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Dubai, Seychelles, and Vegas for BAcon (EK J/F, CX J, HM Y, Burj Al Arab, and more!)

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Old Oct 9, 2014, 3:43 pm
  #31  
 
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Wow, that is one gorgeous hotel! The villa seemed to be very nice as well.

You can barely see the Hertz sticker - it blends with the color of the car.
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Old Oct 9, 2014, 4:22 pm
  #32  
 
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Awesome villa! Having been do both Seychelles and Maldives myself, I'd pick Maldives anytime. Yea, some people can't stand being stuck on an island but that is what so special about the Maldives. Can't wait to return.
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Old Oct 9, 2014, 6:43 pm
  #33  
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Great TR so far, very nice photos!
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Old Oct 10, 2014, 2:30 am
  #34  
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Memorys came back! First I thought we had the same Villa, but we had 114 if I´m right.
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Old Oct 10, 2014, 1:10 pm
  #35  
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Originally Posted by roastpuff
Wow, that is one gorgeous hotel! The villa seemed to be very nice as well.

You can barely see the Hertz sticker - it blends with the color of the car.
Haha, that color wouldn't my first choice for my own car, but on a tropical island? Why not!

Originally Posted by calvinoeh
Awesome villa! Having been do both Seychelles and Maldives myself, I'd pick Maldives anytime. Yea, some people can't stand being stuck on an island but that is what so special about the Maldives. Can't wait to return.
Completely agree. We're glad we went to Seychelles once, but doubt we'll be back. It's so similar to Hawaii, but much more expensive. Maldives on the other hand, we could go back annually!

Originally Posted by agp423
Great TR so far, very nice photos!
Thanks so much, agp423!

Originally Posted by offerendum
Memorys came back! First I thought we had the same Villa, but we had 114 if I´m right.
We walked by #114 many times, could have been neighbors!
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Old Oct 10, 2014, 1:14 pm
  #36  
 
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Absolutely stunning photos, I can't wait to see the rest of your trip. I really wish I could fly first class more often though.
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Old Oct 10, 2014, 3:56 pm
  #37  
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Air Seychelles Economy Class Mahe to Praslin

There are two primary ways to get from Mahe to Praslin: boat or plane. The price of the boat ride is a fixed 50 Euros each way, with around 3-5 departures depending on the day of week. Plane tickets vary in price depending on departure time and vary from about $75-175 each way.

Because the seas would be relatively rough during this time of year, we opted to take the plane operated by Air Seychelles. They offer over 10 flights per day, and it's just a short 15-minute hop between the islands.

We were able to find tickets that worked for our schedule at the $75 price, and purchased them just a couple days prior to departure. Even then, there were plenty of seats left, so in general I would say that there is no need to plan too far in advance with the domestic Mahe to Praslin flight.

The international portion of the Mahe International Airport doesn't feel like an island airport, with commercial, cargo, and even some military flights coming and going throughout the day. Tucked away, far behind the international section is the domestic terminal. Now this really felt like an island airport, with just one small counter for check-in, a lax security checkpoint, and a small waiting room that led directly out to the tarmac.

We arrived about 30 minutes prior to departure time, and were told that there may be a short delay due to the weather. Neither of our flights ended up being delayed, but short delays are quite common as the weather in Seychelles is extremely temperamental with passing rain showers that come and go throughout the day.

Waiting room at Mahe airport


When it was our turn, the 8 passengers queued up for boarding, and headed onto the tarmac toward our DHC-6 Twin Otter. Unfortunately, no seaplane here like you find in the Maldives.

It's a really small plane that's seats up to about 15 passengers, but with just a 50% load we were able to spread out a bit. Either way, even at full capacity like we had on the return, it's not hard to endure for just 15 minutes.

Air Seychelles Twin Otter


Our colorful ride to Praslin


For this flight, we had a front row seat right into the cockpit and got to watch the pilots in action.

Getting ready for take-off


That was quick, approach into Praslin


As you can imagine, the views were spectacular both as we were leaving Mahe and on approach to Praslin. We almost thought of the plane ride as more of an aerial island tour, than simply a mode of transportation.

