/r/Seychelles

Photograph via snooOG

The Republic of Seychelles / République des Seychelles / La Repiblik Sesel.

/r/Seychelles

3,079 Subscribers

2

Experience of Indian expats living in Seychelles

I am an Indian MBBS doctor and want to move to Seychelles after completing my MD medicine. I want to know is this a right decision? Your experiences in Seychelles and a general view of Indians in Seychelles. Incomes and expenses?

0 Comments
2024/11/30
10:18 UTC

1

Staying in Beau Vallon for 2 weeks

Hi!

I’m coming with my little family which includes my 6 month old. We have booked a resort on Beau Vallon for the full two weeks.

  • Do you think it’s a waste not seeing praslin and la digue? I was thinking since we have a 6 month old it won’t be worth the travel and how do we even get around on la digue? They only have bikes there it seems 😅

  • how is the ferry considering the baby?

  • how expensive are water and diapers? 😅

4 Comments
2024/11/29
21:31 UTC

1

Minimum currency requirement

I read on the Seychelles government website that tourists need to carry a minimum of $150 USD or equivalent per day. We are 4 adults and 1 infant. As per the rule, I need to carry $4200 USD. Our hotel bookings are already done with complete meal plan. I’m carrying USD for around $3000 in a forex card, which covers more than enough of our expenses. I am also carrying Credit cards. Do I still need to follow the rule or is it just a guideline?

6 Comments
2024/11/28
04:02 UTC

0

Mahe airport to Ferry transit

hello everyone, we arrive on 29th November morning 7.30 , we have Ferry to Praslin at 10.30. However we don't have any arrangements to go from airport to ferry. Can anyone please guide how to reach ferry pick up point? I emailed Cat Cocos but no response from yet.

12 Comments
2024/11/27
11:53 UTC

3

Emerald Cove in Praslin

Hey dear Seychellois.ses !

I'm in Praslin and went to Anse La Farine. It was super super cool, a beach (two beaches) all by ourselves, it's a spot that we can experience once in a lifetime in our opinion...

There, we knew that there were the "New Emerald Cove Hotel" and that it was abandonned. We tried to seach and see what happened, and find the reason why it has been left like this in such amazing place.

I saw that the website is still online, but no reservations can be accepted (no shit sherlock) - but WHY would the website be still online if the place is just abandonned ? We didn't find any answers on internet, so here I am on Reddit to maybe have more clues of what happened there, and why did it close ?

In front on Round Island we spot that there was some abandonned hotel (?) too, was it part of the Emerald Cove ? We didnt swim there to invistigate, but we were intrigued for sure !!

7 Comments
2024/11/26
14:03 UTC

2

Tipping culture in Seychelles

Sorry if I’m asking the obvious. I know that tips are expected differently in every culture. We will be traveling to Seychelles for a short vacation and will be staying at the Constance Ephelia resort. Any recommendations for when tips are expected and when they are not?

Thanks in advance!

6 Comments
2024/11/26
00:08 UTC

2

Videography

Hello, where can I find someone based in Seychelles (preferably Praslin or La Digue) for some video capturing services? I tried searching online but no luck. All I could find were some professional photographers, but that's not what I'm looking for (their work is great but over my budget). I just need someone with a camera like GoPro, a better smartphone or similar. Difficult to find a non-professional online, any ideas?

2 Comments
2024/11/25
14:23 UTC

2

Taxi, and singles

Hey everyone, is there any taxi services like uber or something? And also how safe is it for a single lady to travel there?(because I am single and I love traveling alone without tail) Thanks in advance

5 Comments
2024/11/25
13:52 UTC

2

3 weeks in Mahe - too much?

Me and my boyfriend caught an incredible deal for a package holiday in Mahé a long time ago, and we booked it without thinking too much since it felt like a rare opportunity for us to travel to Seychelles (which usually costs a lot more). We paid 2500€ for this package (flights without luggage and 21 nights accomodation in a guesthouse).

