Constance Ephelia Seychelles
If you are looking for a hotel in the Seychelles for friends and family, with the most to offer, Constance Hotels Ephelia is for you! Set on 120 hectares in a park, with unspoilt beaches and friendly staff to assist with any need, this is the right place to revive body and soul, and catch up with loved ones in a heavenly setting.
Firstly, it is really family friendly, the hotel has a special area with rooms and a pool area for those with small kids. If you are a honeymooner or just want a quiet retreat, you can ask for a room at the other side of the resort, which is blissfully peaceful, also with its own dedicated pool area.
What they have to offer is just endless : The biggest spa on the island, with 16 treatment rooms. Sauna, steam room, reflective pool and thermal pool, facials using Sisley products.
A Yoga Pavilion. Zip lining through the forest. A helipad. Tennis courts. An Atm. Five pools, yes five! Fully equipped gym. A squash court.
Non-motorised watersports include pedal boats, small catamaran, windsurfing and kayaking.
The resort is so big, bicycles are available to go from place to place, or hop onto the golf carts that whizz along all day and night.
You can even go wall climbing.
You and your family will be kept actively entertained every day.
When it comes to food experiences, the choices are just as diverse.
Five restaurants cater to your every craving and taste. From the main Ephelia buffet restaurant for breakfast to dinner… right through to their “signature cuisine” which is a refined affair.
Cyann - a lunch and dinner establishment with cuisine of French culinary techniques and award-winning chefs. The whole ambience at night of sitting between lit mangrove trees, and attentive waiters who pair dishes by a gifted sommelier, is utter luxury. It will most probably be one of the best meals you have had in your lifetime. My husband still talks about the Kobe beef dish he had. But make time to chat to the sommelier in each restaurant, they are very well educated and give excellent and different wine experiences with each dish.
Helios restaurant is Mediterranean, for lunch and dinners are influenced from the South of France, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Lebanon - fishes and dishes baked in their large oven. Lovely blue and white Greek decor accents, makes it a relaxing way to end off a sun filled day.
Seselwa “cuisine des iles” is an all-day dining restaurant with a casual and lively ambiance facing the gorgeous north beach. Designed with white furniture and flowery cushions, it evokes freshness and the spirit of Seychelles. We watched the Seychellois dancers after dinner, joyful creole music and dancing that gets everyone in a good mood.
Adam&Eve is an Asian themed restaurant which focuses on the flavours of South-East Asia with an emphasis on Malaysian, Thai, Singapore and Indonesian cuisine.
Not only that, but at every pool and beach area you can enjoy cocktails, snacks, from your day bed…oh and the Pina Colada's are legendary.
Above: Cuisine from Cyann
The resort has six bars, for sundowners, or afternoon relaxation. You really have every foodie need catered for. Sip cocktails on your lounger with your toes in the sand while being hypnotised by the waves rolling in. Bliss.
Now about the rooms, you need to concentrate, this is a long list of choices, here goes : There are 42 Garden View Rooms, which we stayed in and it was spacious with a beautiful bathroom.
Then 184 junior suites which can connect to an additional room next door if you have children. 40 senior suites which is great if you want to take baby and add a cot to your room. 10 family villas, which have twin rooms, a private pool and pergola. 12 rooms with 3 bedrooms, own pool and garden area and outside dining kiosk. Beach villas, a 2 bedroom villa with your own outside area with pool, overlooking the beach. 8 beach villas with 2 bedrooms with their own pool. 8 Hillside villas with private pools which overlook the Port Launay Marine Park, and is built in between the rocks. Phew. And lastly, the Presidential villa, which can accommodate 6 people, has its own gym, sauna, steam room, private pool and deck and outside dining area. I did not see this spectacular space, as it was occupied but wow. Imagine.
The resort is really a kids paradise, as the Kids Club offer everything from interactive games, shows, themed programs, workshops, outdoor games, swimming pool, Playstations, creating own pizzas, arts and crafts. This really is great space for 4-11 year old to have the time of their lives and mom and dad can get a bit of rest.
As for the Dossier team, we basically sat on the loungers, walked into the sea, went back to the loungers, took a dip in our pool for our entire stay and it was heaven. There was a pregnant woman who sat and read novels in the pool for days. Because you can. Zipline or just tan. Good to know that you can keep everyone in the family happy and active, but sometimes you just need a few days to stare at the incredibly blue ocean and think all is well with the world, and relax.
Editor’s note : Guest relations at the resort are worthy of much praise. They could not do enough for us, helped us with a few issues, kept in touch via text throughout our stay. We were touched by the personal and cordial way we were treated when the resort was at full occupancy. From the waiters, to the musicians at night who let me be “that one” to ask for a song that reminded me of times spent on the island with my parents, the sommeliers were so knowledgeable, the dancers doing the creole performances at night. Everyone was delightful. We cannot stress enough how wonderful the staff is and it makes a big difference at a resort of this size.
