In general my first impression of Mahe was that it was another city with a lot of cars and people. I found Mahe very westernized in that everywhere we went they played Western music such as Shania Twain, Celein Dion etc, it also felt very impersonal. I guess I was hoping for a little more local culture. For clients who really want a more laid back atmosphere I would suggest Praslin or La Digue out of the islands I visited. I found the Seychelles in general to be very expensive and in everything you read it says Mahe is great for shopping, but I did not find this true. The souvenirs were not all that great, I love the spices however but everything was so expensive. A very small wooden turtle was about US$6.00 I could not believe it. I guess I am used to the rest of Africa where everything is so cheap and I can buy a beautifully carved wooden mask for US$3.00. A towel that said Hawaii was less expensive then a towel that said the Seychelles which did not make sense to me, and the towels were over US$20.00 I was really blown away by how much everything cost. I think as long as I warm my clients to expect to pay a little more than they would normally budget for food, drinks, and souvenirs, they will be fine. The food is absolutely wonderful so I do not think clients will mind paying a little extra for great food.

I loved Praslin and I really noticed a difference from it and Mahe. Praslin was smaller, more intimate, more relaxed, and a lot more laid back. To me this is how I pictured the Seychelles. I loved the visit to Vallee De Mai Nature Reserve. The thick dense forest made you feel like you were in another world. Our guide was great, she made the tour very interesting, I really did learn a lot about local culture and all the flora in the reserve. The tour was not too long or too short, it was just right. I would highly recommend this tour.

I would also highly recommend a visit to or staying on La Digue because I found it like nowhere I have been before, and it was a nice change from the other islands. It was so quiet and I love the fact that you can explore the island by bike, it really gives you a different perspective of the island. I got to go snorkelling at Anse Source d’Argent which was really a beautiful beach with hardly anybody else around. No one was in the water and when my husband and I were snorkelling all of the sudden we came across a sea turtle. It was amazing to be swimming so close to it that we could have touched it. That was a definite trip highlight. I found La Digue to be so clean and because it was small you can walk right to the grocery store and all the shops. I grew up in a town of less than 1000 people so I loved that small island feeling.

I went on a Cousin, Curieuse and Saint-Pierre boat excursion. I thought the boat excursion was very relaxing and I got to catch up on my tan. I loved the snorkelling at St Pierre, it was awesome I wish we could have stayed longer. I found Cousin island interesting and the guides were very informative, but if you are not into birds, like my husband it could be boring. I loved being able to see the tortoises up close, they are really amazing animals. The whole concept of Cousin island was interesting with the conservation of the birds and the guides come across as really being passionate about it, it was great.

In general all the places I visited were great. Each one is for a different clientele so it is hard to do a report when I saw Coco d’or and then Sunset Beach Resort because it makes Coco D’or seem so rustic, but I have clients who would think Coco D’or was a great place if they stayed there. On Mahe the properties I visited were Coral Strand, Sunset Beach Resort, Coco D’Or, and I stayed at Banyon Tree Resort. On Praslin I stayed at Indian Ocean Lodge, and visited L’Archipel, La Reserve, and Lemuria. On La Digue I visited La Digue Island Lodge. My favourites were Sunset Beach Resort and Lamuria.

Berjaya Beau Vallon Beach Resort And Casino
This was the first place I stayed at and out of all the places I saw this was my least favourite. The staff were very unfriendly, no one smiled, and it was very impersonal. The main block of rooms where the standard and superior rooms are felt like I was in a prison with a number of cell blocks all in a row. The one thing I did not like was that the rooms did not have a balcony. A balcony is a real selling point, I felt very closed in, in my room. If I was to book the property I would only book the bungalows.

The property is very big and some of the bungalows are very far away from the main area, so this has to be taken into consideration with clients have problems walking distances. The dinning area is huge because it has to fit a lot people. I felt like cattle being herded in for a meal. The servers who brought coffee did not smile at all, and I really felt like the staff did not want to be there. Even the bar staff looked like they would rather be having a root canal then where they were. You may not like your job, but when you are in the service industry you have to put that behind you and at least pretend to enjoy yourself because tourists really pick up on this. In general I found the property to be outdated and a need of a facelift.

One thing to note is that if I had clients who had a hard time with stairs I could not put them in the standard rooms because they would have a hard time with the stairs due to no elevator. I did not like the fact that no rooms view the ocean. I also did not like that their was no tubs in the standard rooms and the bathroom was very small. This hotel is more for families on a budget.

