What 923 DialAFlight clients thought of Indian Ocean

I would like to thank Ben for sorting out a lovely holiday for us both - we had a fantastic time and we would recommend you to all our friends and family

The trip was excellent and all went to plan. Good communication from Des during the whole process. Will def use again.

Totally fantastic service, recommendations and flight times - will definitely be booking again.

Excellent service all round that's why I keep coming back to you.

In the past we dealt with Rudi but this time it was with Mark who dealt superbly with all our requests and made sure all went smoothly. Their sevice was excellent and will book our holidays/flights with them in the future.

Holiday destination was fantastic. Everything ran extremely well and DialAFlight did a amazing job for us. All bookings and changes we were kept informed of and all ran smoothly. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.

Thank you very much Zoe for all your help and support

Always willing to assist and help with even the silliest of questions. Thank you for everything.

Stafford was brilliant, and kept us in the loop. He was really friendly and helpful, made our holiday process so easy and made sure we were happy with everything. Would definitely recommend DialAFlight.

I will use DialAFlight again and again

Shelley was excellent and will be booking with her again - thank you so much

It was a pleasure to work with you. The only hitch was that the airline website did not allow us to check in and select seats.

We spent a lot of time searching for the right destination and the right place, then we expanded the group and one more person flew in from another country and then we changed the location in the middle of our holiday. It all required a lot of patience and time and Teddy was brilliant!

Craig was brilliant from the initial enquiry to dealing with final requests and ensuring everything was OK a few days before departure.

Dylan is fantastic. Our operator changed the holiday twice due to Covid. Not only did he rebook but took the time to find best flight options and this was made 10x harder due to the final trip being in the Easter holidays. Always loved dealing with him but this time he really proved invaluable. Thanks so much!

Declan was brilliant. He was super patient and kind. He even called us just before the trip. We rebooked it 4 times due to lockdowns and illness and he wanted to make sure everything was in place and we were ok. Anyone else we spoke to was professional and helpful. There are not many companies you can say that about these days!

Sarah is absolutely fantastic. We will definitely be booking our next holiday with her

Niall was excellent - could not have been more helpful and responsive

Colin was fantastic from initial enquiry through to departure over a 2 year period. A superb, proactive and seamless service. Our trip was disrupted 3 times due to Covid - would highly recommend DialAFlight to friends and family in future.

Mike and the DialAFlight team are always very helpful and friendly. They're the best!

Excellent service as always and trip went according to plan. Maldives in particular was amazing

Stacey helped us book our holiday back in 2020. She was super helpful and then again when it all had to be changed due to Covid.

Damian did a great job of getting everything organised to ensure our honeymoon went very smoothly. We had one small issue and when we contacted him he assisted us in resolving it immediately. We were very happy with DialAFlight and will certainly use them in future.

Les and Teddy, absolute stars!

Harrison was brilliant all the way through and would definitely use again

Tony was excellent throughout the whole booking process and always responded very quickly to any requests. Even when there was a slight mix up with our rooms he arranged a refund with the hotel for us.

Sean literally made our dream holiday come true. He’s amazing and we will hold the memory of this beautiful place in our hearts forever. Unforgettable holiday. We certainly found paradise in The Maldives.

Attention to detail, fast response and very polite and friendly staff - could not be any better.

Great service. Will definitely use you again.

Thank you so much Libby for clearing all the fog around travelling! We had an amazing time and everyone was helpful and courteous

Earthly Paradise

Seychelles serenade

The splendour of scenery and wildlife is cherished on these idyllic islands, as Mary Lussiana reports

An earthly paradise was how boatswain Thomas Jones described the Seychelles when, in 1609, the British merchant ship Ascension was separated from its fleet by a storm and dropped anchor in Mahé.
And ship's agent John Jourdain, who was sent out by the East India Company, wrote in the first known description of the islands: 'It is a very good refreshing place for wood, water, coker nuts, fish and fowle, without any fear or danger ...'

Some 400 years later, the same can still be said. It boasts some of the world's best beaches and most diverse wildlife.

Koko Bar: Sit back and enjoy a delicious cocktail beside the pool at the Six Senses

NATURE’S BEST
The hotels are wonderful, but these islands never forget that the top selling point is still the fresh, natural splendour that first caught Thomas Jones's eye
It is all about the destination here, says Edouard Grosmangin - even though, as manager of the new Six Senses Zil Pasyon resort, he is justly proud of his hotel.

This ethos of cherishing nature is echoed everywhere on the heavily-forested Félicité Island, where Six Senses opened recently. Its 30 villas slope towards the blue ocean, perfectly poised to catch the sunrise.

Swim in your own pool at one of the two bedroomed pool villas...bliss!

PURE TRANQUILITY
The beaches have just a few hammocks swinging lazily in the breeze - and of course, perhaps a hawksbill turtle or two coming to lay their eggs.

The hotel doesn't compete with nature, rather it allows you to stare at the ripe mangoes and emerald green lizards from your bathtub or bed.

There are no room service charges (try the coconut pancakes with lime syrup and mango compote at breakfast). It is also within easy reach of other islands, which you can explore.

Twenty minutes away is Praslin, the second largest island in the archipelago, where the Unesco World Heritage Site of Vallée de Mai was mistaken for the Garden of Eden by British General Charles Gordon in 1881. He thought the suggestive seed of the Coco de Mer palm, the largest seed in the world, must be the forbidden fruit.

A beautiful view from one of the bedrooms at Six Senses

Praslin is also famed for its soft white sand. Anse Lazio, on the island's north edge, is considered by many to be the best beach in world.

Admire it from a seat at restaurant Bonbon Plume, where under thatched umbrellas you can eat octopus curry.

A MINI CYLCE TOUR
On another day, we bicycled around La Digue, a slow-paced island opposite Félicité, where not long ago the only mode of transport was ox cart.

We passed vanilla plantations and takamaka trees (also the name of the local rum) and swam off the beach of Anse Source d'Argent. The water is translucent and two dogs chased large fish in the shallows. Needless to say, this quarry is too nimble for their clumsy paws. Along the shoreline, giant granite boulders add structural beauty.

You're right amongst nature at the pool villas

MORE ACTIVITIES
You can kayak across the ocean to the Île Cocos, part of the Marine National Park, where snorkelling reveals powder blue surgeonfish, Moorish idols, parrotfish and the striking oriental sweetlips, with black and yellow stripes and dots that could grace a catwalk.

Other islands in the archipelago include North Island, where William and Kate honeymooned, and Frégate, the luxury eco-resort where celebrities arrive by helicopter.

There are plenty of fish to be spotted on the corals around Félicité, but it's also worth heading inland to see the trees.

TAKING CARE OF WILDLIFE
South African Steve Hill, the resident permaculturist, who eradicated rats and introduced tortoises to the island, has been here for nearly nine years.

He has supervised the removal, across hundreds of acres, of the coco plum, which strangled many native species. In its place he planted indigenous trees and shrubs to encourage birds such as the Seychelles white-eye and fody. As we walk around avocado and mango trees, stop under the shade of the takamaka — and look at the fruit of the bigarade — Steve gives his vision for the island's future.

Commitment to preservation comes from the top, and is on the school curriculum. Steve believes Félicité can be the Seychelles' bio-diversity hotspot. Here, nature is the star of the show.

For more inspiration, read what travel writers have to say...