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Expensiveness in Seychelles:
Often the question arises “why is the Seychelles so
expensive?”
Tourism to the Seychelles is limited consciously by
the Seychellois in order to protect the beautiful
natural beaches, shorelines, environment and the
bionetwork of this destination. There are 115
islands that form part of the Seychelles of which
only 16 of the islands are currently designated for
hotels and resorts. This is all to prevent
overcrowded beaches and the rising of too many
hotels, which in effect would destroy the balance of
this delicate eco system. You will therefore find
pristine beaches with crystal clear water, - still
virtually untouched by human habitation.
There are also no mass production of most products
in the Seychelles and therefore, most items must be
imported; causing the prices to be quite
expensive.
Standards:
Do not expect sophisticated amenities. Restaurant,
bar & hotel standards & service are often quite
different to those in Europe and elsewhere. This
fact is recognised by seasoned travellers and should
be regarded as part and parcel of the enjoyment and
excitement of your holiday.
Visas and Passports (Info provided for SA
passport holders only):
A valid passport (must be valid for at least 6
months from return date) is required to enter
Seychelles and a return or onward ticket. A
visitor’s visa is normally granted for a period of
one month upon arrival.
All visitors will be required to have proof of their
accommodation for the duration of stay, as well as a
valid return air ticket at hand when entering
Seychelles.
The above requirements are subject to change at any
time without prior notice. It is therefore very
important that you contact the relevant consulate
before you travel, to confirm all relevant
requirements to enter the Seychelles.
Health Precautions (Info provided for SA passport
holders only):
Vaccinations: South Africans do not currently
require a yellow fever vaccination.
Malaria: No Malaria Risk, but insect repellent is
recommended.
The above information is subject to change at any
time without prior notice. It is therefore very
important that you contact a travel clinic before
you travel to confirm all relevant requirements to
enter Seychelles.
Travel Insurance:
It is extremely important that you have adequate
travel insurance.
Travel Expeditions offers adequate travel insurance
for your international travel. If you receive free
travel insurance by paying with your credit card,
please make sure that the cover is adequate. Travel
Expeditions make use of TIC travel insurance which
covers up to R50 000 000 in medical and related
expenses (depending on the policy chosen) as well as
up to R25 000 baggage insurance (depending on the
policy chosen). A valuable insurance cover can come
in very handy when needed. The free travel
insurance your credit card company provides when you
pay for your flight tickets with your credit card,
might be very basic. Travel Expeditions can top-up
your free credit card travel insurance for a small
fee so that your cover is more comprehensive if you
feel that the free credit card insurance is too
basic.
No one expects a confirmed trip to be cancelled,
having to pay extra amounts when a sudden emergency
situation [Medical Expenses, Assistant Services,
Hospitalisation, Accidental Death or Disability,
Trip Cancellation or Curtailment, Hijacking, Baggage
Loss, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, Stolen cash or
travel documents, Loss of cash or travel documents
and Personal Liability Law Suits] occurs. However,
unfortunately these situations do arise – make sure
that you will not be caught off-guard.
Security and general Airline Regulations:
Due to all destinations enforcing security
restrictions and altering these restrictions from
time to time we strongly suggest that you check with
the applicable airline a few days prior to your
departure to ensure that the information below is
correct and no additional requirements have been
enforced.
Permitted items in hand luggage:
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All liquids shall be required to be carried in
containers with a capacity not greater than
100ml (or the equivalent in other volumetric
measurements, e.g. fluid ounces). Other
liquids, aerosols and gels that are considered
liquid, shaving lotion and other foams, creams
and lotions, pastes including toothpaste,
mascara, lipsticks, perfumes, sprays, and gels
including hair and shower gels.
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Liquids carried in containers larger than 100ml
are not to be accepted, even if the container is
only partly-filled.
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Containers shall be placed in a transparent
re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity
not exceeding 1 litre. The containers must fit
comfortably within the transparent plastic bag,
which should be completely closed.
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The plastic bag shall be presented by the
departing passenger for visual examination and
subsequent screening through x-ray at the
screening point.
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Only one transparent plastic bag per passenger
shall be permitted.
