Four Seasons Resort Seychelles

We visited around 2018 or 2019 and stayed at two Four Seasons properties in the Seychelles, one on Mahé Island and the other on Desroches Island. The trip meant flying to the Middle East, connecting to the Seychelles on Emirates, then taking a short domestic flight to Desroches. For Four Seasons, both felt fairly average compared with the many properties I’ve visited over the years. They were on par with Four Seasons in other ASEAN countries and the Maldives, without standing out as better. Compared with other regional hotels and resorts, though, they’d probably get nearly perfect scores. The staff provided the familiar Four Seasons service and made the trip as enjoyable and seamless as possible. Still, I don’t feel much pull to go back. Arriving on a tropical island didn’t give me that special feeling of wonder, and I feel the same about ASEAN and the Maldives. The only tropical island retreats I’d truly want to revisit are the Four Seasons Private Island in the Maldives and Amanpulo. Maybe we’ve seen so many remarkable places that we’re a little jaded or spoiled. Or perhaps, as with us, relatively few guests feel like making a return visit.

We were shocked by how little hospitality or service mindedness we encountered at the Four Seasons Seychelles. The bar was barely at 20% capacity, but staff still refused to seat guests. They offered no flexibility, tried no solutions and made no effort to accommodate us. It felt especially rigid and unwelcoming in the Seychelles, a place known for warmth and hospitality. The resort seems willing to let outside visitors use the beach to make the property feel less deserted, yet couldn’t accommodate guests at a half empty bar. We were extremely disappointed. For a resort with premium prices and an international reputation, this fell far short of what we expected. It’s simply unacceptable for a hotel at this level to be unable to take same day restaurant reservations, especially when the restaurant isn’t Michelin starred and is rated around 2.5 on Google.

Of all the beaches I’ve explored on the main Seychelles islands, nothing comes close to the Four Seasons beach. It’s the most breathtaking one I’ve ever experienced, even after a lot of travel. This hotel is in my top three worldwide, and the beach alone makes a stay worthwhile. Great service, amenities and food only make it better. I’ll definitely be back.

Hamza at the front desk made our stay at the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles in Mahé unforgettable. He was professional, kind and thoughtful throughout, going well beyond what we expected. He even took care of the planning and bookings for our next trip to Thailand and Indonesia, making it all feel seamless. He’s genuinely the best hospitality professional we’ve ever met and represents Four Seasons at its best. He deserves recognition, and a raise, for the outstanding care he gives. Thank you, Hamza. We won’t forget the experience.