The rooms were modern, clean and comfortable, and the staff were generally friendly. A special mention goes to Sanjeev, the pool lifeguard, who was particularly lovely and welcoming throughout our stay. The underwater postcard service was also a unique and enjoyable idea. It was also really nice on the day of departure for them to give us access to the shower room. It was very helpful as our flight was at 23.50 in the evening and check out was 11am so that was really appreciated . Shower room was packed with toiletries and very spacious.
However, in my opinion, the hotel felt more like a 4-star property than a 5-star experience.
The buffet was acceptable, with some enjoyable options, but the selection was not especially varied. This may not be an issue for all-inclusive guests, but as we were staying half board, the hotel’s food and drink prices became a significant concern.
I understand that hotel prices are usually higher than those at local shops and restaurants. However, some of the prices here were extremely expensive and made it feel as though the hotel relied on guests not wanting to leave the property.
For example, we ordered four Jäger Bombs at the pool bar for £52 in total. Before ordering, I confirmed with the bartender that they knew what a Jäger Bomb was, and they appeared confident that they did. However, the drinks served were not Jäger Bombs as they are conventionally known in Europe. They were more like Jägermeister with a mixer, rather than the usual shot served with an energy drink.
I appreciate that we were in the Seychelles rather than Europe, and that Jäger Bombs may not be a common order there, so I decided to let it go. However, after paying £52 for four drinks, I would of liked to receive what I had ordered.
The price seemed even more excessive when I bought a 350 ml bottle of Jägermeister for around £15 from the shop directly opposite the hotel.
The same applied to Takamaka rum. A 350 ml bottle in the minibar cost around 850 Seychellois rupees, approximately £43, while the same-sized bottle in the shop across from the hotel cost around 150 Seychellois rupees, approximately £7. I understand that minibar prices are normally higher, but this difference was extremely significant.
Shortly after arriving, we also ordered two cocktails and two sandwiches that came with fries from the bar near reception. The total came to 1,435 Seychellois rupees which is the equivalent of £74😳. Unfortunately, the food was fairly average, and we did not feel it was worth that price.
These prices included taxes, which added approximately 25% to the bill (10% service charge and 15% government tax) This made the final costs significantly higher than expected.
The contrast was particularly noticeable when we walked about 10 minutes from the beach to a local restaurant. We had two prawn creole curries, two Fantas and two bottles of water for around 335 Seychellois rupees which was the equivalent of £17 . The difference in price was shocking.
Overall, we did enjoy our stay, and there were several positives, especially the clean rooms, friendly staff and unique hotel features. However, the hotel should reconsider its food and drink pricing, particularly for guests staying on a half-board basis.
Please consider reducing the prices, as I sometimes felt I was being overcharged. More reasonable pricing would greatly improve the overall guest experience. At the end of the day, I felt like I was being ripped off.
Mia S2026-09-16
