My Tour Around the Seychelles April 2016

Our journey to the Seychelles started at Heathrow where we had booked the Skyteam Lounge in Terminal 4. Very impressed with the lounge which is on two levels. There was a hot and cold buffet on offer along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages which you can just help yourself too.

We then flew on Ethiad Airways to Abu Dhabi which is around a 7-hour flight. This was on the new A380 Airbus so a huge aircraft with bigger than average seats. We went for a look in business class with the full flat bed seats and then into First Class which has compartment seating and looked so comfortable and expensive ! There is also a Residence onboard which is catered for two people at around £18000 return – very nice

We had around a two-hour connection in Abu Dhabi which was just long enough to look around the Duty-Free and then onboard for the flight to Mahe. This flight was around 4 hours 45 minutes, it is amazing how quick the flights seemed to be, I think the break in journey helped a lot

On arrival at Mahe we were met by the Rep from Masons Travel and transferred to our first hotel of our five night stay.

Banyan Tree on Praslin – We were taken straight to our Beachfront Pool villa. Wow! what a beautiful villa in a beautiful setting. You walk in through the front door where there is a massive double bed which looks straight out onto the private pool. To ensure that the double bed is soft, options from the Bear Mattress Reviews may have been chosen. The bathroom is at the back of the villa with a separate shower cubicle and a walk in wardrobe. Slippers and bathrobes are provided for your comfort. The villa feels very spacious with a seat on one side and dressing table and chair on the other side.

Outside there is the private pool which is a great size for two people with a covered seating area with sofa and table just to the left of it. There is alos an outside Jacuzzi and outside shower if you want to try al fresco washing.

There are two sun loungers in the garden and the best bit is that you can walk right onto the beach from the garden. The beach is absolutely stunning with crystal clear water and perfect white sand. There was an absence of sun loungers on the beach but we found out later that the law in the Seychelles prevents hoteliers from having them on the beach due to the high tides and to preserve the ambiance of a beautiful beach.

We spent a couple of hours on the beach and in the sea although the sea was very rough and you couldn’t swim in it. There was a storm in Madagascar which was causing some very high waves and rough sea in the Seychelles.

In the evening, we had a hosted dinner in the Saffron restaurant  which is Thai Cuisine in a very Asian-inspired setting. We were served a three-course Thai menu with a mixture of different dishes which went went down very well with everyone, some were a little hotter than others and I had to gulp some water down a few times during the night. The wine glasses were huge!!
After dinner we went to the hotel bar for a night cap before bed. The average price for a glass of wine was around 230 Rupees which works out to around £10 and a cocktail was around 300 Rupees which is approx. £15

 Banyan Tree Opinion –

First impressions was that the Banyan Tree is really for people who want to get away from it all and to do absolutely nothing. According to the manager of the hotel a lot of people choose to stay in their accommodations rather than venture out.

To get around the resort as quite spread out,there are little golf buggies to take you and there is a variety of accommodation to choose from.

There are a few dining options here together with in villa dining options. After dinner we sat in an area overlooking the fabulous beach whereby you could have a good variety of drinks to choose from whether hot or cold. After having visited some other hotels after the Banyan we did pick up that it is more expensive drink wise at this hotel.

There is also a dive centre nearby if you wish to go on boat trips, snorkel or dive.

The Banyan Tree is only recommended for people who want an extremely quiet hotel and would recommend it for a few nights combined with another hotel. They confirmed that most customers stay on average 3 to 5 nights.

We transferred over to the Four Seasons Hotel for a site inspection. This is a very impressive hotel and fairly large.

Four Seasons – Mahe

First impressions were that this resort is very spread out with the accommodation dotted around on the hillside. At the top the views are stunning with total greenery and the turquoise blue sea lifting the colours of the land and a white sandy beach. The only way to get around is the golf buggies as it is extremely hilly. There are all types of villa and suite accommodation all very spacious and some with infinity pools. The views from the rooms will not disappoint.
The beach offers snorkelling, surfing and stand up paddle boarding these are just some of things available. Not forgetting families as the hotel caters well for children and there are programmes for children aged 4 to 12 and also aged from 9 to 15 years. The area is also great for walkers and joggers .
There are a couple of restaurants here offering fine dining/ international cuisine and cocktails.
The spa offers all sort of treatments even a night spa is possible . It’s location overlooks all the greenery.
To conclude this hotel is very much all about the views. We did not stay here but it looked like it had more going on than Banyan Tree.

