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Seychelles is considered one of the world’s most expensive places to go on holiday, with many picture-perfect paradises with crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches, diverse marine life, and lush green forests. It is understandable why so many famous people take their holidays in the Seychelles. However, this dream destination can be expensive and often puts off-budget travellers.
But don’t let that keep you from seeing the beauty of the Seychelles! Visiting the Seychelles on a budget without compromising on fun or adventure is possible. In this post, I will share with you valuable information on exploring the Seychelles affordably without breaking the bank.
VISITING SEYCHELLES ON A BUDGET
Pick the Island for Your Budget Seychelles Trip
The Seychelles are 115 coral and granite islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Most islands are uninhabited, so your choices for where to stay are limited to Mahé, Praslin, or La Digue. Mahe, the main island of the Seychelles, is where international flights land.
Mahe is the largest island in the Seychelles. It has the most places to stay, supermarkets, and the Victoria Market, where you can get anything you need. Mahe has a bus system that makes it cheap and easy to get around the island.
We stayed in Mahe because it was convenient, and I highly recommend staying here. But if you stay for more than five or six days, you might want to go to La Digue. It is a less expensive island than Mahe and is ideal for travellers on a tight budget. The ferry will cost more, but the cheaper rooms compensate for that.
TIP: If you only have a few days, focusing on one island is best because they’re close together. Staying in one place saves money because accommodations get cheaper the longer you stay.
When is the best time to visit the Seychelles?
The Seychelles have sunny weather and a summery feel all year round. The best time to visit the Seychelles depends on your preferences and travel plans. However, October to April are the winter and rainy seasons. Even though the weather isn’t great, you can still enjoy the warm weather and sunny spots.
The good thing about winter is that both airfare and accommodations get cheaper. If you want to travel on a tight budget to the Seychelles, I recommend going in the winter. The months of December and January are the busiest on the islands.
Travelling in April, May, October, or November can help you save money because shoulder-season costs are lower than peak-season costs.
Getting to and Around Seychelles
For context, our trip to the Seychelles was not part of our travel plans for the year we went there, which was 2022. It was a last-minute change for our honeymoon because the first place we wanted to go had some COVID-19 restrictions that we didn’t know about until two or three weeks before the trip. I remember very clearly how worried and stressed out we were.
Our ideal honeymoon destination was a tropical island, so we were somewhat limited in our options. Additionally, almost anyone from any country in the world can visit the Seychelles without a visa. So this was one of the reasons that made us choose it.
Tips for finding cheap flights to Seychelles
Finding great deals on flights is one way to save money; honestly, you’re bound to find some really good ones. We went to the Seychelles when the COVID restrictions were slowly being lifted there, so prices were much lower than usual.
Typically, round-trip airfare from London to Mahe (the main island of the Seychelles) costs between £900 and $1000 per person.
We found the best deal I’ve ever seen for our flight with Turkish Airlines! Of course, with a stop flight in Istanbul, baggage included, for only £1070! For two people and return.
When you are looking for flights, there are a few things to keep in mind. Generally speaking, making reservations early is preferable. Also, you might find cheaper options if you’re flexible with your dates.
For example, flights during the week tend to be a bit cheaper than those on the weekend. (ours was on a Tuesday, by the way.) Of course, it’s cheaper to avoid busy times.
Read more here on some useful tips you can try to help you find cheap flights anywhere.
Budget Transportation Options in Seychelles
Buses are the main mode of public transport on the islands of Mahé and Praslin. This will help you stay within your travel budget for the Seychelles because it is the least expensive way to get around the islands (Mahe in particular).
However, there are several ways to get around the Seychelles islands, including rental cars, taxis, and buses. To help you decide which one will be the best option for you, here’s a quick look at each choice:
Mahe Bus Service
Seychelles Public Transport runs a public bus system that connects the two main islands, Mahé and Praslin. Buses run daily between 5:20 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. on over 106 routes, making over 1600 trips.
The buses are air-conditioned and offer a cheap way to travel around the islands. However, I would advise against long distances on Mahé due to the hilly terrain and sometimes unreliable schedules.
Unfortunately, we did not use the bus service for our Seychelles trip or visit Praslin Island. So I cannot tell you much about the service. However, if you are interested in knowing about bus schedules, prices etc., read more here.
Budget Car Rental in Seychelles
We rented a car for the entire trip as we found it to be a convenient option for us. Based on a great recommendation from where we stayed. In the Seychelles, there are a lot of places to rent cars, including some older cars that are rented out privately by their owners. If you don’t need a car for your entire stay, renting later may be cheaper. Many cars have ads and phone numbers on the side of the car.
There are many car rental companies, such as Avis, Hertz, Europcar, and Budget. You must have a valid driver’s licence and a credit or debit card for the rental deposit. An international driver’s licence is recommended, but some rental companies accept regular licences. We used my driver’s licence from Zambia.