Now, as we are actually planning for what to do for such a long time in Mahé we realised the following:

  1. There’s too many days for us to only stay on Mahé, but our accomodation (albeit incredibly cheap) is booked in the same guesthouse throughout the holiday and it is non-refundable.
  2. The guesthouse is located somewhere in the woods (on Maldive Rd between Anse Etoile and Glacis). I looked up the busses going on this road and they are very few, thus it would be more beneficial for us to have a car.
  3. Jan-Feb is the wettest period throught the year…
  4. The prices are INSANE

So, our main dilemmas which we would like to discuss with others who live in Mahe or who have travelled to Mahe before:

  • Will we enjoy ourselves even if we live more ”frugally” during our 3 weeks here, e.g. buying our own groceries and cooking, only relying on public transport/rent a car for a shorter period like one week.
  • Will the rain ruin our experience, meaning will it be rainy and cloudy 24/7? Or is it more like Bali where there is a very quick rainshower which goes over to sunshine in less than 10 min?
  • Can we (2 people) have a good time during 3 weeks with a total budget of 3000-4000€ (excluding flights and acommodation)?
8 Comments
2024/11/25
11:26 UTC

4

FS Dosroches - All Inclusive worth it?

I'm planning to go to Seychelles and Mauritius for my honeymoon in Feb 2025

Thinking about staying at FS Dosroches, but wondering if the Castaway all inclusive package is worth it?

I'm planning to stay in the sunset pool villa. Currently the price differnece between a B&B package (with 3+ night discount) vs the All Inclusive package is very high - around USD 1000 per night additional

Is the castaway package worth paying the additional 1K per night?
What all is included in castaway? All restaurants? Any activities? Picnics on the beach?

4 Comments
2024/11/23
19:59 UTC

2

Honeymoon planning itinerary

Hi all, I am traveling to Seychelles in Feb for 6 nights/7 days and I have planned as follows. Please suggest otherwise :

3 nights - Mahe. : ( North, East and central)

1 night - La Digue

1 night - Praslin

1 night - Mahe. (South/West) Fly out on the 2nd night.

1 - The query I have is, should I instead do 2 nights in La Digue instead of 1 night ? I have read online that La Digue can be very touristy, so I planned only for a night there and spend majority of time in Mahe.

2 - I will be using public transport to travel around and hence kept more time in Mahe as my travel time would increase when compared to the rental car. How reliable is the bus? I have downloaded the SPTC app to check for bus routes and schedules.

3 - And can I book the taxi to/from airport from any app as I don't want to pay touristy prices ? I am very bad with negotiations.

4 Comments
2024/11/22
13:25 UTC

6

Travelling to Seychelles for my honeymoon on 27th January '25, for 6 nights.

Looking forward to suggestions - which all islands and hotels/resorts I should plan to cover. Thanks in advance.

18 Comments
2024/11/22
11:00 UTC

1

TéléSesel old report

Hello everyone,

A local person might know - is there a way to find online a TV report, I think it was broadcast few weeks ago, about the Kreol festival in Victoria?

Thanks!

3 Comments
2024/11/21
11:54 UTC

1

Swimming & Snorkeling in La Digue in January

Hello,

I’m planning a solo trip to La Digue for a few weeks in January and was hoping to get some advice. I love swimming and snorkeling but have heard that the seas can be rougher during this time of year. For those who have been to La Digue in January, could you recommend the best beaches for swimming and snorkeling? I also enjoy playing in the waves, so I wouldn’t mind some rougher water either.

Additionally, how much rain should I expect in January? Will there still be opportunities to enjoy the beach most days?

Thanks in advance for your help!

7 Comments
2024/11/18
21:48 UTC

1

Where to get SeyTea?

A few years back I was here in vacation, my mom still talks about the SeyTea and how it was the best she has ever had. Is there any way to order some to ship to the USA or Germany?

6 Comments
2024/11/16
13:29 UTC

2

Which ferry to take before flight home

My return flight is at 21:30.

There are 2 ferries from Praslin to Mahe I am choosing between:
14:00-15:15 and 17:00-18:15.

Is the later one too late to make it smoothly on time to the airport?

Can you also recommend me taxi for Praslin (ferry to Cote D'Or and back) and Mahe (ferry to airport)?

Thank you everyone in advance

5 Comments
2024/11/12
12:27 UTC

2

Honeymoon plan

I am going to Seychelles for 5 days in January for my honeymoon. Any perfect plan to enjoy these days and I am making a surprise to my fiancé. Thank you

4 Comments
2024/11/12
09:45 UTC

3

Whale watching Seychelles

Is there any whale/dolphin watching tours? Preferably one day tours from mahe where you go out on a boat and just look for marine life.

6 Comments
2024/11/10
09:56 UTC

2

Canopy Hilton Mahe Seychelles

Just curious if anyone has stayed here? Its a newer hotel and I would love some authentic positive and negative feedback!

