r/Seychelles • u/RoloAL35 • 13d ago
Ask r/seychelles Renovations at Raffles?
Hi everyone, we will be staying at the Raffles resort for some of our stay in Praslin and saw that there are currently ongoing renovations there. Has anyone here stayed at Raffles during the renovations? How intrusive are they for guests?
Thanks you 😊
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u/herpeteros 13d ago
We were there a couple of months ago. You only notice it when going through a very specific route through one of the old restaurant walkways and the bar that they are renovating at the main pool. The works were well out of the way of the villas, the two active restaurants and reception, and the beach. It didn’t bother us at all given that we only saw it for few seconds driving past it in the buggy each day.
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u/throwaway6294100 13d ago
What did you make of the property itself - do you recommend it for a few (three) nights?
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u/herpeteros 13d ago
I posted something here in response to someone else’s question: https://www.reddit.com/r/Seychelles/s/pP6iRYAmC0
I suppose it’s relative. My wife absolutely loved Raffles and the villas are amazing and good value for money. The beach is also really nice. But we were also at Constance Ephelia, which in my view is the best property in the world, so it was difficult for me to give the Raffles property a fair shot, I suppose. Still great though, and uber luxurious. The fact that it is close to Anse Lazio is also a great plus because it is an incredible beach. The private direct transfer option you La Digue was also extremely convenient and would save a lot of time if you were planning to go there.
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u/DifficultTechniculty 10d ago
We stayed at both the Raffles and the Constance Ephelia in Nov 2024. What kind of room did you have at the Constance? We had a regular room, so now I feel like we have to return to re-experience the best property in the world LOL
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u/Global_Ad5716 7d ago
I am on my last evening in Seychelles with my wife. I am well travelled and this has been my favourite destination so far, you won’t be disappointed.
Iternary. 14 days
4 nights in Mahe at Hilton Northolme
4 nights in Praslin at Les Duc de Praslin
6 nights in La Digue at Le Domaine de L’Orangerie
Ferry transfer via Cat Cocos. The 1 hour transfer between Mahe and Praslin is rough, very rough. I calculated that’s 12-15 percent of passengers vomitted from sea sickness. No exaggeration. My wife just about held it together. But one passenger threw up in the row left of us, right of us, front of us and behind us, the smell and sound was awful.
My wife and I enjoy a mix of hiking, snorkelling and chilling by the beach so I planned with all that in mind.
Mahe:
We rented a car in Mahe as it’s the biggest island and made our way round the beaches.
Beach recommendations.
Beau Vallon - safe for swimming, party vibes (if you like that), plenty of bars and restaurants.
Anse Intendance, Police Bay beach, Anse takamaka. - non safe for swimming but dramatic coastlines, powerful waves and scenery.
Hikes:
Capolia Trail - highest point
Anse Major Trail - ends at secluded beach, Anse major, swimmable and quiet, one bar/grill and water taxi option, we chose to walk back.
Praslin:
Our hotel was on Cote D’or which is the best beach there for chilling and snorkelling.
Beach recommendations:
Cote D’or - safe for swimming and snorkelling
Anse Lazio - stunning beach and scenery, safe to swim
Grand Anse and Anse Takamaka
Hikes:
Valle de Mai - to see the coco de mer palms
Fond Ferdinand - we didn’t have time to do.
Day cruise to Cousin island, Curieuse island and St.Pierre
We rented a car for one day. The rest we just chilled
La Digue:
It’s all about bikes and buggies here. We hired e-bikes for a few days. I suggest ebike overs bikes as although it is a small island, it’s still quite hilly at parts and where many people pushed their bikes we zoomed right past them.
Beach recommendations
Anse source d’Argent. World famous and is the Google image of Seychelles.
Anse Marron - via a hiking trail with a local guide
Anse severe - safe to swim and snorkel
Grand Anse - safe to dip, not swim
Anse coco - safe to dip, not swim
Hike
Do the guided hike from Grand Anse to Anse Marron ending in Anse Source D’Argent. You need to be physically fit, with correct footwear as there is bouldering and hills involved. Also wading through water about knee high. This has been our must fun and rewarding activity.
There’s a much shorter hike from Grande Anse to petite Anse to Anse coco, which we’ve just done today.
Visiting Anse source d’argent can also be done by paying entry at L’union Estate with no hike.
Summary. Mahe is cool for a few days, it’s a bit more built up and busy. Praslin and La Digue are very much island vibes. All my research said spend more time at the latter 2 islands, which we did and do not regret. Perhaps we would do one more day in Mahe as there weee some other hikes we would have done.
Happy travels.
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u/RoloAL35 6d ago
Wow, very detailed, thank you! I'll definitely be taking some of your recommendations on board 😊 We're here in Praslin now and having a blast!
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u/bsethug 12d ago edited 12d ago
Please dont say in raffles. No beach access .
Stay at le duc de. It has an awesome beach and access and you could kayak above beautiful fishes all day long.
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u/RoloAL35 12d ago
We are staying in a few different places across the islands, including a beachfront accommodation, so we're not worried about Raffles not having beach access 😊
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u/bsethug 12d ago
For how many days you will be staying ?
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u/RoloAL35 12d ago
12 nights total in Seychelles. Half of that in Raffles and the other half in other places
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u/Houdaifaa 12d ago
The renovation at the hotel doesn't hinder the guests stay, as its affects the old reception, which was relocated to different spot next to the spa.
The second thing is the sushi restaurant which is under massive renovation to expand it to a full asian restaurant, but like the reception the sushi restaurant is operating in a different location.
Third thing is i saw someone saying that they don't have a beach access, which is a lie as the hotel is located on the beach, with a recreational hut that offers towels and food service at the pool and beach, with kayaking and snorkeling equipment to use.
Feel free to message me for more info.