We touched down on Praslin, which is a true island airport in every sense of the word. There were just 2 people at the entire airport that I could see, who seemed to be jacks of all trades, handling everything from ticketing, to check-in, to security, and baggage. Being the only plane at the airport has its perks - we quickly disembarked, grabbed our bags, and headed outside to catch our ride to Raffles.

Enjoying the views on the way to Praslin




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Old Oct 11, 2014, 3:40 am
  #38  
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OK, when I see the plane I´m glad I took the ferry I´m excited how you liked the Raffles
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Old Oct 11, 2014, 9:16 am
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Originally Posted by offerendum
OK, when I see the plane I´m glad I took the ferry I´m excited how you liked the Raffles
Having taken the ferry (in not so calm waters), I'm taking the plane next time.
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Old Oct 11, 2014, 9:28 am
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Just a quick note to tell you how much I am enjoying the trip report.
Thanks for taking the time and I am looking forward to the rest.

Aside from the lamb, everything else was just OK, including the caviar service, shrimp and salmon appetizer, and other entrees.
Curious what was "just OK" about the caviar service. Was it the quality of the caviar itself, something with the accompaniments, or something else?
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Old Oct 11, 2014, 10:48 am
  #41  
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
Curious what was "just OK" about the caviar service. Was it the quality of the caviar itself, something with the accompaniments, or something else?
Can´t talk for sfoactuary of course, but I´m not the biggest caviar fan. The Emirates caviar is fine, but nothing I´m totally curious about.
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Old Oct 12, 2014, 11:45 am
  #42  
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Originally Posted by jetsflier
Absolutely stunning photos, I can't wait to see the rest of your trip. I really wish I could fly first class more often though.
Thanks, jetsflier! I think all of us wish we could fly First Class more often

Originally Posted by offerendum
OK, when I see the plane I´m glad I took the ferry I´m excited how you liked the Raffles
Writing it up as we speak, should have it done tomorrow!

Originally Posted by Daveyb101
Having taken the ferry (in not so calm waters), I'm taking the plane next time.
I'm with ya. I don't really get seasick, but even the 15 minute ferry ride from Praslin to La Digue put my stomach to the test.

Originally Posted by goodeats21
Just a quick note to tell you how much I am enjoying the trip report.
Thanks for taking the time and I am looking forward to the rest.



Curious what was "just OK" about the caviar service. Was it the quality of the caviar itself, something with the accompaniments, or something else?
Originally Posted by offerendum
Can´t talk for sfoactuary of course, but I´m not the biggest caviar fan. The Emirates caviar is fine, but nothing I´m totally curious about.
At the risk of sounding like a snob, keep in mind I'm saying "OK" relative to what you get on other First Class products. At the end of the day, it's pretty freaking awesome to be served caviar on a flight.

I'm the opposite of a caviar connoisseur so in all honesty the actual caviar tastes the same to me whether its Emirates, Korean, or Cathay Pacific.

So I judge it mostly from the standpoint of the presentation which wasn't as well put-together and thought out (for example didn't include a bone spoon or even a smaller spoon, just had to use fork and knife) and the caviar accompaniments which simply weren't as good as I've had elsewhere.
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Old Oct 13, 2014, 2:00 pm
  #43  
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Raffles Praslin Seychelles

Getting there/Check-in

We had pre-arranged airport transfer in the hotel car, which meant a much less stressful drive to the hotel compared to our adventure in Mahe. I had looked into renting a car for our 3-night stay in Praslin, but didn't feel like it was necessary since we'd primarily be using Praslin as a launching point for island hopping over the next few days, and thus spending more time on the water than on the road.

An added benefit of having a driver was that he doubled as a guide and gave us the ins and outs of everything on Praslin island. On the way to the hotel, he pointed out some of the key landmarks, including Vallee De Mai, Cafe des Arts, and several beaches that we returned to later on during our stay.

30 minutes later we rounded the final corner and entered the gates of the Raffles Praslin property. It's a relatively new resort that opened in 2011, featuring 86 villas spread out across an expansive hillside overlooking Curieuse Island.

We pulled into the circular driveway leading up to the lobby, where a crowd had gathered with several parties waiting to check-in. We grabbed a seat and waited a few minutes before it was our turn. During check-in, we received a overview of the resort including details on the resort facilities, restaurants, the beach, and activities.