We left the Four Seasons resort and hit quite a downpour of rain, when it rains in the Seychelles it rains!

Then we went for lunch on Eden Island to the Bravo Restaurant. This sits on the edge of the marina with fabulous views across the bridge and the island of Mahe.

The restaurant is very casual and has a great lunch menu. The portion sizes were huge and very reasonably priced too.

Then we had a tour around Victoria the Capital city and went to look at the local market where they sell fish and spices and fruit and veg. Not as big as I was expecting – nothing like the markets back home.

H Resort Hotel

Our room was a Junior Suite with views of the garden. It had a large balcony with big table and chairs and a sofa. Twin four poster beds with drapes. Lovely sized bathroom with his and her sinks, large shower and bath tub.

We had drinks in the garden of the H Resort before having dinner in the buffet restaurant. There was so much to choose from including freshly cooked pizza. The small portion size little desserts were lovely.
After dinner we went to Traders Restaurant which is on site of the hotel and had drinks and listened to the live Cuban band. Great place to have drinks and a boogie.

The H Resort Conclusion

Situated about 10 min’s drive from Victoria, and situated just off the main road, the entrance to the hotel is over a wooded walk way to the main reception area, which is a large open area, which also has the lobby bar, and walk out to the pool & beach area.
The rooms are spacious and comfortable, but please remember the bathroom in not enclosed the toilet & shower have glass semi frosted doors, and the bath tub is open, although a French shutter style blind can be used between the bath tub & beds.
The balcony has table & chairs and a large day bed to lounge on
Jnr Suite Rooms are situated in block and offer garden view rooms, although sea facing none are advertised with sea view due to trees obstructing view. Villas are more to the beach and have their own pool, but not private.
All rooms have Tea & Coffee facilities which are complimentary, Mini Bar payable
There are lots of choices of restaurants& Bars (7 in total) offering a mixture of cuisines, even to private dining where the Chef cooks what you want to eat !
Mainly booked on Bed-Breakfast with an HB upgrade, HB can be used in A la Carte restaurants, where you will get a credit towards meals (drinks not included)
Trader Vic’s opens until 1am and becomes a music bar (Cuban ) if you want a little entertainment and a late cocktail
Children Club & Spa available at hotel This hotel is would be great for families or couples which still like a little something happening in the evening, it is reasonably priced and the bar prices are similar to London prices in my opinion

To Enquire or Book Your Trip To The Seychelles Call: 0114 3273436

Constance Ephelia Resort – Seychelles

Ignite your passion for life on the fabulous, family-friendly 5 * Constance Ephélia.

Sit back and relax in the tranquility of your own furnished terrace with wonderful sea views. Set on the island of Mahé, overlooking the Port Launay Marine National Park, Ephélia offers a treasure trove of discovery for divers and snorkelers.
Enjoy the luxury of space in the elegantly modern accommodation. Choose from 7 types of accommodation from the luxurious junior and senior suites to the super deluxe villas on the hillside.

Discover your favorite of our five restaurants each with something deliciously different. Spoil yourself stay with private pool and treatment with a wide range of treatments in our Spa Village or even in one of our spa villas. Have fun and keep in our fully equipped gym or challenge yourself to a game of tennis, squash or beach volleyball. Children will enjoy the many daily activities at Constance Kids’ Club organized.

Accommodation

267 beautiful suites and villas, each with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, Mac mini entertainment system and a separate bathtub and shower. Junior suites (62m ²) and the larger Senior Suites (80m ²) are as above, an excellent price-family villas (370m ²) have three en suite bedrooms, private pool and outdoor dining area, while the Two Bedroom Beach Villas (350m ²) have a beach restaurant location, private pool and pergola. Hillside villas (220m ²) and spa villas (330m ²) are also available.

Restaurants & Bars

Enjoy a cocktail or fruit juice in one of the 6 bars on offer. Then enjoy a culinary journey through the different tastes of the amazing 5 restaurants. From laid-back beach restaurants serving local Creole specialties, to elegant evening fine dining.

