Food: There is a “fancy” restaurant and a lobby area bar with food – we tried both. Food in both Mauritius and the Seychelles is crazy expensive, and this was no exception. But it was very good.  Same deal with drinks – $15 and up for any mixed drink. Beer was about $10, but also much cheaper at the corner store just down the street.

Location: The location of Le Meridien is fantastic – it’s nestled on the Beau Vallon beach and you can walk over 1.5 miles down to the beautiful and picturesque granite boulders on the far end of the beach. There are many restaurants located on the beach and nearby, as well as convenience stores. Le Meridien is actually a rebuild of the oldest hotel on the entire island of Mahe. The ocean is stunning and the views really are exquisite.

Rooms: The rooms were clean and spacious, but felt a bit odd. The balcony/porch area had a lovely little veranda with an insane view, but the inside of the rooms were modern, a touch European, and very, very white. I’m not sure why they went with that theme, and I’m sure some people love it, but it felt a little strange to me on the beach.

Service: Helpful! Already had info I had requested in our room on the ferry service to La Digue, and the front desk/concierge all in one was happy to book us taxis and give us good advice throughout our stay.

Ocean: It was too rough to snorkel when we were there, which was really unfortunate because Le Meridien has a super cool snorkeling trail that we were sad to miss. Snorkeling is usually very good, but apparently sea conditions can be just a touch unpredictable from January-March. We did try to go out one day but the waves were breaking right on the reef and it was definitely a bit too shallow – so we retreated! Fortunately we had plenty of great snorkeling at La Digue and the St. Anne Marine Park.

Pool: There is a pretty large infinity pool that sits right on the edge, looking over the beach. We enjoyed it on the day the water was too rough to snorkel, and it was raining!

Would You Return? Yep, particularly if we were exploring nearby islands. Le Meridien was a great redemption of some Starwood Preferred Guest points, too. Le Meridien isn’t somewhere to hunker down for a week, but it is a great base of operations if you want to see Mahe or other sights. The location is really fantastic for walking and exploring, too. Now, if we wanted to hang out at a resort – I think we’d consider one of the other islands, perhaps.

As I mentioned in the last Seychelles post (here), I did try to book with them prior to leaving the States and received a very cursory email that essentially was like “email me your credit card number”. For a company that large, I was not impressed with that response–nor willing to send them a credit card number. There was a Mason’s rep at our hotel, and she quickly signed us up to do what we wanted. Of course she tried to see us additional tours in the process, but that is par for the course of a salesperson I suppose. It was about $120 per person, but will vary based on the current exchange rate.

In general, Mason’s was organized and on-time. The head ‘guide’ of the boat was kind and helpful. But don’t over-expect…you are getting a bulk tour and a real mixed bag of people. On pickup from our hotel, we had to backtrack to another resort because those people were not ready on time (which was very nice of Mason’s to do); people freaked on the boat when it was discovered that there were soft drinks–but no beer–available for purchase for a 5 hour excursion. I mean, lost it. There was one couple that seriously looked as if they were about to leave the entire tour, and ran off the boat to a local convenience store to buy the beer they so desperately needed. For the record, they were 60+ and not American…So, PSA: bring your own alcohol if you want some on the boat. Water is included.

The tour has 3 main parts, not including the ride out to the Marine National Park & Ile Moyenne (the snorkeling location and Ile Moyenne are virtually five minutes apart). First, you go on an underwater submersible to look at the coral (more on this in a second). Second, you have a long time to snorkel in the Marine National Park – likely a good two hours. Third, you get to hike around Ile Moyenne, swim around the island, and lounge on the beach. Lunch is thrown in here, I think we ate after the submersible on our way to the snorkeling site, which was a short cruise away.

Let’s start with the underwater submersible. Let’s start by saying: I will NEVER go on one of these again. First, and most importantly, if you plan to snorkel, you do not see anything on this thing that you don’t see when snorkeling. Second, it is super claustrophobic…and I am NOT claustrophobic. Like, ugh. I wanted off that thing the second I got on. Third, they do hit the coral occasionally. They only do it in one area, so they hit the same coral every day, and 90 percent is already pretty bleached in the area you go, but still…really unfortunate. They don’t try to hit it, mind you, but it is what happens when you take a boat with a large hull into areas with lots of coral. Lastly, a bunch of people got sick. I had my prescription medicine since I get sick on anything that moves, but even my husband was feeling it by the time we were done. Verdict: skip.

