chongl

Thank you, benjahman. You beat me to the punch though with your 2 little ones! Looks like you guys had a fantastic time as well

Thanks for following along, Parterre

Hi Carfield, there were no PJs offered on that segment, although I'm not sure they would have any loaded even if I had asked.

Service was pretty light, but I suppose I missed most of it since I just crashed once the plane was in the air. The crew had actually heated up my meal for me and I asked them to hold it for later so I could doze off again

Carq

Does Emirates have any special peks for the kids? They probably don't receive PJs and the amenity kit would be interesting only in a nice case (Rimowa, Samsonite...). There should be a bag of goodies, but is it first class material?

wakesetter93

Wonderful report, lookin forward to the rest!

kosy91

waiting for the rest!

CHSDOC

Hope to get the review of the new Hilton property on Mahe. I'm headed there (maybe or maybe not?) end of September.

chongl

Our driver was friendly and in a joyous mood as he grabbed our bags and helped us get situated in the van that would take us to the hotel. He went on about how the people of the Seychelles are friendly and always happy, something that we took note of as our short stay progressed.

There is a main road that loops around the main island, with beautiful beach views along the way







A welcome drink at the arrival pavilion



The main lobby where the reception area is (referred to as the main house)



Going on a buggy tour





Small courtyard where our room was at the top of the hill





We were upgraded to a Cliffhouse One Bedroom Suite which had a large balcony sporting panoramic views and 2 full bathrooms















The guest bathroom has a full rain shower and bathroom/bidet as well







Beach bag and hats for use



They bottle their own water and provide them in the room, replaced daily



Our first meal was in-room so that we could just take things easy after arriving



Just a small snack since it was already mid-afternoon. The pizza showed up late due to a kitchen issue, so no pics of that, but it ended up comped



Some additional complimentary goodies once they saw we had kids in tow





As the sun went down, I took in the views from the balcony



Heading to Muse for dinner (this is also where breakfast is served every morning)









The menu



Some bread to start



Recommended to try the mango lemonade which was delicious



We ordered some pizza and pasta







Being our first night after so much time in the air, we just didn’t have the appetite for dessert and took a buggy back to the room where we slept on and off, awaiting the morning sunrise. As mentioned earlier, breakfast is at Muse, where there is an a la carte menu and also some offerings as the staff walk around with platters of different bites





Breakfast views





Bread baked fresh daily



Cold brew coffee setup. We were offered cold brew, cold brew with mocha, Spanish coffee, among other variants by Leonard



Choices of juice



Moringa oatmeal



Black truffle omelette was my favorite of all



Coconut French toast, which we later found out was actually the recipe of the chef’s mother



Kreol egg benedict



Pool views







I was sufficiently tired to need a Red Bull from the minibar fridge



Dinner the next day was at Moutya. What was odd to me was that they also served pizza from a different menu (which was how we were able to get one for dinner the previous night at Muse). Dining here is outdoor and overlooks a small beach area and some villas









Menu



Amuse bouche and starter





King snapper, grilled chicken, and the Portobello shawarma were delicious







More breakfast the next day





Followed by taking some time to walk off property to launch my drone to get some footage. The resort does not allow for flying, but mentioned an option was to step off property grounds to do so. I walked about 10 minutes to the nearest public beach. Leaving the main entrance, there is freshly paved concrete leading to the gate







And a sign noting the new road for access



I took about 45 minutes flying before taking the short trek back to the resort



Another one of three pools



More beach access



We never dined at the Japanese restaurant, but here is the menu for those interested



We repeated meals at Moutya, this time going for more pizza and the chicken curry. The latter was highly recommended by one of the staff, and true to his word, it was one of the best curries I’ve had





The portions look deceivingly small, but the actual amount of food is plenty to fill you up



Upon arriving, our eldest had kept asking for fresh coconut and coconut water as it was something he remembered from our previous trip to the Maldives. Even the housekeeping staff took notice, and left this thoughtful gift to hold “all the yummy coconut water in the world”



On our last day, we went for room service and I had the curry of the day again, with the protein being octopus. Fragrant and delicious!



