The Seychelles is one of those dream destinations in the Indian Ocean, just north of Madagascar. The Seychelles are actually 115 islands and offer lush rain forests, gorgeous beaches, and are surrounded by unrivaled marine life.

The Seychelles is one of those dream destinations in the Indian Ocean, just north of Madagascar. The Seychelles are actually 115 islands and offer lush rain forests, gorgeous beaches, and are surrounded by unrivaled marine life.

The Four Seasons Resort Seychelles will celebrate its one-year anniversary this February. Despite its secluded location on the southwest coast of the main island of Mahe, it’s still close to the international airport as well as the capital of Victoria (a 30-minute drive).

This is the type of place you’d be crazy to pass up. The 67 villas and suites are more than spacious and all villas have their own private plunge pools, outdoor showers, and sunset views of the bay. There are two restaurants and bars, spa, fitness and recreation center as well as meeting/banquet facilities.

During 2010 Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is offering an excellent deal on lodging here: its stay longer promotion, which is valid from:

January 10 – March 31, 2010
May 11 – June 30, 2010
September 16 – October 31, 2010
December 1 – 18, 2010

Enjoy a complimentary 4th night for 3 consecutive nights stay
Enjoy a complimentary 6th and 7th night for 5 consecutive nights stay

The promotion is valid for individual bookings only and not for groups.

For reservations, call Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at 248-393-333; fax: 248-393-331; or send an e-mail to reservations.sey@fourseasons.com.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Seychelles

Heading to the Maldives soon? The island chain just welcomed its first Holiday Inn Resort on Kandooma Island on the South Malé atoll. For those of you who aren’t crazy about transferring from Male International Airport to your resort via seaplane (I’m raising my hand right now), you won’t have to when visiting this Holiday Inn. It’s just a 40-minute/22 mile speedboat ride from MLE.

There are 160 villas here in eight categories offering everything from garden views to those enticing over-the-water bungalows. Each villa offers picture windows, outdoor showers, iPod docking stations, flat-screen TVs, and wireless Internet.

The resort is hoping to lure business travels as well as vacationers interested in surfing and diving; the Holiday Inn is nearby the Kandooma Channel, Kandooma Caves, and Kandooma ‘Thila” (undersea mountain).

You’ll be able to relax as much as you want or take part in a range of activities. There’s a Dive Centre and the Kandooma Spa as well as catamaran, windsurfing, kayaking, and snorkeling outings. Oh, and don’t forget surfing lessons!

If you’ve got kids in tow, you’ll want to check out the resort’s Kids’ Club that offers babysitting services and age-specific activities.

Brendan Corcoran is the general manager of the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, which opened on December 15, 2009.

Special introductory rates starting at $290 per night are available through March 31, 2010. Airport transfers are an additional $140 one-way for adults and $85 for children.

For more information, speak with your travel agent or visit the website of the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Holiday Inn

I really like what Abercrombie & Kent is doing with its organization, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. The tour packager that’s known for high-end expeditions to the far corners of the globe is now offering individuals the chance to be part of the solution to a local problem in a far-off location.

As the holiday season approaches, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy is remindng everyone that donations make fantastic gifts for friends and family who have everything.

“This year the focus is on what money cannot buy—shared experiences and treasured memories,” says Abercrombie & Kent Vice Chairman Jorie Butler Kent, who guides Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. “Our guests are looking for more meaningful ways to celebrate with their families and asked us to create a Gift Program that makes it easy to donate to projects making a difference in places they have visited.”

With the help of A&K’s 62 worldwide offices, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy has identified grassroots organizations, spearheaded by dedicated local experts in conservation, education, community development, and public health.

These are inspiring gifts designed to honor a friend or family member.  Donations range from $10 for a simple HIV test to help prevent the transmission of AIDS to an unborn child to $500 for a field trip for Maasai children who have never been on safari.

Here are three programs being offered right now. Visit Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy to read about all donation programs throughout the world.

HIV Testing in Uganda
Uganda Bwindi Community Hospital
—$10 helps assess the HIV status of a local resident with a simple field test.

Restore a Natural Landmark 
in Morocco
Morocco—Protection of the Palmeraie—
$50 plants a tree to help restore the delicate ecosystem in this thousand-year-old date palm grove, a Marrakech landmark.

