Seychelles: Mahe - Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa *****

The Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa is a new 5 Star resort, all private Villas, a secluded hideaway nestled on the hillside and along small beach coves on Beau Vallon Bay, with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean, nearby Silhouette and North Islands, and magnificent sunsets! The Northolme is completely rebuilt from the ground up, surrounded by lush tropical foliage including coconut palm, mango, flamboyant trees and a cannonball tree, and large granite boulders, a hallmark of the Seychelles.

Accommodation
40 Villas, including 14 Deluxe Ocean front, and 26 Ocean view Hillside, all with stunning views. The Deluxe Ocean front Villas are single- storey, and most of the Ocean view Hillside Villas are double-storey.

One of the Deluxe Ocean front Villas is the Ian Fleming Suite, which is themed to commemorate the author's stays at The Northolme, his inspiration for one of the 007 plots in the best-selling thriller, "For Your Eyes Only".

The Villas are designed in the traditional, Seychellois architecture, a blending of colonial and contemporary décor with typical high ceilings, dormers, detailed balustrades, airy balconies, and glass panel French doors, all constructed of beautiful, imported timber to blend in with the surrounding natural landscape. The Villas are elevated above ground on stilts, a feeling almost like living in a tree house, a quiet and peaceful retreat. The Villas interior design showcases an elegant, modern décor of natural materials and fabrics from the Far East. The bedroom features a luxurious king size, four-poster bed with lace canopy, goose down pillows, colourful throw cushions, walls decorated with local artwork, wooden floors with carpet runners, roman window blinds, cable television with a 26 inch LCD flat screen, a stereo CD/DVD music system, and a bedside IDD phone with voicemail. The wardrobe features a large closet with double louvered doors, wooden shelves with wicker baskets, personal safe, cloth laundry bag, luggage rack, umbrellas, emergency torch and complimentary beach bag. The en suite living room features a large sofa with bright coloured cushions and throw pillows, a chair, floor lamp, a coffee table with a complimentary fruit basket upon arrival, an elegant space rug matching the bedroom carpets, colourful wall artwork, roman window blinds, a stocked mini bar with refrigerator, tea/coffee/espresso machine, vanity desk with mirror for make-up, hair dryer, as well as IDD phone with voicemail, high speed broadband internet access, the same television as in the bedroom, on turnstile for easy viewing, and a ceiling fan.

The spacious, sunlit bathroom features a black granite vanity with twin Italian ceramic sinks and tall water faucets, a selection of guest bathroom amenities, an illuminated magnifying wall mirror, a scale, an electrical shaver outlet, a tiled rainfall shower with glass partition, a whirlpool bathtub for two with a brilliant ocean view and bath amenities, a sitting area, bathrobes, slippers, oversized towels, and a separate toilet with bidet and IDD phone.

The large private balcony features an oversized double daybed with a soft, full cushion, sun lounges with cushions, an outdoor dining table with chairs, a ceiling fan, and a magnificent ocean view.

The Villas feature full nightly turn-down service. Non smoking rooms are available. Each Villa is equipped with a smoke detector connected to a central fire alarm system. Electricity is 220/230 Volts AC, 50HZ. Also provided is complimentary use of sun lounges and beach towels at the pool and beach.

Guests are welcomed upon arrival at The Pavilion, enjoy a glass of champagne or a tropical refreshing drink, register, and then escorted to their Villa. The Front Desk and Concierge services in the Lobby area are available 24 hours a day

Restaurants:
The Hilltop Restaurant is the main dining room, and serves meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests with BB, half or full board meal plans dine here for those meals. All guests are welcome. The Hilltop is an open air restaurant featuring spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding ocean and mountains, and which can be enclosed by glass panel French doors.
Seating is for 60 guests

Les Cocotiers Restaurant is the ultimate dining experience on Mahe, an a la carte restaurant for dinner, located in the main building, offering a menu specializing in Creole cuisine, featuring fresh, local seafood as well as a selection of international favourites, including fine aged beef, and an extensive wine list. Les Cocotiers Restaurant is an open air, al fresco restaurant "under the stars", featuring spectacular views of the surrounding ocean, and which can be enclosed by glass panel French doors and air-conditioned. The Executive Chef welcomes special requests.
Seating is for 30 guests

Room Service offers an "optional" a la carte menu, 24 hours a day, and which includes service to the pool deck.

In-Villa Dining offers special designed menus for candlelit dinners on your balcony.

Bars:
The Ocean View Bar is open air, located on the lower level of the main building, with al fresco, "under the stars" timber decks overlooking the surrounding ocean and magnificent sunsets. The decks are on two levels, one being at the water's edge and a popular venue for a wedding ceremony, cocktail party or other special event. The bar menu offers your favourite beverages, including Citronelle tea, a favourite local herbal infusion and a light snack menu. The bar is decorated in a sophisticated island style with thatched bamboo ceiling, wood walls, tile floors and spot lighting. Service is also provided to the pool, The Crow's Nest and Les Cocotiers Restaurant.

