Review of La Digue Island Lodge 4*

We stayed four days in the Takamaka chalet in Union Estate. We booked through Seyvillas (not by choice). They want full payment up front. Arrival information was slow in coming and ultimately inaccurate. Don't expect any privileged treatment. It took over an hour and a half to get from the jetty to the chalet. Long wait (for another boat) ; no seating, no shade, and it was hot at midday. We were then herded with all the other guests at the Digue Island Lodge to the hotel where we had to wait for everyone to check in. The chalets are in a good location, just behind the beach, but the first thing to say is that they are definitely not "luxurious" as they are presented extensively in the advertising and the hotel presentations. They are very ordinary inside. The bedrooms and bathrooms are ok (although the showers need regrouting). The living/kitchen area is old and decrepit. I pointed out extensive water/moisture stains on the ceilings and walls to the Italian lady who showed us round. She said: "If you have any comments, talk to the desk. " End of conversation. There is 1 TV channel. There is no Wi-Fi. This is 2017 — and NO Wi-Fi. The wiring is old and visible. The lighting is with stark, bright, horrible white LED bulbs, inside and out. No effort has been made with the decor: no lamps, no rugs or cushions, no vases, bowls or objets d'art apart from two tacky pictures on the walls. No atmosphere. The kitchen is ancient. The cooker has rusty electric hobs. The pans were in a disgusting state. We asked for them to be replaced and were given 3 new ones the next day. Cutlery and flatware was all mismatched and dirty. There were no decent knives. No wooden spoons. No tin-opener! A total of 4 glasses, in 3 different sizes. No provisions. We stayed at 2 other self-catering places in the Seychelles which provided all the basics (S&P, oil, milk, water, bread, butter, jam, eggs etc) Apart from some sachets of tea and instant coffee, here there was nothing, not even any salt and pepper. For a so-called self-catering accommodation, they clearly do not want you to eat in the chalet. We had been told meals could be ordered. This was not the case. We had been told there was a free shuttle to and from the hotel. This was not the case either, unless we were going to eat at the hotel restaurant. (Where the food is very average, by the way). The cushions for the outdoor furniture were dirty and stained. All in all, very poor facilities and service. The privileged access to Anse Source d'Argent is a bonus, of course. But that does not justify the high price. One has the right to expect more; perhaps not "luxury", even if that is what is supposedly on offer, but at least something decent and attractive, and a service worthy of the name. Not recommended.