Photography Brad and Taryn King
When the winners of our late-2012 Seychelles competition, Brad and Taryn King, came back from their vacation, they described themselves as having ongoing PTD (Post Travel Depression). They had fallen in love with the Seychelles: the people, the gorgeous tropical landscapes, the Paradise Sun hotel… “The trip itself has initiated thoughts (possibly dreams) in our hearts of living/working in the Seychelles at some stage in our future,” they say.
We put them to a Q&A to find out more…
What was your experience of the hotel?
Paradise Sun was incredible. From arrival to departure we were looked after impeccably. Nothing was an issue and we were treated like royalty. It was interestingly very upmarket but comfortably casual at the same time. The staff, in particular, were helpful, interactive and friendly.
The weekly plan of activities was well organised and arranged yet uncluttered to almost ensure that the relaxation on offer was made the most of. On top of the weekly schedule are numerous outings on offer which allowed us to explore more of what the Seychelles has to offer beyond the hotel premises. The theme blends in perfectly with the natural environment and the setting on the beach is brilliant.
What was your experience of the Seychelles? Things like the beauty of the island/s, the warmth and friendliness of the locals, the food.
We have fallen in love with the Seychelles. It is definitely a result of both the exquisite beauty and warmth of the people combined that has resulted in this. It is a place where you find yourself continually saying, “oh my word, this is incredible”; the setting never gets tired or boring. We have had the privilege of travelling to the beach destinations of Zanzibar, Madagascar and Mozambique and none compare with what we experienced in the Seychelles. Pictures tell a thousand words yet they still don’t do the turquoise blue sea, white beaches, granite outcrops and dark green islands justice. Sunsets are another story all together. I doubt there is another place in the world where you can snorkel with turtles at 9 out of 10 DIFFERENT locations! The fishing is out of this world as well. The locals can’t be compared with where we have travelled before – they are uniquely warm, friendly and helpful and their cuisine is amazing! There is something about the mixture of spices and ingredients that create a masterpiece out of the simplest foods.
What was really special about your stay there?
The special part about Paradise Sun was the personal touches. They would ensure that whatever was requested was done. They would arrange dining under the stars by candlelight, accommodated us when we requested to arrive early on the day of arrival and prepared fish that we had caught at our request. The spa experience on the evening before departure was great; we didn’t think it would be possible to relax even more than we already had but were gladly proven wrong.
Tell us about your room – decor, special touches.
The rooms at Paradise Sun are elegant and luxurious but at the same time comfortable. Attention to detail and décor are superb and fit the unique theme of the hotel. Soaps, chocolates, room turn-downs, etc. add that special extra touch.
How was your culinary experience there – restaurant/s, in-room dining, breakfasts.
Apart from the detail regarding the food itself, the dining setting at Paradise Sun is unmatched. It is on the beach, and at times (tide dependent) in the sea. Evening settings involved the moonrise reflection in front of our tables. The food on offer was lavish (buffet style) and apart from local cuisine included cultural themes on all evenings, where along with local cuisine, different culinary traditions were presented from around the world. The breakfasts covered continental through to English but the highlights were definitely the local fresh fruit which is abundant and presented in different ways. In-room dining is provided but we enjoyed the restaurant setting so much that we didn’t make use of it. As mentioned, the chef will gladly prepare your own caught fish, etc. without any hassles.
Did you take part in any hotel-organised activities?
We did. The sunset cruise to Anse Lazio was by far the highlight. The sunset that particular evening was beyond description and the return leg of the outing to the hotel had a full moon rising over La Digue in front of us.
The kayaking and snorkelling are a definite must, preferably combined! Another highlight was a day spent exploring Praslin on bicycles arranged by the hotel. Boat trips to the various islands must not be missed!! Probably the thing we are the most happy about was that we enjoyed the beach lazing without skipping the excursions. If you just beach laze you will miss out on so much! Give a day to cycling La Digue as well. We also managed half a day fishing that wash action packed with screaming reels! We caught Kingfish, Dorado, Tuna and a Sailfsih! All these and more can be arranged by the hotel.
What memories do you take back with you after your stay there?
Too many to list! Probably what we will remember and cherish most besides the beauty of the landscape are the hours spent in the water exploring below the surface constantly accompanied by turtles – which can even be enjoyed at islands directly in front of the hotel.
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