Discreetly centered in the resort nestled amidst tropical gardens. Diners will find something for every taste. Chef Stephane Guignon commands the kitchens where chefs from more than 10 nationalities create sumptuous culinary delights.

Restaurants

Corossol ‘Live’
Helios ‘Mediterranean’
Adam & Eve … “Asian Cuisine”
Cyann ‘Signature Cuisine’
Seselwa ‘Cuisine des Iles’

Bars

Zee Bar
Kabana Beach Bar
Helios Bar
Adam & Eve Bar
Cyann Bar
Seselwa Bar

Facilities

Spa de Constance
A heavenly tropical Spa Village devised on the nature and magical energy of Port Launay. A place of peaceful rest to re-energize the mind, body and spirit.

The Spa which extends to 5000 m² and is set in beautiful tropical gardens. It is designed in harmony with the natural environment and offers and array of beauty and wellness.
Sports Activites
Fully equipped gym, 4 tennis courts, squash, bicycle hire
Non-motorized water sports including pedal boats, catamarans, windsurfing and kayaks.

Mini club
The Mini Club is a multifunctional area comprising a games room and a dining area. It welcomes children from 4 to 12 years 9:00 to 22:00. Indoor and outdoor activities are organized daily as well as excursions.

A daily program is proposed under supervision and children menus are available on request.

 Guaranteed Low Prices on Seychelles

Call 01143243436 to book

Beautiful Denis Island, Seychelles

Denis Island is picture-postcard perfect. It’s just a short 35 minute flight from Mahe airport.

Denis is a privately owned island. The Mason family who own it have got it spot-on. It’s one of the most beautiful outer islands.

The decor throughout is stunning. Mrs Mason has a fantastic eye for detail, it’s like you have stepped into the Conde Nast Traveller magazine. The furnishings & decor are stylish yet relaxed, chic yet comfortable, luxurious and rustic. It’s a look that is hard to pull off but Mrs M does it with aplomb ! Perfect barefoot luxury.

I was incredibly lucky to stay in the pool villa. WOW. I cannot recommend this room highly enough although I did get to see other room types and they were all very beautiful. My pool was a good size and just steps from the most amazing beach. All of the rooms at Denis have outside bathrooms with large bath, rainfall shower and small enclosed garden. Each room comes complete with a rechargeable torch; when the sun sets it’s dark – very dark. You will see the most incredible stars. My villa was the furthest from the reception and restaurant but I could easily walk it in around 7 minutes. There are golf buggies available if you prefer not to walk.

This is an all-inclusive island with an excellent choice of wines, none of your house wine here ! Evening entertainment is low-key & relaxed. The food was divine and of an incredibly high standard. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all superb.

There is no spa however the spa staff will come out to your cottage or villa for treatments.

Snorkelling was excellent with crystal clear waters. I didn’t see any Turtles but am told they are often around. The island has many tortoises including 1 that is over 150 years old. You can walk around the whole island in under two hours, they even have their own farm – almost all of the food that you eat here is from the farm. The fish are caught just a few miles away.

Bird lovers will be in for a treat, you may spot a Paradise Flycatcher or a Seychelles Warbler.

This has got to be one of the most romantic places to visit. It would be perfect for a honeymoon, wedding or to celebrate an anniversary. Denis is an incredibly special place that will capture your heart – it certainly has mine !

We have some excellent rates at this property. I’d highly recommend combining this island with another or even a stop-over in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

Beautiful Kempinski Seychelles

I have just returned from this beautiful hotel. The Seychelles is not as far as you think ! We flew via Abu Dhabi (6hrs 40 mins) & then onwards to Mahe (4hrs) with Eithad Airways.

From Mahe airport the transfer to the Kempinski Seychelles took around 3o minutes. It’s a great drive with fab views of stunning coves and rock formations, if a little twisty however you can always upgrade to a helicopter transfer if you prefer.

The Kempinski is set on the famous Baie Lazare. The grounds of the hotel are huge & have an untouched, natural feel. The gardens are full of coconut trees and pretty flowers. The reception area of the hotel has a real wow factor, it is open to the elements – you can hear the waves breaking on the shore & the birds singing. It feels tranquil and tropical.

