Travelling to the Seychelles may sound like a luxury endeavour. The kind of trip that you might blow your life savings on. But there’s good news. There is a way to travel to the Seychelles on a shoestring budget and soak up everything that this tropical paradise has to offer. Start off your budget-friendly dream vacation to Seychelles by getting the best flight and accommodation deals at Cheapflights.co.za then take a look at our complete budget traveller guide to the Seychelles.
1. Travel off-season
The first place to start when trying to get to the Seychelles on a budget, is with your flight. All it takes is a bit of strategic planning. For starters, you can use Cheapflights.co.za, which allows you to search and compare flights, hotels and car hire deals from hundreds of providers – from small, up-and-coming travel agents to larger tried-and-true brands – all in one place.
The peak season in the Seychelles is during the months of May to August. During these months, low rainfall and mild breezes make for the perfect holiday weather. For budget travellers, these are the months to avoid. Even if you book far in advance, you can expect high accommodation and entertainment rates when you touch down. The low season stretches from mid-December through to March and attracts fewer tourists due to high rainfall and high humidity. From early January to March is the best time to book the cheapest flights to the Seychelles, if you don’t mind occasional bursts of rain. Temperatures rarely drop below 24˚C so either way, you’ll enjoy a pleasant climate even when it’s raining. Also, be as flexible as possible with your departure and return dates – it could save you up to R1000 on your flight price.
2. Go self-catering
When travelling to the Seychelles, you’ll need to look out for accommodation on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. These islands are by far the most developed and have the biggest range in terms of different accommodation types to suit all budgets. If you’re picturing hotel accommodation with beachfront access and the best views, know that you’ll pay a pretty penny for it. Five-star hotels start at around R5000 per night, excluding food. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, then self-catering is the way to go. There are a number of villas, chalets and guest houses available that are not too far from the beach and offer basic facilities like air-con, a housekeeping service and a fully equipped kitchen. Self-catering units will cost you from R800 – R1000 a night. It’s not exactly backpacker prices, but it is the cheapest option. As an added benefit, most guest houses offer one meal as part of the deal, so you’ll have a chance to sample some local cuisine.
3. Use the public transport
If you’re on Mahé or Praslin, the cheapest way to travel around is the bus, which operates from 05:30 AM to 20:30 PM. All day fare trips cost R5. Bus trips with air-con cost R10. Special night circular services at 20:30 PM operate from Monday to Saturday, tracing the Northern and Southern parts of Mahé, at the cost of R8 per trip. The Mahé bus schedule can be downloaded here. Praslin also has a public bus service which operates from 05:50 AM to 18:20 PM and costs a flat fee of R7 per trip. Buses depart every 30 – 45 minutes. The Praslin bus schedule can be downloaded here.
If you want to hop between islands, booking a ferry trip is your best option. Prices fluctuate according to the time of departure and the class of ticket you purchase. Economy Class is the cheapest option – the Main Cabin is situated on sea level and is closed, while the Upper Cabin is situated outside, upstairs with spray protection. Tickets cost R710 for a one-way trip between Mahé and Praslin in the Economy Main Cabin. The cost from Mahé to La Digue is R910 for a one-way trip in the Economy Main Cabin. Ferries leave from the Inter Island Quay/Victoria jetty in Mahé, the Praslin Quay/Baie Sainte Anne Jetty in Praslin and the La Passe Quay/Jetty in La Digue. There is a surcharge for the Economy Upper Cabin, which is R72. Buying a return ticket will save you about R145 per ticket. Try to keep your island-hopping to a minimum, as these costs can really start to add up.
The price of renting a car is dependent on a variety of different factors. As demand increases, so do car rental prices, so booking ahead will almost always save you money. To keep costs low, choose a smaller car like a Kia Picanto or a Toyota Aygo. You can search for great care hire deals on Cheapflights.co.za. Rates start at around R700 per day, and don’t forget to add in the cost of the petrol. Currently, petrol costs R20 per litre in Mahé and a day of touring around the island in a small car will set you back about a quarter tank of petrol, which amounts to R150. Plan your route to keep your petrol consumption low, and if you’re travelling in a group and can split the cost of the car rental, that’s even better.
