Castello Beach Hotel

It’s hard not to be charmed by Castello Beach Hotel’s tropical scenery and relaxed vibe. This hotel is set among extensive green grounds filled with palm trees and flowers with stone paths and small buildings -- some of which are hut-like -- breaking up the beautiful spaces. It also doesn’t hurt that the hotel has an oceanfront location. Many of the public spaces like the lobby and the restaurant are set in spacious, open-air buildings with large canopy-like ceilings, tiled floors, and upscale woven beach furniture. The property has only been open seven years and had a room renovation done in 2014, so it’s well-maintained overall. Couples are drawn to the spacious rooms and stylish pool, while families enjoy the kids’ club on-site. 

Castello Beach Hotel is located on Anse Kerlan on the second largest island of Seychelles, Praslin. There’s not much within walking distance beyond a few restaurants and supermarkets within five-minute walks’ away. It’s only a seven-minute drive to the Grand Anse area where there are more restaurant options. Vallee de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes 15 minutes to reach by car. The Praslin Island Airport is an eight-minute drive away, which explains the plane noise that guests sometimes complain about. 

This hotel has only 26 spacious rooms with clean and modern furnishings thanks to a renovation in 2014. The rooms feature tile flooring, white beds with blue accents, and braided hemp furniture. All have furnished private terraces or balconies from where guests can enjoy the tropical scene. Amenities include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, kettles, safes, free Wi-Fi, and a few free bottles of water. Bathrooms are similarly spacious and decorated with brown tiling, bidets, waterfall showerheads, toiletries in wall dispensers, and hairdryers. 

One of the Family Suites sleeps six guests. Travelers with large groups or with a bit extra to spend might also be interested in the hotel’s private Pool Villa which has a kitchen, living room, dining room, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, private swimming pool, and a beach pavilion. 

The hotel’s centerpiece is the beachfront location. Loungers and a small cabana hut are placed on the beach for guests to use, and though some parts of the beach have large boulders separating it from the ocean, there's a sandy section with direct water access. There are also an outdoor pool and small children’s pool section surrounded by loungers and palm trees. Though the hotel lacks a full spa or gym, massages and beauty treatments can be booked upon request and provided in rooms. A daily breakfast buffet with mostly cold items like cheese, sausage, and pastries, and a hot egg station, is available daily and included in the rates. The restaurant serves Creole, European, and Asian cuisine, sometimes in buffet form. The restaurant has received some complaints of poor waitstaff service and food quality. Other features include a mini-club for kids ages 4 to 12 which includes a play room, free Wi-Fi (with varying reports of quality), and free on-site parking.