Hotel reviews: Coral Strand Smart Choice

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Far from being an establishment favouring privacy, the Coral Strand is part of the Seychelles' huge infrastructures with its 132 rooms. Equally it is one of the rare hotels to propose complete water activities, an integrated diving club and night entertainment. The Coral Strand's pool bar is a trendy meeting spot for Seychellois and tourists. "Mahek", an Indian restaurant is also among the good catering services in Mahé. Creole and Indian cooking lessons are offered freely for budding cooks.
An afternoon tea is served everyday at the Silhouette lounge from 4 pm to 5 pm with small cakes. For astronomy enthusiats, an expert explains, twice a week, all you need to know on the stars that you could observe through a refracting telescope on the hotel's roof. Excursions on glass bottom boats are also proposed.
For party goers, various local orchestras and groups provide musical entertainment and folklore group initiates you to Creole dances once a week.
The children and adults will not miss greeting Marie-Thérèse, Raymond and Daniel, the three giant tortoises of the hotel.

Lodging advice

Avoid booking one of the 46 rooms facing the garden and parking, even if you safe 8 pounds sterling a night. Instead choose room 504, which has the most wonderful view of the beach of Beau Vallon.
For families, request one of the 10 minisuites, such as rooms 409 and 410: fitted with bunk beds for children, they are connected and face the beach and swimming pool.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Located on the seafront, the Coral Strand, built in 1972, is a charmless huge 4 storey U-shaped building, containing 132 rooms. In the middle you will find the swimming pool (quite small only 485 ft², but up to 8 ft deep), the kid's pool, the snack and a gorgeous pool bar fitted under a straw hut, a meeting place where all tourists and Seychellois go in the evening. The space remains small for a total capacity of 264 guests excluding children. The two restaurants of the hotel are found in small annexe buildings along the beach of Beau Vallon. Built in 1972, the Coral Strand was renovated in 2000.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Renovated in 2000, the rooms are small but clean and equipped with traditional rattan furniture. Access is via an elevator. All have individual air-conditioning, safe, direct telephone and a small balcony with little privacy, 80% of them are on the beach side or the garden side (and a bit the parking...) for the 20% remaining. A television and fridge are available on request. Built in duplex, the superior rooms have an additional lounge area. There is no room-service. A little bonus, all rooms are equipped with European plugs, this takes care of adaptors. Do not panic if you see a strange lizard moving on the walls! It is a wall gecko, a friend which frees you from mosquitoes and other insects.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Breafast and dinner are served as a buffet in the big hall of the main restaurant, Island Trader, facing the sea, with a beautiful view of Silhouette and North Islands. In the evening you can savour a variety of international dishes, comprising Italian, French, Chinese or Creole specialities, rocked by the soft setting of a piano bar. Vegetarian meals are also served on request. For breakfast, Bistro, the snack bar by the swimming pool, serves Seychellois cuisine à la carte. The hotel also contains "Mahek", an Indien restaurant, accessible by reservation. The kitchen, separated from the hall by transparent glass, allows the guests to observe their meals being prepared.

• Z Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Located on the large beach of Beau Vallon, spreading on 2 miles long, the Coral Strand has 5* PADI diving club, and a water sports centre. Non motorised sports (pedal boat, canoe, windsurfing board, small catamarans) are free for the hotel's guests in consideration of a 32 pound deposit A 20% discount is given for motorised activities (jet ski, parakite, nautical ski...). Beach towels are available in consideration of an 8 pound deposit: endeavour not to misplace them! Well patronised by tourists and Seychellois, especially during the week-end, the beach is supervised and a flag indicates the safe limit for swimming. Far off, we see Silhouette Island and North Island. From December to March, North-West trade winds bring back algae to the shoreline.