The latest luxury-hotel gem opened on Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles,
in September 2006. The Maia Luxury Resort & Spa gathers its guests from their
own doorstep, and provides exclusive taste for discerning customers.
Text: Günter Ned, photos: Martin Bäuml
Monsieur Vidal, there are many beautiful islands in the Indian Ocean, why should
anyone want to spend their holidays on the Seychelles? It is not exactly the
cheapest destination. "It's not the cheapest destination, but, take a look
at these people: the Seychellois are absolutely authentic. Take a look at the
island: you won't find another group of granite rocks like this anywhere
else in the world. What a fascinating and authentic landscape! The Seychelles
are clean; the local people look after their environment, and keep their
islands spotless. Guests are presented with an environment that is still
intact - which is rare these days."
Frederic Vidal, 37, is an expert for luxury tourism. Before he came to the
Seychelles, he was the director of Thermes Marins de Monte-Carlo, one of the
best spas in the world. He came to the Côte d'Azur via Bali, where he was the
resident manager of the Nirwana Golf and Spa Resort (to mention just two
highlights of his young and already illustrious carrier). He is now the
director of Maia, distinguished by an impressive high-end luxury concept. An
exceptional location is obligatory in this category. Nevertheless, much
travelled guests are still amazed by the scale of the beauty resting at the
foot of the Maia Luxury Resort, on the island's west coast. The picturesque
rock formations are decorated with sumptuous, Seychelles-typical, tropical
vegetation and flora. The coastline rises precipitously. No more than 30
villas have been built on twelve hectares of land.
Discret luxurious elegance: a living and sleeping room.
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The villas are all identically constructed: a large bedroom and parlour, under
a high ylang-ylang roof, with polished teak floors, and furniture from the
Bill Bensley Studio in Bangkok (who were responsible for all the architecture).
Everything was exclusively designed and custom-made for the Maia resort. The
style is one of reserved, luxurious elegance.
The inner bathroom and walk-through cloakroom are located en suite. The walls
towards the garden are made of glass, and jalousie are provided, although it
is impossible to look in from outside.
With the pastel-coloured mosaic stones stroking the soles of their feet, guests
walk past two separate dressing and grooming areas, both fitted with washing
tables that rise out of the natural stone, culminating in a polished basin. The
exquisite toiletries come from La Prairie. A glass door leads out onto the
gangway outside.
The giant infinity pool is standard with each villa.
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A blue-tiled pool lies at the end of the gangway; the XXL bath
is also made from natural stone and is also protected by an ylang-ylang roof.
Two elegant sun lounges lie in the shallow water. A second, larger pool is
located underneath the copious teak terrace, in front of the parlour's glass
façade. This pool is large and deep enough to swim in. For the person swimming
in the pool, the water appears to lap over into the sea or the sky, according
to the position of the villa. For those who want to relax without being
immediately subjected to the rays of the sun, there is a gazebo located under a
sumptuous palm-straw covered apex. There is a large, padded daybed, a dining
table and comfortable chairs, and a bar. The garden: hibiscus and bougainvilleas
in full bloom, flamboyant trees and begonias. Mother Nature has chiselled
magical sculptures from the Seychelles rock - and the views are magnificent.
Maia's guests have the choice: the Anse Louise beach lies at the foot of
the resort, and further up the hill the villas provide a view across the Indian
Ocean. Right at the top, the view encompasses both land and sea. Then there is
the most exclusive villa category, the Maia Signature Villas. Apart from all
the other advantages, these villas are completely secluded; they can not been
seen from, and cannot see, any other villa. A private beach at the bottom, or,
up on the cliffs, a spectacular panorama view over the Anse Boileau and the
islands - paradise. Frederic Vidal says: "We do not represent a normal hotel."
He adds: "We want our quests to feel at home, far away from home." This is a
sentence that is often repeated in luxury resort marketing, of course, and,
although it is somewhat worn, it really does express what discerning travellers
often look for. When they arrive, however, they are often confronted with a
cliché. Is it possible to prevent this? The Maia guests know the answer. There
is no reception; guests check-in and out in the villa.
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Spectacular view over Anse Boileau.
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Granted, this is nothing new, but it takes place so discreetly that it almost
becomes irrelevant, as the guests start to make themselves at home. However,
there is another crucial factor: Maia's managers are aware of the fact that
people capable of paying their prices are usually used to being surrounded by a
well-coordinated team; moreover, one that is specifically tuned to the habits
of the host. Thus, when the guest arrives at the Maia Resort, the door of the
villa opens from the inside. This is not due to some kind of magic, however,
but is the work of your very own personal butler - provided so that you want
for nothing during your Seychelles visit. There is nothing new in this either,
but often as butlers work in shifts two days visit; guests can experience
three different butlers over a two day stay. But not here: the Maia butler
concept must be the most compelling that the luxury-hotel industry has to
offer at the moment. According to your preference, a male or female butler can
be provided, either from the Seychelles or from the international part of the
team. The butlers undergo extensive training - we visited Maia in November
2006, two months after the "soft opening", and the staff training had begun in
January. The butler is responsible for the housekeeping as well as table
waiting - should you choose to eat in the villa.
The butler is fully acquainted with the workings of the resort, and can
provide you with information accordingly. He is concierge, travel agent
(the market in the capital Victoria is certainly worth a visit, for example),
and guide. He is responsible for organising the buggy, should
you decide to dine at "Tec Tec", Maia's sensational restaurant, and for booking
the spa appointment. He makes the morning coffee and serves it in the bedroom,
if so desired. He will baby sit the children, no matter how late you come home.
He will run you a blossom bath if you so desire, and will leave discreetly if
you decide to do without his service. He/she will remain your personal butler
throughout your stay, and, if you are happy with the service your butler
provides, he/she can be booked in advance for your next visit. In that case,
your butler will be accustomed to your habits and will not have to be
reinstructed. That is the concept and - judging by what we experienced eight
weeks after the official opening - we can say: it works.
One of the three spa treatment rooms in front of granitic rock
formations. |
Luscious green, rocks that could have been chiseled by the hands of a
sculptor - an authentic setting for a spa capable creating a new person.
Sounds exaggerated? Wait till you've experienced the Maia Signature Massage.
It takes about 90 minutes, and inevitably leads you to the depths of your
inner sanctum. Have you ever been more relaxed? Spa expert Frederic Vidal has
developed a special massage-programme, together with the American massage-guru
Susan Stein. Her therapy centre Jari Menari (dancing fingers) is located on
Bali. Vidal recruited his massage team from Bali, where they were trained for
six months. Typical for the Maia: not the classic Balinese "dancing finger"
massage, but a long powerful stroke with the surface of the hand. The spa's
second pillar: The exquisite La Prairie facials - exclusive to
the Seychelles.
Included in the price are Qi Gong, Self Shiatsu and the yoga training in
the morning. |
André Chiang did not have to receive any training at all. The 30-year-old Thai
rounds off the Maia experience: with the best cuisine in the Indian Ocean.
The star chef is much travelled, in spite of his comparative youth. He was
Head Chef at "Le Jardin des Sens" in Montpellier for three years. The
three-star restaurant is run by the brothers Jacques and Laurent Pourcel.
André Chiang's mother taught him to cook when he was still a child. Nowadays
she has a Chinese restaurant in Tokyo. Chiang's Euro-Asiatic name is
representative of his cuisine. French-Mediterranean dishes with an Asiatic
touch, full of innovation and a penchant for contrasting tastes, which he
combines with consummate skill. The "Tec Tec" restaurant (the Seychellois
have named it after a locally-found sea mussel) lies next to the pool above the
beach. The atmosphere is typically Maia: unpretentious and relaxed, the guests
are not here to polish their images. They look as if they really do feel
at home.
MAIA LUXURY RESORT & SPA
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Director: Frederic Vidal
Address: Anse Louis, Mahé, Seychelles
Telephone: + 248 - 39 00 00
Facsimile: + 248 - 39 00 10
Internet: www.maia.com.sc
Prices: According to category and season
1,530 to 3,070 euros per Villa per night, including breakfast and tax
Journey: Transfer from airport to the hotel is
executed with 4x4 luxury vehicles.
Our tip: Strohbeck Reisen, Stuttgart, Seychelles
specialist and agent for exclusive foreign travel, offers interesting
package deals, including, for example: 1 week in an Ocean-view Villa,
including breakfast, flights with Condor, and all transfers, for 6,140
euros per person. Strohbeck Reisen
Laustrasse 88, D-70597 Stuttgart
Telephone: + 49 - 711 - 46 85 18
Facsimile: + 49 - 711 - 48 77 68
Internet: www.strohbeckreisen.de
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