With that fun out of the way, lunch was far better than expected–great roasted chicken and good veggie options, too. And snorkeling was fantastic. While we didn’t see any large marine life, the quantity and different types of fish were worth the trip out to the Marine National Park, no doubt. They give you plenty of time to snorkel, so enjoy! You are in a pretty generous area, so you are not swimming on top of other people either, and there were not a bunch of other boats there. Some of the area is relatively deep, while parts of it are quite shallow. There are not guides in the water with you, but the boat is close by, and if you are uncomfortable in the water, it is easy to just swim right around the boat. They also put the small dingy (panga) into the water with you, and they do keep a good eye on where everyone is. Verdict: Worth the trip if you like to snorkel.

There are so many beautiful fish in the Indian Ocean, most of which we had never seen before, since our snorkeling as been in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. And these guys get big! We had so much fun taking photos, me flinching at the little sea-horse related things that looked too much like a sea snake, and then arguing over who took the better photos (obviously me).

Now Ile Moyenne is just special. There is a small entrance fee (I believe $12) if you aren’t part of the group–the cost of the tour with Mason’s includes this fee. It is a teensy tiny island that you can hike around–flip flops ok, better if they have some type of heel strap, just beware that there are slippery paths and lots of roots (I have these Havianas, which I adore and are perfect for the beach or for a dinner out when on a tropical vacation). There were a few places where I wished I had shoes (my husband has these from Adidas and LOVES them). It takes about 30 minutes to hike the whole way, and take the time to check out the little views here and there. There are also some secluded beaches that are just gorgeous.  Right out front where you get dropped off by the dingy (panga), there is a long sandbar you can swim out to and just take in the Seychelles for what they are – teensy islands in the middle of a very, very big ocean.

One of the biggest highlights of Ile Moyenne is the wild population of giant tortoises which still inhabit the island.  A lot of them gather around the ranger station, where they have some cut plants (from the island) that you can feed to them (they are usually over eating out of the pile anyhow). But when you are hiking through the tropical landscape, all of a sudden, you just come up on a giant tortoise in the forest. Such a neat experience! These guys aren’t shy, either, and will approach you — mainly out of curiosity. Verdict: must see!

Overall, I don’t regret going with Mason’s, though I hated the submersible and wished they’d stop running that portion of the tour anyway. I know that people who don’t snorkel or swim want to see the underwater environment, but coral damage doesn’t need any help from boats, and it was a wretched experience (there were multiple people vomiting when we came back up). However, St. Anne Marine National Park and Ile Moyenne were probably two highlights of our trip to the Seychelles. The amazing fish and the incredible tortoises, coupled with the perfect views and beautiful ocean really made these places special.

Tips: As I mentioned, water is included, but you can bring alcohol on board if needed. Lunch is good, but if you require a specific diet, please check in advance to make sure you can be accommodated. It is a full day by the time you get picked up and dropped off from your hotel in Mahe, so be prepared with lots of sunscreen and a change of clothes if you want. We had swimsuits and coverups, and that was plenty to get through the day. The bugs weren’t bad on the boat, but we did notice some on Ile Moyenne, so packing some spray/wipes isn’t a bad idea.

Day 1. Arrive in the Seychelles. Explore the resort. Grab a bite to eat and settle in so we can be well rested in the morning!

Day 2. Explore Bel Ombre & Beau Vallon Beach. One of the best parts of the Le Meridien, Seychelles, is the location. It is right on Beau Vallon beach–a great beach for running, walking, and exploring. Or a dip, obviously.  The beach is beautiful and has some great granite boulders that are so picturesque. Take our advice and get lots of cash at the airport. While big restaurants take credit cards, as does the ferry (see Day 3), you will need some cash for taxis and the like. And 3 ATMs within walking distance were out of cash. With the help of the front desk, we finally located one that had $. There are tons of places to eat on Beau Vallon, and, weirdly, I think the waterfront restaurants–while also more expensive–have better food. Sit on the beach. Relax. Unwind. Have a Seybrew!

