I recently had the pleasure of visiting the fabulous resort of Sainte Anne in the Seychelles.
After a direct flight from Heathrow with Air Seychelles, I arrived at Mahe Airport. The heat was wonderful after the icy cold weather in England. The transfer from the airport to the private jetty is just 5 minutes by road. From here a pleasant 10 minute boat transfer takes you to the Island of Sainte Anne.
The boat trip to the island gives you the opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery. You can see Sainte Anne from Mahe, as well as other islands in the distance.
They are all very green with dramatic mountain backdrops.
On reaching Sainte Anne I was taken to reception on a motorised buggy, there are no cars on the island. My luggage was waiting outside my room when I reached it.
All of the villas at Sainte Anne are huge, the Beau Sejour and Providence both being 49 square meters. They all have views of the sea with the Providence villas located slightly closer to the oceanfront. It’s great to see the native birds out on your patio, with the palm trees swaying in the breeze, it’s a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of home.
The bedrooms themselves are very spacious with large beds, sitting area, writing desk, TV, Mini Bar, Air Conditioning, ceiling fan and tea/coffee making facilities. The bathroom has double sinks, a large bath, indoor and outdoor showers as well as a large wardrobe/dressing area with iron and ironing board. All rooms are non smoking.
The recent refurbishment of Sainte Anne was completed in November 2008. The elegant style has been carefully designed to complement the islands natural surroundings.
There are 3 white sand beaches, which never seemed to have more than 3 people on at any time! You can take a kayak or a pedalo and visit the neighbouring island, owned and inhabited by a British Author, here you can see turtles in their natural habitat.
The glass bottom boats, snorkelling, and kayaks are all complimentary as are pool tables, tennis courts (you have to pay for tennis balls), trekking and the boat shuttle to Mahe.
The trekking is great, Sainte Anne has 3 main routes which take you over to the other side of the island – wear long trousers, take water and mosquito repellent. You get the most wonderful views from the top of the island and it’s a great way to see how fit you are!
For a feel of local life a trip to Mahe is a definite must. Visit the capital, Victoria, and stroll around the markets selling fish, spices, handmade gifts, clothes and fruit. You feel safe walking round, the crime rate in the Seychelles is very low, the people are very friendly and there is a real buzz of activity.
The island tour is another great way to see how the local Seychellois live. 85% of the population own their own homes and homelessness is not an issue. I visited the Jardin du Roi on Mahe where there is an excellent restaurant. Many of the fruits and vegetables grown in the gardens feature on the restaurant’s menu. There are wonderful views from here and you can see tortoises, bats, birds and a huge selection of trees.
Back on tranquil Sainte Anne you can cycle around the grounds, relax in the spa, workout in the gym or relax by the pool. The sea was lovely and warm as was the pool water, no shock to the system when getting in!
If you have children, there is a kids club - Bob Marlins for ages 3-12 years.
There is also table tennis and pool which is great for teenagers.
In the sports centre there is wifi internet access and the use of 2 laptops if you want to send emails home.
The price of your holiday will include breakfast and evening meal, Honeymooners often get free lunches too. The food is excellent with a great choice. Breakfast is taken at L’abondance with views of the ocean. You can help yourself from the choice of fruit, cereals, yoghurts, eggs cooked to your liking, sausage, bacon, hash browns, beans, meats, cheese, pastries, and toast.
For evening meals, Sainte Anne has 4 restaurants. For a Robinson Crusoe experience head for Le Robinson, the restaurant on the beach, where all of the furniture is made of driftwood. The food is excellent. The fish here is freshly caught on the day. My favourite was grilled Job fish served with roasted vegetables and a large glass of wine!
The hotel bar is situated by the beach and pool with comfortable chairs and a relaxed atmosphere. There is no music except for a guitarist during dinner. It’s a very low key resort, perfect for peace and quiet, away from the thumping sounds of a disco.
Sainte Anne is a truly idyllic place for a Wedding or Honeymoon. The staff and service are exceptional, the food is wonderful and you will bring back many happy memories.
I’m sure that you will love Sainte Anne just as much as I did. For the latest prices and availability please contact me on 0845 365 5999 or email michelle@holidaysplease.com.
Thanks, Michelle.
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