Last coconut for now



I should mention here that the internet was scheduled to be out overnight and restored by 11 in the morning. Crucially, we were awaiting our PCR test results so that we could file for the Maldives health declaration that is required to enter the country. By 11:30, there was still no connectivity, so I phoned the front desk, which gave an update of 1PM. That time came and went so the wife rang again, looking for possible alternatives to get online…to which she was told internet was actually out for the entire COUNTRY! It wasn't blazing fast by any means to begin with



And a wonderful sunset view before we had our car transfer to the airport for a late flight



Overall, to review our stay, the hotel is new and beautiful, as expected for a place that’s been open just over a week when we arrived. But with any new opening, there were some very small lapses in service that I expect will get polished as time goes on. For example, there was mention of some hotel activities with scarce additional details. We never got around to it, but apparently diamond members are provided one activity for free as a benefit. The information could probably be better communicated with a simple printout of activities, maybe restaurant descriptions, and general hotel information.

I had booked PCR tests when applying for the Seychelles travel authorization, and the website suggests asking the hotel the typical time representatives come to perform the test. I inquired and had to follow up twice before they called and scheduled the appointment. This was the biggest thing for me since I wanted to make sure we were cleared to leave when the time came.

I wanted to change my card on file to an Amex, but was told their machine that can swipe Amex had not shown up yet, so we ended up using a Visa instead.

These are all miniscule issues in the grand scheme of things, but I will say that when the staff are on top of things, they are extremely proficient. They were able to find a phone number for the clinic administering the PCR tests (even though there is no number listed anywhere on their site), verified an appointment time, and let me know via WhatsApp immediately. When we ordered room service the first day, there was a delay due to a kitchen issue. They apologized for something that was beyond their control and comped the pizza, and even brought some cookies and light bites for us to enjoy. When speaking to someone on the front desk about my onward travel plans, I mentioned our flight was later at night, to which she offered to speak to her management about getting us a later checkout time. I was able to confirm a 6PM checkout for our last day which was really helpful

Additionally, the majority of the staff tried to anticipate our every need, and interacted with genuine interest and a smile. From talking with our driver during our hotel transfer, it seemed he was right that the people are always friendly and happy here, and it shows. Upon leaving, it felt like we had made personal connections with the staff. Perhaps there is incentive as a newer hotel to get positive reviews in, but in any case, we wouldn’t hesitate to return for a longer stay and visit the friends we made along the way.

sunshinebob

chongl Thanks for your detailed review.

A couple of questions if I may...

(1) Like the Maldives the Hilton branded resorts in Seychelles are not known for low prices for food and beverages & currently you're the only person I have seen that hase been - without being too indelicate how much was your food/beverage bill for your short stay?

(2) Do you have Hilton status and was that reflected in getting "free" breakfasts.

I am looking at 10 days on points and wondering if the prices are spiteful or just outrageous...

Cheers again for your report..

yerffej201

how much were the pcr tests in the seychelles?

chongl

Just some small stuffed animals and a little activity kit

Thank you, wakesetter93 and kosy91

Just posted that part of the trip above!

My bill for the short stay I had was only a few hundred USD (surprisingly). The prices are shown in the menus so it's not too hard to convert from SCR to whatever currency you desire

Yes, I had free breakfast as a Diamond member, but in general there was no pricing on the menus so I wonder if that is included for all guests? It didn't affect me so I didn't think too much about it

I did the prebook when applying for the travel authorization. I believe it was about 100 Euro per person

creditcardgeek

Thanks for posting! Looking forward to next installments!

chongl

With our extended checkout, we departed the hotel after dinner, around 7:30 PM. A short buggy ride took us from the main house to the arrival pavilion, where we waited a few minutes until our airport transfer arrived. We had some small talk while the luggage was being loaded, and in our final conversations, they pointed out to other staff that we were diamond members and valued us as guests. They said that it helped boost their confidence, being a newer hotel, upon hearing that we had a pleasant stay.

