Beachcomber Sainte Anne Resort & Spa

Large villas, a secluded location, and a dedicated kids' programs make the Beachcomber Sainte Anne attractive to families as well as honeymooning couples. Getting to the island requires a 10-minute boat ride from Mahe, the largest of the Seychelle's 115 islands, which is home to the international airport and capital city Victoria.  

The 543-acre Sainte Anne island is home to a marine park and three beach areas. Guests can wander along sandy nature paths, learn about the indigenous sea coconut palms, snorkel or paddleboard the (usually) calm waters, and witness the hatching of baby sea turtles. Other more resort-like activities are just as popular, including finding a lounge chair on the white-sand beach beneath the shade of a coconut tree or lazily floating in the huge lagoon-style pool and gazing out over the Indian Ocean.  

Most guests choose to participate in the all-inclusive program that allows them to graze at the L'Abondance buffet for all three meals. The resort also offers three other restaurants and three bars. While live music is offered on most nights, the resort is not a place for those who like to stay up late and party. Most guests turn in early, enjoying the private indoor and outdoor space of the spacious villas.

It's a 15-minute drive from the Seychelles International Airport to the boat dock on Mahe where guests are transported to the resort. The boat ride takes approximately 10 minutes and boats run several times per day. The resort is located on the southwestern tip of Sainte Anne, and there's a small village adjacent where the hotel staff and park rangers live. Sainte Anne is one of eight islands that make up the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, famous for its snorkeling and diving. Only two other islands in the park have resorts -- Cerf Island and Round Island. Moyenne Island is a popular day trip from the Beachcomber, thanks to its giant tortoises, birdwatching, and great snorkeling. 

The resort's 87 single-story, red-tiled villas are accessed from winding pathways across the property (some guests may choose to hail a golf cart to access the pool and restaurants). All of the villas are furnished with king-size beds and feature understated tropical decor with terra-cotta tile floors, vaulted ceilings, mahogany trim and doors, rattan furniture, and accent pillows and throws in muted red and gold fabrics. Bathrooms are spacious and spa-like with separate tubs, walk-in showers, water closets, double vanities, and glass doors that lead to outdoor showers within walled gardens. Other amenities include Lavazza espresso machines, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and robes.

The majority of the villas are classified as Garden and Tropical Villas (1,023 square feet, or 95 square meters), featuring large bedrooms with separate seating areas, as well as gazebo terraces with daybeds. The rooms are essentially identical, except for the fact that Garden Villas have only Garden Views, while the Tropical Villas have a distant view of the sea from the outdoor gazebo. (In the Tropical Villa we saw, the glimpse of blue was almost entirely obscured by palm trees -- this category or room is probably not worth the upgrade.) The larger Pool Villas (2,365 square feet, or 220 square meters) feature small private pools surrounded by tropical plantings and wooden decks; families can upgrade to the two-bedroom Senior Beach Villas with Pool. The Beach Villa with Pool is the most worthwhile upgrade, as it scores guests both a private pool and a path with direct access to the beach. The three-bedroom Royal Villa is perched on a hillside with a private pool and a terrace with panoramic views.

There are three beaches at the Beachcomber Sainte Anne: Anse Royale in the center in front of the pool, Grande Anse on the west coast, and Anse Tourtues on the southeastern coast. Grande Anse is the main beach, as it is the longest stretch and closest to most of the villas (the pathway that leads to these villas runs roughly parallel to the beach). Anse Tortues translates to "Turtle Beach" and is a nesting ground for turtles; it is also home to a water sports area. Kayaks, snorkels, paddleboards, and even glass-bottom boat rides are all free. Both Anse Tortues and Grande Anse have seasonal beach bars (usually only one is open). Wind and seaweed can be an issue at the beaches, but typically at least one is protected from both. Though there are quality cushioned lounge chairs on the beaches, they can be in scarce supply; there are no umbrellas, but guests can use palm trees for shade. The beach in front of the pool has calm water and rocky barriers to protect from seaweed incursion. Snorkelers can see sharks, stingrays, turtles, and lots of fish.

Guests who opt for the all-inclusive plan enjoy buffet meals at the resort's L'Abondance Restaurant, one of four restaurants on property. L'Abondance offers guests the option to sit beneath a tile roof with exposed beams and teak tables, or outdoors beneath an umbrella at one of several open-air terraces facing the ocean. 

Le Mont Fleuri is the resort's most upscale dining option. Perched on wooden stilts at the top of a granite outcrop, the intimate tree-house-like restaurant features waiters in formal attire, a curated wine list, and a menu that reflects European cuisine. Le Robinson is even more intimate, but less formal. With just 25 seats, the space offers ocean views, and sounds of crashing surf from beneath a sheltered timber deck. Guests sit at rustic driftwood tables and chairs set on the sand and can enjoy pre- and post-dinner cocktails within a small lounge area. Both of these options are located at the far end of Grande Anse. For lunch, Le Takamaka is a casual beach bar and restaurant set on the shores of Anse Tortues. Open seasonally, it allows guests to sit on the beach and dine beneath the shade of centuries-old takamaka tree.