When to go, what to eat and how to get around here are the tips for those who want to take a holiday in the Seychelles but in an economical way, read the tips.
Seychelles Islands, there are no words in describing these splendid pearls ofIndian Ocean that have remained in my heart. They are a mix of lush vegetation, crystal clear sea, white beaches and majestic granite rocks. Nature is the undisputed protagonist, at any time you can come across it giant tortoises, fairy terns (beautiful white birds with blue beak) and flying foxes, even the marine fauna is very rich. I saw my first sea turtle !! A word should also be said for the local population: always courteous, smiling and helpful.
When to go
In the Seychelles the climate is really favorable and the temperature is always constant on 28/30 degrees, so you can go at any time of the year. In any case it is good to know that the trade winds characterize the different seasons and alternate between the southeast (between June and September) and northwestern (between December and February) trade winds.
In the periods when the trade winds, the wind is practically absent and the waters are very calm. It is best to take this into account when choosing accommodation, so that you can make the most of the beaches according to your needs. In any case, there is always one side of the island that is sheltered and accessible for bathing. The tides are also a factor to consider in organizing your day, as the phenomenon is quite evident and the sea recedes considerably making it more complicated to access the sea where the coral reef is close to the shore.
Accomodation
But it is truly possible to go to this paradise spending little? The answer is yes, if you choose solutions other than the exclusive resorts that you see on the catalogs and on the covers of travel magazines. I have stayed in guest house really delightful seafront and I must say that the value for money is excellent. If you plan to visit the Seychelles in high season (August / Christmas / Easter), my advice is to book as soon as possible, the guest houses don't have many rooms and especially the cheapest ones fill up immediately. You can choose from many solutions, from small hotels to guest houses with kitchenette and washing machine: there are really something for all tastes and needs.
Praslin Island
Directly on the beach of Anse Possession. Villas with kitchen, washing machine and terrace from which to enjoy delicious breakfasts with a breathtaking view of the bay.
La Digue Island - Moonlight Beach.
In front of the beach of La Passe. Small Creole-style hotel very close to the port. Possibility to rent bicycles to discover the island.
Cerf Island - L'Habitation.
Former coconut plantation converted into a hotel directly on the beach with a view of Mahé. A lagoon taxi with daily runs connects the hotel to the island of Mahè.
What to eat
La typical Creole cuisine is a fusion of Asian, European and African dishes based mainly on fish, white meat or veal served with rice, local vegetables and spicy sauce. The tropical fruit is delicious and on every beach you can find vendors selling fresh fruit served on it banana leaves. To try absolutely is also the fresh coconut just opened, so good and thirst-quenching that it is a joy for the palate. Also try the typical take away with local specialties, an inexpensive and original alternative for a quick lunch. For dinner, just get advice from the hotel / guest house staff, who better than them knows the most characteristic places for an excellent dinner?
How to get around
Moving from one island to another is simple: there are every day air connections (Mahè - Praslin) and by sea (Mahè - Praslin - La Digue). Air travel with Air Seychelles it is very fast (only 15/20 minutes from Mahè to Praslin) and there are many flights available throughout the day (15 per day).
With 3 daily trips, the Cat Cocos fast ferry connects Mahè to Praslin (and vice versa) in about an hour. One caveat: the waves of the Indian Ocean are really high and put a strain on the stomachs of even the strongest. La Digue can be reached by the Cat Rose ferry in just 20 minutes from Praslin and there are 7 connections a day. In this case, the journey is much quieter because the two islands are close and there is no sailing in the open sea. If continuing to move and change island every 3/4 days is too stressful, you can think of Praslin as a base camp and simply take a day trip to La Digue: it's worth it.
The Seychelles are a very safe country, so you can easily get around the main islands by public buses. In Mahè the lines are quite punctual and frequent (one every half hour / hour depending on the area). On public holidays, some routes are not traveled or are modified.
In any case, the ticketing of the main bus station in Victoria, you can ask for any information on timetables and routes. On Praslin the buses are less punctual and there are no timetables at the stop, better ask the driver directly especially to find out when the last ride passes. In La Digue there are no buses and only very few authorized cars, here the most used means is the bicycle or you can choose to take the typical carts pulled by oxen. If you want to be more free, you can rent a car or a dune buggy (only in Mahè and Praslin) directly at the airport, at the jetty (port) or through the hoteliers and tourist offices. You just have to pay attention to driving on the left.
Now only the suitcase, the sunglasses and the swimsuit are missing.
