Can I tell you a secret? Before a couple of weeks ago, Gareth and I had never been on a beach holiday together! That was all about to change when we partnered with Hilton Hotels in the Seychelles to not only experience some of the most glorious beaches in the world first hand, but to share it with you guys on our return. I can’t quite believe how lucky I am to have seen the Seychelles with my own eyes. I’ll be dreaming about this trip for the rest of my life, for sure.
Seychelles beaches are regularly ranking among the best in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Situated off the coast of East Africa in the Western Indian Ocean, the warm water is as crystal clear as anything you could ever imagine. With laid back resorts where nothing is too much trouble, it’s no wonder the Seychelles has become quite the celebrity hangout (especially since Will and Kate honeymooned here, on the uber exclusive North Island).
But you don’t need to have a celebrity-esque budget to take a trip here. While it’s true, the Seychelles is certainly not the cheapest place to visit, when you really do your research and compare the prices with more local destinations like Portugal or Spain, for just a little bit more you can experience a place that puts anywhere else I’ve ever visited to shame!
After stepping off the plane, we were met by two things – the intense tropical heat (in November the average temperatures are 25-30°C, aka perfect, but it is quite humid!) and our amazing driver, Westcott. He drove us 20 minutes up the coastal road towards our first hotel, the four-star rated DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles Allamanda Resort & Spa. On the way he pointed out things such as churches, beaches and local people selling fish and fruit on the side of the road. He explained all about the island’s culture and history too. It was clear he was very proud of his country and it was wonderful to learn about it from him.
Things we learnt: The Seychellles is made up of 155 islands and Mahé, where Hilton Seychelles Allamanda is located, is the largest with a population of around 80,000 (approximately 90% of the entire population of the Seychelles!) Mahé is also the location of one of the smallest capital cities in the world, Victoria.
But enough of a history lesson, let’s get on to talking about the first place we stayed shall we?
When you arrive at DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles Allamanda Resort & Spa the first thing you’re struck by is the amazing view through the lobby, out onto the infinity pool, palm trees and private beach. After welcome cocktails and warm chocolate chip cookies we were shown to our room. Cosy, comfortable with a shower big enough for two and a balcony overlooking the pool below. Heaven.
The hotel is located in the South West of the island meaning you can experience the most spectacular sunrises from your private balcony. Gareth insisted on setting his alarm for 5.30am to see them, and while I did complain at the time, I sure am glad he did. Just wow!
After a hearty buffet breakfast (we were on a full board package meaning all our meals were included) we were treated to 15 minute welcome massages at the spa. The room was glass-fronted and offered a panoramic view of the cerulean ocean below. Ugh, I die. The masseuse soothed away our plane-weary bodies with coconut scented oils. It was the perfect way to start a trip that was all about rest and relaxation!
For the remainder of our time here we mostly lounged by the pool, explored the beach, swam in the sea and even kayaked out in the ocean! The hotel has kayaks which all their guests can use free of charge too which I thought was an awesome touch.
Hilton Seychelles Allamanda was the least expensive of the three resorts that we stayed in, so if you are considering Seychelles for your honeymoon but are on more of a budget, you should definitely check it out.
After two days getting familiarised to a more laid back way of life, our time at this first hotel was over. We were met by a car to whisk us off to Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, on Silhouette Island for the next part of our trip. We didn’t know what to expect, or what the difference might be between the two places, but OH BOY were were in for an unexpected treat.
I’ll be continuing our story on the blog next week!