Views of Curieuse Island all around


Raffles Praslin lobby


Our Villa

We had booked a Panoramic Pool Villa which was located at one of the highest points of the resort, with amazing views of Curieuse Island from our doorstep. For the most part, most of the villas have a very similar layout, and all feature an outdoor deck with a plunge pool.

We hopped in the buggy after check-in and started the climb up the the hill toward our villa. Perhaps it was the luggage, or perhaps I had a bit too much to eat that morning, because the buggy was really struggling to make it up the hill. Turns out that this was a regular occurrence with all of our buggy rides, so it appears that the hotel cheaped out on buggies with the requisite horsepower to climb its own hills.

The villas are found in pairs, sharing a walkway from the road that branches off in opposite directions. Given the proximity between the villas, you can hear your neighbors at times when outside, but other than the occasional noise the villas were very private and spacious.

Heading through the front door took us to the outdoor deck which had a large sofa, reclining sun chairs, dining table, and plunge pool.

Heading into our villa


Outdoor patio


Trying to spot the pot of gold


View of the other villas


Plunge pool


From the outdoor patio, there is another point-of-entry requiring the key card in the form of two huge glass sliding doors that open up into the bedroom. For the most part, we would just leave these open while inside the villa.

First impressions? A much more modern style here than at the Four Seasons, and a bit more high-tech with the lighting and sound in the room controlled by a master panel located on the night stand. There was a nice welcome gift with a card, fruit, and chocolates waiting for us.

Sliding doors leading into the villa


Bedroom


View from the bedroom


Welcome gift


Next to the bedroom was a small workplace, which was adjacent to the wardrobe, and led into the bathroom which featured a comfortable tub with great views out into the ocean. There was another door at the back of the bathroom which led out into a small outdoor space where the outdoor shower was located.

Work area


Bathroom


Bathtub


Outdoor shower


Resort Facilities

Unless you're spending more than 3 nights here, most of your time will likely be spent off-resort. As I mentioned before, Praslin is a perfect launching point for island hopping and that's where the majority of our time was spent. Also, because we had done most of our relaxation already in Mahe, we didn't really budget any time for the spa and gym here.

However, we did carve out some time to spend at the pool which is truly special. It's the largest, most unique pool I've come across at a hotel. The best way to describe the shape of a pool is like two bananas next to each other. Now imagine those bananas are about 50 meters long and staggered at two different heights, with a constant waterfall effect flowing between them.

Hotel Pool


After taking a swim, we decided to check out the hotel's beach. Unfortunately, there wasn't much beach equipment available for use, which was a shame because the waves were perfect for boggie boarding. The long stretch of beach is broken up by granite rock formations, which effectively turn it into 4 separate segments.

Only the 1st beach area had sun chairs and beach service, so as you can imagine that's where most of the guests hung out. We actually preferred walking down to the 3rd and 4th sections which were more secluded and private. On the way, there's also a small garden that you can walk through.

Raffles Praslin beach






Love Tree Garden


Activities

I'll cover the island hopping in a separate post, since those activities weren't directly associated with the resort. Other than hanging out at the beach we didn't do much at the hotel, but one afternoon we took advantage of the complimentary bicycle rentals and headed over to Anse Lazio.

It's only a 15 minute ride if you're able to stay on your bike the entire way. That's a big "if" for most people, since in the middle of the ride there were some Tour De France-level hills that we simply couldn't climb and had to jump off and push our bikes up. To make ourselves feel better, it seemed like everyone was having the same issue.

We finally made it and hung out at Anse Lazio for a couple hours. It's certainly one of the most popular beaches on Praslin, and it was a revolving door of taxis and tour buses coming by to drop of people. One of the big reasons that Anse Lazio is so popular is that there was a nice selection of beach restaurants to grab a bite and relax. Overall, we're glad we stopped by but it was a bit too crowded and very wavy and thus hard to swim.

Anse Lazio


Food and Beverage

Breakfast was served each morning at Losean restaurant with a relatively simply breakfast buffet which offered mostly Western options, along with a couple Asian items, and small pastry selection. The highlight here was the fresh fruits which varied daily, and had more exotic options than you usually find such as longans, lychees, bread fruit, and soursop.

