Some hotels are just perfect for starting a trip. For us, the Laïla, Seychelles, a Tribute Portfolio Resort on Mahé is definitely one of them.

We started our two-week Seychelles trip with children right here: three nights in a Family Suite before moving on to the other islands of the Seychelles. And in retrospect, that was a very good decision. Because Laïla is only about 20 minutes from Mahé Airport, which is a huge advantage, especially after a long flight with children. Instead of a long journey, we were by the pool shortly after landing.

Laïla is a boutique-style, elegantly designed resort in Anse Royale in the southeast of Mahé, the largest island of the Seychelles, with direct access to one of the most beautiful and quiet beaches in the region. For families looking for a relaxed, uncomplicated start to their Seychelles trip, Laïla is an absolutely perfect choice.

👉 You can find more about travel planning in our article Seychelles with Children.

This boutique hotel is located on Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles. More about our trip in Seychelles with Children.

Our conclusion upfront: Is Laïla family-friendly?

Yes, and in a pleasantly understated way.

Laïla is not a huge all-inclusive resort with round-the-clock entertainment, but a boutique hotel with stylish design, very personal service, and a location that simply suits families: short transfer, quiet beach directly opposite, two pools, and a small play area for children.

We particularly liked:

• the extremely short drive from the airport of only about 20 minutes,

• the spacious Family Suite with its own living area,

• the large courtyard pool and the separate children's pool,

• the proximity to the calm, reef-protected Anse Royale Beach,

• the diverse culinary offerings with several restaurants and bars,

• as well as the possibility to book authentic Seychellois experiences such as cooking classes or excursions directly through the hotel.

Laïla is therefore not a classic luxury resort with a huge kids' club, but rather a charming, family-friendly boutique hotel for those who value design, location, and good service without sacrificing family-friendliness. For example, we always had a glass of milk delivered to our room upon request, because our little one always likes to drink it in the evening. In addition, Laïla scores with a good price-performance ratio compared to other resorts in the Seychelles.

The Location: Anse Royale in the Southeast of Mahé

Laïla is located in Anse Royale, also known as Kings Bay, on the southeast coast of Mahé. The bay is protected by a reef, making the water pleasantly calm and shallow, ideal for snorkeling and splashing with children. Only a small road separates the hotel grounds from the fine, white sandy beach.

The small village of Anse Royale also has a long history. Today, you can find a local market, several restaurants, a church, and a hospital in the village, all within walking distance of the hotel.

For us, one point was particularly crucial: the airport transfer only takes about 20 minutes. After a long flight with children, this is a real blessing and makes Laïla a perfect starting point or even the last stop on a Seychelles trip.

Arrival and best travel time for a family vacation in Laïla

The Seychelles are served directly from Frankfurt by Discover Airlines. In just 9.5 hours, you'll be in paradise!

You can find more information about our flight with Discover Airlines to the Seychelles here

From Mahé Airport, Laïla can be reached in approximately 20 minutes by car or taxi, without boat transfers or long connecting flights, which are often necessary for other Seychelles islands.

Climatically, the Seychelles are a year-round destination for families, as temperatures rarely drop below 24 °C. The drier and somewhat less windy months between April/May and October are particularly well suited for a stay in Anse Royale, as the water in the bay is usually particularly calm and clear then, ideal for snorkeling with children. We were there during the summer holidays, which was also a great travel time for us! However, the sea can be a bit rougher during these months. But that didn't bother us.

Family Suite at Laïla: plenty of space for the start of the trip

We spent three nights in a Family Suite. In addition to the sleeping area, the suite offers its own living area, which immediately pays off with children: while the little ones are already asleep in the evening, the parents can stay in the living area for a while without having to turn off the lights immediately.

In total, Laïla has 84 rooms and suites in several categories, from Deluxe rooms with a private balcony to the Laïla Suite with a private terrace and plunge pool. For families, however, the Family Suite with its additional living area is clearly recommended. All rooms are modern and tastefully furnished, with views of the pool, garden, village, mountains, or partly the sea.

Two pools in the middle of the resort

In the inner courtyard of Laïla is the large main pool, surrounded by sun loungers and with an adjoining pool bar. Right next to it, there is a separate children's pool where the little ones can splash around relaxed, while parents can calmly enjoy the large pool. The kids quickly found friends to play with in the children's pool, and we sampled the fantastic smoothie menu at the pool bar. On weekdays, there is also a cocktail happy hour at the pool bar.

