Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Eco-resort on St Anne Island offers many firsts
THE opening of Club Med Seychelles, a luxury eco-resort on St Anne Island, offers many firsts. Not only is it the only resort on the island, but Club Med Seychelles is also the only property on the country’s 115 islands to offer a truly all-inclusive experience. The upfront package pricing includes flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, drinks, in-resort activities and plenty more.
Seychelles president Wavel Ramkalawan, who attended the inauguration last Wednesday, said the opening was “a dream come true”.
“The world will see Seychelles welcoming Club Med, and therefore this will entice other people to say ‘Seychelles is the destination I want to come to,”’ said Ramkalawan.
The opening of an all-inclusive luxury hotel may be a huge drawcard during the pandemic and makes for the perfect social distancing trip, especially with seclusion at the forefront.
Club Med Seychelles is the former
Beachcomber Sainte Anne Resort & Spa. It underwent renovations and transformed from an 87-room hotel to a 5-star resort boasting 295 rooms, Seychelles News Agency reported.
The appeal
Club Med Seychelles is an escape filled with white sand beaches, giant granite boulders smoothed by the waves, turquoise waters and lush vegetation. Here, travellers can embark on supervised exploration hikes to discover local flora, fauna and history or enjoy guided snorkelling tours.
Guests can also partake in a coral reef restoration programme with a nursery in the resort and workshops with biologists to learn about coral and tortoises.
Adaptable for kids, families, and adults, the programme is facilitated in partnership with WiseOceans.
The 295 rooms cater for solo, couple, group, and family travel.
There's plenty on offer at the resort, including zen spaces, five restaurants and bars, a yoga school and studio, Club Med Spa by Cinque Mondes, steam room, fitness room, library and a fully equipped meetings and events space.
The resort also focuses on sustainable travel, with a zero single-use plastic policy, green space management and food waste monitoring among the many green initiatives offered.
A collaboration with the Seychelles Agriculture Agency promotes the consumption of fresh, seasonal and readily available fruits and vegetables.
Olivier Hannaert, vice-president of Club Med Southern Africa, said the resort is set to become a top travel attraction once Seychelles reopens to South African travellers.
“Easily accessible from South Africa and offering all-inclusive luxury, Club Med Seychelles is set to become a major new travel destination for those seeking space, safety and the ultimate in an island setting.
“Whether guests wish to indulge in the property’s extensive facilities or explore the astounding natural beauty all around, there’s something for everyone,” he said.