Seychelles Part 3

Author: Tomas & Kasia Yoko
Date: 2014-01-31

One of the things that make Seychelles a perfect holiday destination is that it is a mere four and half hour flight out of Johannesburg presto, you're landing on Mahe Island. Air Seychelles will fly you there in style and really the holiday begins as soon as you step on board their comfortable aircraft.

It is advisable to book a package before arriving in Seychelles, as you have to present proof of residence when you arrive on the island, also it allows you to plan your budget better this way.

There are a number of companies that deal exclusively with Seychelles travel; we had the pleasure of dealing with Jane from Seyunique - Air Seychelles and South Africa's top travel company to Seychelles for seventeen consecutive years. You can find them on https://www.seyunique.co.za.

We had to adjust our eyes that first day we landed on the island, the brightness and the azure were spectacularly glorious. If you are lucky enough to have a sea view, the experience is stupendous. When booking ensure that your unit has a sea view and is not "Sea facing" it's a huge difference and it really makes a major distinction.

We had the pleasure of staying in two beachfront properties in Beau Vallon on the main island of Mahe. The first one was Berjaya, our unit was sea facing looking onto a roof of another building and it was the size of my bathroom, which made me sob uncontrollably. However the GM was thankfully an understanding guy and he upgraded us to a much larger unit with its own Jacuzzi, but the unit was in the garden and we could not see the Ocean - we could have been anywhere in the world.

Our stay in Berjaya was sadly not the Seychelles experience I had dreamt of. It reminded me very much of a Nairobi business hotel we once stayed in. In fact I do not understand why anyone would want to go to an island like Seychelles and not wake up with the view of the Ocean. It was not just my own opinionit seems that our fellow South Africans felt my pain.

We did not allow Berjaya to dampen our island adventure spirit. Each morning we packed a small cooler box, which we brought from South Africa with

supermarket brought goodies and headed for five star resorts, where we enjoyed the true island hospitality without the crowds fighting for loungers.

In Seychelles all beaches are open to the public, so in theory every resort should allow you entry and for most parts we were never questioned at the gate. There were a few establishments like the South African owned Maia Hotel which did not allow us entry, when I insisted on speaking to the newly appointed GM, I immediately recognized the strong Boksburg accent, he denied his South African roots and told me to make an appointment.

When a few days later on Anse Lazio I bumped into an acquaintance who works for Southern Sun in Johannesburg, (I mean what are the chances), she confirmed that Maia, which is managed by Southern Sun is so expensive that it is absolutely out of the pricelist for average South African tourist, hence the unwelcomed reception. She also confirmed the nationality of our unfriendly GM.

Berjaya straddled its share of the Beau Vallon beach offering a quaint casino and a large entertainment area that opened out onto the pool. Just couple of resorts down the soft sand beach was our next home - the Coral Strand. Situated right on the beachthis time our windows faced the magnificent azure splendour and it was most definitely the best swimming beach in Seychelles.

One day after a light dinner of a Greek salad we decided to go for a late night swim. The weather was not brilliant and it was drizzling with a light resplendent mist. The colour of the waves were a milky turquoise and as we fought our way through a series of big crushing waves it suddenly became really peaceful and a huge colourful rainbow appeared above our heads.

We were in ecstasy and proceeded to make a million wishes. But the rainbow was just the start of the majestic vision. After the rainbow slowly dissolved into the dusk the setting sun splashed pinks, purples and oranges brilliantly mixed amongst all the shades of blue and turquoise right across the horizon. I cannot remember the last time I experienced profound spiritual bliss. The colours were reflecting off the glistening water surface and I was in love with the world.

There are hundreds of resorts in Seychelles, so it is paramount that you choose the one that will suit your own personal needs. When booking your holiday you have to make a list of things you envisage doing while there, also what experience do you want to have. In Seychelles there is something for everyone make sure that you choose a place that will tick all the boxes after all you are paying top dollar for your experience so ensure you get what you want.

Seychelles Part 3

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