Cheval Blanc will shortly be expanding, with the opening of a new ultra-luxury hotel…
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Basics of the 52-villa Cheval Blanc Seychelles
Cheval Blanc Seychelles is expected to open as of December 2024, as the sixth location of this boutique hotel group. For context, the Cheval Blanc hotel brand is owned by LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), with five existing locations, in Paris, the Maldives, St-Barts, St-Tropez, and Courchevel.
Cheval Blanc’s first African property will be nestled along Mahe’s Anse Intendance beach, and it’s designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy. This resort is in the space of the former Banyan Tree Seychelles, though most structures were torn down, so this is a new-build, for all practical purposes.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles will have 52 villas, each featuring a private swimming pool and views of the beachfront, hillside, or tropical jungle. We’re not just talking about a plunge pool, as the private pools are 13 meters (~43 feet). Accommodations here are generously sized, and start at 220 square meters (~2,370 square feet), though presumably that includes outdoor space.
The property will have several dining outlets, including Mizumi (an Asian restaurant), Vivamento (a pool-facing Italian restaurant), Sula (a Mediterranean beach club), and Le 1947 and Le White (the signature Cheval Blanc restaurant and bar). The resort will also feature a Spa Cheval Blanc with Guerlain treatments, as well as a pool, fitness center, surf simulator, tennis courts, padel courts, and more.
For a property that’s just weeks from opening, there are surprisingly few pictures or renderings of the resort. Cheval Blanc does an amazing job with its property design, and I suspect this resort won’t be an exception.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles rates & how to book
Unfortunately Cheval Blanc doesn’t belong to any major hotel group, so there are no practical ways to earn and redeem hotel loyalty points for stays here. That being said, it’s a unique luxury hotel brand that I like to keep tabs on.
What are rates like at Cheval Blanc Seychelles? As you’d expect, they vary seasonally (the Seychelles is most popular in winter), and rates seem to start at under $1,400 per night, before taxes and fees. Honestly, compared to so many other destinations nowadays, that’s not the most outrageous pricing, when you consider how large each of the accommodations is.
If you are going to book a Cheval Blanc property, I’d recommend doing so through a Virtuoso travel advisor. The rate through a Virtuoso travel advisor will be the same as you see directly online, but with the benefit of value-add perks like a room upgrade subject to availability, a hotel credit, and more (usually breakfast is an additional perk, but that’s included for all guests here).
The Seychelles hotel market is getting competitive
The Seychelles luxury hotel market keeps getting hotter, and in some ways, it’s becoming an interesting alternative to destinations like the Maldives:
- The Seychelles has a good number of luxury properties located on the island of Mahe, from the Four Seasons, to Mango House (Hilton LXR)
- Then the Seychelles has private island resorts, ranging from the Four Seasons Desroches Island, to the Waldorf Astoria Platte Island, to North Island Seychelles (Marriott Luxury Collection), to Six Senses Zil Pasyon (okay, that’s not a private island resort, but it is located on a different island)
Bottom line
Cheval Blanc Seychelles is opening as of December 2024, and is now accepting reservations. The 52-villa property is in the space of the former Banyan Tree, and will likely be the best property in Mahe. All of the property’s villas are massive, with private pools that are a minimum of 13 meters. If you’re a fan of the Cheval Blanc brand, then this is definitely a property to keep an eye on.
What do you make of Cheval Blanc Seychelles?
We got back from the Seychelles last week. Three resorts--two on Mahe and one on Silhouette Island. Loved it. However we were definitely confused by the lack of Americans--we saw two the entire trip until the last hour, when we saw two more. Very different from the Maldives (we were at the Conrad), where we saw plenty of Americans, and Bora Bora (also the Conrad), where we felt like the place was 2/3 Americans. I...
We got back from the Seychelles last week. Three resorts--two on Mahe and one on Silhouette Island. Loved it. However we were definitely confused by the lack of Americans--we saw two the entire trip until the last hour, when we saw two more. Very different from the Maldives (we were at the Conrad), where we saw plenty of Americans, and Bora Bora (also the Conrad), where we felt like the place was 2/3 Americans. I feel like the Seychelles are really unappreciated by USA tourists--they are incredibly beautiful. Germans, on the other hand, were everywhere.
What resorts did you stay at?
I'm actually kind of a "one mile at a time" type of guy (I'm also retired). Five nights at Hilton Labriz, in a beach villa with a plunge pool, paid with Hilton points with the fifth night free. Three nights at Hilton Northolme paid with three AMEX free night certificates. One night at Laila paid with an 85K Marriott free night certificate. Qatar Airways for the flights, partially in Q-Suites, paid with Aadvantage miles. One...
I'm actually kind of a "one mile at a time" type of guy (I'm also retired). Five nights at Hilton Labriz, in a beach villa with a plunge pool, paid with Hilton points with the fifth night free. Three nights at Hilton Northolme paid with three AMEX free night certificates. One night at Laila paid with an 85K Marriott free night certificate. Qatar Airways for the flights, partially in Q-Suites, paid with Aadvantage miles. One night in Qatar at the Waldorf-Astoria on the way home paid with AMEX FHR. Total out-of-pocket cost for the entire trip was less than a night (or at most two) at any of the hotels that Lucky mentions in this article.
Chevel Blanc is ideally located as Anse Intendance is the best beach on Mahe. La Digue's Anse Source D'Argent is fabulous.
There are more islands that are not private, the more remarkable Praslin with an Accor hotel (Raffles) and La Diigue.
Six Sense Zil Pasyon is the sole resort on the island of Félicité, just off La Digue. It is a good 25 or so miles from Mahé, where the international airport is located.
Have you stayed there? Have heard mixed reviews of it and the Raffles
Yes, stayed there and loved it. By itself, not enough reason to travel all the way to the Seychelles from North America, but combining Zil Pasyon (which IS a private island resort) with another island or two could be great.
Any recommendations on what to pair it with?
Yes, last year. Loved it, though I would not travel all the way here from North America without staying on one or two more islands. Félicité is small (maybe a quarter the size of St. Barths, for comparison), and Six Senses Zil Pasyon is the only thing going.
I'm perplexed why @Ben doesn't consider Félicité a private island resort.
Praslin is lush and uniquely Edenic; La Digue is bantam and slightly backpackery, with amazing beaches;...
Yes, last year. Loved it, though I would not travel all the way here from North America without staying on one or two more islands. Félicité is small (maybe a quarter the size of St. Barths, for comparison), and Six Senses Zil Pasyon is the only thing going.
I'm perplexed why @Ben doesn't consider Félicité a private island resort.
Praslin is lush and uniquely Edenic; La Digue is bantam and slightly backpackery, with amazing beaches; and Mahé is the most diverse once you get outside the capital, Victoria.
Any idea how this compares to the 2 Four Seasons resorts? I also read that you probably want to get off the main island for part of the stay.
Also, outside North Island (probably out of most price ranges), the Bonvoy portfolio is lacking here.
@ Dn10 -- It all depends on the vibe you're looking for. The benefit to being on the island of Mahe is that there's stuff to do outside the resort. But it's also not as secluded as some of the private islands. This property would presumably primarily compete with the Four Seasons on Mahe, which is excellent, but I suspect this brand new property will probably be even better.
Another benefit is not requiring a place/boat transfer to a private island
Cheval Blanc in general has better finishes than Four Seasons. A Quick Look on four seasons website for end of Feb. Garden view villa for Four Seasons is $2190. Equivalent for CB is $2210. For me it’s hands down CB all day long.