What It’s Like to Stay at the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island

As my plane descended towards Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island during a late November trip, it was hard not to feel as if I were entering paradise.

The property is Hilton's latest addition to its luxury Waldorf Astoria collection and is nestled on Platte Island, a small, remote islet located about 80 miles south of Mahé, the largest of the Seychelles. The hotel made its debut in January 2024 with 50 private villas, personalized concierge services, and beach-inspired design. And since its location is fairly secluded, the property's lagoon and coral reefs offer an exciting opportunity for visitors to spot migratory birds and turtles.

Upon check-in, I was quickly introduced to Angel, my concierge for my stay, who zipped me away to my villa on a golf buggy. Every day, she would check in on Whatsapp, and she emphasized that she was always one text away. As a fun bonus, Angel and the staff also notified guests when there were tortoise sightings—nests are dotted across the island.

Despite the luxury and pampering the resort has to offer, the true highlight of Platte Island is the Indian Ocean itself. One morning, I joined the resort’s general manager, Elias, and the on-site marine biologist for a wildlife walk around the island. Under the soft light of the sunrise, we spotted baby reef sharks, eagle rays, and ghost crabs in the shallow water.

Evenings are equally enchanting on the property. Guests can enjoy stunning sunset views over the Indian Ocean, moutya dance performances by the staff, and dinner at one of the property's three restaurants. For me, my favorite was Moulin, the hotel’s cooking school by day, restaurant by night concept—dishes here are prepared almost exclusively with produce grown on the island. And the property's remote location makes it an ideal place to stargaze as well. Once the sun sets, the sky twinkles with a seemingly infinite number of heavenly lights.

Here's everything you need to know about what it was like to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island.

The Rooms

Room types at Platte Island range from the one-bedroom Hawksbill Villa to the five-bedroom Eagle Ray Pool Villa, which packs a large private terrace. All units, however, have an extended wooden deck with swing sofas, private infinity pools, and an outdoor dining space. While guests can access the beach from the pool area by passing through a garden, the hotel made a deliberate choice to set the villas far from the shore to make them feel private and to minimize any disruptions to marine life, especially the tortoises, who like to nest under the big shade trees.

As one would expect from a Waldorf Astoria property, the villa I stayed in during my visit was chic and pristine—but the real “wow” factor was its sheer size, which was only enhanced by the attached outdoor patio and garden. The rooms' design seemed to draw inspiration from the island itself, and many of the furnishings feature the use of wood, shells, and even palm trees. For those who like to indulge, the in-room mini bar offers a diverse selection of beverages, including the Seychelles' national spirit: Takamaka rum.

In the evenings, a warm bath decorated with beautiful pink flowers awaited me. Elias (the general manager) showed us the creative bath art that room service regularly prepares as a surprise for guests. While the rooms were stunning, it was the staff's impeccable service that made staying here so special.

Food and Drink

The resort offers top-notch dining across three restaurants. There's La Perle, serving “health-conscious” breakfasts and Mediterranean-inspired dinner; the laid-back Maison de Epices specializing in Creole-Latin fusion with dishes such as octopus salad and vibrant curries; and Moulin, a “soil-to-soul” produce-forward eatery that offers cooking classes in the daytime.

Moulin, with its rotating tasting menus dreamed up by Chef Gavi, was perhaps the standout dining destination for me. Creative dishes here include the grilled monkfish served with coconut broccoli dressing, beef with sweet potatoes, as well as the beetroot rose and mirepoix crumple. If you'd like to see where your food comes from, guests can explore the on-island garden where the restaurant's ingredients are sourced.

As for drinks, there's no shortage of options. Torti is the resort's pool and beach bar, where diners can feast on bento boxes and sushi. Peacock Terrace, a coffee and tea bar, is inspired by the eponymous original location at the Waldorf Astoria New York. And for breathtaking sunset sea views, head to Lalin, where you can sip on craft cocktails and champagne.

Activities and Amenities

Active guests will find plenty to busy themselves with, including opportunities to fish, kayak, paddleboard, and even scuba dive. For those interested in taking it easy, there are also relaxing catamaran rides, guided wildlife reef walks, and tours of the tortoise sanctuary—you can also learn to make Seychellois Creole during the daytime cooking classes at Maison des Epices. Other amenities include tennis and paddle ball courts surrounded by lush greenery, a well-equipped gym, sunset pilates and yoga, and personal fitness training opportunities. However, a simple stroll or bike ride is maybe the best way to get acquainted with the island. Upon check-in, every guest is given a bike with a personalized name tag, so peddling around the island is hassle-free.

The Spa

The spa wellness center, located next to the Moutya restaurant, has five treatment rooms with steam showers and baths. Guests can pick from options such as the Immune Healing Recovery Massage and an Ayur-Abhyanga therapy, which feature luxurious Seychellois and Voya Irish skincare products. Personalized wellness screenings are also available, which curate personalized treatment plans. Other spa features include a hammam-style steam room, a Himalayan pink salt sauna, pedicure and manicure services, a hair salon, and hydro and infinity pools with sea views.

Family-friendly Offerings

Platte Island is family-friendly. Children can enjoy the facilities at the hotel’s Kids Club, which has a large outdoor playground featuring a large play pirate ship. Inside, the Kid's Club has Playstation games, a climbing wall, and regular arts and crafts sessions like coconut shell painting. You can find completed artworks by the mini-maestros displayed around the area.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Thanks to a large, on-island solar farm, 95 percent of the resort is powered by sunlight. The property has adopted other environmentally friendly initiatives such as energy-efficient lighting and water recycling, too. Wildlife preservation is big on the island as well. The Island Conservation Society, which is dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating the unique ecosystems of the Seychelles, has an on-site base to ensure local preservation efforts are sufficient and consistent.

Location

The hotel is remote, but that's also one of its main selling points. Those coming have to catch a 25-minute flight from the Seychelles International Airport (SZE) on Mahé—there are two flights per day. Tickets cost 700 euros (about $758 USD per person) and 350 euros (around $380 USD) for children under 12. Interested in a more private experience? Waldorf Astoria can provide a private chartered flight for 5,000 euros (about $5,418 USD).

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island is a Hilton property, so Hilton Honors members can earn double points for each night of their stay. If you book at least seven days in advance, you can get 17 percent off rates with the Hilton Honors Advance Purchase Discount. AARP and AAA members can get an added 10 percent discount as well. Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island is also a part of American Express's Fine Hotels + Resorts program—from now until Dec. 31, guests can get a complimentary fourth night by booking on the FHR platform.