My room was only a 2 minute walk from the reception area however I was feeling lazy so took the golf buggy instead of walking (would love one of these back in the UK) The rooms are generally all the same except for some slight changes in decor and views. I had a sea view room. I must say, I was very impressed by the hotel rooms – very comfortable and well thought-out. Rooms vary from 42-46 sqm. Each room has a large, incredibly comfortable double bed and a sunken lounge area with sofa, chair & table as well as a spacious, separate dressing room with ample hanging space and drawers. There are plug points next to the mirrors (all the girls out there will know how important this is) as well as a hairdryer. They provide tea & coffee making facilities in the room. The mini-bar upon arrival is free of charge (until you need a refill then you pay as normal), I thought this was a lovely touch, there was a good choice of soft drinks and even a few beers !

The sea views are wonderful, the supplement to upgrade to a seaview is not much so well worth considering expecially if it’s for a special occasion. The balcony area is a decent size with table & chairs – perfect for a sundowner.

Dining was very good, I ate in both restaurants & found the options excellent as well as delicious. I particularly enjoyed the L’Indochine restaurant which offers fusion food from the Indian Ocean rim. Make sure you try a lemongrass martini when you are there – yum ! Prices for food & drink were not as high as I expected, similar to London prices so didn’t once feel ripped-off. There is a lovely beach bar that really comes into its own of an evening – tranquil and romantic.

This hotel has a very relaxed, laid-back, stylish feel but if you do want more action, there is plenty to keep you entertained such as the spa, tennis courts, dive centre, kayaking, bike hire – personally I was happy watching the waves, drinking lemongrass martini’s and chilling……my idea of heaven.

The Kempinski spa is set within the hotel grounds and is a haven for relaxation and indulgence. Try to book at least a few days ahead as it is very popular.

The Seychelles will really capture your heart.

We have negotiated some cracking offers at this resort including some massive honeymoon discounts. Call or email now for prices…..

Seychelles

Officially known as the Republic of Seychelles, this amazing island country has plenty to offer. All holidays to Seychelles will provide you with sun, sea and five star luxuries. It is typically most common with honeymoon couples and the rich and famous. While it does have a very exclusive reputation, there are some more affordable hotels dotted around the islands. Therefore Seychelles holidays may be well worth a look even if you are on a budget.

What to Expect

When you think of holidays to the Seychelles, you generally picture hot weather, white sandy beaches and a relaxing, peaceful experience. One thing that many people don’t realise is that there are 115 different islands which make up the Seychelles. Therefore you have plenty of options when it comes to deciding which part of the country to head to.

Seychelles holidays are perfect for nature lovers. You’ll get to see giant turtles and plenty of exotic birds in their natural environments. To learn which birds they might be, you can head out to sites like irainvesting.com. An Invest Diva review could provide more insights into more investments options. You could even feed the turtles leaves. This is a unique and relaxing experience that you won’t forget anytime soon. There’s also plenty of marine life to see in the crystal clear waters around the islands. Snorkelling is a popular activity found in the country and no holidays to the Seychelles would be complete without a snorkelling experience.

If you’re heading to Mahé, there are a few attractions you might want to visit. The Adelaide Studio is a nice art gallery featuring works from Donald Adelaide. The Domaine de Val des Pres is also a nice little attraction on the island. This crafts village features 12 crafts workshops and a working class home. Both of these attractions will provide you with a day of relaxation as you enjoy local art and crafts.

If you are looking for the ultimate beach Seychelles holidays then you should opt for the La Digue Island. There you will find the Anse Source D’Argent beach.

It is known to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Used in the film ‘Castaway’ as well as many others, this picturesque beach really is a taste of paradise.

Dining Out in the Seychelles

There are some all-inclusive options in the Seychelles, though generally most hotels operate on a bed and breakfast basis. Holidays to the Seychelles are known for being expensive, partially because most of the food is imported into the country.

One thing that you should try out while you’re in the country is the local Seybrew beer. There are many beach bars and grills to be found around the Seychelles. Whatever food mood you are in, you are bound to find something to suit your tastes. If you don’t want to pay a fortune then stay away from popular hotels. Their prices will be pretty expensive.

Overall holidays to the Seychelles aren’t cheap, but they are definitely worth investing in. You will come home feeling refreshed and happy from your holiday. Don’t forget to take your camera as the scenery truly is out of this world.