Coral Strand Hotel
I cannot remember the manager’s name maybe Manfred I am not sure, but he was a real hoot. He was totally wonderful and really brought the property to life. He was always making jokes and laughing it was a real breath of fresh air. I had lunch at the Indian restaurant with him and I have never ate Indian food before, it was absolutely amazing. I really like the idea that you can go on the roof of the property and view the stars, what a great feature. All the bathrooms have a bath and shower which is what I like. Most women I find prefer a bath over a shower so this is a selling feature. The pool was nice and big and there were three restaurants to choose from. If clients prefer a big hotel than I would probably recommend this hotel.

Coco D’or
This hotel in not right on the beach, but is only a few minutes walk to the beach. It is a small budget hotel and perfect for the right clientele who wants a basic place to stay, and does not mind not being right on the beach. I thought it had a great reception desk, which was a fish tank. The pool was a little murky and not very inviting, but I like the surroundings which was lush green trees. I was welcomed with a smile and a drink which was nice. The rooms have a deck to relax on with table and chairs. The bar and dinning area was basic, but it kept with the theme of the hotel.

Sunset Beach Resort
I loved this property. I think it had the best beach because it was a private beach and hardly had anyone on it. It was beautiful. The pool was beautiful and I could not get over the color of the ocean water when you looked at it from the bar. The bar was amazing built out of wood. What I really liked was that everywhere you went you had a view of the ocean. The beds all had island prints and the curtains were beautiful which were sheer and had palm trees on them. All the little details really made the property stand out to me. Details such as the palm tree lights, and the beautiful lounge wood bed in the ocean villa. The only thing that was drawback was the minimum stay of 4 nights, but in low season they will accept guests who want to stay less than 4 nights. Children under 10 are not accepted because of the location right over the ocean, so it would not be safe for small children. This hotel is more for couples and honeymooners.

Indian Ocean Lodge
I really liked my stay here. The property was very peaceful, small, quiet, relaxed and intimate. Mr. Bruce was a very good host, very attentive, and was always smiling. I liked how at dinner he went to all the tables to say hello and see how their day was. I did not feel like I was in a hotel it felt more like a guest house. The property was not too big, making the dinning room still seem intimate. I loved the local music that was played it was such a nice change. The rooms are very spacious and I loved the couch how it wrapped around the 2 walls. I think it is great that all the rooms face the ocean, and I loved the balcony. It was nice to see that the rooms did not have a TV, which was great because you can go relax by the pool at night and socialize with all the other guests, or you can stay in the room and read a book on your balcony. Great for honeymooners and couples.

Lemuria Resort
I really enjoyed this property. It had everything a golf course, excellent food, a great pool, wonderful spa, great atmosphere, and all the guests looked like they were having a great time. It was nice to finally see a hotel that catered to children so the parents could really relax and enjoy themselves, while the children were entertained at the Turtle club. I noticed right off the bat that the hotel really has their service down. All the staff would say hello when they passed or saw you, they smiled, the servers were always right at you table to refill drinks or bread. The service in general was excellent. The rooms were amazing and I felt like I was in someone’s home. They were not necessarily a tropical feel, but they were beautiful. The resort offered clients a lot to do from water sports to tennis, golfing, and the spa left me speechless. I would highly recommend this property. It is too bad that the average family could not afford to stay there. I love that the resort does not just cater to adults and really caters to the whole family. The whole ambiance of the hotel was very inviting and relaxing. My favourite part of the rooms was how the bathtub was laid out, it was brilliant, I have not seen that before. The rooms were very spacious and so “homey.” The thing I will not forget about the property is when the staff open that huge door to let you into the main area where the pool and dinning is, I felt like I was this very important person making a grand entrance. It was very well done. This hotel is perfect for the whole family.

Coco De Mar
Ash was my favourite of everyone that showed me their properties. He was so friendly and sat with me for about ½ an hour before the tour and just talked to me about the Seychelles and other properties. He was very interested in everything I had to say and my opinions, and asked a lot of questions and wanted my feedback. He was excellent. I really liked this property and know I will sell it a lot. I like that all the rooms face the sea. The rooms are very spacious and have a patio that is very private. I liked how the rooms were nice and bright with bright prints, and the four poster bed and netting which adds character to the room. I like the alcove sitting area and the hats and sarongs draped on the walls. I really felt like I was in a comfortable, relaxing room that had a homey feel. You definitely had your choice of beaches because there are three. The hotel had a lot of activities that no other hotels offer. I love that they have a hiking trail into the mountains and mini golf, it really adds variety. I love the wharf it is perfect for weddings or just to go out for a sunset walk.