About 40 minutes in the car later, we were dropped off curbside at SEZ



We walked up to the check-in counters with everything ready to go. PCR tests were printed, and I had the Maldives health declaration forms all available. There was a small snag as we had the second leg from DXB-MLE on different tickets, but that was resolved rather quickly. In my sleep deprived and still jet lagged state, I saw and questioned why there was “MALE” on my wife’s boarding pass when she was most definitely female. The agent responded that was our destination, and we all had a chuckle once it clicked. I apologized sheepishly and we proceeded towards security



Speaking of security, the line was non-existent and the process was very pleasant, unlike most others. Hardly anything had to come out of our bags and they told us to take our time. From there we head towards the lounge







The food station was manned



Decent plane spotting from inside



WiFi speed in the lounge was the best it got this trip



At T-10, we head towards the gate



Browsing the shops for a few minutes and spotted a coco de mer seed that we didn’t have a chance to see since it was too little time to island hop with the kids



Boarding passes were scanned and we walked outside to the best views of our ride to DXB



Since the hops were short, J was more than sufficient. Coupled with the sparse number of passengers, there was plenty of space for everyone to spread out















Menu for the night















Forgot what I had ordered, but I took one sip and left it



Then they ran out of the seafood curry, so I said just give me the appetizer since I already had dinner at the hotel

Tuna starter



Chicken



Kid’s meal that wasn’t consumed since mini-ChongL #1 knocked out and I wanted him to get some rest in knowing he would be up and about in the children’s play area of the lounge



Too bad no direct flight today from SEZ-MLE…added another 4 hour leg of flying, but at least I’ll be in F



The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful. We deplaned, half hoping for the fast-track escort again, but saw nobody holding a sign with our names on it this time. Luckily, due to the timing of the flight, it wasn't needed anyway since there were hardly any other people. We made the familiar trek back to the F lounge after a brief browse of duty free

Back to the F lounge in Dubai for some food. Another medium rare tenderloin for me



The shrimp congee was surprisingly good



Burger for the kiddo



And breakfast for the wife



After eating and passing some more time in the lounge, we gave ourselves some extra time to get to the gate since the next leg was departing from C gates, a slightly longer trek. It was odd to be in the airport and actually have daylight for once. It seems that every other time passing through DXB, it’s dark outside since most of the flights are in the wee hours of the morning.



The beauty taking us to MLE







Familiar cabin by this point



Mini-ChongL #1 was with me and fell asleep on climb out. I had the adjacent seat’s bed made for him and lay him down for some rest while I perused the dining options

Menu











Wine list







Some Balik salmon to start



The main was very good as well



Dessert



Approaching MLE





Similar to a previous leg, the crew knew my wife and mini-ChongL #2 was in the business cabin…and with some loud and obnoxious neighbors at that (spraying perfume and playing music on a speaker). The crew graciously proposed to move my wife up to the first class cabin for landing. I was the only passenger in F anyways, so I wasn’t going to complain about some company . As I turned around to go help her grab our belongings, I bumped into her walking up and she said the crew had already taken care of it all. Just another amazing crew on this flight

We landed on schedule and had to do the typical taxi back on the runway before parking at a remote gate. We asked about the construction that has been ongoing since the first time we came here and were told that the new terminal should complete next year. Once finished, it would allow for 24/7 operations



We descended the stairs to get off the plane, and were greeted by Emirates staff who said they would escort us through. We’ve previously used fast track, but this was something else. We got through immigration, got our carry-ons checked, and by that time they had already returned with our checked luggage from the conveyor belt. He walked us out where we met with hotel staff waiting to take our bags and guide us to the yacht for the short trip to the resort.

