Championed as a closer alternative to the Caribbean, Cape Verde is expecting a surge in interest following the opening this month of a mega five-star beach resort. Could it be time to dip your toe in the water of this exciting winter sun destination?

Article written by Smart Currency Exchange 

Pop stars and the prime minister of Cape Verde were among hundreds of guests at the lavish launch of what arguably has become the archipelago’s flagship resort, which received its first paying guests at the start of November.

The new Melia Dunas Beach Resort & Spa on the island of Sal is the second resort developed by The Resort Group, but with 1,251 units compared to the developer’s first 372-unit Tortuga Beach Resort, takes things to a new level. Practically all of the available property – a mix of hotel rooms, apartments and villas – had been sold at Dunas Beach before the opening, with most units being part of the hotel scheme and many investors purchasing as part of a pension plan to maximise rental return.

Dunas Beach boasts around an acre of pool space, with a waterpark due to open in the New Year. There are 14 bars, six restaurants, a gym, Yhi Spa, boutiques and a hairdressing salon, while activities available include wine tasting, dancing, photography, as well as beach volleyball, kite surfing and scuba diving.

“Like the existing Tortuga Beach resort, operational since 2011, Dunas Beach is working with tour operators Thomson and First Choice, signalling high occupancy levels and rental returns for investors,” said Richard Way of the Overseas Guides Company, who attended the launch event. “A further resort by the same developer is planned on Sal, with more in the pipeline for the neighbouring island of Boa Vista, located along a stunning stretch of beach – one of a number of opportunities for investing through a SIPP we offer at the Overseas Investor Guide.”

The opening of Dunas Beach should raise the overall profile of Cape Verde, where property buying opportunities are not limited to all-inclusive resorts. In the beach town of Santa Maria in Sal, small apartments near the sea are available at attractive prices, where properties typically are sold in euros. To see examples, click here .

If you are considering a property purchase in Cape Verde or any other overseas location, opening a no-obligation account with FCA-authorised Smart Currency Exchange will enable you to benefit from their competitive exchange rates and specialist currency knowledge, ultimately saving you money and time. For more information, download Smart Currency Exchange’s free report or visit the Currency Zone