Maison Soleil

I'm grateful to TripAdvisor for allowing me to find this great accommodation. I stayed at Maison Soleil for two weeks as I wanted to discover as much as I could about Mahe. Somebody might think I was crazy to stay for two weeks on Mahe but I loved it. I didn't go on any other island as I will be returning to the Seychelles in March to spend three weeks on La Digue, and I will have plenty of time to visit Praslin and all the other little islands. I chose this place as it was affordable, clean and had all the comforts one might need, I didn't care at all about the fact that it was not right on the beach because I was out on excursions every day. I even got lucky with the weather, so if it was raining in the south I would chase the sun in the north of the island. Nearby the guest house there is the beautiful Anse Soleil which is reachable by a short fifteen minute walk. I loved it but the fact that it was always packed with people put me off so I would always go to another beach each day. I arranged through Andrew, the owner, a Creole dinner and it was just fantastic. Andrew is a very nice person, very helpful but never intruding. I also bought some beautiful paintings on silk at his gallery and now they are nicely framed and hanging proudly in my house. This accommodation for me was excellent as my goal was to spend my budget on the excursions rather than a five star hotel. For curiosity just look at what the Four Seasons charges for the night and they are just around the corner. I've been there one day and didn't find the employees to be very nice to the outsiders. They would just tolerate them. The guesthouse also provides you with free internet access but you have to get kind of close to the router as the connection in the room was kind of weak. But, hey we are still in Africa so I can live with that. So to sum it up, if you are looking for luxury and lavish accommodation, this might not be the place for you.

Stayed at the Cinnamon Room for three nights after spending a few days in Praslin. The place is very clean and nicely decorated. Andrew, the owner, put together a handbook with information about the everything nearby - definitely helpful! There are beaches and restaurants within walking distances; Petite Anse at the Four Seasons is definitely worth checking out! Andrew has been extremely helpful and knowledgeable about everything, having lived in the Seychelles for over 20 years. Betty was also very helpful and patient in giving me directions and helping me figure out the bus routes. If you're into art, Andrew has a gallery right next to the guest house and showcases his and other artists' works! We managed to get by without a car for two days; the bus rides were actually quite an experience! One word of advice though, there's little to no street lights, so if you want to walk back to Maison Soleil after dinner or the beach, be sure to have a flashlight handy, unless walking in complete darkness is your thing! Driving to the airport and Victoria would take about an hour, and some good mountain driving skills as the roads are steep, windy, and narrow! Probably one of the best places to stay on Mahe. Highly recommended!