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Seychelles Hotels and Travel Guide
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The Seychelles are particularly well geared towards travellers,
with a highly developed infrastructure complementing the islands'
natural attractions. While this destination is on the pricey
side, the quality is exceptionally high. The crime rate is
low, and visitors - who make a substantial contribution to
the economy - are welcomed everywhere.
Divers and honeymooners, nature lovers and hedonists, gourmets
and sports aficionados, gamblers and sailors - they all come
to the Seychelles and find it little short of perfect. Set
four degrees south of the Equator and spread over some 400,000
square kilometres of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is endowed
with natural beauty, ancient wonders and awesome man-made
attractions.
Much of the charm of the archipelago lies in its chequered
history. Both French and British colonialists have held sway
here over the centuries, and immigration from both sides of
the Indian Ocean has added to the eclectic mix of the population.
That oft-used word "paradise" often rears up in
descriptions of the Seychelles, and with very good reason.
There are no serious natural hazards, no malaria or serious
diseases, and the islands lie outside the cyclone and hurricane
belts. A good standard of living means there is little crime,
and careful control of tourism-related development has kept
arrivals to a reasonable level and forbidden unsightly high-rises.
The pirates who used to make the Seychelles their lair have
long departed, leaving behind legends of buried treasure waiting
to be unearthed by diligent explorers. However, it soon becomes
apparent to most visitors shortly after arriving that they
won't have to do much digging - the treasures are all around
them.
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From island resorts that practically sing "bling"
to more modest Creole-style guesthouses providing bed and
breakfast, the Seychelles' accommodation scene is expanding
in all directions. Some 16 of the Seychelles' 115 islands
currently offer somewhere to stay, and more islands are being
developed. In the upper echelons, guests can expect a private
island with a palatial villa to themselves, gorgeously designed
with the most modish of mod cons. Fregate
Island - La
Digue Island - Mahe
- Praslin
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Of the horde of glorious beaches on the main island of Mahé,
Beau Vallon, on the northwest coast, is very much the most
popular. Backed by hotels, it also hosts plenty of watersports
operators (paragliding is especially popular) but its chief
attraction is that there are no strong currents, rocks or
corals, so it's ideal for families.
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Praslin,
La Digue,
Aride Island,
Silhouette
Island,
Curieuse
Island
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Air Seychelles operates a shuttle service between Mahé
and Praslin, averaging 20 return flights a day.
Helicopter Seychelles specialises in island transfers, excursions
and chartered scenic flights throughout the Seychelles, while
The Islands Development Company (formerly the tiny Seychelles
Air Force but now a government-owned corporation) operates
fixed-wing flights to the Outer Islands.
An inter-island ferry service offers a choice of travel by
motorised catamarans or sailing schooners.
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Air Seychelles operates a shuttle service between Mahé
and Praslin, averaging 20 return flights a day.
Helicopter Seychelles specialises in island transfers, excursions
and chartered scenic flights throughout the Seychelles, while
The Islands Development Company (formerly the tiny Seychelles
Air Force but now a government-owned corporation) operates
fixed-wing flights to the Outer Islands.
An inter-island ferry service offers a choice of travel by
motorised catamarans or sailing schooners.
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When "fusion" cuisine came into vogue many Seychellois
could have been forgiven for raising an eyebrow at such faddishness.
The tables of the archipelago had long been enlivened by the
likes of curries from India, explosively chili'd and smoothed
with coconut cream; Chinese stir-fries and grilled or steamed
fish; and aromatic blends of garlic, ginger and herbs from
La Belle France. Added to the abundant seafood of the Indian
Ocean, and a cornucopia of tropical fruits and vegetables,
Creole cuisine is fusion without the fuss - simply gorgeous
fresh produce, cooked in a myriad mouth-watering ways.
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Few restaurants in the Seychelles stick to a single cuisine,
and most sport menus that include Creole and International
dishes. Adding lustre to the bill of fare are some simply
amazing seaside locations that can add more than a little
romance to a dinner à deux, or enthuse a party of friends
meeting for a celebratory supper. Many of the Seychelles'
best restaurants - but by no means all - are located in hotels.
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Shopping in the Seychelles is deliciously refreshing. There
are no megamalls, nor are there swathes of international chains
and designer labels. Instead, the islands' retail operations
are truly therapeutic, selling genuinely local items, and
business is carried on in a laid-back fashion with courteous
and informed chatter surrounding buying and selling.
Some galleries and boutiques cluster together in Victoria,
but in general they are scattered about the rest of Mahé
as well as Praslin and La Digue.
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The Seychelles are particularly well geared towards travellers,
with a highly developed infrastructure complementing the islands'
natural attractions.
While this destination is on the pricey side, the quality
is exceptionally high. The crime rate is low, and visitors
- who make a substantial contribution to the economy - are
welcomed everywhere.
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