Region: Seychelles

MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa, Anse Louis, Mahe

An extraordinary level of luxury awaits romantic couples with the budget to match

There are very few properties worldwide that can match the sophisticated luxury and attention to personal service provided by Maia. Each beautifully appointed villa has its own dedicated butler. Your own personal butler ensures your every whim is catered for and  complete uninterrupted privacy if this is your wish. Each villa has wonderful views over the bay and a beautiful infinity pool set in your own private tropical gardens.  No expense is spared in the provision of toiletries and even the sound system is provided by Bose.  The resort has an excellent central restaurant but guests are invited to arrange their own menu to be served in their villa – even in bed if required! The resort’s slogan is “Whatever, Wherever, Whenever”.

About the Location

The resort hides among the tropical foliage overlooking Anse Louis. The spa and wellness centre provides Balinese massage complete with local products. Couples therapy sessions are provided in a lush garden setting. The remoteness of the location ensures complete relaxation punctuated only by the natural sounds on the islands.

Hilton Northolme, Mahe

This is a great hotel for travelers used to Hilton and its consistency

The hotel has a high standard  with some of the familiar Hilton touches. The location is attractive but the beach area close to the hotel is relatively small. The rooms are well appointed with lavish use of darker woods reminiscent of a more nautical theme. Some rooms benefit from a private pool.

About the Location

The hotel is positioned on the cliffside and complimentary buggies transport guests to the central amenities. There is an attractive infinity pool although it is close to the road way just by reception.

Constance Lemuria Resort, Anse Kerlan, Praslin

Lemuria is a great location for families and couples

Lemuria has accommodation to suits all requirements. The Junior Suites are situated in blocks which are a little lacking in style compared to many of the hotels we have visited. The accommodation, however is generally stylish, comfortable and the location is convenient for the beach and central facilities. The pool villas are more expensive but have greater style and provide a more romantic location.

About the Location

The resort is close to the airport. The hotel has  the only championship golf course in the Seychelles in a truly idyllic setting. There are tennis courts, a great spa and wellness center, shops as well as a scenic pool. There are three restaurants one of which provides some of the finest dining in the Seychelles. There are three beaches. Two are close to the suites and one is a twenty minute walk although there is a regular shuttle provided. It is also possible to hike over to Anse Lazio for the energetic.

Acajou Beach Resort, Cote D’Or, Praslin

Acajou has great accommodation and is perfect for families on a budget

Acajou is family owned and run and  we are constantly impressed by the high standard of cleanliness, décor and attention to detail. The accommodation is attractively priced compared to many hotels of equivalent quality in the Seychelles.  The  rooms are spacious, the beds are beautifully appointed and comfortable and the bathrooms are exceptionally well appointed. There is a large pool and poolside bar. The extensive beach is adjacent. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and exceptionally well kept.  The hotel has a large restaurant and a resident chef.

About the Location

The hotel is situated on the  Cote D’Or beach. The extensive white sands and gently shelving bay are the very essence of the Seychelles. You will be able to walk out quite far and see a myriad of fish following you. In the evening you will be able to see hermit crabs scurrying into their burrows. The beach has views across to the island of Curieuse. The hotel will arrange excursions  for scuba diving and snorkeling in the pristine turquoise waters and also across to Curieuse.

Coco De Mer, Anse Bois de Rose, Praslin

Coco de Mer is a great family hotel and the Black Parrot Suites are perfect for couples

The main hotel is by a wide sandy beach which feels very remote. Accommodation is in beautifully appointed huts right by the beach in exotic landscaped tropical gardens. The recently refurbished rooms are reasonably sized and have well appointed bathrooms. The restaurant has a well deserved reputation and serves breakfast and a la carte dinner. For lunch there is a pretty beach and poolside restaurant which serves delicious lighter fare. The hotel has a pier that juts out into the bay. There are a number of comfortable swinging hammocks as well as an infinity pool. The Black Parrot Suites are co located on the hillside and offer very private accommodation for couples. They have their own restaurant and there is a small sandy cove just below the suites. The feel of this property is exceptional. The management and owners look after their staff and you can sense this in the atmosphere around the hotel. The service is impeccable and among the best we have encountered anywhere!

About the Location

Although the hotel is only 20 minutes from Praslin airport, the location feels very remote. There are no villages close by so the beach is very private. Boats are provided for guests and there is a diving school. Guests can also hike in the extensive grounds which border the Vallee de Mai National Park.

Seychelles

Seychelles

Weather on Seychelles

The best time to visit is from April to November. October and November tend to be the busiest months. December to March suffers from hotter weather and typhoons which bring torrential rain. Entertainment & Golf There are numerous sporting opportunities including Golf and Tennis but the hot humid weather tends to make these less popular than water based activities. Deep sea fishing, diving and snorkelling are easy to arrange and it is also possible to hire a boat and crew for exploring other islands. Cycling on the small island of La Digue is popular and recommended.

These islands are the ultimate tropical paradise. Accommodation used extends to the ulta luxury hotels to more affordable resorts – all of a very high standard. The Seychelles comprise many separate islands each with their own characteristics. The largest, Mahe, is the destination for international flights. There are connecting flights to all the main islands and to Praslin a new fast catamaran has recently been introduced. The vegetation on most islands is lush and fragrant with cinnamon growing wild alongside bananas and many sweet smelling herbs. Although parts of the capital, Victoria, are a little run down, the general quality of housing is high compared with, for example, the Caribbean. Crime is very low and the local population, although laid back, do have a greater service ethic than Reunion or Mauritius. Beaches are among the most scenic in the world often complimented on the main islands by huge rounded granite boulders which are a reminder of the location’s volcanic past. Although some islands are low in profile, most have interesting and hilly terrain. This makes it more interesting scenically than Mauritius although much less mountainous than La Reunion. Coral atolls abound around the coast making bathing safe with exceptionally warm water and incredible diving.