La Reserve
It is hard to give an inspection report on this hotel because it will look totally different once the renovations are done. I think the renovations will really enhance the property and make it so much better, updated. It will be nice that the new rooms will have a separate bath and shower, cable TV and a DVD player. The grounds of the property were beautiful, lots of flowers, trees, big rocks, it was wonderful. I love how the dinning area goes right out in the sea, it was really nice and adds character to the hotel. This property made me feel like I was at a beach resort. The hotel has some great features such as they have their own bakery, in the afternoon they serve tea/coffee and cake complimentary, they do sundowners in their boat, and the pool is amazing. It has a swim up bar and is split into 3 pools, it is huge. I think it might be one of the best in the Seychelles, but then again the Bayon Tree hotel is up there as well. As of December guests will be able to go on a day trip to La Digue on the hotel boat complimentary, which is a great selling feature. One thing I noticed about the property is that everybody smiles and says hello. The gardener and maids even stopped what they were doing to say hello. Out of all the properties I visited this was by far the friendliest. I think this property is more for couples and honeymooners.

L’archipel
It was so incredibly hot the day I did the sight inspections so it was nice to arrive here and be greeted with a cold drink and cold cloth to cool off. This property has the most stunning views of the ocean and all the rooms have sea views. I love how the rooms are built on the hillside so you have an excellent view from high up, and you are surrounded by lush green plants. Some of the deluxe rooms are very high up and it felt like a lot of walking and stairs, but the view made it worth it. All the rooms are very spacious and the beds have beautiful netting around them making it look romantic. There is rock on both sides of the property so the beach is private, which is wonderful. They have their own boat which is a great selling feature and the snorkelling is complimentary. I thought this property was really beautiful and blended into the surroundings.

La Digue Island Lodge
This was the only property I saw on La Digue so I really do not have anything to compare it to. I thought the rooms were very unique because they are A frame. I really liked how there was a loft upstairs with beds for kids. I thought the rooms were basic and clean, I liked the thatched roof instead of the tin like at L’Archipel. The rooms are very spread out which is nice, but it can be a far walk to the main area if you are at the very end. I really liked the deck each room had because there were comfy lounge chairs to sit on and relax, it was very inviting and felt private. I thought one feature this property had that I have not seen before was that the dinning area was on the sand, I loved that idea it was unique. The pool was a nice size with a swim up bar. I think the property is in a great location because right across the street was a grocery store and pizzeria. This property is great for families. I had lunch here and the food was amazing. The octopus was excellent and my husband even got the receipt from the chef. I really enjoyed the Creole food, I have never had anything like it before, it was excellent.

Banyan Tree
It was a very beautiful and upmarket hotel, and I am extremely glad we stayed there. The staff was attentive, I have no complaints at all with the service. The reception area had big huge pots with trees in them and Asian style lamps in the reception area. The trees and décor is very beautiful and really amazing, but the property did not have an island feel at all. It felt like we were in some place in Asia/Thai. Do not get me wrong the property is beautiful and the rooms are gorgeous, and the main pool is spectacular. I did love the bath/shower it was wonderful and the spa is top notch. I ate dinner at the Thai restaurant and it was my favourite meal of the trip. I absolutely loved our villa pool and swam in it half the night I think. I loved the gifts that we got to take home and loved being able to slip into a bathrobes and slippers and just relax because it was the first time I relaxed our entire trip. We actually watched a little TV for the first time in 2 weeks. It was such a perfect place to spend our last night because I really felt pampered.

Conclusions
In point form following are my “Bests”

• The Indian food at the Coral Stand hotel was excellent.
• My Thai dinner at Banyon Tree was the best food I had in the Seychelles.
• From my husbands point of view (he is an executive chef) he thought Lamuria had by far the best presentation of food, but not necessarily the best taste. He thought the best taste was our lunch at La Digue Island Lodge. The Creole octopus we ate was his favourite.
• The best pool was a tie between La Reserve and Banyan Tree
• The hotel with the best view was L’Archipel
• The hotel with the best bed and night sleep was Banyon Tree
• My favourite property was Lemuria because it had everything. You could really tell the guests were having a good a time.

The Seychelles is an extraordinary destination that has a lot of great and unique features to offer clients. With the beautiful beaches, great snorkelling and diving, island hoping, the tortoises, the Vallee de Mai, great hotels, friendly people, great service, all this makes my job a little easier to sell such a special destination.

If you are interested in a quote for the itinerary I did please feel free to contact either your agent or me directly at 1-800-991-6111.

Melissa Kooijman
Wild Africa Safaris

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