Valentine’s Day can be a stressful time with all the pressure of making your loved one feel special. The strain of choosing gifts, planning dates, and dealing with ever-escalating expectations can get to be too much and put you off, if nothing else. The perfect solution to this? Take your partner to a romantic destination for a relaxing vacation, where you can spend time together without all the unnecessary disturbance. And, I have found just the place you can go to – the stunning Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa.
Ideal for
Perched on a picturesque hillside overlooking the Indian Ocean, Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa is the kind of place you only get to see in romantic Hollywood films. Its secluded location and host of delightful activities – candlelight dinners, couples’ spa, stargazing and water sports – make it the perfect place to go with your valentine.
Another thing that makes this resort extremely couple-friendly, is that it doesn't allow children under the age of 13.
About the property
Surrounded by white-sand beaches, tropical gardens, and crystal-clear water, the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa is the very definition of a luxurious escape. Located on the northern-most corner of Mahé, the resort is surrounded by an abundance of small coves and forested mountains.
Each of the resort’s 15 villas are perched on stilts in the hillside, providing plenty of privacy and some pretty breathtaking views of the surroundings. All the villas face the ocean, have a private balcony, daybeds, sun-loungers and separate dining areas. The interiors boast of a subtle blend of Seychellois architecture and modern-day decor with high ceilings, poster beds and glass panel French doors.
There are four different types of accommodations on offer. The King Hillside Villas and the King Oceanfront Villas are the smaller villas that can accommodate up to three people each. The Grand Ocean Pool Villas and the Presidential Villas are the more luxurious suites, offering infinity pools and views of the famous Beau Vallon Bay.
The resort has two restaurants and a bar, offering delicacies from across the world. There is also an ocean-front spa, a gym and an infinity pool where you can spend your day relaxing and sipping on cocktails.
Cost
The price for a one-night stay at the property starts at around ₹41,000 (including breakfast) and can go up to ₹2,00,000 depending on the type of accommodation you choose, and the time of the year you are here.
Food
The resort has two in-house restaurants and an ocean-view bar. The Hilton's Hilltop Restaurant offers beautiful views of the sunset and an elegant setting for you to enjoy world-class cuisine in. There is a wide range of choices available throughout the week, with a different theme each night varying from Italian to South African and even Chinese.
The resort’s other restaurant, Les Cocotiers, is an al fresco dining place that offers a combination of creole and international dishes to suit different taste palettes. The bar often has live music and you can spend your evening there, drinking and dancing before heading for dinner.
Besides this, the resort offers a butler on request and meals at your villa throughout the day, on order.
Best time to go
The tropical weather in Seychelles makes it a year-round destination as the temperature rarely dips below 24°C or rises above 32°C. March, April, and May are the hottest months, while November, December and January are the wettest months of the year. April-May and October-November are often considered the best months to visit the place, especially if you're interested in water sports.
How to get here
The Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa is located about 16km from the Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) in Mahé, which is served by several major airlines from across the world.
By air: A flight from New Delhi to SEZ is usually a 10-11 hour journey with one stop. Air Seychelles, Jet Airways, Lufthansa, and Mihin Lanka Airlines are the popular airlines. From the airport, you can hire a cab or request for a pickup and drop by the resort. The journey from the airport to the resort takes about 35-40 minutes by road.
What to do here and around the property
With its gorgeous location and impeccable services on offer, there’s a lot you can do at the Hilton Seychelles as well as outside it. If you’re looking to spend more time at the resort itself, you could go for a couple’s massage at the Eforea Spa, or just spend the afternoon relaxing and taking a dip in the ocean at the private beach. For an even more luxurious day, go for the iconic afternoon tea (a la creole), where you can try more than a dozen different brews from across the world, accompanied by local sweets. It is a very typical Seychelles experience that you will end up cherishing for a lifetime.
The resort also offers glass boat rides, where you get to experience the magical waters and see life beneath the surface without even getting wet. Alternatively, if you want something even more stylish, you can go for a helicopter tour of the Seychelles archipelago. There are also the more traditional water sports like snorkelling and kayaking that you can opt for on a day you feel like exploring. The kayaks take you around the coves surrounding the resort – it makes for an adventurous day activity.
If you feel like venturing out, make sure to visit the famous Beau Vallon Bay and the Victoria market, each of which are not more than a 30-minute ride from the resort.
Do you like going on holidays with your partner? Which is your favourite destination? Tell fellow travellers about it and help them discover something new.
For more on romantic destinations in India and across the world, click here.
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