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Any item that does not fit into a transparent
re-sealable plastic bag as described above, the
item will not be permitted beyond the security
screening point.
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Examples of LAGS include, but are not limited
to: Water and other drinks, soups, syrups,
creams, lotions and oils, perfumes, sprays,
gels, including hair and shower gels, contents
of pressured containers, including shaving foam,
other foams and deodorants, pastes including
toothpaste, liquid-solid mixtures, mascara, any
other items of similar consistency.
There are a few exemptions where the above
restrictions are not to be applied to:
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In respect of liquids purchased by departing
passengers either at airport duty free shops, or
on board aircraft, such liquids must be packed
in a sealed plastic bag that is both tamper
evident and displays satisfactory proof of
purchase at airport duty free shops or on board
the aircraft, on the day of the journey. This
also applies to transfer passengers.
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Medications, Baby Mild/Foods and Special Dietary
Requirements, provided the genuineness of these
items is verified through prescriptions.
Physical Checks and visual inspection will be
made by screening staff.
Please note, the airlines will no longer accept any
item of baggage exceeding 32kg in weight or size
exceeding 900mm x 720mm x 450mm. This is enforced
to comply with Health and Safety laws.
Golf bags or other sport equipment can be
transported at additional charges. (Weight limits
might apply).
If you are taking golf clubs or other sporting
equipment to Seychelles, please notify us so that we
can ensure the airline is informed and that adequate
transportation to and from the hotel has been booked
to accommodate the additional requirements. Please
note that surcharges may apply.
Import Allowances:
If a passenger is of 16 years of age or over he/she
may bring in the following goods, free of customs
duty:
Climate:
Seychelles enjoys a tropical climate all year round
with temperatures varying between 24 and 30
degrees. The islands lie outside the hurricane
belt, and violent storms are very rare. Tropical
rains fall during Dec – Feb with more frequent short
lived showers, followed by sunshine. Warmer season
during northwest monsoon (March to May) with rougher
seas in the North West parts.
Cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to
September) when it is less rainy, drier, and less
humid. From June to August it is windier with the
south-easterly winds prevailing. The winds increase
as the season progresses, causing rough seas, steady
temperatures between 24 degrees and 30 degrees
Celsius, with cooling breezes and lower humidity.
October - March it rains more frequently with short
lived showers followed by sunshine.
Seaweed at certain times of the year on certain
parts of the islands:
May to September:
Brings seaweed to Praslin’s South-West Coast – South
West waters are rougher.
March to May:
Cote d’Or beach (East Praslin) – the North West
waters are rougher and more prone to seaweed.
June to August:
Seaweed might occur at the west coast of Mahe due to
the windy conditions.
Money:
US$ are widely accepted in most establishments.
Money can be exchanged at banks or at hotels.
ATMs are available at major banks in Mahé and
Praslin.
Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the
Seychelles.
NOTE: No tourists are allowed to purchase anything
in Seychelles rupees, ONLY foreign currency is
accepted.
You have to pay in all tourist places with foreign
currency (Dollars, Sterling or Euro), yet everything
will be priced in Seychelles Rupee (SYR) and your
change will be given to you in SYR. You cannot buy
the SYR before you leave for Seychelles. As
Seychelles do a lot of trading with China and India,
they find the SYR worthless to trade with and so
Seychelles want your foreign currency so that they
can import things in and want to give you their
‘worthless’ currency in return. Therefore, either go
there with lots of foreign notes and lots of change
so that you never get their Rupees in change or that
you charge everything to your room and then pay on
credit card at the end.
Do not take traveller’s cheques!!! When you try to
cash them in, the hotels and or banks will only give
you Rupees in return, which you cannot spend
anywhere.
Consult the Bureau de change where you change your
currency before you leave SA for the best
recommendations on how to carry your money to your
destination.
What to pack:
Light & loose cotton clothing is recommended. It is
useful to have some rubber shoes in case of coral.
Suntan lotion, reading material, block-out &
mosquito repellant are expensive, so pack these.
