Recently we went away to the island of Boa Vista in Cape Verde.
Cape Verde is a number of islands off the coast of Africa and is very much a developing country. On the island of Boa Vista there are currently 3 main holiday resorts, and we stayed at the hotel RIU in Toureg. The island itself is beautiful, it has gorgeous beaches with perfect white sand as far as the eye can see.
We travelled with TUI for this holiday. The resort was far away from anything else on the island so you have to rely on taxis or excursions to get out and about to see the island however if you are looking for a holiday where you do nothing but relax, this is the one!
To get a full review of Cape Verde come back at Sunday at 6pm GMT
My travel Must Haves
1. Travel pillow: The flight to Cape Verde is 6 hours so a travel pillow was an essential for me. I have a little square travel pillow from Trespass, which I have had for years and taken on many trips. It can also be used as an extra pillow on your holiday if the hotel pillows aren’t comfy!
2. Headphones: I have wireless blue tooth headphones from JCV that I got for Christmas. They are really affordable if you are looking for some new headphones and have good sound quality! They were great on the flight as well as for relaxing round the pool.
3. Eyemask: I love an eye mask! I sleep with one every night and it has become a real comfort for me. It helps me sleep wherever I am. It really helped me doze off on the plane and cancel out all the movement around me. I have had a number of different ones over the years but I would recommend a silk one if possible as silk is good for the skin to avoid wrinkles!
4. Re-usable water bottle: Having a reusable water bottle meant I didn’t have to go to the restaurant/ bar as often and encouraged me to stay hydrated! As the water bottle I have is metal it also kept my water colder for longer which was great in the summer sun!
5. Sun cream and aftersun: For this trip I stuck with my favourite, Piz Buin. It is more expensive than other suncreams on the market however my skin has reacted to other suncreams so I feel this is a good option for sensitive skin! I took both factor 30 and 15. It melts into the skin well and gave me a nice even tan. Please let me know of any other suncream recommendations for sensitive skin!
For aftersun I went for one that was on offer in Boots, The Garnier Ambre Solaire. I made sure I put it on all over every night to keep my skin nice and hydrated. It does what is says on the tin, it is non greasy and non sticky so you don’t feel like it is sitting on the skin!
6. Face Cloth/ Cleanser: Rather than using cotton wool or wipes I brought a face cleanser and face cloth. This meant I was not wasting single use items when away. A muslin cloth is best, I used the Trilogy Very sensitive cleansing cream from M&S, which is also in a glass bottle - hooray for less plastic!
7. Go Pro!: Ok, maybe this isn’t an essential but when you have a pool and the opportunity to swim in the sea whilst snorkeling this was such a great piece of kit to have. We have a Go Pro Hero 4 so not one of the newer models however it still works so well and takes great quality photos.
8. First Aid Kit: When going away I do like to be prepared! I always make sure I take a first aid kit. This will include plasters, tablets for headaches, diarrhoea, constipation, anti septic cream with bites and rashes, insect repellant etc.
These are a few of the items I would recommend bringing that can really make a big difference, not only in terms of overall holiday improvement and enjoyment, but also by increasing your own levels of eco-friendliness.
I know a lot of people would say that an all inclusive holiday is not very eco friendly however you can make your trip as sustainable as you want by the choices you make whilst away.
On a beach holiday I always like to spend some time walking up and down the beach and collect litter as I go.
I also like to make sure I am not wasting food or drinks where possible, turn off the aircon when I am not in the room.
Another way to be sustainable is by considering what you are buying before you travel. Do you really need that new swimsuit or can you borrow/ swap holiday clothes with your friends?
We are all trying to make a difference and even the little changes we make will help. It is not about one person being perfect, it is about everyone trying to make a difference together!
Thanks for reading, Jen x
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