Our car rental in the Seychelles was affordable and a “lifesaver” when we wanted to see so many places and beaches quickly. It also gave us access to smaller stops and areas that are hard to reach by public bus. I strongly suggest renting a car if you stay in Mahe for over a week.
Things to know when you rent a car
- Before driving around in a rented car, I suggest finding the nearest fueling station on a map. There are six fueling stations in Mahe, and all are spread apart.
- It’s not unusual for any of them to be closed at odd times or out of gas, so make sure you always have enough gas in case the one you choose is a “miss” and you have to drive to the next one. We were fortunate to stay in a neighbourhood close to a petrol station, so we always ensured we had enough fuel before we started our day (more on this later in this post).
- Don’t leave any beach sand in the back of the car or anywhere else in the car. Although I believe this to be the standard practice when renting a vehicle, it appears to be particularly crucial in the Seychelles. I remember that this was the first thing they told us before handing us the keys. To respect their request, please leave the car in the same condition as when you found it.
- Make sure you plan ahead of time for how to return the car. They’re pretty flexible, so you can return the car the same day you leave the Seychelles, which we did. We had a flight at 8 p.m., so we checked out at 11 a.m. We thought it was an affordable way to rent a car on our last day, and we used to go to places we hadn’t had time to see. We left our bags in the car, relaxed, and then drove to the airport and dropped off the car without having to meet anyone from the car rental company.
Budget taxis in Seychelles
Taxis are available on Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. They are plentiful, have metres, and can be reserved through the Seychelles Taxi Operators Association or by going to a taxi rank if you are close to one.
To get around the islands, taxis provide a practical and comfortable mode of transportation. But they can be pretty pricey, especially if you use them a lot on Mahé and Praslin. At agreed-upon rates, taxis can be rented for solo journeys or island trips.
We didn’t use any taxis on Mahe, and on La Digue, the other island we visited, we didn’t need a taxi either because there isn’t a bus system. Bicycles, cars, and golf carts are the most common ways to get around the island of La Digue.
Where to Stay on a Budget in the Seychelles?
The Seychelles is not a place to show up at the last minute and hope to find a good deal, especially on accommodations. Let’s be honest. It’s fun to stay at a luxury resort. But it’s not necessary.
If you want to stay on a budget in the Seychelles, you have to skip the luxury options. Most of the time, expensive resorts are more popular than cheap ones, so if you want to stay at the best places, try to book as far in advance as possible.
Seychelles has budget hotels, regardless of what you read. Budget rooms can mean different things in most countries, but in the Seychelles, a budget room for one person starts at £50.
Instead of hotels, choose family-run guesthouses with a good breakfast or self-catering chalets and villas so you can cook some of your meals. Depending on location and amenities, you can expect to pay between £80 and £120 ($102 and $153) per room per night. AirBnB, Agoda, and sometimes even Booking.com are the best places to find cheaper family or self-catering accommodations.
Budget Self-carting accommodation in Seychelles
We paid £80/$102 a night to stay in a one-bedroom East Horizon self-catering apartment on the east coast of Mahé. They’re on a hill (it was tiring going up and down on the first day before we got a car, but it was worth it). It had a balcony, a kitchen, and a view of the sea. You can walk to a beach, a bus stop, restaurants, and shops, and you can get to a petrol station in 15 minutes.
Beau Vallon is the optimal location to stay. A fantastic beach, a variety of budget lodging options, ATMs, and supermarkets are just a few of the fun things to do in this area.
There are several self-catered apartments and guesthouses on the island of La Digue that cost less than £40 per night. So if you stay there, you will most likely find budget-friendly accommodation more easily than Mahe.
Here are three budget options to stay in Mahe, Seychelles, on a budget:
- South Hill Villa is just £77 for a Deluxe Double Room.
- Papaya Guesthouse is under £62 for a one-bedroom villa
- Sunbird Bungalow is another great, cheap option in the Seychelles.
Getting Food on a Budget in Seychelles
Restaurants can easily make the Seychelles an expensive place to visit. But fortunately, almost all budget-friendly lodging comes with self-catered kitchens. If you have a tight budget, you will probably have to cook your food. When we travel, we almost always prefer to cook our meals. So, for us, this was not an issue.
A basic main course in a restaurant costs 350 rupees (£20 or $25), but high-end resorts charge more. People could easily pay £60 or $80 for a three-course meal, drinks, and service.
Choose carefully what you buy because supermarkets and the Victoria Market are not inexpensive. If you like to eat fish, you can buy fresh fish for as little as 10 rupees each. Eggs, canned food, bread, and cheese are all relatively cheap.
Everything else is more expensive because it must be imported into the Seychelles. The cost of meat, snacks, and produce can add up.
Additionally, don’t anticipate finding some common vegetables, like tomatoes, in supermarkets. Aside from importing goods, I presume they don’t use tomatoes frequently in most of their national dishes.
