Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island

We were in the Grand Hawksbill villa — number 11. Spacious in the way that actually matters, not just in square meters but in how it feels to spend a week there with family. Pool, beach, bikes included — the basics done properly, without you having to ask. But first, where you actually are. Platte Island is not close to anything. Mahé and Praslin already feel like the end of the world to most visitors — Platte is 25 minutes further by small plane, out into open ocean, until a flat strip of green appears below you and you land on what genuinely feels like the middle of nowhere. The silence confirms it. Wind, water, birds. The only mechanical sound the whole day is the single flight in and out — you hear it arrive, you hear it leave, and that’s it until tomorrow. If you have been chasing that kind of quiet for years, you will find it here. The ocean in front of the villa is tide-dependent, worth knowing before you go. At high tide it is something close to perfect — glassy, warm, full of life. Rays underneath you, reef fish in loose swarms, the occasional shark moving through without any particular interest in you, and the outer reef breaking in the distance like a very slow drumroll. At low tide, less so. Check the times and plan your mornings accordingly. The tortoise sanctuary is not something you expect to be moved by, and then you are. Giant tortoises on a private Indian Ocean island, unhurried and ancient — it becomes the story you tell when you get home, more than the villa or the food or any of it. The food is also genuinely good, which is not guaranteed just because a place is expensive. Everything comes from ingredients grown on the island, and you can taste the difference. Maison des Épices is the standout — led by Lucio, a Mexican chef who cooks with a clear point of view rather than a safe hand. Executive chef Sebastian oversees the whole resort’s culinary direction and it shows in the consistency across every venue. Mains run €60–120, which is what it is on a remote private island. The cocktails, though — mostly rum-based, made with real personality by each mixologist — are worth lingering over. And the drinks pricing is fairer than you’d expect, which you notice and appreciate. The staff are the part that’s hardest to describe without sounding like a brochure, but here goes: Uzeyir runs F&B with the kind of quiet authority that lifts everything around him. Angele and Lana hosted our villa — always there when needed, invisible when not, which is a harder balance than it sounds. Dennis made excellent coffee and turned out to be a serious paddle tennis partner. None of them felt like they were performing hospitality. They just seemed to actually like their jobs and the place they were in. We visited during very low occupancy — the Middle East situation had clearly kept a large part of the expected guest base away. Every restaurant still ran full service. That’s not nothing. Twenty-five minutes from Mahé, a world away from everywhere else. Bikes, tortoises, rum cocktails, and genuine silence. That’s Platte Island.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

From the moment you arrive, the experience feels unique. Guests take a flight from Mahé, and for those booking six nights on points, the included roundtrip flight for two is an incredible value. The villas are absolutely stunning, with thoughtful touches that elevate the experience—from sun hats and swim shoes to delightful turndown treats. The use of Aesop products adds a refined touch. Villas are spacious, private, and feel like your own sanctuary, complete with a private pool, swing, and outdoor shower. If possible, I recommend requesting a shadier villa for added comfort. Service is exceptional. A personal concierge is assigned, and Yogi and Aya were both fantastic—responsive, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in making the stay seamless. The staff across the property are warm and welcoming, and by the end of the stay, you truly feel like you know everyone, which creates a special, personal atmosphere. The restaurant team was also excellent, including a standout F&B team member from Bali whose kindness and attentiveness left a lasting impression. (I am embarrassed I cannot recall her name, but I really want to recognize her.) Simon, the hotel manager and the F&B manager are highly visible and attentive to detail, which is reflected throughout the property. The hotel also went above and beyond to make my birthday truly outstanding, with multiple thoughtful celebrations and surprises that were incredibly well done, and appreciated. Thank you for making my celebration so memorable. (I am not posting photos to not ruin the surprises for others.) Each villa comes with its own personalized bicycle, which is such a fun and convenient way to explore the island. Buggies are also readily available if needed. Since the resort occupies the entire island, everything feels both expansive and easily accessible. Breakfast was EXCELLENT, with both a well-curated buffet and an extensive à la carte menu, and the food across the property was consistently delicious. I am missing my morning hot chocolates! The spa is fantastic—serene, beautifully designed, and a true highlight of the stay. The head massage was to die for... One of the most memorable experiences is the island walk, especially with the head of conservation, who is incredibly knowledgeable and makes the experience both engaging and meaningful. The overall atmosphere is understated and relaxed, which I personally loved. This is not a flashy property—guests are casual at dinner, and the environment feels authentic and comfortable rather than formal. There are just a few areas where the experience could be refined. Activities are open to all ages, which is wonderful for families, though it can make certain experiences feel more geared toward children. It would be nice to see some clearly designated adult-focused options, particularly the snorkeling and the movie night. Dining and spa services are also on the higher end price-wise, even for a luxury property, and evening programming is somewhat limited. That said, these are relatively minor considerations. The setting, villas, service, and overall experience make this one of the most outstanding properties I have visited. The thoughtful details, warm staff, and sense of place make it truly special, and I would absolutely return.