Banquet and Meeting Facilities are available in two rooms, each of which seats up to 30 guests. A haven away from the stress and demands of the hectic pace of work in a turbulent world, this is an ideal backdrop against which meeting planners and organizers can hold seminar, board meetings and incentive trips. The Northolme provides the amenities and equipment for successful meetings.

Sports and Recreation
Our 2 small coves with beautiful white sand beach are surrounded by magnificent granite boulders. There is good snorkelling and canoeing along the shoreline and the hotel provides use of equipment on a complimentary basis. A sparkling clear, fresh water, free form "infinity" swimming pool which overlooks and blends into the ocean, with a unique 3 level pool deck with sun lounges and parasols.

The Crow's Nest is a large multi-function area, in the main building, set up in part for recreation with a pool table, lending library to take or donate a book, and as well, it can be converted to a banquet or meeting area. The Crow's Nest has glass panel French doors providing a magnificent ocean view which can be left open to enjoy the refreshing sea breeze, circulated by ceiling fans or closed to retain the air-conditioning.

Fitness Centre with state of the art exercise equipment, overlooking the ocean. Open from 8 am to 8 pm.

Fishing excursions including morning, sunset and deep sea trips can be arranged by Guest Services.

Located in the Beau Vallon Bay area, the SCUBA Centre features guided diving and snorkelling boat trips, equipment and accessory sales, rental and repair, and complete PADI instructional program. Transportation can be provided.

Duniye Spa is perched on giant granite boulders at the water's edge, in its own pavilion, with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean, nearby Silhouette and North Island, and magnificent sunsets" a location to soothe the body, stimulate the mind and enliven the senses! The spa provides a complete menu of health, beauty, and wellness services to balance the body and mind, including a wide range of Ayurvedic and massage treatments, body wraps, scrubs, facials, manicure, pedicure, steam room, outside wooden deck area. These healing techniques blend in well with the tranquil beauty and gentle pace of life in the Seychelles, all designed to soothe, relax, energize and rejuvenate. The Spa is staffed by a team of experienced therapists from Bali

Entertainment
DVD's and CD's for your Villa home entertainment system may be borrowed from the Front Desk. An in-house newsletter informs all guests about events and activities around the island.

Activities
Guided excursions including snorkelling, sunset cruise, Mahè sightseeing, island hopping, photo flight, and more can be arranged by Guest Services.

Internet Cafe for email and web browsing is located in The Gift Shop.

The Gift Shop features a selection of swimwear, Ladies & Menswear, books, music CD's, jewellery, artwork, crafts, sundries, snacks, cigarettes, an in-house tailor and more!

Resort Services
Multi-lingual staff, concierge and bellman service, tours, car rentals, airport transfers, laundry and pressing, private parking, complimentary shuttle service to Beau Vallon Beach, foreign currency exchange, most major credit cards accepted. Laptop computer, printer and fax machine are available for rent.

Please note:

Children's Policy: To maintain a sense of quiet and serenity, only children of age 13 years or older are accepted. Child minding service is available.
Christmas and New Years dinner supplement are mandatory and included in our prices.
A minimum of 7 nights is required for period 23DEC -10JAN & 15MAR 2008-30MAR 2008

Itinerary - 7 nights

DAY 1:Depart from Johannesburg International Airport for your flight to the Seychelles. On arrival at the airport in Mahe, our agents will meet you and transfer you to The Hilton SeychellesNortholme Resort & Spa where you will be staying for 7 nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis
DAY 8: Transfer to the airport and check in for your return flight to Mahe and flight back to Johannesburg.

Prices include:

International flights (departures from Johannesburg), hotel accommodation and meals as indicated, all airport-hotel transfers

Not included:

Meals not indicated, drinks, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance and airport taxes

Below is an approximate price per person sharing (September 2008):

USD 3774, EUR 2604, ZAR 22 521 (dinner, bed and breakfast, Ocean View Hillside Villa)

Specials:

Free nights & free dinners: 01MAY-30JUN 2008 & 01SEP-30SEP 2008
Pay for 5 and stay for 6 nights or pay for 10 and stay for 12 nights or pay for 11 and stay for 14 nights. Half board for the price of bed and breakfast

Honeymoon special: 11JAN-31OCT 2008
Minimum stay is 5 consecutive nights. One bottle of champagne, 30% reduction for the bride on a bed and breakfast basis, fruit basket on arrival, one Pareo and one T-shirt. A copy of a valid marriage certificate dated no longer than 180 days before the date of arrival must be presented at the time of check-in.

Honeymoon special extra bonus: dinners for free: 01MAY-30JUN 2008 & 01SEP-30SEP 2008
And the 30% discount for the bride applies.

Wedding anniversary (Silver & Gold): valid 01JAN-31OCT 2008
Minimum stay is 5 nights. One bottle of champagne and fruit basket on arrival. Please bring a cop of the valid marriage certificate.