It is often believed that holidays in Seychelles are restricted to extravagant travellers. In contrast, budget travellers can easily plan a holiday without burning a hole in their pockets. Here are few tips for budget travellers intending to spend their next holiday in this archipelago.
Seychelles is a beautiful holiday destination where resplendence and serenity thrive in abundance. The island-nation is frequented by millions of travellers, year on year. Moreover, a significant portion of them are budget-conscious vacationers who are concerned about their holiday costs. Contrary to popular perception that Seychelles is only for the rich, the island warmly welcomes holidaymakers with relatively low budget. Find out ways and means through which budget-conscious travellers can organise a pocket-friendly yet gratifying holiday in the region.
Flights
- Flights to the Seychelles are bit pricey due to its popularity and different other factors. Britons are advised to book tickets in advance in order to avoid extremely high prices.
- Air Seychelles, KLM and Air France are the most prominent air carriers offering air tickets on the route. Comparing air fares through price-matching websites is considered a smart approach.
- Rainy season i.e. from October to April is an off-season when budget travellers can make hay of the discounted air fares and low hotel tariffs. Always avoid planning vacations during busy high season which runs from December to January and June to August.
- It is advisable to board flights from less popular international airports and on weekdays.
Accommodation
- Try to invest on all-inclusive holiday packages that remain a smart way to save considerably on your holiday cost. These include all the major expenses such as flights, accommodations, transfers and more. A good number of travel agencies and operators offer a vast range of economical packages for Seychelles holidays. Seek such deals and enjoy the most affordable yet rewarding vacation.
- Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are the three main islands of Seychelles which are dotted with a plethora of reasonably priced places to stay.
- With several home stays, guesthouses and B&Bs, these islands are becoming much more affordable for global budget travellers. These accommodation choices assure comfortable stay within the budget. Panorama Guesthouse, Casa De Leela and Pension Hibiscus are among the budget-friendly options that can be considered.
- Family vacationers may look for self-catering villas which are a great way of cutting the entire holiday costs.
- The vacationers are even advised to stay at one particular place rather than hopping between different islands. Most accommodation options around these islands offer special discounted rates to travellers making a longer stay.
Transportation
- Flexibility is a key factor that substantially reduces the cost of your holiday. Try to be comfortable with different timings and modes of transportation, if possible.
- Travel via public transport for commuting from one place to another during holidays in Seychelles. Take advantage of inter-island ferries and bus services to get around.
- For island-hopping, prefer boarding Cat Cocos (Mahé to Praslin) and La Belle Seraphina (Mahé to La Digue) instead of travelling by flights.
- Hiring a bike, scooter or bicycle is a superb choice for getting around in popular islands.
- Public Bus is cheap and most reliable option (particularly between Mahé and Praslin) for roaming within the islands and getting to prominent beaches and sites.
Sightseeing and Activity
- Travellers must make a list of attractions to see and activities to experience. Spending unnecessarily on expensive pursuits is a sheer waste.
- Add free and cheap attractions in your travel itineraries.
- Recreational activities are also equally popular amongst travellers. Golf, badminton, squash, tennis and biking are some affordable and great ways to spend a day.
- There is a myriad of natural and wildlife delights which catch the fancy of nature lovers boarding flights arriving in the island. Praslin and Vallee de Mai are two major attractions to head for.
Eating
- Resort and hotel restaurants prove to be fairly expensive in Seychelles. On the other hand, the region is crammed full of cheap eateries along beachside. These eating places dole out high quality meals at extremely reasonable prices.
- Cafes and stalls along the coastline are the hot favourites of budget travellers booking tickets on flights to the island-nation. Local delicacies including Creole Chicken and Octopus Curry tend to be appropriate meals.
- The local markets of Mahé and Beau Vallon feature some trendy cut-price eateries and also sell fresh vegetables and fruits. These may be stocked up for some self-cooking in the hotel.