A Safari Field Trip
Kenya — Friends of Conservation—
$500 gives 20 Maasai children the chance to discover their natural heritage and learn the value of protecting wildlife with a field trip to the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Donations can be made online through Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy’s secure website www.akphilanthropy.org with 100 percent of all donations going directly to the project selected.  Gift certificates will be delivered to the recipient(s) electronically or printed and mailed.

To make a donation as a family—or in honor of a loved one—go to www.akphilanthropy.org. One hundred percent of your charitable gift to Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy goes directly to support local projects worldwide. Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy is established in the United States as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Your charitable gift is tax deductible as provided by law.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Four Seasons Explorer

This past September, the 128-foot Four Seasons Explorer 11-cabin, three-deck catamaran was refurbished for three-, four-, and seven-night excursions around the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. While the vessel usually draws those interested in diving and snorkeling, even those who aren’t natural water babies enjoy seeing the Maldives from this intimate ship that caters to just 22 passengers.

Accommodations are what you’d expect at any land-based Four Season resort and feature 10 staterooms and one Explorer Suite. The suite includes a king bed, a daybed, an indoor dining area, couch, writing desk, bar, DVD/CD player, telephone, and in-cabin safe. The bathroom features a full bath tub, and separate shower. Regular staterooms can be outfitted with either a king bed or two twins. Staterooms also feature a sofa, desk, DVD/CD player, bar, phone, and safe. These bathrooms have a tub/shower combo.

The catamaran promotes a casual atmosphere and shorts and sundresses are acceptable attire, even during dinner. The casual vibe doesn’t skimp on service though…the entire boat is air-conditioned and you’ll find an onboard masseuse and a PADI dive center with Nitrox. Laundry service is also available.

As of the first of October 2009, Four Seasons Explorer began weekly itineraries. The first part explores the northern atolls of Baa and Raa and includes a stopover at the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. The second part of the cruise expolores the southern regions, which may include Rasdhoo, North Ari, South and North Male atolls.

During the cruise, you’ll enjoy water activities like diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, waterskiing, and fishing. Other activities include visits to local villages and other island excursions.

Four Seasons Explorer video footage:

Four Seasons Explorer sails until December 20, 2009 and then she goes into dry-dock. She’ll be back on the water as of June 8, 2010.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa or Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons

Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita has added a perk to lure those who love to golf: complimentary unlimited play, including a cart fitted with GPS. And, this is indeed a bonus since the Four Seasons Golf Club Mauritius is the only golf course in the Indian Ocean built to USGA (United States Golf Association) standards. (Unlimited golf privileges kicked in on October 1, 2009.)

“We want every guest to have the opportunity to play the course at Four Seasons Mauritius,” says Andrew Harrison, general manager of the Resort. “Ernie Els has created a championship course that is a challenge for experienced golfers, but also encourages play at all levels, so families can golf together.”

“Intricately woven into the scenery, the course is designed with a close eye on preserving the coastline’s natural beauty,” says Ernie Els. “The way we have routed the course means it moves in and out of the trees, along the water and back, giving players great variety—including spectacular rocky outcrops, large native trees and jaw-dropping views of the mountains and Indian Ocean.”

On July 26, 2009, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa on the Maldives greeted its first guest. This is not only Shangri-La Hotels first resort in the Maldives, it’s also the first international luxury resort on the southern-most tip of Addu Atoll in the Southern Maldives Archipelago.

The 142 standalone villas range from oceanfront to tree top, with tree house villas perched 10 feet off the ground—a first for accommodations in this region. Enjoy the dramatic elevated infinity pool offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean or lounge on the white sand beach.

Spa enthusiasts will spend plenty of time at CHI, The Spa. Chinese, Himalayan, and Asian treatments are offered along with Kandu Boli experiences and unusual indigenous treatments incorporating the tiger cowrie shell and other native elements.

Divers come here to explore the British Loyalty shipwreck and to dive with giant manta rays with wingspans of more than 13 feet. Surfing, scuba, and snorkeling are also popular in the area.

The three-dining-room Khazaanaage Restaurant serves eclectic menus based on the regional cuisines of the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and Arabian Gulf.

From now until October 31, 2009, the hotel is offering a “stay seven nights and pay for five” package. Benefits include transfer flights from Male to Gan, daily half-board, and a CHI spa experience for two.

For more information, visit Shangri-La’s website or call the resort at (960) 689-7888.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com