Are
you tempted to fall under the charming spell of the Seychelles?
Nothing is easier.
Here is some practical information and advice to help
you prepare the holiday of your dreams...
Do not hesitate to contact the Air Seychelles office closest
to you!
When
is the best time to visit the Seychelles?
The
temperature in the Seychelles does not vary much. The
average is 29°C throughout the year, accompanied
by a very pleasant breeze. The islands lie outside the
hurricane belt, and violent storms are very rare. The
Seychelles can therefore be visited at any time of the
year. Even though tropical rains fall more frequently
in January and February, the weather can be completely
different from one side of an island to the other; the
sun will probably be shining only a few kilometres away.
Choose your accommodation depending on the prevailing
wind during the period of your visit, to make sure you
will have a clear and calm sea, sheltered from the wind.
Strangely enough the month of June seems to be low season
even though the weather is usually fine. So why not
choose this month for your holiday?
Should
you opt for a package deal?
If
you prefer organized trips, there is a very wide choice
offered by tour operators which can be consulted in
any travel agency or merely by linking to their sites
below. In this way, you will be sure of a well-tried
formula free of risks.
INTOSEYCHELLES.COM — California-based
travel experts
specializing in
travel to
the Indian Ocean
Islands, bringing
you a range of
options to make
your holiday
in the Seychelles
a most personalized
and memorable
experience.
NEW
ADVENTURES — Located
in the U.S. in Florida, New Adventures offers its worldwide
clientele comprehensive, customized packages including
international air and full land arrangements with a
range of moderate through luxury accommodations as well
as prearranged recreational activities like scuba diving,
fishing, birding and island nature touring.
New Adventures "Seychelles Magic" is
the foremost
resource for
the savy traveler's
Seychelles holiday
planning.
...
or organize your own holiday?
The
Seychelles is the kind of destination for which it is
easy to make your own travel arrangements. Those who wish
to organize the trip themselves can start by obtaining
documentation from the Tourist Office of the Seychelles
or directly from Air Seychelles. They can then buy their
air tickets from any travel agency or from Air Seychelles,
and rent in advance a car and a bungalow for the first
few days. Once on the spot, it will be easy to organize
the rest of their stay to suit personal tastes.
SEYCHELLES
EUROPEAN RESERVATIONS
Would you like to organise yourself your holidays in the
Seychelles?
Seychelles European Resevations is a Central Reservation
"online" especially conceived for individual
travellers who book their holidays with hoteliers and
other tourism-related services in Seychelles: your hotel...
car hire... cruising
on a catamaran... deep sea fishing... diving. This online
reservation service is free of charge.
Climate,
seasons and temperatures…
The
weather in the Seychelles is tropical and humid.
From May to October, the wind blows regularly from south
to east, bringing a dryer climate and slightly cooler
temperature. From December to March, it is the southern
summer with north-west winds and a more humid climate.
However, the weather is pleasant in all seasons, never
too cool or too hot. Advice:
when it rains, just hop along to the other side of the
island, you are sure to find sunnier weather only a
few kilometres away.
The Seychelles is outside the hurricane belt. Air temperature. The "coolest"
temperature is in July and August, at 28°C. March,
May and November are the hottest months, with an average
of 32°C. Sea temperature: from 27°
to 29°C (you have read correctly, it is not a typing
error!).
Hotels
are usually the favourite type of accommodation. The brochures
of tour operators will help you choose and compare them.
Many are in beautiful settings with direct access to a
beach.
Some islands have only one hotel, very often an exceptional
one nestling in a corner of paradise, for example, Bird
Island, Desroches, Denis Island, Silhouette, Frigate,
Alphonse or D'Arros... Guest-houses: apartments, bed-sitters
and bungalows can be rented at very reasonable rates.
It is a convenient formula which proves that the Seychelles
are now within the reach of many travellers. Some of the
newer guest-houses have very comfortable and well-equipped
apartments.
Are
you looking for budget accommodation? Click
here.
Camping is forbidden, so you
will have to opt for one of the above two formulas.
Gastronomy
The
delicious Creole cuisine is based on fish and a wide variety
of exotic vegetables, fruit and spices which simply must
be sampled when you are in the Seychelles.
Most hotels regularly serve Creole buffets. Those who
like fish will be in for some very pleasant surprises.
There are many restaurants in Mahé, some of them
excellent. Do not hesitate to try the Creole
"take-away" menus, they are usually delicious
Creole specialities and offer good value for money, apart
from being a convenient formula for visitors staying in
guest houses.
Visa
A
visa is not required for nationals of many countries.
A valid passport and return ticket are usually sufficient
in most cases. Upon arrival, you will be required to indicate
the address of where you will be staying, so before your
departure, make sure that you have a reservation for at
least the first night.
IMPORTANT:
Local currency and foreign exchanges
The
official currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SR 1
= USD 0,19 approximately). Credit cards are widely accepted
throughout Seychelles. You can also withdraw money from
cash distributors. Most consumption goods have to be imported,
which explains why shopping can be fairly expensive in
the Seychelles. Foreign exchange
regulations: Visitors are required to use
foreign currency in making payments in hotels, guesthouses
and for other holiday-related expenses such as hiring
of cars or boat, the services of tour operators or travel
agents, patronage of casinos and domestic transferts within
Seychelles.
Health:
see the website of the Ministry of Health for some
useful and practical information. Click
HERE.
Languages:
Creole, English and French. Time difference: The Seychelles
is four hours ahead of Universal Time. The time difference
with France and Western Europe is therefore only + 2 hours
in summer and + 3 hours in winter. This is why travelling
to the Seychelles will be less tiring than to many other
exotic destinations! Electricity: 220 volts AC,
50 Hz. Plugs are of the English type, square with three
points. Adapters are available in most hotels. However,
it may be a good idea to buy a universal adapter from
one of the boutiques at the airport of your departure…
Telephone
and postal service
Country
code: 248
* Direct lines to most countries are available at nearly
all the hotels.
* Telephone cards can be purchased for use in telephone
booths.
* There is excellent GSM coverage so mobile telephones
with a "world" option can be used.
* Most hotels offer a postal service.
Shopping
Shops
are open from Mondays to Fridays, between 8 a.m. and
5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Numerous
stalls and small grocery stores are open every day until
late in the evening… Duty-free at the airport:
Only foreign currency is accepted.
Transport
Road:
Mahé and Praslin have frequent and regular bus
services. There are many taxis and cars which can be
hired, either before your departure or once you arrive.
A valid national driving licence is required for renting
a car. Driving is on the left hand side of the road. Sea: There is a daily service
between Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Air: Air Seychelles provides
air links between the main islands of the archipelago. Mahe and Praslin
are linked by many scheduled daily flights.
The other islands are served by flights chartered by
the hotels…
The
Seychelles is the kind of destination for which it is
easy to make your own travel arrangements. Those who wish
to organize the trip themselves can start by obtaining
documentation from the Tourist Office of the Seychelles
or directly from Air Seychelles. They can then buy their
air tickets from any travel agency or from Air Seychelles,
and rent in advance a car and a bungalow for the first
few days. Once on the spot, it will be easy to organize
the rest of their stay to suit personal tastes.
SEYCHELLES
EUROPEAN RESERVATIONS
Advice:
The
delicious Creole cuisine is based on fish and a wide variety
of exotic vegetables, fruit and spices which simply must
be sampled when you are in the Seychelles.