4. Keep your dining costs low
Stay away from hotel restaurants and you’ll be able to keep your meal costs relatively low. Fast food is your best bet. Bear in mind that most of the food on the islands is imported, so your cheapest groceries are chicken, fruit, vegetables and rice. Reserve about R1000 per week for groceries if you’re planning to cook your own meals. To give you a relative idea of the cost of some of the most popular food options, here is a current price list for Mahé (updated March 2017).
• Coke/Pepsi (340ml can): R19
• Water (1.5 litre bottle): R20
• Domestic Beer (0.25 litre bottle): R28
• Imported Beer (0.33 litre bottle): R45
• Bottle of wine (mid-range): R162.50
• Milk (1 litre): R21.67
• Loaf of bread: R14
• Rice (1 kg): R27
• Chicken breasts (1 kg): R65
• Beef round (1 kg): R185
• Apples (1 kg): R64
• Bananas (1 kg): R35
• Tomatoes (1 kg): R81
• Potatoes (1 kg): R32.50
You can save even more by taking your own alcohol into the Seychelles rather than buying drinks from the local restaurants. The allowance at customs is 2 litres of spirits and 2 litres of wine.
Victoria Market on Mahé is a great place to shop for takeaway food as well as fresh produce. If you don’t yet know how to barter, Victoria Market is where you’ll learn this handy skill. Village Take Away on Praslin is another go-to spot. It specialises in Creole food and is situated just outside Grand Anse, on the way to the airport. Gala Takeaway on La Digue has great tourist ratings and is a great place to get cheap, local food.
5. Choose affordable activities
When you’re on the islands, look for activities that you can do cheaply or for free. Tourists who are especially interested in immersing themselves in the culture and history of the Seychelles will quickly realise that there’s lots to do and see on a budget. Some of these activities include…
Swimming
All beaches on Mahé are freely open to the public. Take your snorkelling gear and discover the underwater world of this region or pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. Some highly rated beaches are Beau Vallon, Anse Forbans and Petite Anse. Free parking and facilities are available at the majority of the bigger beaches.
National Botanic Gardens
Situated at the heart of Seychelles’ capital, Victoria and a 10-minute walk south of the city centre, you’ll find this oasis of nature. Major attractions include the spice grove, a pen of giant tortoises and a mini rainforest with a café. This experience in nature is worth it at R100 for a ticket.
Visiting the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple
The only Hindu temple in the Seychelles was built in 1992 and named after Lord Vinayagar, the Hindu god of safety and prosperity. It’s a peaceful place to visit for a meditative break. The opening hours are from 06H00 to 12H00 and 17H00 to 21H00 Monday to Sunday. Entrance is free to all visitors.
Hire a bike
For R145 a day, you can rent a bike and use it to tour La Digue. It’s the perfect island for cycling due to the shortage of four-wheeled transport. Many of the locals get around using bicycles, so join in the fun, explore the beautiful scenery and get some exercise while doing it.
Tea factory
Established in 1962, the tea factory on Mahé offers tours around the plantation. Enjoy a freshly brewed cup of tea overlooking the western side of Morne Blanc – it’s one of the finest viewing spots on the island. Here, you’ll discover how local tea is made. A guided tour costs only R25.
Snorkelling
The crystal clear waters of Anse Lazio on Praslin are the perfect place to snorkel and catch a glimpse of the majestic marine life, from green sea turtles to scorpion fish. Most guest houses and dive shops on the beach have snorkelling gear for hire at a reasonable cost. For hygiene reasons, you may want to take your own mask and snorkel, and hire the fins.
So, is that a trip to Seychelles beginning to seem not entirely out of question? You might even say it is quite affordable? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Start planning your holiday with Cheapflights.co.za, where you can find flights, hotel deals and car hire all in one place.
And if the Seychelles aren’t for you, then check out our budget guides to Morocco or Mauritius for some more inspiration.
