CONSTANCE EPHELIA RESORT TURNS THREE
Three years down the line and three visits later the Constance Ephelia Resort has just turned 3 years old, young in human years but enough time to mature beyond expectations.
First seen while still in the final stages of construction and permitted a hard hat tour of the property in 2010 just weeks prior to soft opening, this was followed in 2011 by a half day visit and red carpet tour organized by the hotel’s management. Then last year I stayed at the resort for almost a week, when the Ephelia served as the main based for a weeklong visit to the archipelago. A fourth return to the resort this Friday for a gala dinner honouring the global media assembling on Mahe for the upcoming Carnaval de Carnivals will undoubtedly round up the past culinary and service experiences, which are best described as the ultimate temptation by the chefs for anyone on a diet – doomed to fail for sure.
During these past visits it became clear that the Ephelia is clearly vying for the top spot among the larger resorts on the archipelago, for the quality of food, service and the range of facilities, which include the largest Spa anywhere in the Indian Ocean. Here the main rival is interesting enough the Seychelles’ one and only golfing resort, the Constance Lemuria on the island of Praslin, and of course the more established rivals like the Hilton managed properties, among others in equal contention for the top spot.
Built on over 124 hectares of land and occupying an entire peninsula, which allows beach access on two sides of the sprawling resort, the Ephelia employs nearly 800 staff, whose sole purpose is to please their guests and be at their beck and call around the clock. Highly rated by TripAdvisor, where guests can post their own impressions and comments and give the resort a rating, the current showing of 723 ratings have 634 of those in the top bracket while 29 disgruntled visitors gave the resort bad marks, those of course often based on hard to fathom sentiments which may come from such a wide range of issues like trouble with the traveling partner to failing to get upgraded to a larger suite or villa apart from a one off truly justified complaint.
The resort is now also an acknowledged adventure activity centre with rock climbing of various challenging courses to zip lining, the only such facility anywhere on the archipelago and a magnet for visitors from within and even outside the resort. Looking forward to a happy return to delivery Happy Birthday greetings in person and expecting that large slice of deliriously delicious iced chocolate cake with a splash of whipped cream – which I am sure the chef will remember. Watch this space.
