Picture yourself here. It’s sunny. And hot―like 1,000 miles off the East Coast of equatorial Africa hot. The palm trees are rustling. The waves are crashing peacefully on the granite rocks below. There’s a hint of frangipani in the air. There’s not another soul in sight. Your own personal infinity pool is…cool. The cucumber-infused water that has been delivered to the shade of your personal poolside cabana in your own personal cliffside cabin by a very nice person who smiles a lot is also…cool.
Credit Bill Springer
And then it’s time for breakfast (also delivered by a very nice person who smiles a lot). I chose eggs benedict with delicious little rolls served in hopelessly exotic little baskets adorned with a delicate flower every morning. But you can get anything you want. Ahhh. Can you feel it? That wonderful combination of caffeine, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and comfort that’s possible when you start your day off in an impossibly luxurious resort?
Credit Bill Springer
That's just a taste of what it's like at the Banyan Tree in the Seychelles. It's basically like being surrounded by 240 degrees of blue bliss. Blue pool. Blue sky. Blue ocean. Blue tile. With a scent of fresh-baked bread. And when you add the impeccable service and world-class spa services that the Banyan Tree is known for you have all the ingredients for a truly special retreat that's worth all the effort required to travel to this exotic island in the Indian Ocean halfway around the world from the states.
Credit Banyan Tree
After breakfast, the only real decision you have to make is: Should we amble down to the impossibly beautiful beach or stay up in the ultra-private luxury cocoon that the Banyan Tree's cliffside villas provide. We retreated from everything (except the view and room service) for the first 24-hours we spent there.
But then it was time to head down to the beach.
Credit Banyan Tree
And then it was time for a massage. The massage therapists at the Banyan Tree are some of the most skilled, most gifted therapists in the world. It’s one of the many things that sets the Banyan Tree (wherever you may be lucky enough to experience it) apart.
Credit Banyan Tree
The view from the massage tables is not too shabby either.
The beach, spa, service, and scenery was amazing, but maybe what best illustrates the legendary Banyan Tree treatment we experienced was what we had for dessert on our last night in the villa. Because, you see, I was dying for some chocolate cake. Nothing too fancy. It didn’t need to be “Death by Chocolate” or “Chocolate Ganache ” or “Chocolate Napoleon” or anything like that. I was just yearning for some down-home, American-style chocolate cake with some vanilla ice cream on top. But there wasn’t any on the menu.
Turns out that didn’t matter at all. They baked one up special. Just for us.