Next up: Waldorf Astoria Maldives

wakesetter93

Interested in your experience in the Maldives as the fiance and I are strongly considering it for our honeymoon

chongl

We were guided across the street and thankfully away from the seaplane counters. We didn't have to worry about the luggage being overweight, or waiting for the plane to depart with 2 tired kids. It was also nice being the only group heading to the resort on this occasion

Walking up to the yacht



As the only passengers, we were able to depart immediately



Inside and nicely air conditioned. There were also beds and WiFi available, but at this point we were just taking in the views and waiting to get to the island



Downstairs, there are some rooms with beds for resting, but we decided on sightseeing instead









Roughly 40 minutes later, the boat slowed down as we were pulling into the lagoon of the WA. We were told we could head up to the top deck for arrival if we wanted. I took this opportunity head outside and take it all in



We were greeted by multiple staff members, one of which who would be our personal concierge for the stay. As soon as we were off the boat, we were advised that masks could come off, which was a relief after the short stint in the hot and humid outdoors. All the staff have been vaccinated and the only area where masks are required is the breakfast buffet area. From further conversations with staff later in the trip, they are restricted from going to the city of Male due to the spike in infections. There used to be an opportunity to head back for a few hours for those who had family back on the main island

Walking up the jetty and towards the reception area, we were welcomed by a loud ring of the gong. Our personal concierge, Ari, led provided us with a welcome drink before we hopped in her buggy for a tour of the resort

We had booked an overwater villa for 8 nights, which was precisely the room we got (no upgrade ☹). The room was already fitted with both a crib and a rollaway, but we decided a rollaway was a better choice. Some small bites and a fruit plate were sitting on a table, and being that we arrived on a national holiday, a small slice of cake to celebrate the independence day of the Maldives.













A thoughtful addition to the room





Pretty light fixture



The TV had a cool feature that allowed you to Chromecast from your device. It worked for things like Youtube, but it didn’t work for me trying to cast a tab from my laptop’s bowser



More slow internet



The first night, we opted for in-villa dining so that we could just sit back and relax

Chicken masala was delicious as were the fish sticks off the kids’ menu



The next morning, the kids were quite well adjusted to the time and we head out to Tasting Table for breakfast





There is both indoor and outdoor dining, depending on your preference. The buffet area is extensive, and there is also an a la carte menu to order from. The buffet area requires masks, and there is a little table by the entrance if you forget to bring one along



The buffet spread…











































Noodle station





Juice bar



A small kids’ section with cereals, chocolate milk, sweet pastries, etc.



First round scouting



And a few a la carte items throughout our days there











The rotating flavors of croissants every day are delicious as well



Some nice views



Later in the day, we went to tour the kids’ club, which is free. If your kids are 4 or above, you can drop them off and go on your merry way if you desire, which seemed to be what many other families did. Ours weren’t old enough, but even if they were, we would’ve stayed to play with them in the water park. We met one other family that stayed around as well and got to talk quite a bit during our time there











After maximizing our time in the water park, we head to nearby Nava to have some coconuts and pizza as an afternoon snack







Afterwards, we went back to the room to relax and cool off from the heat while the little one had a short nap. We booked dinner at The Ledge, by Dave Pynt of Singapore’s Michelin starred Burnt Ends restaurant







My cut of steak







Even with the nap, the kids were exhausted during dinner. I had to take them away from the table and towards the pool to keep them entertained so the wife and I tag-teamed making sure they ate and/or didn’t disturb too much. We took a buggy back to the room and crashed for the night. The next morning, it was a rinse and repeat by going to breakfast, but not without taking some early shots of the resort







Followed by the kids’ club and Nava beach







A nice surprise when we returned to our room



That night, we had dinner at Yasmeen





Very sweet, but tasty welcome drink



Ocean views



Outdoor cooking



Just another typical, gorgeous, Maldivian sunset





And dinner time! The little ones had beef kofta off the kids’ menu, but we were in such a rush to feed them I didn’t get a picture







The rest of the week repeats the pattern for the most part. We did hang out at the family pool once or twice though