Kids' area and activities

For the youngest guests, Laïla has a small Kids Fun Zone where children can play while parents relax nearby. The offerings are deliberately kept manageable with a ping-pong table, foosball, building blocks, and many other toys, thus fitting the hotel's character as a stylish boutique resort rather than a huge family resort with a tightly scheduled animation program.

If you want to do something outside the hotel with the children, you can book curated experiences through the hotel, for example, Creole cooking classes or traditional coconut boat building or fishing with small nets. The hotel is also happy to organize a movie night under the open sky for you. A real experience for our kids.

Anse Royale Beach: calm waters right on your doorstep

A big plus of Laïla is the direct access to Anse Royale Beach. The bay is protected by an offshore reef, which means the water is usually calm and relatively shallow. This is ideal for families with smaller children, as swimming and snorkeling are much more relaxed than at more open beaches.

Non-motorized water sports such as kayaking or stand-up paddling can be used on the beach itself, and beach loungers and beach service are also available.

Dining at Laïla: versatile for the whole family

Laïla impressed us culinarily with several restaurants and bars:

Laroul Restaurant is the resort's main restaurant, serving themed buffet dinners during the week, including international, Indian, Asian, and BBQ evenings.

Laroul Pool Bar is the perfect place for a relaxed lunch or a refreshing drink by the pool during the day.

Marée Basse is wonderful for a relaxed afternoon tea, served daily at 4 PM, or for a sundowner in the evening.

Delicatessen is ideal for a quick snack or coffee in between, which often proves practical, especially with children. We often got ice cream here before heading to the beach.

Directly on the beach is Kafe Kreol, a Creole-Italian restaurant with your feet in the sand. This restaurant was our absolute highlight. We spent an entire day here once: between kayaking, lunch, fresh coconut, relaxing, and returning for dinner. You never want to leave!

Every Sunday, Kafe Kreol also hosts the lively Fête Kreol, with a traditional Creole buffet, a Moutya dance performance, and a bonfire on the beach.

Spa and relaxation for parents

Laïla also offers a wonderful break for adults: The hotel's own Spa uses organic, handmade products with local ingredients such as coconut and ylang-ylang.

Which families is Laïla particularly suitable for?

Laïla is ideal for families who…

• are looking for an uncomplicated, very easily accessible start or end to their Seychelles trip,

• value stylish design and good service, but don't need a huge resort,

• want a calm, reef-protected beach for the kids,

• like to choose between several restaurants,

• and are Marriott Bonvoy members and want to benefit from the points.

The hotel is less suitable for families who expect a large, classic kids' club with a full-day care program. For that, Laïla is designed too small as a boutique resort.

Our conclusion on Laïla, Seychelles with children

Our three nights at Laïla, Seychelles, a Tribute Portfolio Resort were the perfect start to our two-week Seychelles trip with children.

For us, Laïla is a clear recommendation for all families looking for a stylish, very easily accessible, and truly family-friendly starting point for their trip on Mahé, Seychelles.

👉 If you want to travel to the other islands of the Seychelles after your stay at Laïla, you can find more tips on route planning in our article Seychelles with Children, and a recommendation for your next stop in the article on Constance Lemuria on Praslin.

Frequently asked questions about Laïla, Seychelles with children

How far is Laïla from Mahé Airport?

The drive from the airport to the hotel takes about 20 minutes, making it one of the shortest transfers on Mahé.

Is there a children's pool at Laïla?

Yes, in addition to the large main pool in the courtyard, there is a separate children's pool.

Which room is best suited for families?

For families, the Family Suite with its own living area in addition to the bedroom is recommended.

Is the beach in front of the hotel suitable for children?

Anse Royale Beach is located in a reef-protected bay with mostly calm, shallow water, making it good for families with children.

What restaurants are there at Laïla?

The resort offers several dining options, including Laroul Restaurant for dinner, Laroul Pool Bar for daytime meals, Laïla Delicatessen for fine delicacies, cakes and snacks, Marée Basse Lounge Bar, and Kafe Kreol, an all-day Creole-Italian restaurant right on the beach.

Is Laïla part of a frequent flyer program?

Yes, Laïla is part of the Tribute Portfolio brand within Marriott Bonvoy, so Bonvoy points can be collected for your stay.

To Laïla Resort