The North Island resort in the Seychelle Island group is simply called North-Island because the 11 Villas are the only thing on the island!!!! 25 people can be accommodated in the 11 villas. Each one is over 5000 square feet (this is not a typo!! 5000 square feet!!) of rustic luxury for two people!! There are 110 staff (including biologists) to look after the 25 guests and the islands resident Giant Tortoises (all have names!). Needless to say, the service is understated and impeccable.
This is the ultimate barefoot luxury.......at happy hour if you are feeling a bit snacky, the Bartender asks the Chef to come down to the beach to make you fresh sushi or pizza in a wood fired oven as you watch the sunset.....then later for dinner the staff will set up a Barbeque at your villa and the Chef will cook your catch for you as you dine al fresco!! If this isn't your bailywick you can eat at the restaurant outdoors or in, or dine in your huge villa...private plunge pool, outdoor romantic cabanas...just make sure to fluff the pillow first so you don't accidentally sit on a gecko!! They also like to hang around the showers climbing up and down the rock walls...very amusing to watch them.
The island is forested and the roads are wide enough for the golf carts so you can explore by driving around (watch for toroises on the road) or hiking if you prefer...there is a PADI Certified Dive Shop and they take you diving or snorkelling as you wish...all included in the cost. We got to briefly frolic with a dolphin and saw eels, lovely corals, loads of colorful fish...some of which ended up on our BBQ that night!
What makes this island the ultimate getaway for Billionaires and famous people wanting privacy (Bill Gates rented the entire island to ensure privacy) is that the island is out in the Indian Ocean, unreachable except by helicopter. There are no wharfs or jetty's and the closest island is too far to arrive by boat. There is no air-strip to land a plane.
When you land on the grass field that is the helipad, you are welcomed by the Manager and a fleet of golf carts to take you and your luggage to the reception/office and restaurant area.
The check- in area is an open area where you are offered a cool, wet towel to wash your hands and a fresh cold drink. The formalities are finished and you drive off to your Villa in your Golf Cart. Think Robinson Carusoe goes LUXURY and you will have a picture in your head of buildings seemingly made of rustic materials found on the island...naturally fallen trees removed from the forest to now be used in construction of the villas...each one is a unique work of art with every single technological convenience hidden in the walls...each villa has 5 showers, a private film viewing room, a gigantic bath tub with the wall that slides open and you feel like you are outside, the main bedroom is fully sealed off with air conditioning for those not liking the tropical heat to sleep in......I say, bring it on!! Outdoor showers, walls that roll away bringing the outdoors inside......the wildlife, natural beauty, diving, snorkelling, fishing, hiking, baby turtle hatchings, gigantic Tortoise experiences......the ultimate in a nature based getaway.
You all might remember last year when it was rumored that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt got married in secret......GUESS WHAT!! They were on North-Island at the same time we were!!
One of our group saw Brad but none of us believed him!!
Our stay on North-Island was a one night "always to be remembered" experience....we were on a cruise ship and flew by helicopter to the island for one stunning day and night and then helicoptered to meet back up with our ship at the next island.....thanks to Linda at TravelWizard.com for telling us about this hidden paradise and for making the complicated arrangements for us...lucky that it was not windy and the helicopter could fetch us on time to make it back to the ship.......other wise we would have had to join the ranks of Robinson Carusoe and be stranded in paradise!!!!!!!!
This island comes with a hefty price tag.........is it worth it?? I think every penny was well spent and I am grateful to have had the experience that only the very wealthy can afford!!
Room Tip: All the Villas are Beach Front and each Villa comes with a Golf Cart to get around making the the 11...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC