The stand-out feature of the Acajou Beach Resort, which was newly-renovated in 2014, is its stunning architecture. Surrounded by a beautiful tropical garden, the wooden villas of the hotel are built from South African mahogany directly onto a large section of the beautiful Cote d’Or beach. This wooden architecture also gives the hotel its name. There are also some new buildings, set up in a modern, bright style with white decoration that reflects the sand the Seychelles is famous for. Following the 2014 renovation, the hotel offers a greater variety of rooms, a brand new infinity pool, the Starfish pool bar, a restaurant, and a number of other small improvements and additions. Despite these changes, the hotel has, thankfully, managed to maintain its authentic Creole charm. The pool area, which also includes a children’s pool, is located just behind the beach, and offers a spectacular view of the ocean and the nearby islands of Chauve Souris, St. Pierre, as well as the Curieuse Marine Park, giving guests plenty to enjoy.

Thanks to their skillful design, most of the hotel’s balconies offer a particularly beautiful view of the turquoise-coloured ocean, which achieves this stunning colour thanks to its shallow depth and pure-white sand under the water. The elevated view from the balconies of the villas makes it possible to enjoy truly breathtaking moments each day of your stay.

The Standard and Superior rooms are located in houses to the left and right of the main building, and offer a view of the garden, as well as the ocean, and are built on stilts - a traditional building method in the Seychelles. The rooms therefore enjoy excellent air-circulation, removing the need for constant air-conditioning use. The main building also has its own large terrace where guests can relax outside. The newly-built Deluxe living-units can be found a little closer to the sea, so their terraces are located just a few metres from the fine white sand of the beach and the stunning waters of the Indian Ocean. The Self-catering Apartments are situated in the resort’s garden. Finally, the hotel also offers a massage room, internet facility, a fitness centre, and a small souvenir shop.

The individual rooms of the Acajou Beach Resort are spread across six categories, and offer guests a spacious, comfortable space for their Seychelles holiday. Rustic wooden interiors add to the harmony of the property, and are both sustainably-sourced and aesthetically-pleasing, with a great degree of Creole charm, while the bright, white rooms also have their own charming features. The walls of the property are lined with paintings by locally-renowned artists, which adds to the beautiful atmosphere. In terms of modern facilities, the rooms offer air-conditioning with its own energy-management system, satellite TV, free WiFi, en suite bathroom with shower, WC and hair dryer, a minibar, a safe, and much more. And, as part of the hotel’s ongoing efforts to remain green, the recent renovation included the installation of a solar array, which powers the lights and the air-conditioning units of the hotel. The resort also has its own sewage treatment plant, where old water is recycled and used to water the plants in the garden.

Guests have a choice between different room types for their Seychelles accommodation: Standard, Superior, and Deluxe rooms. There are also six rooms which are set up for self-catering, giving guests even more choice, and the Superior Family Rooms are even big enough for up to four guests to enjoy an unforgettable holiday. The hotel’s own Le Boucanier restaurant is located in the main building, and provides a space for guests to enjoy come the evening, where they can sample international cuisine without having to leave the hotel. This is also the place where the delicious breakfast is served. Several times each week, there is entertainment provided by local groups, something that shouldn’t be missed by anyone. The beach restaurant is also located right on the water, with a breathtaking view of the Cote d’Or beach.

The villas of the hotel are surrounded by a lush garden, where guests can hear nothing but the ocean waves and the wind through the palm trees. There are frangipani, hibiscus, and takamaka trees located in the garden. In the middle of all this vegetation, there is a pool, surrounded by a large terrace, a pool bar, and the restaurant. Guests can also relax on the sun-terrace underneath blue skies, leaving all of the stress of daily-life behind. Depending on the time of day, there is also plenty of natural shade here, which provides protection from the UV rays of the sun, and there are also artificial parasols. At the pool bar, guests can enjoy a delicious cool drink.

Even more inviting is the nearby Cote d’Or beach, which is almost always empty, regardless of the time of year. Here, it’s possible to find your own spot on the beach, either completely under shade or partially-shaded, allowing you to relax without staying in the sun too long. There are also a number of sun-loungers and parasols here. The beach slopes very gently into the ocean, and there is fine sand underfoot, making it a year-round possibility to swim here, something that doesn’t ring true for all of Praslin’s beaches.

Finally, we would recommend visiting the stunning Vallée de Mai on Praslin, which is the largest intact forest containing the Coco de Mer palm tree. People used to think that the fruit of the Coco de Mer washed up on the beaches via the ocean, hence the name ‘Coco de Mer’.