Four and five-star hotel options to consider when planning your visit to the Seychelles

After landing back in Johannesburg following a three-hour delay that turned a five-hour Air Seychelles flight into an eight-hour trip, I realised that very little could dampen the holiday high I was on after a three-day travel experience to the island nation.

The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 granitic and coralline islands in the Indian Ocean, located off the East African coast. Just over 50 of the islands are inhabited, with about 95,000 Seychellois residents spread out across them. The island’s residents mainly speak English, French and Creole and a lot of their local dishes, drinks and delicacies have a creole influence.

Fish such as marlin, red snapper and grouper are very popular, along with curries and fresh fruits and vegetables. The island’s currency is the Seychelles rupee but various merchants, traders and stores accept dollars and euros. Plug outlets across the islands are of the type-g variety but they can often accommodate SA two-point plugs. You will therefore be able to charge your cellphone and smaller devices but you may need to purchase an adapter to charge your laptop.

When compared to similar locations, and considering the fact that most travel packages for such destinations are all inclusive while Seychelles packages are often on a half-board basis, travelling to the archipelago can be a bit on the pricey side. When booking a seven-day flight and accommodation package priced in rands through a travel agency such as Flight Centre, Africa Stay or Sey Unique, you can expect to shell out a minimum of R17,095 per-person-sharing during the August to November season.

Add to that daily activities, tours, lunches, additional meals and drinks and you may end up paying well over R20,000 a head. It costs more in the Seychelles … but remember this feels like luxury travel rather than a spring break student getaway.

Hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts and houses on Airbnb are a dime a dozen in the archipelago as tourism is the lifeblood of the Seychelles economy, so there are accommodation options to fit every budget.

Here are a few four- and five-star options to consider when planning your visit.

Savoy Resort and Spa (R5,015 per person per night sharing):

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Located at Beau Vallon beach on the main island of Mahe, this modern establishment offers suites with flat-screen satellite TV, a minibar and air-con. Executive suites all offer sea views and a personalised butler service is available for penthouse guests. The hotel also boasts three restaurants and a large 700m2 outdoor pool if you can’t make your way to the beach.

Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa (R4,162): This four-and-a-half star beachfront property is one of the more family friendly establishments as it allows one child under 12 to stay free when occupying the parent or guardian’s room. It has two restaurants and two bars with a new champagne deck that boasts the most affordable champagne prices on the island.

Eden Bleu Hotel (R4,030):

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Eden Bleu is located at the marina of Eden island. The rooms have ceiling fans, air-con and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Although it only has one bar and restaurant, it is linked to the island’s mall via an access-controlled door.

Hilton DoubleTree Allamanda Resort and Spa (R5,494): What this quaint little establishment lacks in decor it more than makes up for in its uninterrupted views of the beach and ocean. It also has a spa, the option to have in-room treatments, a gym and two restaurants.

Kempinski Seychelles Resort (R12,253): Although this five-star resort is on the pricier side in terms of accommodation, they also allow one child to stay free when occupying the parent or guardian’s room. Kempinski has a helipad and its own on-site mountain that guests can hike for unparalleled views of the property once at the top. Kempinski offers fitness classes, free bicycles on site, helicopter/airplane tours, on-site hiking and biking trails, kayaking, on-site scuba diving and snorkelling, surfing and boogie boarding.

Constance Lemuria Seychelles (R10,808-R17,010)

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This luxurious property on Praslin island may set you back a bit, but one tour of the location’s facilities helps put the pricing into perspective. Constance Lemuria offers an impressive five bars and four restaurants serving a variety of local and international dishes, with both buffet and á la carte options.

It also has an on site 18-hole golf course and a large spa.

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