Auberge Chez Plume

We paid a lot and still weren’t given even one bottle of water as part of the price. The service, food, and rooms all disappointed us. The rooms looked smaller than they do in the photos, and I don’t understand why this is rated four stars. The food was just as bad, and there’s nowhere nearby to get something else. If you’re coming from India and considering spending good money on a four-star stay, budget a few thousand extra. This wasn’t worth the money at all.

The bill for two dishes and water came to 920 rupees, which felt far too high for what I got. I wouldn’t recommend it. The fish was good quality, though it had lots of little bones and was probably best eaten by hand. The Creole preparation wasn’t really my thing, since I’m not keen on sour food, and the chutney added flavors I didn’t enjoy. The shrimp were just okay in taste, but the six small pieces were limp and fragile, as if they were near the end of their shelf life. I was the only person dining when I visited at night in late August, still the low season for beachgoers. I laughed a bit thinking of my concierge going to the trouble of booking a table. I’d hoped to order spanner crab as both a starter and a main, but neither was available, so I chose shrimp and fish. Fruit bat was on the menu too, but I wasn’t going to risk an upset stomach on holiday. The wait was quite long, even though I was the only diner and they don’t offer app takeout. The warm bread they brought while I waited was welcome. I didn’t stay at the hotel, just came for dinner, but from the restaurant I could see the rooms. The hotel is beside the road, and I doubt the walls block much noise. Parking is limited across the road and farther down beside the mini market. With traffic moving slowly around here, I imagine finding a spot shouldn’t be difficult.

The staff and owner were really nice and helpful. I found the restaurant okay, though having fruit bat on the menu seemed wrong to me, especially since it’s an endangered species. The hotel and rooms are basic, and the place is quite isolated. A taxi to or from the airport or Victoria costs a steep $70-80. People often call this a four-star hotel, but compared with others I think three stars fits better.

The breakfast was superb, with an English-style spread, tropical fruit, coffee, and juices. The staff were lovely, always smiling, and very kind. They also organized our tour, hotel and airport transfers, and a rental car. The owner even stopped by to say hello. Thanks to everyone, we had a really nice time in magnificent Seychelles!