Our stay at Waldorf Astoria Seychelles was nothing short of extraordinary—truly a slice of paradise elevated by impeccable service and unforgettable personal touches. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed as Diamond members and taken care of by our incredible personal host, Soukaina. Her attention to detail, genuine kindness, and seamless coordination made every aspect of our stay effortless and special. Part of our stay we were fighting with stomach flu, she provided us with some soothing amenitiies to make us feel better. Beyonf this, she anticipated our needs before we even voiced them and added thoughtful touches that made us feel truly valued. Each morning began beautifully at breakfast, where the team at Le Perle set the tone for the day. A heartfelt thank you to Anyali, Sylvie, and Dylan, who greeted us with warm smiles and exceptional service every single day. Their energy and attentiveness transformed breakfast into a highlight of our stay—delicious cuisine paired with genuinely uplifting hospitality. The resort itself is breathtaking, with stunning views, luxurious villas, and a tranquil atmosphere that defines relaxation. But what truly sets Waldorf Astoria Seychelles apart is its people. The level of care and personalization we experienced made this more than just a vacation—it was a memory we will cherish forever. We cannot wait to return.

I don’t even know where to begin. This was our second stay at the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles on Platte Island within the past year, and somehow it was even more incredible than the first. We originally came for our honeymoon and this time returned to celebrate our one-year anniversary. We stayed for nine days and still wished it was longer. The resort is set on a remote island surrounded by the Indian Ocean—true, untouched paradise. Let’s start with the property itself. It is absolutely world-class. From the stunning private villas, to the state-of-the-art spa, three outstanding restaurants, endless water activities, and one of the best cocktail bars I’ve ever experienced, every detail is thoughtfully curated. And the night skies are surreal. We’ve never seen so many stars or shooting stars in our lives. What truly sets this place apart, though, is the people. The level of service here is unmatched. It feels genuine, personalized, and incredibly thoughtful. I wish I could name everyone, but a few individuals truly made our stay unforgettable. Donia, our personal concierge, was exceptional. She was attentive, proactive, and always went above and beyond to make sure every detail of our stay was perfect. We had Dominik last year, who was fantastic as well, and while we missed him this time, Donia made our experience just as special. Uzeyir, Head of Food & Beverage, was constantly present and engaged, checking in with guests and making sure everything was flawless. His passion for hospitality is clear and it shows throughout the entire resort. Sebastian, the Executive Chef, is a complete game changer. If you visited before and weren’t blown away by the dining, it’s time to come back. The transformation is incredible. The menus, the execution, the creativity—everything has been elevated. We were especially impressed by Maison des Epices (Creole-Latin cuisine). Every dish was exceptional. The ceviche was outstanding, and with my wife being Peruvian, we don’t say that lightly—Chef Lucio absolutely nailed it. The octopus curry was so good we ordered it four separate times. Chef Mora’s recipe is unforgettable. The pork belly was also phenomenal. The entire team, including Sam, Chalton, and Dwayne, were amazing. Dwayne’s homemade hot sauce had us hooked, and on our last night he even sent us home with some, along with ingredients from Chef Mora to recreate the octopus curry. And then there’s Ben, the bar mixologist at Lalin, who is truly the best in the business. He crafted some of the best cocktails we’ve ever had. What makes him special is his ability to take classic drinks we already love and elevate them with his own creative twist. Every cocktail felt like a piece of craftsmanship. After each one, we were genuinely left speechless. Breakfast at Perle was just as impressive. Every morning, the team greeted us warmly and remembered every small detail of our preferences from day one. That level of attentiveness is rare and something we truly appreciate. A special thank you to Angelie, who took such great care of us and made each morning