Losean restaurant


Fresh fruit


Breakfast selection


Since most of our time was spent off-resort, we had most of our meals away from the hotel. We did order room service one night for dinner, which included a seafood pizza and octopus curry. Sadly, the food here wasn't as good as what we were able to find off the side of the road in La Digue.

Room service - seafood and octopus curry




Our best meal of the entire trip was off-resort at Cafe des Arts, which is a 10-15 minute drive from the hotel. It's one of the most well-known restaurants on Praslin, and we actually ran into several other hotel guests here who had the same idea as us.

It's one of the most romantic settings you could ever find, located right along the ocean where you can listen to the crashing waves throughout your meal. They also had live music which was a great touch and added to the romantic ambiance.

To this point we hadn't really had a true seafood meal. We decided that this was the time and ordered the signature seafood platter. Wow, this was a true feast. Every type of seafood you could crave was in there - lobster, crab, fish, shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams. And all smothered in the most amazing butter and white wine sauce that was so good that we tried to pry the recipe out of the owner.

The owner by the way was fantastic, constantly walking around to check on everyone and make sure they were having an enjoyable dinner. This was by far the best meal we had while in the Seychelles, and I'd highly recommend eating here when visiting Praslin.

Cafe des Arts exterior




Beautiful flower arrangement


Delicious seafood platter


Coconut and bread fruit dessert


Final Thoughts

With its modern villas, new facilities and amazing location and views, the Raffles is widely regarded as one of, if not the best, hotels on Praslin and has everything needed to be a world-class resort.

I really wanted to love this place, but I didn't. It was a very clear rung below the Four Seasons, and it all comes down to the little things which in many cases the Raffles simply did not get right. A few examples:

Service: it's not like they are lacking in bodies, there's actually a great staff-to-guest ratio. I think the problem is that the staff lack proper direction, with an opportunity here for a full operational makeover. For example, our calls to the lobby were only answered 50% of the time, yet every time we walked by the lobby there were no fewer than 5-10 people standing around.
Amenities: no slippers or beach bag were provided to guests. Given that this is a beach resort, I have no clue why they don't provide a beach bag for use during the stay. Everywhere we went we saw guests bringing their Constance Lemuria bags around, and would be a perfect opportunity to build the Raffles brand and advertise by having their guests do the same.
Villa: I completely understand that at island hotels things can go wrong, but neither of the issues we encountered were handled satisfactorily. First, our hot water heater fuse blew out, and required 3 visits from the repairman before it was correctly fixed. Second, our phone line died multiple times which required us to walk down to the lobby in order to speak with someone.
No dry area: This one really left me baffled, our villa had literally no outdoor space available to hang dry our clothes, which is essential at a beach resort. There was a clothes line attached to the outdoor shower, but with no cover and constant rain you can imagine how effective that was. And the outdoor patio had a small area that was covered, but the wind blew the rain directly into that area and would again keep things wet.

I'd still recommend the Raffles to others who are looking for a resort on Praslin, but I certainly think there's room for improvement here. Hopefully these little things can be addressed, because in theory they should also be the easiest to fix.

Last edited by sfoactuary; Oct 13, 2014 at 2:10 pm
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Old Oct 13, 2014, 2:24 pm
  #44  
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I feared that Raffles didn`t meet your expectations. Personally we liked the beach, but even if we had a nicer villa with some proper space we didn`t like it. No privacy was my biggest issue. Food was nothing to write home about and very inconsistent. Really coudn`t find much positive about it.

P.S. when we stayed at the hotel they had beach bags....
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Old Oct 13, 2014, 6:41 pm
  #45  
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Originally Posted by offerendum
I feared that Raffles didn`t meet your expectations. Personally we liked the beach, but even if we had a nicer villa with some proper space we didn`t like it. No privacy was my biggest issue. Food was nothing to write home about and very inconsistent. Really coudn`t find much positive about it.

P.S. when we stayed at the hotel they had beach bags....
Yes, sadly our experience was similar to yours, with the Raffles just not living up to expectations. The sad part is that there is so much potential here!
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