HOTEL DRESS-CODE POLICIES:
While swimming trunks, beach wear, and shorts are
acceptable during the daytime around the hotel, the
hotel requires guests to dress appropriately for
dinner in the restaurants:
For Gentlemen: Long pants, closed shoes, and
t-shirts with a collar or shirts.
For Ladies: Smart casual wear, including trousers,
skirts, or dresses.
What things cost - Guideline only:
The cost of meals, snacks and drinks at the hotels
of Seychelles are generally more expensive than in
South Africa. You might find a local café or
restaurant in town that offers more affordable
prices. A guideline is that meals and drinks are
usually 4 to 5 times more expensive than in
South-Africa. Occasionally goods can even be more
expensive, especially imported alcoholic wines and
drinks. Taking this into consideration, it is
important to budget enough spending money for your
proposed trip, taking into consideration your chosen
meal plan of the package booked.
Rough Guide:
Budget minimum between R300 to R400 (Rand Value) per
person per day (for a light lunch and roughly 2 to 3
drinks per person per day).
Bottled water – US$4 – US$8
Beer – US$ 5 – US$8
Juice – US$ 8 – US$12
Sandwich – US$10 to US$15
Glass of wine – US$7 – US$10
Evening flavour:
Most hotels offer evening entertainment and at most
hotels you will experience cultural shows.
Divers:
Best time for diving:
Diving is possible all year round but is governed by
the island’s position and the prevailing winds. The
best months are April, May, October and November,
when the water temperature can rise to 29 degrees
Celsius and offers excellent visibility, seas are
calmest.
A 4mm shorty wet suit is the minimum protection
recommended for the outer islands. Islands with big
drop-offs and walls often have marked thermo-clines
with temperatures ranging from 19 to 27 degrees
Celsius and a full suit is an advantage for most
divers. With 115 islands scattered across the
Indian Ocean between 4 degrees and 10 degrees south
of the Equator, Seychelles offer diverse and
impressive diving opportunities.
The Inner islands, remains of the submerged mountain
range, rest on a shallow plateau with prolific
marine life and excellent PADI diving facilities
available to access a multitude of dive sites.
The outer islands to the south of the archipelago
are all coralline or sand cays and mainly
uninhabited, presenting the experienced diver with
excellent opportunities to explore where few have
gone before.
Most popular diving spots short range:
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Bay Ternay Marine Park - A strict conservation
area of many different forms of coral. A
large selection of anemones is found on the
drop-off at 40ft. Max depth 60 ft.
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Whale Rock - A large submerged granite outcrop
with large archways and overhangs. Encrusting
corals with unique white Gorgonian fans are
common. An excellent site for shade loving fish
and octopus. Max depth 40 ft.
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Danzille - An outfall of massive granite
boulders projecting from the shore providing an
underwater system of archways, overhangs and
small caves magnificently decorated with
encrusting corals, sponges and cup corals.
Frequent site for night dives with lobster and
nudibranchs corals. A superb site for lion fish
and scorpion fish. Max depth 35/40ft.
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Sunset Rocks - Granite rock stretching out from
shore with steep sides and numerous gullies
covered in soft tree and fan corals. A superb
site for lion fish and scorpion fish. Max depth
40 ft.
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Vista do Mar - A large granite massif rising
from the sand. The steep walls are completely
covered in colonial soft corals which make
wonderful photographic possibilities. Close by
rock formations attract large numbers of fish.
Most popular diving sports long range (experienced
divers only):
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Brissare Rocks - An amazing carpet of fire coral
around an off-shore rock pinnacle is the
stunning backdrop for some of the most prolific
fish life in the islands. Eagle rays, Napoleon
wrasse and the occasional reef share are to be
seen.
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Shark Bank - A large granite pinnacle rising
from the depths some 5 miles from shore. A
natural focus for feeding fish, the large
predators are often seen. Immense string rays
and pelagic fish against orange sponge walls and
white Gorgonian fans attract most divers. Max
depth 100ft.
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The Ennerdale Wreck - The wreck of the British
Navy Tanker lying in three sections. Dives are
normally on the stern section where the wheel
house and propeller are easily accessible. Now,
a living reef, the wreck hosts not only all the
common reef fish, but also glittering shoals of
Golden Snapper. Max depth 100ft.
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