even more enjoyable. A special thank you to Gary, the Watersports Director. This was our second time working with him and he continues to impress. His leadership and energy show through his entire team. Liz, our scuba instructor, made our first open ocean dive an unforgettable experience. She made us feel completely safe and confident, and now we’re excited to get certified back home. We also had an incredible time snorkeling with Fabian and Monroe, who always knew exactly where to take us to experience the best marine life. I also want to recognize the transportation team. Every evening they made sure we got around the island comfortably and even took us to the runway to experience the night sky. It’s something you truly have to see to believe. And finally, housekeeping. Simply the best. Our villa was always spotless and perfectly maintained, and they somehow anticipated exactly how we liked everything arranged. I could go on and on, but I’ll end with this. It’s rare to find a place that not only lives up to expectations, but exceeds them every single time. This resort, and its people, have created memories we will never forget. We can’t wait to return again soon. .

We arrived in Mahe a day early, so we showed ourselves to the Waldorf Lounge at the airport. It is pre security and up the escalator to the right of the check in counter. (Next to it is a much larger lounge that is ala cart, prices are high but not astronomical. They recently joined Priority Pass but because were in the process of switching over to it in the system they said we could not use it.) The Waldorf lounge is small, clean, has showers available with amenities. Offered was; fruit, 3 types of sandwiches, 3 flavors of potato crisps, water, juice and soft drinks. If you would like an alcoholic drink you must go next door to the other club to retrieve it. You can watch the planes land from the lounge. When the time comes the attentive staff will then help you downstairs with your bags to check in for the flight. Check in was easy and then a quick 10 minute wait in the lobby before they usher you to the plane. The lobby has a very small shop that does sell clothes, trinkets, beer, wine and soft drinks. They had a Cabernet that I liked from the states, and I picked up 2 mini bottles, wish I had bought another 4, it was nice having a glass of that while waiting for our golf carts to head to dinner on the island. The boarding passes handed to you are not assigned seats and you pick you seat as you enter the plane. The 1st two passenger seats on the plane do not have windows. The left side of the aircraft will have the better views and the welcoming view of everyone waving you into the island. Once on the island our personal concierge the beautiful Soukaina met us and helped take pictures of our arrival. We were brought a refreshing towel and homemade craft tea. These teas made in all different flavors will magically appear in your room with housekeeping through your stay. Soukaina then took us on a tour of the island and finally to our fantastic Villa (Villa 9). Where she made us a welcome cocktail and had a fruit platter waiting for us. The Villa was stunning, they catered to my 5 year old son, and even placed a tiny tent for him to play in the room. Our housekeeper Sonu paid attention to every detail. We had a chance to speak to her later in the trip and she was charming. I would definitely recommend bringing a really good bug spray with you, the mosquitos are no joke on this island. Extra sunscreen, and swim coverups. We live in a tropical environment and we still received sun burns. While the restaurants are expensive, the food, service and ambience were spectacular. Expect to pay around $70- $100 USD per entree and then having to add $15 sides as well. The kids menu was for the entire island and was $26 USD. My son was partial to the kids fish filets and burgers. They do let the kids pick their side: (mashed potato, rice, fried, vegetables) There are 3 restaurants; La Pearle, MDE, and Moulin. While a lot of the other guests loved Moulin, we preferred MDE and La Pearle. During the day La Pearle is open for lunch and they also have food service at the pool. We did order a pizza on our last day that had chunks of tuna on it and we loved it. Wish we had tried the pizza earlier. Pizza was very filling for 2 people and was around $60 USD. Drinks were priced more reasonably than expected, around $10-18 a drink. If you are a diamond member they hold a Happy hour 