I've been meaning to write this review for over 2 months now, since our visit to this magical island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. We stayed at the Deforet with our two kids, 10 and 17 and our parents (4 senior citizens) for two weeks and had a wonderful time. As this was just past the tourist season and heading into the monsoons, the place was peacefully empty and crowd free. We had the place almost entirely to ourselves. While we did encounter a few thunderstorms, these usually only lasted a short while.

The property is well maintained. The rooms are very spacious and the decor is lovely. It is clear that lot of thought was given to the architectural design of the resort as well as the interior decor to blend with the lush tropical forest surroundings. Situated on the less crowded western side of the island, Deforet is a quick 10 minute drive to the breathtaking Radhanagar beach. For those who are looking to enjoy swimming in the ocean, the location so close to this beach is a huge advantage.

The staff are extremely hospitable and friendly, and made an outstanding effort to make our stay a pleasant experience. A huge thanks to Shivani, Shilpa and Ruheena for their excellent service. I cannot thank enough the restaurant staff, Shrishti, Ashesh and Surendra, who met us every day with smiles and warmth. The chefs suggested and made us items that were not on the menu. The Nepali momos and Thupka were delicious, as were the Tandoori chicken and kebabs. A special thanks to Ruheena for organizing a birthday celebration dinner for our kids. We were impressed and touched by the level of care and thoughtfulness that went into helping us celebrate our family milestones. We will cherish these memories forever.

For those of you looking for a place to unplug from the internet, relax and recharge, and disconnect from your hectic lives, Deforet is the perfect getaway.

A few pointers:
1. Rent a car for the duration of your stay so you can have access to other parts of the island. This is the quieter part of Havelock, and cabs or autos are not available.
2. Plan to eat dinner at the Deforet restaurant, as there are not a lot of restaurants around this part of the island.
3. Work with the restaurant staff and let them know what you would like for your meals well in advance to help them plan and prepare.
4. Bring flashlights as the paths from the rooms to the main restaurant and lobby areas are not brightly lit in the evenings
5. Bring insect repellents as there are mosquitos. It is a tropical island after all!
6. Bring your bathing suits, sunscreen, shades and flip flops for the beach