Day 3. Head to La Digue! La Digue has the famous Anse Source D’Argent beach–probably the most well known beach in the Seychelles (whole post on La Digue, here). Known affectionately as ASDA, this beach, and La Digue in general, is absolutely worth a day trip from Mahe. If we went back to the Seychelles, I think we’d probably just head there to stay. It’s such a lovely place with amazing beaches, great snorkeling, and laid-back feel. If you have extra time, Praslin is on the way. We sadly didn’t have time to spend there. On the way back from the dock, check out downtown and the mini clock tower. We had some fantastic food downtown, too (this pasta was so good).

Day 4.  Saint Anne Marine Park & Ile Moyenne. We went with Mason’s. I don’t really have a feeling one way or the other about them, it was just the easiest option for us. I tried to book in advance before we left…they don’t reply to email much and want credit card numbers over email, so don’t bother.  They have reps all over, so it is easy to do once on site. Saint Anne Marine Park is a must if you like to snorkel, though like many other places in both Mauritius and the Seychelles, has had major coral bleaching. Isle Moyenne still has free ranging giant tortoises! These guys were a huge highlight and the island is very small and great for a quick hike and swim. Absolutely worth an excursion.

Day 5.  Relax! Stroll on the beach. Swim. Have a Seybrew. Unfortunately for us, some of the day was pouring rain! So we went for a swim and made the most of it anyway. Le Meridien has a super neat snorkeling trail; unfortunately the surf was too rough. We tried to make it past the breakers, but the coral is very close to the surface and it made for a dangerous situation. But we still enjoyed our last day, swimming, reading, sleeping, and taking in the incredible views of the Indian Ocean!

The Seychelles was a dream trip and we filled up the trip with great memories, lots of food, and plenty of salt water.  I’m glad we chose Mahe so we could hop off to a few other islands; there are lots of other islands to explore, though, should we ever find ourselves back there! Where is your favorite place in the Seychelles?

Anse Source D’Argent

Mason’s–probably the largest day-trip organizer/operator in the Seychelles–offers tours that go to both Praslin and La Digue in a single day a few times a week. Initially, we looked at doing one of these trips since we figured it would be easy. We were on vacation after all. But, Mason’s never responded to requests for pre-booking when I was planning, and reviews on this particular excursion were really mixed. People felt rushed, complained about too many activities, etc. So we opted to do La Digue on our own. I had inquired before our arrival about ferry schedules, etc., and Le Meridien had all the information waiting in our room and was ready to help us figure out our plans, which was much appreciated.

Now, if you only have a day, prefer to be led around, given information, and stop in Praslin, by all means–do the tour! But if you want to explore and relax on your own on La Digue, definitely go on your own. If we had more time, I’d definitely also spend time on Praslin, too. But we had to pick one or the other. Here are some tips to make arranging the day trip a little bit easier.

When in Paradise, Don’t Get Sun-burnt & Buy a Coconut!

Book ferry tickets in advance, particularly during high season. We did not book tickets in advance, and, as a result, had to be at the ferry office right when they opened (6:30am I believe) to ensure we could get a round-trip ticket for the same day. You need to book at least 48-72 hours in advance online, depending on what website you use for booking. The ferries definitely fill up during high season. Alternatively, you can fly into Praslin and take a short (15 min) ferry to La Digue from there. I believe you also get a bit of a discount booking in advance; the ferry is $$$$, like everything in the Seychelles. It was close to $360 for a roundrip ferry trip for 2 people.

Take motion sickness medicine if you even might get sick. Beware, the ferry is a vomit-comet, and people are throwing up everywhere (have I told you how much I love my prescription medicine? yes, yes I have). They have staff running around with sea-sick bags. It is quite the production and is very very rough. It takes approximately an hour or a little more to get from Mahe to Praslin.

Don’t worry if you stop in Praslin and take another ferry to La Digue. We thought we had to have the ferry that went straight to Mahe and didn’t stop in Praslin. We are still not clear whether this ferry actually exists, but either way, a stopover in Praslin means, literally, you walk 20 feet on to another waiting ferry. They know that many people transfer, so they aren’t going to leave you if they incoming ferry is 10 minutes late. The Cat Cocos (from Mahe to Praslin) and Inter-island Ferry (from Praslin to La Digue) are really the only game in town, the docks are tiny, and it is super easy. It does not add more than 20-25 minutes or so to your total travel time.

Rent a bike. When you get to La Digue, rent a bike. There seems to be a bit of price-fixing going on as no one would negotiate with us, but whatever. I think we ended up paying about $15 for 4 hours. You can definitely walk to Anse Source D’Argent if you want, but it is faster to bike and you spend less time walking and more time on beautiful beaches. No one steals bikes, you just park them and leave them at the entrance.

Seeing Praslin from La Digue

Keep exploring. Keep enjoying! A lot of people tend to congregate around the first part of Anse Source D’Argent. But there is lots to explore. We didn’t make it all the way, but you can keep walking and walking through little tunnels, dense vegetation, and sometimes in the ocean around the giant boulders to see more and more amazing views and beautiful beaches. The snorkeling is also very decent when you just wade out and start swimming. I’d suggest grabbing some beer/drinks/groceries (there are 2 little supermarkets on the way to Anse Source D’Argent) and skipping the restaurants, because who wants to sit in a restaurant when you can sit on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

Finally, remember what time the ferry leaves. We are usually really organized, but for some reason misremembered the ferry schedule and were running a bit behind! There are very limited places to stay on La Digue (not to mention we didn’t have any stuff with us), so while I’m sure we could have slept on the beach, keep an eye on the time. The ferry is very close to on schedule and for the amount that you are probably paying for a hotel off the island, you don’t want to miss a night.

We had some minor rain storms which led to a wide variation in the color of the sea and sky; pretty neat. Grab a rain jacket or at least a dry bag for your camera for sure. La Digue is absolutely worth a day trip from Mahe. And if you want a super relaxing day enjoying delightful scenery, we would definitely recommend doing it on your own as it is very easy!

I’m behind. As usual. I’ve already been on another trip since Mauritius and the Seychelles, and I’m ready to stay put for a while. Next on the docket is a quick beach trip for the dog–obviously, the infamous, excessive Toasty beach vacation! (See here and here). That should actually be relaxing.

It was a whirlwind trip, and one well worth all of the points/miles that we spent getting there and staying there. I’m not sure it was quite as relaxing as either one of us would have liked, but we did enjoy a few days of down time doing nothing but lazing by the beach/pool, enjoying a beer, and reading. Ok, so there was probably a morning run thrown in there. And some snorkeling. But you get the idea.

I wish it wasn’t so far to the Indian Ocean. It’s so beautiful. Yes, a beach is a beach is a beach. But without a doubt, the beaches in Mauritius were some of the best I’ve ever seen. The food in Mauritius was crazy expensive but delicious, and we also went to a rhumerie (a rum distillery), which is something I never would have done without some nudging from the concierge, but it was so much fun! I’m so glad we went to the Seychelles, too. We enjoyed the giant tortoises on Ile Moyenne, as well as the famous La Digue beaches particularly.

This was a dream trip for us, one that has been on our bucket list for at least five years. I wish we had a few more days, particularly after our flight from the states to Dubai was delayed, resulting in one less night in Mauritius. There is so much to see in both places, and we barely nicked the surface.

We stayed on points the entire trip (thanks Starwood Preferred Guest!) and each hotel was very different but met our needs and more. In Mauritius, we stayed at the St. Regis on the southwest side of the island before moving to the Westin at the northwest side, in the Seychelles we stayed the entire time at the Le Meridien on Mahe, and used it as a jumping off point for a few quick day trips which worked well for the time we were there. There are so many choices of where to stay–and honestly, where you stay is largely dependent on your budget. Things are not cheap in either Mauritius or the Seychelles. When we arrived at the airport in the Seychelles, our driver laughed and said he was flying to Mauritius for medical care because it was cheaper. Mauritius was expensive, but the Seychelles were definitely even more so!

I can’t wait to share more about the places we visited, the hotels, etc. In the meantime, have a Happy President’s Day in the United States–I for one am off from work, and still am sick, so trying to weigh sleeping in bed and trying to get some of those chores done. Oh yea, and the dog is terrorizing me since DH is out of the country. So mainly I’m trying to keep tabs on that wild animal. #bigproblemshere