DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles - Allamanda Resort & Spa

A very disappointing experience. Checking in was a protracted and arduous ordeal, not great after a 16-hour flight from the UK. The hotel looked great from the approach, but, on closer inspection, it was as tired as our weary selves. Our room smelt strange throughout our reservation. It was not as clean as it first appeared. Aged blood dried on the wall adjacent to th the sink from a previous occupant, I guess? As soon as I noted the extremely cheap toilet roll, I knew we were in trouble for the next 14 days. Our first use of the shower exposed a blocked drain. AC was very noisy. Furniture and fittings throughout the hotel are desperate for an update. The food was very disappointing, particularly for the price. The chicken we ordered was tough. My partner returned hers, but it came back just as inedible! Breakfast was an odd selection of what looked like steamed wedges, pizza made with filo pastry, and glazed carrots. Each time we gave the restaurant another shot, we were very dissatisfied. The fruit juice was, thankfully, okay. I kept getting accosted by staff to pay an additional £273 to attend the "mandatory" Gala Christmas dinner. I had already explained in great length that we had no intention or desire to attend any such event. I was not told about this whilst booking, and I come on holiday to do what I want to do, not what somebody else has decided for me! My partner suffers from anxiety and would not be happy being made to socialise amongst strangers. When I was initially approached, I was told it was a formal, black tie occasion. Due to the lack of transparency, I had not packed a suit and/or tie. However, in a bid to get us to attend (Pay), the invite I received the day before had been changed to smart casual. Due to the pressure I was getting from staff, each time I passed reception, it became embarrassing and untenable. In the end, my partner and I decided that, on ballance, the best thing we could do was check out some four days early. My partner had contracted impetigo from unclean towels and/or bedding. Having observed the cleaner, clean our toilet and move on to bed-making without washing his hands... also, he'd quite happily wash our coffee cups in our bathroom sinks using nothing else but his dirty hands. It was an awfully bad and expensive experience. There is no refund policy, and an early flight home has put me way out of pocket. Thanks for nothing, DoubleTree. Never again.

The hotel is very good and the staff are very friendly

We have just returned from an Easter 8-night holiday at this hotel and had a fantastic time. The holiday blues are well kicking in. We booked this holiday through Emirates holidays and went all inclusive. Someone on trip advisor had left a review of prices and we used this to gauge whether it would be financially beneficial to go all-inclusive or not. We are pleased we did and thoroughly got our monies worth. We travelled into the Seychelles on flight EK705 that was planned to arrive 06.50am. immigration and luggage collection were so swift and efficient at this airport that including the 20 min taxi ride we reached the hotel about 7.40am. We used one of the taxis outside the airport and the cost was 900 (£47.55). Getting back to the airport we used the hotel to book a taxi where the fare was much cheaper at 800 (£42.27). We knew we wouldn’t be able to check in till later, we therefore pre-packed a beach bag filled with essentials so that we could quickly change into our swimwear and head down to the pool/beach to start the holiday going (cases etc could be stored in the luggage room). During check-in we were greeted with a refreshing honey and iced tea drink and a doubletree chocolate chip cookie. We were also given a bottle of water. Check in took about 10 mins and we were informed that a tourist tax/environmental levy would be charged upon check out (the end bill showed as £66 for the 8 nights). We were also given a welcome pack that had all the meal plan timings, trips and lists of activities. You do not get issued with a wrist band. During transit we had purchased additional water, vodka and energy drinks (we also brought our own plastic pint glasses) and used these until the all-inclusive package kicked in at 2pm. When the bar opened at 11am we asked for two cups of ice to chill the water, vodka and energy drinks. At 7.40am we had the beach and pool area to ourselves; this gave us the chance to suss out the best sunbathing spots. Beach towels are provided and are stored next to the door to enter the pool area, there is also a bin to put any dirty/used towels (also next to the pool area door). If there are no towels available, please ask at reception who will happily replenish them for you. The pool area looked stunning and there are 12 sunbeds with umbrellas. It looked too shaded for us and the sunbeds looked too heavy to rotate and pivot so we decided to sunbathe on the beach. The next level down from the pool features a sanded sunbathing area where all the sunbeds are kept (approx. 20 in total), and two cabana beds. You can remove these sunbeds and take them down to the beach. The beach is the main unique selling point of this place. You have your own private beach where there’s no beach hawkers are people pestering you. It is also so peaceful and quiet with no loud music playing or any annoying jet skis/water sports. The beach has beautiful white sand and is complimented by a wonderful azure shoreline. Sunrise was approx. 6.15am and