Seychelles doesn’t have international fast food. You can also find some pretty affordable options to either cook in your lodging or eat out at the Victoria Market and Beau Vallon.
What to do in the Seychelles on a budget
Seychelles has many free or low-cost things to do that let visitors enjoy the beauty of the islands without breaking the bank. With its palm trees, white-sand beaches, and warm turquoise waters, the Seychelles is a perfect place to explore on a budget.
In all honesty, the islands’ best deal is on the beaches. The majority of beaches allow free entry, so even those with five-star resorts are accessible to the general public. In contrast to other nations, where you must stay at a luxurious resort to access the beach, the Seychelles are completely different!
We went to so many beautiful beaches close to or part of the most famous and luxurious resorts. The Banyan Tree Resort, the Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas, and the Four Seasons Hotel were among them. The Four Seasons Hotel, Banyan Tree Resort, and Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas were among them.
So you don’t have to walk through the hotel grounds; you can usually access the beach from the road. You might need to walk for a while to reach some beaches from where you parked, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Petite Anse Beach is a great example. Also, be ready for the walk.
Although it is very hilly, it is worth it once you reach the beach. All major beaches have bus stops and off-road parking. Check the signs before swimming because strong currents make some beaches unsafe for swimming (Anse Intendance Beach is a great example of a beach with strong currents).
Anse Source d’Argent beach on La Digue island is the most well-known beach in the Seychelles, in addition to being able to view the most popular beaches in the world. You can visit it for free.
Aside from the famous beaches, there is much more to see, like the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens and the emerald-green rainforests that lead to beautiful powdery beaches with coconut trees.
Swimming, snorkelling, and sunbathing are free at Anse Source d’Argent, Anse Lazio, and Beau Vallon. The rare Coco de Mer can be seen in nature preserves and marine parks like Vallee de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Also, hiking in Morne Seychellois National Park and going to local markets are great ways to learn about the culture.
ACTIVITIES I WOULD RECOMMEND
Budget Planning Tips for Visiting Seychelles
Even though we did not plan to go to the Seychelles at first, for obvious reasons, we do not regret making it our honeymoon destination. I would say we spent a little more than we normally would on a trip, but that was an exception since it was our honeymoon.
However, if you are planning to visit Seychelles on a budget, it is important to have an estimated budget for Seychelles beforehand for several reasons:
Cost Planning
Knowing the estimated budget lets you plan expenses and allocate funds. The Seychelles Islands are renowned for their exclusivity and beauty, but they can also be an expensive travel destination. By creating an estimated budget, you can decide how much you need to save or set aside for your trip, including lodging, meals, transportation, activities, and other costs.
You might also like: Everything you need to know about visiting Mauritius on a budget! from that travel.
Avoiding Overspending
With a set budget, you can limit your spending and avoid going overboard. Seychelles has a wide range of options, from high-end resorts to cheap places to stay. Having a budget helps you make choices that fit your own financial needs.
Choosing Budget Accommodation
There are many different kinds of places to stay in the Seychelles, and the prices vary. You can choose accommodations within your budget by setting a budget. Having a budget makes it easier to find the ideal lodging without sacrificing quality or comfort, whether it’s a budget hotel or a high-end resort.
Planning budget activities
There are a lot of things to do and see in the Seychelles, like exploring nature reserves, doing water sports, and going to cultural sites. Some activities may have extra costs, and if you have a rough budget, you can prioritise and plan which activities you can afford and want to do.
Managing Transportation
The Seychelles has many islands, and you can get around by plane, ferry, or public transportation. Having a budget helps you consider how much inter-island travel will cost and plan transport accordingly.
For our island hop to La Digue, we arranged transport from our accommodation to the Mahe harbour and bought ferry tickets at the harbour without tour help. This was cheaper and more flexible than going on an official inter-island ferry trip to the Seychelles.
Avoiding Financial Stress
As was already said, the Seychelles is not a place where you can wing it and find a good deal at the last minute. So, if you want to visit, you must plan carefully.
If you don’t have a budget for your trip, you could end up with unexpected costs and financial stress. And you don’t want to end up in that situation in the Seychelles.
By figuring out the budget ahead of time, you can have peace of mind, knowing that you have planned for your expenses and have enough money to cover your needs during your time in the Seychelles. Even when unexpected costs come up, you’re sure to be happy! I always advise travellers to budget for the unexpected.
Final Note
So, is it possible to travel on a budget to the Seychelles? Well, kind of! Seychelles is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind place that can be enjoyed on a budget. You can make the most of your trip without breaking the bank if you plan it well.
There are a lot of ways to enjoy this paradise without spending too much money. You can stay in cheap hotels, eat at local restaurants, and do free things like hiking and swimming. These tips will help you enjoy the Seychelles without breaking the bank.
Remember that it’s easy to spend more, so Seychelles is a place where you should always keep an eye on your budget, but it’s worth it at least once in your life to get a taste of this paradise.
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