2 for 1 special at the Lalin Bar near the pool. The mixologist introduced himself and offered to make us a signature drink to try. The resort pride themselves on have a very very large assortment of Gin, but I asked for a tequila drink instead, he produced a Tequila Paloma drink that was spectacular. Breakfast is served at La Pearle daily and is phenomenal. They rotate 3 different menus, the left side is traditional and the Same, but the right side is international and changes daily. Our servers Dylan, Angeli, and Sylvie were so great to us. Please be sure to add a little extra gratuity for these amazing people. In addition to the à la cart breakfast menu there is also a continental assortment inside along with immunity boosting drink shots. The prosecco is also included with the breakfast. Chef Sebastian would greet us every morning and take feedback about different dishes and make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Chef Sebastian is also an excellent Tennis player from what the other guests were saying. If you do want to play Tennis or Padel the resort team will find partners for you if needed. The pools were maintained and I never saw a bug or a leaf near them or floating in them. Staff supplies you with ice cold water while lounging and even sometimes a surprise popsicle for the kids. I went to participate in a discover scuba lesson while my son was playing and one of the activities directors, Gary, was nice enough to play with my son and his friends while I was gone for 20 minutes. The staff for the children and Kids club is what made this resort perfect. They had a bike with training wheels ready for my son, the kids club was air conditioned and they were never told no to activities or games they wanted to play. My son painted so many things with the other kids and had the best time. It was truly a bespoke experience when it comes to the kids. Waldorf Astoria is hands down the best when catering for my son. While usually the Waldorf supplies my son with a teddy bear (sometime you have to request it), Gary made sure my son received a stuffed turtle to remember his trip. Other posts all report that when arriving to you Villa you are greeted by sun hats and a tote bag. This was not true in our case. I did enquire about it and was met by a team member to explain the situation almost immediately. We arrived to Platte Island during the unrest in the Middle East with Iran, Dubai, Doha etc.. their supplies had been affected and they were working on resolving the issue. We completely understood as our flight had been cancelled many times trying to get to the island. As an apology we were presented with customized Water Bottles by the staff. Eventually on our 5th night we did arrive back to the Villa to the hat and bag assortment. They were beautiful and we were so happy. I am sad to report that they do not offer a sunset cruise anymore for Diamond members, apparently they stopped doing in last summer due to staffing and yacht availability issues. There are many daytime activities that are included in your stay and keep you busy. Such as discovery dives, guided kayak tours, guided paddle boards, and guided snorkel tours. Yoga classes and turtle feedings as well. The whole island is there to constantly make you feel welcomed. We went for a bike ride down the runway and it started to rain, our concierge knew and chased us down with umbrellas to rescue us. At the Spa we had a great Yoga instructor named Puja, who was pleasant and funny. The spa pool is available for anyone to use and has massaging jets perfect for aching shoulders. Additionally they have a hot sauna with Himalayan Salt walls, and a steam room for use. Uze another team member checked on us every morning to make sure our stay was going well. There are about 200 employees on the island that live there year round. Their facilities are past the Moulin restaurant. Once again I do suggest you bring snacks with you for late night munchies or if you have a sweet tooth. You’re limited to the in villa dining menu or the restaurants on the island. Bring bug spray, and sunscreen. Bring a couple mini bottles of wine or alcohol with you, so you do not have to deplete your mini bar completely. There are no fridges available, so try to stick to a red wine. The villa fridge is more of a drawer. This is a once in a lifetime vacation for most people, however I have a feeling that I will be returning. The staff are truly what make the Waldorf Astoria Brand so special.