We selected the La Reserve hotel for our honeymoon after reading so many positive comments about the hotel on Trip Advisor. This is the first time that our experience has differed so drastically from the consensus. To summarize the good things: we found the rooms to be very nice, the setting beautiful, and the pool great. Andrew the pool guy, and Francis the tour guy, were also very friendly.
The problem areas are more numerous, the biggest being the utter lack of customer service, and downright disinterest exhibited by so many of the staff. To us, it appeared that they built a 4-star hotel then staffed it with the first 10 locals they found walking on the beach, then didn't train them. Where to begin.. We booked a honeymoon package, yet not one person offered us an acknowledgement or congratulations on that the entire time. We never met the manager, and at no time during our 9 night stay did anyone ever ask how our visit was going, not even when we checked out. For that matter, staff are very hard to find. On a given day the gift shop might be closed without reason and finding a bartender can be a challenge. On only one day out of nine was the pool bar open, and the pool restaurant was never open during our stay. Many of the waitresses are very young local girls who do not appear to speak English. Just trying to get an extra glass of wine or a pad of butter was a real chore at times as we often had to flag down the supervisor.
Speaking of the food, we found by far the best quality on the lunch menu that is for purchase and not part of the half-board package. The food on offer at dinner was average at best, and served by expressionless staff. I would recommend that future guests make sure and order enough wine or drinks ahead of time. The serving staff don't function as proper waiters, and requests for another glass of wine are often just forgotten in the mix. The breakfast buffet was perhaps the best meal of the day. It contained a lot of fresh, local fruit and eggs to order. One day we ordered a room service lunch that wasn't too bad. We put the tray back outside of our room and it sat for the better part of a day and half, through the night even when the local cats finished off the rest of our french fries. We guessed that maybe seven or eight staff had to have seen that tray and didn't bother to take it back or call anyone.
Cats. There are a number of very friendly, but severely underfed cats allowed to roam the premises. Many days we couldn't go out on our balcony without the cats crying at our feet begging for food. We tried to eat our room service meal outside but couldn't because my wife was scratched by a cat that tried to climb up her leg. Another cat jumped right on the table where we were eating.
I think that about sums up our experience with the hotel, but I would be remiss if I didn't say that we still had a relaxing time even with the problem areas mentioned. We heatily ate the food, even though it wasn't up to gourmet standards and we spent a lot of time by the beatiful pool. Andrew the pool guy was by far the friendliest and best member of staff.
The last thing I would recommend to someone else is that they bring really good, tight fitting shoes for walking in the water. The beach and water are quite rocky, with lots of pieces of small coral. It is very difficult to walk in the water without the right kind of shoes.

We stayed at La Reserve for 4 nights as part of our honeymoon in the Seychelles. It was perfect. The luxurious rooms, spotlessly clean and ours was right on the beach ( See the photo of the view from our room)

Food was excellent although slightly more formal than other hotels we stayed in. The set menu alternated nightly with a self servce buffet. It was great to watch the fish whilst eating.

The staff were so friendly which really made it such an enjoyable stay, especially the tour guide for inclusive trips. It is possible though to explore the island yourself by bus at 3SRpp (<25p) for a trip anywhere on the island The bus stops right outside the hotel. We went to find the black parrots between the Britannia Hotel and Sunset Cafe as we did not see any in the Vallee de Mai.

One of the trips was a Sunset cruise to Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette. Seeing Anse Lazio from the boat we were glad we had not taken the effort to get there earlier that day. Anse Georgette where we watched the sun go down and saw a school of dolphins was beautiful.

We have just returned from a holiday in the Seychelles which included 3 days on La Reserve.

The rooms are superbly positioned and very luxurious. They are thoughtfully planned and krpt immaculately clean.

Unlike other places we visited the staff are attentive and cheerful. The trips were excellent and staff well informed.

All food was first class and a great variety was on offer.

I couldn't recommend this hotel highly enough.

I stayed in this hotel for 7 days. The location is very nice within a national park in a bay.

The hotel beach is small and clean. However the sea water was not overly clean for few days due to some algae or some foamy dirt. However you can take a taxi or bike and go to neighboring beach Anse Lazio which is phenomenal.

It is very quiet and isolated hotel. The rooms were clean and well equipped. The hotel is not overcrowded. The rooms are dislocated in several lodges. The food was very good.

Stuff is professional but not overly warm, just professionally courteous.

I would recommend this hotel, especially to consider is as a base for sight seeing of the whole island.