Four Seasons Resort Seychelles

The Four Seasons Resort Seychelles on Mahé Island stands as a distinguished "Michelin Key One-Keys property," widely praised for its breathtaking natural setting and luxurious offerings. Guests often describe it as a paradise, highlighting its pristine beauty and exceptional facilities.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is overwhelmingly positive, often regarded as the best hotel on Mahé Island. Guests frequently use words like "paradise," "stunning," and "luxurious" to describe their experience. While some older reviews noted minor service inconsistencies, more recent feedback consistently praises the staff and the overall ambiance as outstanding.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud the resort's stunning location on Petite Anse Bay, nestled amidst lush tropical hills and dense jungle, offering picturesque white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. The design, which incorporates French colonial influences, is often described as elegant and sophisticated, yet relaxed. Key amenities include beautiful villas, each with a private plunge pool, and a top-notch spa located at the highest point, providing spectacular sunset views. The resort is also noted for being family-friendly, offering a complimentary children's program and activities such as surfing.

3. Room Quality

The accommodations at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles are distinct villas, perched on stilts within the hillside, designed to maximize privacy and take advantage of the fantastic ocean or tropical canopy views. Each villa integrates indoor and outdoor living spaces, featuring expansive hardwood decks and private infinity plunge pools of a good, swimmable size. Interiors are tastefully decorated with warm tones, dark teak floors, granite walls, and polished marble, equipped with modern comforts such as air conditioning, satellite TV, mini-bars, tea and coffee facilities, rain showers, and deep soaking tubs. However, some recent guests have suggested that rooms, which haven't seen significant changes since the resort opened in 2009, could benefit from a refresh. Additionally, one-bedroom options are structured as a bedroom and bathroom without a separate living area, which some families find less ideal.

4. Dining Experience

The resort offers a diverse culinary experience with several restaurants:

• ZEZ Restaurant: Serves an international breakfast buffet with à la carte options, and a modern Mediterranean menu for dinner. While breakfast is generally good, some found it not particularly memorable.
• Kannel Restaurant & Bar: Provides international cuisine for lunch and Asian and Creole dishes for dinner, located poolside. It's highlighted for its fresh seafood with an innovative twist.
• Koi: An intimate Japanese dining experience within ZEZ, specializing in fresh sushi, tempura, and other Japanese-inspired dishes, often cited as a culinary highlight.
• Steak Shack: A casual, outdoor beachside venue perfect for grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables, offering ocean views.
• ZEZ Lounge: Offers cocktails, wines, and freshly made sushi and sashimi. In-villa dining is also available, though one guest mentioned it falling short of expectations. Overall, the food quality ranges from good to excellent, although some found lunch menus to be heavy. An older review mentioned issues with flies and insects in the restaurants.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff are frequently lauded as a major strength of the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles. Guests describe the team as professional, friendly, efficient, and discreet, often going above and beyond to ensure a memorable stay. Managers are noted for being attentive and proactively checking on guests. However, some older reviews have pointed out inconsistencies in service, particularly regarding responsiveness at the beach or the reliability of the buggy service, which is essential for navigating the hilly resort. More recent feedback indicates improved efficiency for the buggy service and positive interactions with staff at breakfast.

6. Location & Accessibility

The resort is situated on Petite Anse, a secluded bay on the southwest coast of Mahé, offering a "breathtaking" and "paradise-like" natural setting. It is approximately a 23 to 35-minute drive from Seychelles International Airport (SEZ). While all beaches in Seychelles are public, Petite Anse feels remarkably private. The resort's design, built into a hillside, means navigating the property often requires golf cart service due to winding roads and steep inclines.

7. Value & Pricing

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is a high-end luxury property, and its pricing reflects this. Rates are generally expensive, with historical figures ranging from 700-1,200 EUR per night and recent average prices around $1812 per room. Given that all accommodations are private villas with pools, many guests feel it offers unparalleled value, considering the luxurious experience. However, some reviews suggest that certain family room configurations (specifically two-bedroom options) come with a significant price increase, leading some to believe there might be better value alternatives for larger families. The high cost extends to on-site food, drinks, and spa treatments.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Room Condition: Some guests feel the rooms, having opened in 2009, could benefit from refurbishment.
• Room Layout for Families: One-bedroom villas are not true suites and lack a separate indoor living space, which can be inconvenient for families, especially during naps or bad weather.
• Private Pool Temperature: A specific complaint noted that some private pools could be freezing.
• Service Inconsistencies (Historical): Older reviews mentioned occasional lapses in service, particularly regarding beach assistance or buggy response times.
• Internet Speed: Some past guests experienced slow Wi-Fi in their rooms.
• Pest Control: An older review mentioned flies and insects in restaurant areas.
• Crowds: Some older reviews noted a higher number of children than expected for such a resort, which might affect the peace for honeymooners.

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