Authored by Omiete Charles-Davies
Seychelles is an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, made up of 115 islands. It’s an extremely beautiful place, and one of the world’s top honeymoon picks, due to its serene natural environment and those stunningly picturesque beaches.
Picture this: gently swaying palms, pure white powdery sand, and unrealistic blue seas; Seychelles invented the romantic vacation!
After having recently taken my honeymoon on the islands, I’ve put together some important tips you should keep in mind for your trip. This will help you prevent avoidable mistakes so you can maximize your bonding!
Oh, and congratulations!
Important Things to Know Before Honeymooning in Seychelles
You Don’t Need To Stay At An Expensive Hotel
When you arrive in the Seychelles, most apartments are within walking distance to a beach, so there is really no need to pay thousands of dollars a night to enjoy a romantic time.
The Seychelles is often perceived as an expensive location, and this can be true if you let it (like any destination, you can easily spend as much as you want here), but it’s the location that’s actually romantic, and resorts and hotels can often blow your budget.
Instead of going for a top hotel, why not pick a budget self-catering apartment. This is likely to cost you anywhere between 30-45 USD per night, and you’ll benefit from many facilities like a T.V, free breakfast, A.C, kitchen, and a lot more space than you get from a hotel room.
It’s actually amazing most people opt for resorts!
Plus, there’s nothing more romantic than being able to return home, not having to start your married life paying off honeymoon debt!
They Use Euros, Not US Dollars
The official currency of Seychelles is the Rupee, however, most restaurants, cash machines, and vendors readily accept Euros. While some vendors will accept USD, Euro is the most commonly accepted currency.
You don’t need to carry a lot of cash for your trip, you can simply use your bank card at an ATM, and there’s usually one not far from you if you ask. The main bank is called Barclays.
Even if your bank card is domiciled in dollars, the cash machines are able to convert it to Euros or Rupees is using a fairly standard exchange rate. My wife and I used a US Dollar card for our trip and didn’t have any problems.
Visit More Than One Island
This is one of the most important hacks of visiting Seychelles. Each of the 115 islands is unique, so I would suggest you plan to visit at least two of the islands. I mean, you’ve flown all the way there, why not maximize your time in paradise!
My wife and I split our honeymoon across three islands; Mahe (the main island), Praslin, and La Digue. We spent a total of 7 nights in the Seychelles, with 2 nights on each island, with one additional night at the end on Mahe.
The reason why we booked one more night in Mahe after returning from La Digue is that the main airport is located here, and we didn’t want to rush from La Digue straight to the airport. One more night gave some flexibility to our schedule.
Book Ferries Ahead of Your Trip
The islands of the Seychelles are interconnected by ferries, and it’s very easy to island hop between them. That said, if you plan to visit more than one island, don’t forget to book a ferry ahead of time.
Ferries do book out, and if you leave it to the last minute you’re not guaranteed a slot. You can visit seyferry.com, and the prices for the legs we took are as follows:
Price of Seychelles Ferries
➤ Mahe to Praslin- 50 Euros
➤ Praslin to La Digue- 14 Euros
➤ Mahe To La Digue- 60 Euros
After booking, you’ll get an email confirming your tickets. It’s best to print it out before embarking on your trip because you’ll need to present this when it’s boarding time. Also, please don’t be late. The ferries keep to time.
Just like at the airport, you’ll need to check some luggage in and keep a small bag as hand luggage. The ferries are very organized, so you’ll need to make sure you are too!
Rent A Car
Public transportation isn’t great in Seychelles, so if you’re planning on exploring the island/s it’s advisable to rent a car. This cost us 40 Euros per day, though you can always negotiate with the car rental companies.
We didn’t rent ahead of our trip, instead, we chose a rental company at the airport which came packaged with our tickets for the ferry. This suggestion is valid only for Mahe and Praslin islands.
In La Digue, you’ll need to rent a bicycle because there are very few cars on this island. Most people commute by riding, so this is also a great way to blend in with the locals.
Taking your honeymoon in the Seychelles? Tell us in the comments which islands!