Want to take advantage of Virtuoso benefits at no extra cost, including a room upgrade, a resort credit, and more, all while paying the lowest rate? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He doesn’t charge booking fees, and may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.
The Cheval Blanc brand has just been expanded, with the opening of a new ultra-luxury resort…
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Basics of the luxurious Cheval Blanc Seychelles
Cheval Blanc Seychelles has opened 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 other locations, in Paris, the Maldives, St-Barts, St-Tropez, and Courchevel.
Cheval Blanc’s first African property is nestled along Mahe’s Anse Intendance beach, and is 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 has 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 has 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 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 has already opened, there are surprisingly few pictures of the finished product. Cheval Blanc does an amazing job with its property design, and spares no expenses in design, and I suspect this resort is no 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).
Ford and his team are happy to help with Virtuoso requests, and can be reached at [email protected].
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 now open. The 52-villa property is in the space of the former Banyan Tree, and is likely 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?
1. Winter time is monsoon season in the Seychelles so not sure why you’d perceive that as high season since rates are generally cheaper then.
2. Not sure why you’d not consider Six Senses a private island hotel since there is nothing else on that island.
Anse Intendance is the best beach on Mahe. Fun waves, gorgeous sand, and beautiful crescent shape.
Are the waves too big?
Would you compare it to the Mango House?
I’d imagine better
Seychelles is an expensive destination. A pizza for one at a local restaurant is often close to 50$. The prices look pretty ok compared to other luxury hotels. We stayed at the Raffles and it was similarly fantastic. Anse Intendance is a great beach with big waves and it was one of our favorite beaches. You’ll want to go somewhere else if you want the postal card quiet beach typical of the Seychelles
Is it just me or anyone else thinks that these prices nowadays are outrageous, I mean, I hear that every country is facing housing problems, people can't even afford to buy food, but the amount of hotels charging 1500+ per night is insane. It seems that 1000 U$ per day is the new normal... maybe is just me, idk
I’m at Cheval Blanc Rhandelli now. They are pushing the new resort in the Seychelles every chance they get here.
If it’s anything like Rhandelli it will be amazing.
Love the design of the spiral staircase (ramp?) in the restaurant.
Why do you not consider Six Senses Zil Pasyon a private island resort?
AFAIK legally it is 'private' as the company has a 99y exclusive lease. It is however close to main islands and sees lot of boat traffic around. And no beach is private on Seychelles, with that ammount of traffic it shouldn't be considered private. Desroches AFAIK isnt in private use of FS but can be considered private due to the distance and lack of day trippers.
Six Sense anyway is a weird and underwhelming...
AFAIK legally it is 'private' as the company has a 99y exclusive lease. It is however close to main islands and sees lot of boat traffic around. And no beach is private on Seychelles, with that ammount of traffic it shouldn't be considered private. Desroches AFAIK isnt in private use of FS but can be considered private due to the distance and lack of day trippers.
Six Sense anyway is a weird and underwhelming brand if you look under the covers, and this resort has quite a bloody history, doesn't it (never forget how they treated it publicly)
How do you think this compares to the four seasons Mahe? I read that it might not be better as far as the beach goes.
Banyan Tree had crazy waves. Quite dangerous at times. FS Mahe has a better beach but very hilly and cheap rooms are very dense - close to each other and road. Residences are fine but overpriced as always.