We stayed in Coral Hotel for 7 nights. We chose it thought we read the bad stories in Internet because it was on the best beach of Mahe and it was cheaper. The Hotel was old but very clean. Everyday they cleaned our room and every second day they changed the sheets. The breakfast was good and the personel was kind. In the restaurant they are very slow but this is Seychelles where everything from the airport to the Banks work slowly. There is NO TV in the rooms and the mobile do not work (They have 3G access) We got free wireless but very slow Internet connection. The airconditions are old and noisy but is is not very hot so we kept it open during the day and close it during the night and it was cool.
Sheychelles is an expensive destination, You could get in half a prize 5star hotel and facilities in Thailand . Food is also expensive. The cheaper dish starts from 10 EU and you have to add 12% taxes and 10% for “tips”. Near the hotel there is a restaurand with special offer a “catch of the day” fish for 10 EU and across the road for dinner a very good “le pearl Noir” owned by an Italian.
We got there with MASON’S travel agent. They were good. You cannot find an independant travel agent for your excursions. There are only two and the prices are fixed. We got the LaDigue Praslin excursion for 160 EU per person and it was good. We also got the one day tour of Mahe by a driver 160 EU for 2 persons. It worths it. If you know how to drive the British way, you can rent a car. You can go to the city by bus. It is very cheap and near the hotel. Normal people are friendly, but as emploees the look lazy. The conditions of hygien is good. Every Thirsday in the evening in the beach next to the hotel there is an open market. They sell tasty cheap local food wearing gloves and using clean one use materials.
Sheychelles is a good destination if you don’t expect luccury and technology. It is interesting. The airport is very poor and you have to wait in huge lines to leave. The shops are poor the souvenirs expensive and of low quality. Shops and offices are open 9-16 and on Saturdays 9-12!!!
Seychelles is better than Mauritus and a hundred times better than Maldives.
We would not go again thought the weather and the beaches are excelent, because it is so expensive. We have visited 5 times to Bali, and 8 to all Thailand. Twice in Srilanka and once to Malaisia, Singapore, Kambodgia, Lao, Vietnam so we can compair.

I spent wonderful New Year in this hotel! The celebration of 2011 started in the main restaurant. Waitresses were very friendly, MC was doing his best to make everybody relaxed and happy. The only thing that I didn't like - is a Christmas tree.
New Year's buffet was very tasty - fresh fish, lobsters, starters, salads....

Then eveybody moved to the lounge on a second floor, where the disco was. The atmosphere was very enjoyable! Everybody were dancing chating, barmen were offering Shampaign. Brilliant New Year!

Regarding the hotel condition: yes, the hotel is very old (was built in 70s. But it is nice and clean. I was staying in a suite on the 5th floor, it was not new but clean and neat room. The view from it - is a dream (even it was not seaview) - mountains. Every morning I was drinking my coffee and enjoying the life on my balcony!

The restaurant near the swimming pool seemed to be new, the view from it as well wonderful!!

The location of Coral is the best! 1 step and you are in the ocean already! Little crabs are running around.

In the evenings I was enjyoing the music in a pool bar - local musicians were playing popular worldwide songs.

I recommend this hotel for those who are interested to discover new destinations with a small budgets

If you can afford to stay somewhere else - then do so!

Check in: slow and painful. Staff are not in a hurry and do not seem interested in providing any type of efficient service.

The Hotel: it has not been renovated since it opened in the 70s! Our friend was electrocuted by the fruit chiller at breakfast - hotel staff shrugged shoulders, said it happened all the time and blamed the weather!
No AC in any common areas of the hotel except the Indian Restaurant.

The Hotel Pool Bar: is unfortunately a favourite with visiting military who took over and partied hard.

Food: Breakfast was basic and had no variety, water isn't available at Breakfast - we were charged 35 ruppees for a 750ml bottle of water.
Pool Bar - food is basic and expensive - there are plenty of places to eat outside the hotel.
Indian Restaurant - Great food, but make sure you dont go in there hungry as it takes a while to get served.

Rooms: Are very basic, Ac, haridryer and a safe, no toilettries, dirty floors, old beds, old blankets. We had a basic room with no view as they had built a roof for an eating area below - rooms 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 have no view at all. The Shower head does not look like its been cleaned in years and I never felt clean after a shower.

Service: I reckon I spent an hour a day waiting for beach towels thats 8 hours of my life I can't get back!

Excursions: You are able to book alot of trips at reception as many tour operators sit here but if you take a left outside the hotel and walk 400m you will find more choice and can negotiate some great deals.

We hired a car for 40 euros and drove around the Mahe island which is well worth doing but we found that beach the hotel is on is by far the best beach on the island.

We also hired a boat and did a fishing trip with a local guy for 500 euros who took us to a private island just off Mahe (beware of Mosquitoes thou!) we cooked our catch on the beach which was great.

We got the ferry to Praslin (cost 1400 rupees return) and hired a car for 40 Euros - would suggest you get the early ferry at 7:30am and pre book car hire before you go to make the most of your time there.
Praslin restored my pre conceptions of Seychelles - it is beautiful and unspoilt. We can recommend you go to Baie Chevalier, Anse Lazio - this has to be the best beach I have ever been on - it is exactly what you see in the travel brouchures which sell you on the Seychelles. Wish we had incorporated an island hop and stayed there for a couple of nights.

Massage - You can get a great 60 min massage for 700 rupees if you leave the hotel and turn right - 300m on the right past Sunset hotel there is a hotel with 3 restaurants (chinese, Creole and Pizza) go past reception upstairs and you will find a great massage at half the price of a 5* hotel like Le Meridian.

Restaurants within easy walking distance of the hotel:

Al Mare - This restauarant is located on the beach front a white building with a terrace on the beach - which is rare. The food was fabulous, presentation excellent as with everything in Seychelles the service is slow but the food was worth the wait. Expensive but 2-3 courses plus drinks for 8 people was approx 8000 rupees.

Boat House - a creole BBQ buffet, great food reasonably priced and Felix provided some fun entertainment with his guitar.

La Canton - Chinese Restaurant located in Berjaya Hotel (this hotel is a short walk on the beach from Coral Strand - looked good from what we saw but didnt see the rooms) Food was good and service was reasonable. Cost for 8 approx 4000 rupees

La Perle Noire - located opposite the hotel, we ate here on our last night - the food was varied and excellent - main meals and drinks for 8 was approx 4000 rupees

Mary Antoinette - What a great restaurant located on the way out of Victoria. We stopped here after our trip to Praslin. Food was great - a set menu which is served up in large dishes on the table and everyone digs in! Try their delicious family-style Creole meal of parrotfish, tuna steak, fish stew, chicken curry, battered aubergine, mango salad and rice.


Ok so its a long review but felt I should feedback - hotel was not to my liking but the Seychelles in particular the island of Praslin was stunning!

Before travel I read about Coral Strand hotel which I visited. My imresions are very good about hotel, service, cleaning etc. Hotel is located on beautiful beach Beau Vallon, with beautiful view on Indian Ocean. So I can suggest this hotel for all travelers.