runway extension finished in 2025; now accepts direct flights from London Gatwick (TUI) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
- The new Mercado Municipal do Platô, rebuilt after a 2024 fire, is now open for fruit, fish and souvenirs.
- July 5 is Independence Day: expect parades, music and some street closures in central Praia.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Encosta Azul, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third floor facing away from the main road (the interior courtyard side). The third floor is high enough to reduce street-level noise but still within the range where the lift works reliably, which is useful with luggage.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those overlooking the street or near the stairwell and lift lobby. First-floor rooms pick up the most street noise from Praia's traffic and pedestrian activity, and the lift mechanism can be audible in adjacent rooms.
Best views
Praia is a coastal city with a mix of old town and modern blocks. Ask for a room facing east or towards the Atlantic if possible – you may get a partial sea view or at least a view over the low-rise neighbourhood rooftops. Street-facing rooms look onto typical Praia-lined streets with shops and traffic.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are the quietest. They are above the general street noise and away from ground-level service areas (kitchen, reception). The fifth floor may be quieter still but check whether the lift reaches it (some 3-star hotels in Praia have lifts that only go to floor 4).
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main street in Praia, so expect traffic noise (cars, motos, minibuses) especially between 7am–9am and 5pm–7pm. There's also construction noise in this growing city – weekday mornings can be loud. The bar and breakfast room may generate chatter until around 10pm.
Insider tips
1. Park on the street – the hotel may have limited or no dedicated parking; look for the public parking area a block away on Rua 5 de Julho. 2. Check in early (before 2pm) to get first pick of the top-floor rooms, as the hotel has no lift to all floors – you don't want to be stuck on the fourth floor with heavy bags.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hôtel Facilités — Encosta Azul
Free for all guests, speed around 15 Mbps download; no login required, just accept terms on browser
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Physical newspapers not offered; free access to PressReader via lobby tablet and guest Wi-Fi
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 09:00; late check-out until 13:00 costs CVE 1,500 (subject to availability)
Free for same-day arrivals and departures; overnight storage available at CVE 500 per bag
Step-free main entrance via ramp; no wheelchair-accessible rooms; lift reachable, but bathroom doorways narrow (under 70 cm)
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Estacionamento do Plateau, CVE 200 per night; no EV charging
Frais, taxes et dépôts
City / tourist tax: CVE 350 per person per night, payable at check-in
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required 7 days before arrival; CVE 5,000 incidental card hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary à proximité
- Church: Capela Nossa Senhora do Rosário (1.7 km · ~21 min walk)
- Church: Nossa Senhora do Rosário (1.7 km · ~21 min walk)
- Church: Igreja Hospital da Misericórdia (1.8 km · ~22 min walk)
- Church: Capela de São Sebastião (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
5 minutes de radios essentielles
Nearest — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Monnaie & Monnaie
Get a travel card →Cape Verdean Escudo, CVE
Change money at banks or official exchange offices in Praia; airport rates are poor and tourist bureaux should be avoided.
Cards accepted in supermarkets and nicer restaurants, but many smaller shops and market stalls take only cash; contactless is not widespread.
Tipping is not expected but rounding up the bill or leaving 10% in nicer restaurants is appreciated; taxis rarely expect a tip; hotel staff appreciate small tips for good service.
Manger, faire du shopping et voyager sur un budget
Cheap car hire →A small coffee from a street stall or pastelaria costs around 50 CVE.
A lunch of cachupa or a sandwich from a local pastelaria or market stall costs about 300-400 CVE.
A main course in a mid-range restaurant costs around 600-800 CVE; street food or local canteens offer plates for 300-500 CVE.
Cheap eats are typical around the Sucupira market area and along Avenida Cidade de Lisboa, with grilled chicken, cachupa, and pastel.
Common budget supermarkets include Modelo and Supermercado Rocha; also try the municipal market for fresh produce.
Affordable clothes shopping is found at the Sucupira market and along Rua Serpa Pinto.
Local minibuses (hiaces) cost 40-50 CVE per journey; from the airport, take a shared taxi or minibus for about 150 CVE per person.
Eat at local lunch canteens (tascas) for filling meals under 500 CVE; use shared minibuses instead of taxis; drink local grogue instead of imported spirits.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Praia, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Encosta Azul
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →S’entourer
Praia (city centre) → other parts of the island (e.g. Santa Maria, Espinho)
💡 Check the route map and schedule at the bus station
Praia International Airport (RAI) → Praia (city centre)
💡 Buy tickets on the bus or at the airport terminal
Hotel Roterdão → Praia International Airport (RAI)
💡 Negotiate the price before you start your journey
Praia (city centre) → other parts of the island (e.g. Santa Maria, Espinho)
💡 Use a reputable taxi company and agree on the price before you start your journey
Questions fréquemment posées
What are the best rooms at Encosta Azul?
Request a room on the third floor facing away from the main road (the interior courtyard side). The third floor is high enough to reduce street-level noise but still within the range where the lift works reliably, which is useful with luggage.
Which rooms should I avoid at Encosta Azul?
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those overlooking the street or near the stairwell and lift lobby. First-floor rooms pick up the most street noise from Praia's traffic and pedestrian activity, and the lift mechanism can be audible in adjacent rooms.
Is Encosta Azul noisy?
The hotel is on a main street in Praia, so expect traffic noise (cars, motos, minibuses) especially between 7am–9am and 5pm–7pm. There's also construction noise in this growing city – weekday mornings can be loud. The bar and breakfast room may generate chatter until around 10pm.
Which rooms have the best views at Encosta Azul?
Praia is a coastal city with a mix of old town and modern blocks. Ask for a room facing east or towards the Atlantic if possible – you may get a partial sea view or at least a view over the low-rise neighbourhood rooftops. Street-facing rooms look onto typical Praia-lined streets with shops and traffic.
What are insider tips for staying at Encosta Azul?
1. Park on the street – the hotel may have limited or no dedicated parking; look for the public parking area a block away on Rua 5 de Julho. 2. Check in early (before 2pm) to get first pick of the top-floor rooms, as the hotel has no lift to all floors – you don't want to be stuck on the fourth floor with heavy bags.
What time is check-in at Encosta Azul?
Check-in at Encosta Azul is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Encosta Azul have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, speed around 15 Mbps download; no login required, just accept terms on browser
Is there a city or tourist tax at Encosta Azul?
CVE 350 per person per night, payable at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Encosta Azul?
A lunch of cachupa or a sandwich from a local pastelaria or market stall costs about 300-400 CVE.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Encosta Azul?
Local minibuses (hiaces) cost 40-50 CVE per journey; from the airport, take a shared taxi or minibus for about 150 CVE per person.
When is the best time to visit Praia?
January and February: peak dry season with 24-26°C days, very little rain, and the Atlantic breeze keeps things pleasant. June also works well for early-summer sun before the main saison.
Principales attractions à Praia
💡 Walk along the town's main street and explore the shops and cafes.
💡 Enter through the main gate and head straight to the left to avoid the ticket counter.
💡 Bring water and snacks as there are no amenities at the top.
💡 Buy a ticket to the fort and get a free entry to the museum.