Praslin

Often called ‘The Honeymoon Island’ for its romantic beaches, stunning sunsets and the ubiquitous Coco De Mer Palm with its interestingly shaped flowers and nut. The coastal scenery is exceptionally beautiful and inland there are interesting forest walks. This is a great starting point for some of the other islands. Activities include snorkelling and diving (the Two Sisters Reef is claimed to be one of the best diving spots in the world) and island hopping.

Mahe

This is the main island and in places is more developed than Praslin. There are excellent resorts manly in the north and on the west coast (opposite the capital, Victoria) and inland the mountainous scenery including a small tropical rain forest, is rewarding. Activities are principally beach based but in contrast to other islands there are some excellent restaurants to try outside the main hotels.

Fregate Island Private Hotel

Fregate Island

This is a wonderful island with giant granite boulders that are synonymous with the Seychelles scenery

The resort can accommodate up to a maximum of 40 guests in 16 beautiful villas strategically built on the granite rocks overlooking the Indian Ocean. The size of the island and the location of the villas ensures privacy. Local building materials have been utilised such as the indigenous mahogany and so the villas blend in very naturally with their surroundings.

Each villa has two bedroom, a large terrace with a day bed and a Jacuzzi. The tropical feel of the villas is imparted by light and plenty of space. The island has two freshwater pools and seven beaches with one, Anse Victorin renowned as one of the most beautiful in the world. Another, Anse Macqueraeu is for private use on a first come first serve basis! Activities abound for the energetic. Snorkelling, hobby cats, kayaks and fishing aboard the island’s launches are all available.

About the Location

There is a fully equipped gym and for the really energetic the 125m Mt Signal is a worthwhile climb. Children are well catered for with their very own Castaway Club to keep them occupied in their own tropical paradise.Fregate is also a culinary experience. As the island has its own fresh water source, much of the fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs used by the kitchen are homegrown. Dinner is served either in the historic and romantic setting of Plantation House for wonderful Creole cooking or in Fregate House where a gourmet menu is prepared daily. Guests can dine in the comfort of their own villa or eat casually at the beach bar.

Cousine Island Private

Cousine Island

Follow in the footsteps of Sir Paul McCartney & Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge 

If you are seeking privacy and exclusivity and budget is not too much of a concern then Cousine Island is probably one of the most perfect locations anywhere in the world. This fairly small island is situated 6 kms off the coast of Praslin and is home to numerous migratory birds, Hawksbill and Green Turtles and, of course, Giant Tortoises. The island is completely free of alien mammals and so is also the perfect Private Nature Reserve. It is also classified as a Conservation Island. Accommodation is in 4 exceptionally luxuriously appointed villas set right by the beach with wonderful ocean views. Only 10 people at a time can be accommodated on the island and the design and location of each villa ensures the maximum privacy. Most of the building materials for the buildings were sourced locally and all the ingredients for the restaurant are similarly sourced locally to provide a wonderful Creole experience. The main building (called The Pavillion) has a dining area and overlooks the pool, the Indian Ocean and the islands of Praslin, Cousin and Aride in the distance. Boat excursions to other islands, diving and fishing can be arranged. There is a spa in the newly created Wellness Centre and there is also a gym. The beach extend for the full length of the island and a further one appears during the North West Monsoon season. Transfers can be arranged by helicopter from Mahe and Praslin airports.

Raffles, Anse Takamaka, Praslin

This a very special hotel with a setting that can only be described as paradise.

The setting is spectacular and  unusual. Raffles occupies a commanding view over Anse Takamaka and the island of Curieuse. All the suites are large with a plunge pool and views over the bay. The accommodation is exceptionally luxurious and  private. The rooms (and the bathroom) look out over your own private deck and the extraordinary scenery. The restaurant specialises in local dishes as well as an international menu and provides some of the best cuisine we have encountered in the Seychelles. The hotel has three restaurants, each with their own style of cuisine. The hotel also has a wonderful pool for those who just want to relax. You may also want to make ‘friends’ with the hotel’s own giant tortoises. The rooms are situated over a wide and elevated location and the hotel provides buggies to transport you around the property. You will see a myriad of colourful birds and we have even seen the reclusive tenrec (a type of cute,  long snouted mouse) nesting in the bushes at twilight.

About the Location

The views are spectacular across  crystal clear turquoise blue waters. In the distance, you will see the  pristine and ecologically fascinating island of Curieuse. This is home to some of the World’s largest and oldest tortoises including one that is reputedly 300 years old! Trips  to Curieuse can be arranged by the hotel.  Concierge will also arrange  scuba diving as well as snorkeling. If you don’t want to stray too far then snorkeling from the beach by the hotel will reward you with a myriad of remarkably tame fish. The hotel is situated on the far side of Praslin from the airport, which is approximately a 20-minute drive. You will also be close to the most photographed beach in the Seychelles – Anse Lazio. The beach is  palm fringed with the characteristic rounded granite rocks and pristine almost pink sands. It is also easy to catch the ferry from Praslin for the short journey to the island of La Digue. In summary this is one of the most romantic locations that you will find anywhere in the world!