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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.
Getting There
 International
flights from around the world connect the Seychelles to Asia,
the Middle East, Europe, North America and Australia. The
national carrier is Air Seychelles.
Seychelles International Airport, which also handles domestic
flights, is about 10 kilometres south of the capital city,
Victoria. Its two terminals are connected by a walkway, and
both host shops, banks, bureaux de change and public phones.
The whole of the international terminal is wireless-enabled.
Taxi and bus services link the airport to the rest of the
island.
A number of cruise ships also dock periodically at Victoria.
Getting Around
An extensive, inexpensive bus network makes it easy to get
around on Mahé and Praslin. Services run from 05:30
to 22:00 (less frequently after 18:30).
Taxis are plentiful on Mahé and Praslin, and there
is a handful on La Digue. Cabs can be hailed on the street,
at designated taxi stands or by phoning a driver direct. Passengers
are advised to request the driver to use the meter or, if
there isn't one, to agree the fare in advance.
About a dozen car hire companies operate on Mahé and
Praslin, with fleets that include everything from Mini-Mokes
to chauffeured Mercedes-Benzes. Drivers must have a valid
European Union or international licence. Vehicles are driven
on the left side of the road.
Rather more in tune with the pace of life on the islands,
bicycles are readily available for hire on La Digue and Praslin,
where they are a popular mode of transport.
 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.
Climate
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| Photo Thomas Netsch
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The Seychelles' enviable climate is always balmy and with
few extremes. The temperature seldom drops below 24°C
or rises above 32°C. All but the remotest southern islands
lie comfortably outside the cyclone belt making this archipelago
a year-round destination.
Between October and March, when the north-west trade
winds blow, the sea is generally calm and the weather warm
and humid, with winds averaging 8-12 knots.
January and February are the rainy months, while May
and September bring drier, cooler weather and livelier seas
- particularly on southeastern coasts - and winds of 10-20
knots.
Money Matters
The Seychelles Rupee (SCR) is divided into 100 cents. One
US dollar is currently worth roughly SCR5.4.
Banks generally open Monday-Friday from 08:00 to 14:00, and
Saturday from 08:00 to 11:00, and can handle travellers' cheques
and foreign exchange transactions. Customers should bring
their passports and expect to be charged a nominal commission.
ATMs dispensing cash in local currency can be found at major
banks on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, and at the airports
on Mahé and Praslin. Credit cards are widely accepted.
By law, visitors must pay in major foreign currency or by
credit card for all their excursions, board and lodging and
all other services provided by hotels, guesthouses and self-catering
establishments.
Other services that must be paid for in foreign currency
include car hire, diving, boat charter, ferry or air transportation,
excursions, and entrance fees to reserves and marine parks.
Taxis and restaurants that are not part of a hotel may be
paid for in either foreign or local currency. Other incidental
purchases may be paid for in SCR.
Visitors may exchange foreign currency only at banks, authorised
money dealers at the Seychelles International Airport, or
with a hotel cashier. It is a criminal offence to do otherwise.
Keep your currency exchange receipts; you will need them to
convert any remaining SCR back into hard currency when you
leave. Note that no more than SCR800 may be converted to another
currency on departure from the Seychelles.
Health (Vaccinations and hospitals)
 Malaria,
yellow fever, cholera and other common tropical diseases are
unknown in the Seychelles. Generally, no shots are required.
The exception is yellow fever; visitors over the age of one
year who have, within the previous six days, come from, or
passed through, an area partly or wholly infected by yellow
fever must carry a valid vaccination certificate.
Visitors travelling to the Seychelles via Nairobi in Kenya,
and who have remained in transit there, do not require a vaccination.
Most hotels have a doctor on call. Hospitals and dental clinics
on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue provide a high standard of treatment
and care.
The main health issues visitors face are sunburn - which
can be avoided by using high-protection-factor sunscreen and
wearing a tee-shirt while snorkeling - jellyfish stings and,
on some beaches, sand-fly bites.
Holidays and Festivals
Official public holidays:
January 1 New Year's Day.
April Good Friday, Easter Monday.
May 1 Labour Day.
June 5 Liberation Day (Anniversary of the 1977 Coup).
June 15 Corpus Christi.
June 18 National Day.
June 29 Independence Day.
August 15 Assumption
November 1 All Saints' Day.
December 8 Immaculate Conception.
December 25 Christmas Day.
Keen but friendly rivalry is the hallmark of the National
Fishing Competition every April. The Beau Vallon Regatta
in August or early September includes tug o' war contests
on the beach and swimming competitions in addition to the
yacht racing.
La Digue's annual regatta also takes place in September.
October's Creole Festival is the year's biggest heritage
celebration, with the party atmosphere especially lush in
the capital, Victoria.
Subios, in November, is a celebration of the Seychelles'
underwater world, as well as an opportunity to emphasise the
importance of protecting the environment.
Important Facts (visas, voltage) and Phone Numbers
Visas are not required, but travellers should possess a valid
passport, a return ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient
funds for their stay.
Arrivals are issued with a 30-day Visitor's Permit, which
can be extended to up to three months from the date of issue.
The duty-free allowance on arrival is 400 cigarettes, two
litres of spirits or wine, and 200ml of perfume.
The international dialing code is 248.
Emergency Numbers:
Fire, police or ambulance 999
Victoria Hospital and the Intensive Care Unit on Mahé
38 80 00
Praslin Hospital 23 23 33
La Digue Logan Hospital 23 42 55
The electricity voltage is 220-240 volts AC 50 Hz; British-style,
square three-pin, 13-amp electric plugs are standard.
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 - and rack rates that nudge 3,800
Euros a night - small wonder that this is the sort of place
that the planet's super-celebs choose for their hideaway.
Mere mortals can take their pick of beachside bungalows that
enjoy just the same weather as the five-star joints, for no
more than 50 Euros a night, while some self-catering villas
are even cheaper.
In between, there are spa hotels (and where better than the
Seychelles to enjoy some full-on, drawn-out pampering?) and
an ideal pied-à-terre for yachties - a hotel
that sits right next to Mahé's main marina.
More than a dozen charter companies run live-aboards, giving
fishermen, divers and pure pleasure sailors the freedom of
the seas by day and the chance to drop anchor in a deserted
cove by night.
Weddings
The only thing better than having a honeymoon in the Seychelles
is getting married there too. Under Seychelles law, a religious
marriage is only recognised if it is preceded by a civil ceremony.
Hotels and ground operators have plenty of experience at handling
the red tape and organising all the romantic trimmings. Relevant
contacts are:
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception (Catholic Church)
Victoria, Mahé
Tel: 32 26 52
St. Paul's Cathedral Office (Anglican/Protestant)
Victoria, Mahé
Tel: 32 25 08
The Hindu Kovil Sangam (Hindu)
Quincy Street, Victoria, Mahé
Tel: 32 47 01 / 51 51 75
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