Seychelles
by Ben Poole
Think of the Seychelles and what picture springs to mind? Honeymooners and scenery to rival the bounty advert perhaps?! This is true, however what many people do not realise is that the Seychelles has so much more to offer and each island is very different.
Mahe is the largest island and contains the capital of Victoria. To be honest Victoria would not be top of your ‘must see' list unless you are insistent on seeing what is reputed to be the smallest capital in the world. The island is lush, mountainous and has the largest selection of hotels in the Seychelles.
The newest property on Mahe is the Constance Ephelia, a sprawling resort offering an abundance of facilities and various accommodation options making it perfect for young honeymooners and families. My personal favourites are the well established Banyan Tree, the luxurious Four Seasons, and the unique Maia resort. I will be happy to explain the individual characteristics of each to you.
The island of Praslin is only a short 10 min flight from Mahe and again has a great choice of properties ranging from the Constance Lemuria resort with 18-hole championship golf course to the brand new Raffles Resort which is still in its infancy and needs time to mature. Praslin boasts the Vallee De Mai UNESCO world heritage site which is a palm forest and home to the rather unique ‘Coco De Mer'!
If you are looking for a true desert island experience take a 20 minute flight to Denis Island, however it is not for the faint hearted, literally everything moves due to the abundance of insects and bugs on the Island! It is fair to say Denis offers a true Robinson Crusoe experience with rustic accommodation appealing to true nature lovers
The complete opposite of Denis is the Island of Desroches which is a 40 minute flight from Mahe, a desert island which is the epitome of luxury. Desroches has everything - fantastic food, great service, perfect beaches, tranquil lagoons, and understated luxurious accommodations.
Overall I was extremely impressed with the wide range of hotels and resorts available in the Seychelles and the Seychellois are lovely welcoming people. I can't wait to return for my own special holiday in the future and experience the islands I missed on this visit.