I booked a 12 night stay here for June. Planning to visit La Digue and Praslin. Would you recommend a car rental to get to these areas to access the ferry/helicopters?

Thanks!

6 Comments
2024/11/09
18:42 UTC

12

Stranded in Seychelles: Our Nightmare Experience and Lessons for Fellow Travelers

Once Upon a Time in Paradise…

My wife and I had been having the time of our lives in Seychelles. The stunning beaches of La Digue, the vibrant marine life, and the peaceful island vibes—it was everything we’d hoped for. But as our trip wound down, we were looking forward to heading home to Mumbai, feeling relaxed and recharged.

Our flight with Ethiopian Airlines was scheduled for November 4, 2024, departing from Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) at 5:20 PM. We arrived at the airport early, around 2:00 PM, confident that we’d have a smooth journey home. Little did we know, the real adventure was just about to begin.

A Minor Injury, A Major Problem

A couple of days before our flight, on November 2, my wife had a small accident—a minor cut on her foot while we were exploring La Digue. It wasn’t a big deal. She could walk without any issues, and it didn’t bother her much. However, to be on the safe side, we went to a government hospital, where the doctor checked her foot and issued a fitness-to-fly certificate, confirming she was perfectly fine to travel.

We thought we were covered. After all, what could go wrong with a doctor’s official clearance?

The Airport Showdown

At the Ethiopian Airlines counter, we met a staff member named Kevin. The moment he noticed my wife’s foot, he decided it was a problem. He handed us a form that needed to be signed and stamped by a doctor, even though we already had a fitness-to-fly certificate. So off we went, rushing back to the clinic.

By 4:00 PM, we returned with the completed form, thinking that would resolve everything. But Kevin wasn’t having it. He refused to accept the form, dismissing the doctor’s opinion. “I can’t let her fly,” he said, adding, “My job’s on the line.” He even warned us about potential trouble at Addis Ababa, our layover airport.

At this point, we were desperate. We explained that our Seychelles visa was expiring that very day and begged him to reconsider. But Kevin wasn’t interested. When we asked him to provide a written explanation for the denial, he outright refused.

Stranded and Helpless

With no other option, we were forced to book last-minute tickets on an Emirates flight departing at 9:40 PM. The tickets cost a small fortune, and we had to pay out of pocket. Meanwhile, my wife, who was already in pain, was left walking around the airport barefoot, trying to deal with the stress and confusion.

We also contacted MakeMyTrip, hoping they could help us reschedule or provide support, but they offered no assistance. It was a nightmare—stranded in a foreign country with no help, no solutions, and mounting expenses.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Looking back, here’s what I wish we had known or done differently:

  1. Never Assume Medical Clearance Is Enough Even with a fitness-to-fly certificate, airlines can still refuse boarding if they feel there’s a risk. Always check the airline’s medical policies in advance and prepare for unexpected complications.
  2. Demand Written Documentation If you’re denied boarding, insist on getting a written explanation. This can be crucial for lodging complaints or filing insurance claims later. Unfortunately, we didn’t get this because Kevin and the staff refused to provide it.
  3. Get Comprehensive Travel Insurance Thankfully, our travel insurance covered some of the extra expenses. If you don’t already have travel insurance, I highly recommend getting it—it’s worth every penny.
  4. Know Your Embassy When in trouble abroad, your country’s embassy or consulate can be a huge help. They can assist with legal and administrative issues, like visa extensions or lodging complaints with local authorities.
  5. Document Everything Keep records of everything—emails, receipts, names of people you spoke to. This helped us when filing our insurance claim and following up with the airline.

Final Thoughts

We eventually made it home, but this experience left us shaken. Travel is supposed to be about discovering new places and making memories, not dealing with rude staff and unnecessary stress. If you’re planning to travel soon, I hope our story helps you prepare for the unexpected.

If you’ve had a similar experience, I’d love to hear your thoughts and any advice you might have. Let’s learn from each other and make travel less stressful for everyone.

Safe travels, everyone!

14 Comments
2024/11/09
06:22 UTC

2

Stay for one night in Mahe

I'm looking for suggestions for beach side stays relatively close to the airport before an early morning flight the next day. I am considering DoubleTree by Hilton as an option. We will be traveling from La Digue and will have the full evening to spend.

