LAÏLA

Put simple: if you go to the Seychelles, go for another option (and maybe spend a little more) to be fully satisfied.
Laila is the kind of place that leaves a bitter taste on a variety of aspects:

- no direct access to the beach
- the rooms with mountain view overlook an ugly parking lot (the pictures on booking do not seem accurate).
- no recognition of status members at Marriott Bonvoy
- they charge your credit card without authorisation, so keep track of it

We had a longer conversation with the manager and it had a scammy vibe right from the outset.
We had „booked a room that was on the ground floor, facing inside“ and due to the mishaps before arriving, they were „so generous“ to give us „a room with a view“. When we showed our booking of that exact room the manager wanted to sell us as a special treat, he insisted that it’s an upgrade still.
You can imagine the akward vibe of such conversation when you feel and know that someone tries to trick you.
The upgrade was a) promised by the hotel due to the errors made by them and b) because we have a high status at Marriott, we are eligible for upgrades when available. Turned out that all they had to offer was a 2pm checkout (which status members usually receive without asking).
The manager then asked me what I wanted, and I replied that I am not seeking to negotiate like this when I pay good money for a room, yet the service doesn’t meet the standards that we know from Marriott. They made an error and it should have come natural for them to make the guests feel welcomed and deliver what is promised. I was very disappointed by the attempt to gaslight us with special gestures that weren’t any.

We did a walk-in at a fine Hilton facility where we were met with great hospitality, a generous offer on the rate and an upgrade for a room that was more spacious with a much better view while having great privacy.
It was a bit more expensive (+~140 per night), but the overall package is so much better.
Most people come to visit the Seychelles once, maybe twice in a lifetime and it’s special.
The start that Marriott, especially the management of Laila, gave us, could have ruined our whole trip.
I’m thankful to Hilton that they know how to meet certain standards, that they kept it up the whole stay and still managed to add to our experience.
It was not 100% perfect, but they knew how to make you forget the little mishaps that can happen anywhere.
My lesson: rather spend a few hundred extra on a dream vacation than expose yourself to such mediocrity and still having to pay good money at Marriott.
It’s my last ever booking at a Marriott hotel.

Laïla hotel looks cute and elegant at first glance, but it is not at all up to Marriott usual standards. I was disappointed not only by the behaviour of some of the management staff we encountered, but also realizing that the photos displayed of the hotel are not fully accurate. Yes the hotel is by the beach which is truly great (just a small road separating them), but most hotels in the Seychelles are by the beach by default… However if you don’t mind being next to a gas station and a very frequented noisy road, this hotel could be a good option for you. It gives more of a big concrete auberge type of hotel vibe and not the peaceful location where one would chose to rest and recharge batteries.
The hotel is still rather new (less than a year old) and you can sense it also from the staff whose training is not up to Marriott standards in my opinion. We have requested a cancellation and a refund a few hours after arriving. First the hotel wrongfully charged our credit card one week prior to arrival while the reservation specifically said that payment would be done on site upon arrival. This was against the payment condition of the reservation. We had flagged this to the hotel. They consequently admitted it was wrong and they should not have done this (although it was not the first time as other reviews mentionned it. Thus in order to make up for this wrongdoing, they have apologized and decided to allocated us an upgraded room upon arrival. However, upon arrival, there was no upgrade whatsoever. The hotel claimed that we had actually booked initially a lower rate room which was completely untrue based on the booking reservation and the amount that was charged on our credit card. Over and all, the hotel seemed very confused about our booking despite the fact that we had a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status. Once the hotel finally admitted their mistake and confusion, they said they could not upgrade us as « it is based o availability » and proposed a complementary dinner (while we were already on a half board plan…) OR a massage for 2. The revenue manager was basically bargaining with us to make us stay. The whole approach seemed like a scam and very unprofessional for Mariott : 1) our credit card was charged wrongfully (against all reservations conditions) ; 2) the hotel decided to correct the mistake by upgrading us ; 3) the upgrade never happened on arrival while the hotel had already charged us, giving us then no other option but ti stay with them. This is basically forcing clients to come and to stay in. I wish Mariott pays more attention to how staff treat clients in general, and especially when those clients have a Bonvoy gold status with them. It is truly a shame. Guest experience is one of the main this that clients look at to when choosing where to spend their vacation.
In the end we booked our stay at a Hilton Hotel and it was all that one could have expected.
I do not advise too book at the Laïla.

Location is perfect just on Anse Royale one of the best beaches is Mahe.
Staff are frirndly.
Very quite rooms (avoid sea view as it faces the main street and you will hear some noise)
Their beach restaurant is one if the best restaurants in Mahe. Thanks to the chef Obama.
Parking slots available.
There is a nearby supermarket, gas station and pharmacy. Great location

Very nice new hotel part of mariott. The rooms are pretty, cozy and large even though air conditioning didnt work properly (I think it should be fixed by now, as I was there 1 month after their opening). Service is great, people are helpful! Location is nice in terms that it's surrounded by plants and trees, however, you have to cross a street to get to the beach which gets busy during the day and may be loud for rooms that face the road. But overall nice experience. Provides parking spaces as well.

We had a truly fantastic stay at this newly opened Hotel. It is rather quiet which we really appreciated as it is very classy. No crazy people around expecting parties all night... Everything was well organized, the room was clean and up to our expectations. The nature around was breathtaking. We were driving the full island but after all, we loved where we stayed. As a frequent traveler, I really appreciated how the hotel is managed. Mr. Atilla is doing a fantastic job. All the staff is very professional and very welcoming. Especially Andrew and Neil, big thanks to them, they were serving us in a very helpful and professional way. We definitely come again. Thanks to the full team.