An afternoon snack of spaghetti carbonara

chongl

Later in the evening, we had dinner at Li Long, the resort’s Chinese restaurant









Seated outside by the water



Some tea to start



A bland soup with duck wonton



Since this place was supposed to be known for their Peking duck, we had a go, but were terribly disappointed







Fried rice for the kiddos



They fried the remaining duck meat and added either spice salt and five spice (or a mixture of the two)



After an overall unimpressive dinner, we retired to our villa for the night. After the kiddos fell asleep, I went out and did some astrophotography, but the proximity to Male meant there was a lot more light pollution than other resorts we’ve been to







Since we’ve established a pattern for our day now, it’ll mostly be dinner pictures until the end of our stay. Next up for dinner was Tasting Table, where breakfast is also served. With another beautiful sunset going on, I ran to the beach near Yasmeen again to snap a shot before returning to the lagoon side



View from the lagoon side





Spaghetti with meatballs for the kids



Seared scallop starter



My steak



Wife’s steak sandwich



One of the mornings, we decided to take a paddleboat out to the island in the middle of the lagoon. It’s further than it looks, but it also doesn’t take as long as you think once you get going. Either way, make sure you have water and sunscreen when attempting. We were told there are birds there with a nest that can get pretty aggressive. During our journey out there, mini-ChongL#1 and #2 kept complaining about the heat. Mrs. ChongL would grab the younger one and dunk him into the water to cool him off whereas the older one would get some water poured on his head. Needless to say, by the time we got to the island, they were miserable/tired/hungry so we turned back around not too long afterwards



Looking back towards Nava



Some more afternoon snacks





One of the nights had a buffet night where most restaurants were shuttered, so we opted for another room service meal





A Maldivian specialty



Following that, we went to just have the kids run around the grass by the wedding pavilion while we waited for the sunset







One of the following nights, we went to Shimizu, the Japanese restaurant. We initially had some hesitation, but ended up being glad we went. It was quite a long buggy ride from our villa #725 that was on the other end of the resort







Dinner table views





Reef fish sashimi



Soft shell crab roll



Extremely satisfying A4 Japanese wagyu and Maldivian reef lobster





On our last full day, we had booked staggered massages so one of us would watch the kids



Welcome drink



Walking to the treatment room



Once I was done, the wife went for her treatment. I had the 2 kids napping, but they were both hungry when they woke up. Another round of room service it was!

Nasi goreng



Linguine vongole



A shot of the beautiful Stella Maris villas…maybe next time…





Our last dinner of our 8 day stay was at Tasting Table since we enjoyed the food there. I believe both the wife and I ordered dishes we previously enjoyed, so nothing new to show there. We did have the seared foie gras for appetizer though



And chocolate cake to finish it off



After this final dinner, our personal concierge Ari came to settle the bill with us. Everything was taken care of and we scheduled the time for them to pick up our bags and take us to reception for departure the next morning. She would also grab some croissants for us so we had some food to go, a nice touch



Back to the boat for departure to Male



Menus I still had copies of for those interested

Tasting Table breakfast: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzazy8zy18...kfast.pdf?dl=0
Tasting Table dinner: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ox2cdsfge3...Table.pdf?dl=0
Shimizu: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8yqsukbmmv...imizu.pdf?dl=0
Li Long: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kuwelt3x8j...0Long.pdf?dl=0
Nava food: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7dufsgwd8g...0Food.pdf?dl=0
Nava drinks: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4peeljy2lg...rinks.pdf?dl=0
The Ledge: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bsi6j0cu01...Ledge.pdf?dl=0
Yasmeen: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pf0w2flezs...smeen.pdf?dl=0

Next up: Flying back to DXB

chongl

We thoroughly enjoyed it. This was our 3rd time there and we have a blast just tuning out and relaxing. The last 2 times we didn't even really get to do more of the fun activities like jet ski, dive, or snorkel but we still had a great time. It's not for everyone, especially the restless types