PS: Would it be safe/advised if we rent a car when we come back to mahe and with a drop at around ~4:30/5 am at the airport?

6 Comments
2024/11/08
11:45 UTC

3

Constance Ephelia and booking-dot-com reservation - prepayment confusion

I’m not sure if this is the way resorts do business in Seychelles, or what. I booked a stay for two people at Constance Ephelia through booking-dot-com. The booking accepted my payment and is showing “paid” on their website but they never charged my credit card. (It was over a month ago.)

Right after that reservation I got a message from Constance Ephelia (via booking-dot-com messaging service) that I need to pay 50% deposit for our booking. It was some link to their website bypassing booking-dot-com’s system. I obviously contacted booking-dot-com about it and they confirmed that that resort does payments like that.

Ok. So I paid that 50% deposit at Constance website.

Now when our trip is approaching I am not sure how I need to pay the other half of the charges. The original message from Constance stated that I will need to pay the other 50% during check-in.

To be honest this is not how I prefer to do it. I sent them a message asking how can we pay it before the arrival and since then haven’t heard back.

The reason I want to prepay is because I don’t want to have a hassle to doing it in their hotel lobby, being tired from a flight and not having a reliable internet connection if something goes wrong with my card payment. You know sometimes banks block large foreign transactions.

In any case this whole reservation gives me a lot of weird vibes from the way it is handled so far.

What do you guys think? Have you dealt with something similar in Seychelles? Is it how they do it there, or are we being conned?

7 Comments
2024/11/08
10:57 UTC

2

Foreign investment

Hi everyone, I'm looking into opening a hotel/hostel in Seychelles, maybe in La Digue, and I was wondering if you could recommend me any local property and foreign investment lawyers I could consult on ownership permits and such.

I'm an architect planning on building an eco friendly hotel I designed that incorporates local art by local artists, and run a little diving service as an operator too. Also, If you have any suggestions for land that is for sale or artists I can add to the portfolio I'd really appreciate it!

2 Comments
2024/11/08
05:37 UTC

5

First trip to Seychelles, looking for a cellular internet service

This will be our first trip to Seychelles. When we travel we prefer to buy mobile internet before we get to the destination country. This makes it easy when you get internet right after you land. We usually go with eSIM operators. But it seems that in some countries eSIMs don’t work that well.

Anyone who traveled to Seychelles, what mobile internet services would you recommend?

26 Comments
2024/11/07
10:20 UTC

2

Trip plan for Feb-March

Hey folks, We were planning trip to Seychelles for February last week - March first week and wanted to check about the weather and if water activities will be functional by then. Thanks in Advance!

2 Comments
2024/11/06
10:20 UTC

2

Marriage Help

So we're planning on getting married in Seychelles. My OH was born in Rhodesia and moved to south africa. He eventually got a British passport many years ago. Seychelles says it needs birth cert and passport copies. My OH cannot locate his birth cert and getting a copy from Zimbabwe is going to be nigh on impossible. In the UK we don't use birth certs much once you get a passport so it's not been necessary until now. Any advice whether this is definitely required or what to do please?

1 Comment
2024/11/05
18:23 UTC

2

Seychelles Mahe airport to Ferry travel time

Hi! I will be travelling with my wife to Seychelles. We land at 8:10 on Mahe airport. We will have checked in luggage. We plan to take the 10:30 ferry on the same day.

How much time does it take to collect the luggage, do immigration and travel to Mahe ferry station?

Until what time can we reach the Mahe ferry terminal? Should we book tickets in advance for our ferry from Mahe to Praslin?

7 Comments
2024/11/05
11:00 UTC

2

Medical Elective in the Seychelles – Any Tips or Experiences?

I'm a medical student from Austria, and I'm planning to do a medical elective in the Seychelles in the summer of 2025 with two friends. I would be very grateful for any tips, contacts, or recommendations you could share with me!

Thank you!

0 Comments
2024/11/04
15:56 UTC

2

What to do between flight and ferry

Hi.

Me and my husband are coming to Seychelles on Saturday. We land at around 11, but have ferry at 16.30. What should we do inbetwen and how do we get to the ferry (Cat Cocos)? I read somewhere that you can get a bus from the airport. Do I have to make reservation prior or can we get tickets at the airport?

Thank you in advance

6 Comments
2024/11/04
09:08 UTC

1

Anyone up for chat ?

1 Comment
2024/11/03
17:55 UTC

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