Coin D'or

The snorkelling is the standout. Guests can go straight off the steps below the house and into the water, though the reef sits a short swim out, so a few metres of open water come first before the good stuff. One guest who stayed with a partner and a child found the whole spot easy and comfortable, and returning visitors have called it the best place to be on Praslin.

Stella is the host, and reviewers speak warmly of her. The style is low-key and self-directed. Guests meet Stella on the day they arrive and then have the cottage to themselves, and more than one visitor said they were quite happy with exactly that. It suits travellers who want a private base rather than a hands-on host checking in through the stay.

The cottage reads as secure, quiet and romantic, which is why couples keep choosing it. One guest spent Valentine's here and called it perfect for the occasion. Another thanked the host for eight wonderful days.

Anse Possession runs along the sheltered north coast of Praslin, a calm and low-traffic stretch known for easy water access rather than restaurants and shops. This is a self-catering base, so guests plan a little around groceries and cooking in. The reward is a cottage right on the sea with snorkelling off the steps, host Stella meeting arrivals and then leaving them to their privacy, and a secure, quiet setting that couples come back for. It reads very differently from the busier lodges and villas further along the same bay.