Four Seasons Seychelles

The Four Seasons on Mahe opened in 2009, and is more of a boutique hotel than many of the group's other offerings. Accommodation is in suites and villas on stilts set on a lush hillside or in the trees next to the beach where turquoise waters lap the powder-white sands of Petite Anse, one of Mahe Island's very best beaches.

The villas are designed in traditional Creole style with natural timber and brickwork to the fore. Each villa has its own private infinity-edged plunge pool, and some incorporate existing granite boulders into their sleek, airy interiors. Each villa is surrounded by a large hardwood deck and has a shaded daybed. Dining and cocktails are offered at two restaurants and two lounges set hillside and beachside respectively. Diverse flavours capture the cultural mix of the Seychelles - encompassing Creole specialties and tastes from the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia.

Elsewhere a hilltop spa offers yoga and invigorating treatments incorporating local herbs and spices and following ancient recipes. The Kids for All Seasons club is perfect for keeping young guests entertained, allowing parents to time off.