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Travel TipsSeychelles

:: Budget Your Holiday

The following is a list of prices of certain essential commodities intended to give visitors an idea of their daily costs.
Bottle of Water: SCR5 - SCR10
Bottle of Seybrew (local beer): SCR12.25 - SCR15
Bottle of Wine: Restaurant SCR150+
Bottle of Wine: Retail SCR65+
Bottle of Champagne : SCR200+
Bottle of Soft Drink (e.g. Coca Cola): SCR6 -SCR10 in hotels. Retail SCR4.50
Pizza (for 2): SCR60
20 Cigarettes: SCR20 - SCR45
Whisky: SCR25 per tot
Whisky: SCR200+ per bottle from a shop
Litre of petrol: SCR7.85
Set lunch Menu: SCR150+ at a restaurant Lunch: SCR30+ at a takeaway establishment
Taxi: Int’l. Airport to Victoria - SCR69
Taxi: Praslin airport to Côte d’Or - SCR112

:: Communications

The international dialling code for Seychelles is 248.Seychelles enjoys modern, efficient communication services. There are two GSM networks, Cable and Wireless and Airtel. Payphones are available in most districts on the Inner Islands . International roaming agreements exist between Seychelles and several countries. Internet service providers, Internet cafés, postal and courier services are located in central Victoria . There are several Internet cafés in the Beau Vallon area on Mahé, as well as on Praslin and La Digue. Postal services are also available on Praslin and La Digue.

:: Credit Cards

MasterCard / Access and Visa cards are widely accepted - Diners Club and American Express to a lesser extent - for car hire, hotel and restaurant expenses. Shops and boutiques which accept credit cards will display the signs on their doors.ATM facilities exist at major banks on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. These provide cash in local currency.

:: Custom Fomalities

There is a duty free allowance for all liquors (including wine, beer, stout, ale and port) perfumes and tobacco.

400 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco
2 litres of Spirits or 2 litres of wine
200ml of Perfume or Eau de Toilette

All personal possessions to be re-exported on departure are exempted from tax. In addition to the duty free allowances listed above, each visitor may import tax-free a video camera, other camera, musical instrument, portable electronic or electric equipment, sports requisites and other leisure equipment.Offensive weapons such as stun guns, mace, bows and arrows, knuckle dusters, daggers, swords, tear gas, whips, firearms and ammunition are prohibited imports unless the appropriate import permit or official authorization has been obtained in advance from the relevant authorities.This also applies to spear guns, fireworks, pyrotechnic products and explosives of any kind.
The import of plants and parts of plants, animals and animal products, biological specimens, radioactive substances and apparatus, dangerous drugs, chemicals, medicines, pharmaceutical items and poisons is forbidden without the necessary import permit or official authorization having been obtained in advance from the relevant authorities.The value of food items brought into Seychelles by a passenger must not be in excess of the SCR3000 personal/household allowance unless the relevant import permit has been obtained in advance.Pornography, obscene articles, publications, video tapes and software are strictly forbidden.Where goods are imported in excess of allowances, payment of import tax is to be made in cash (or personal cheque drawn on a local account). Credit card facilities are not available for the payment of import tax.

:: Getting Around

Transportation on the main islands of Mahé and Praslin takes the form of a regular bus service, taxis or self-drive/chauffeured car hire. Transfer between islands is available through a regular network of air and sea transport operating out of Mahé.On the enchanting island of La Digue where tradition still holds sway over island ways, the best way to get about is either by ox-cart or bicycle.A bicycle is also the way to explore the secrets of those outer islands offering accommodation.

:: Health Regulations

There is NO risk of contracting malaria, yellow fever, cholera or other common tropical diseases in Seychelles .
No vaccinations are required except in the case of yellow fever where a vaccination is required for travellers over 1 year of age who have come from, or passed through a partly or wholly infected area within the preceding 6 days. Infected areas include certain parts of northern and central South America and Central Africa . ( South Africa is not considered as an infected area.)Persons travelling to Seychelles via Nairobi , Kenya and who remain in transit in Kenya , do not require a vaccination against yellow fever.

:: Medical / Dental Facilities

Medical facilities and call-out doctors are available to visitors on request from accommodation establishments and island resorts.Private clinics/doctors’ rates vary. A call-out can cost from SCR350 to SCR500 and a consultation in a clinic for all non-residents ranges from SCR70 to SCR150.Government clinics are located in most areas and charge a fee of SCR100 for non-resident consultation.For emergency situations please call 999.The Intensive Care Unit Head Quarters is at the Victoria Hospital, Mont Fleuri, Mahé. Tel. 38 80 00.
There are several dental outlets on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Clinics are generally open from 0800 to 1600 and call-outs can also be made for visitors on request from most accommodation establishments. The average charge for oral examinations, extractions and dressings is SCR100 for government dental clinics and SCR300 for private dental clinics.

:: Money and Banking

The local currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SCR). The Seychelles Rupee is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in 5, 10, 25 cents, and 1 and 5 Rupee denominations. Notes come in 10, 25, 50 and 100 Rupee denominations.Exchange rates are published in the local newspaper, the Seychelles Nation on Tuesdays and Fridays (see www.nation.sc), and at all banks.Banking hours are generally Monday-Friday 0800hrs-1400hrs, and Saturday 0800hrs-1100hrs. All banks process travellers cheques and foreign exchange transactions. Passports are required for visitors’ transactions and nominal commissions may be charged.Visitors must, by law, pay for all their excursions, board and lodging and all other services provided by hotels, guesthouses and self-catering establishments in major international currency notes, or by credit card. Other services payable in foreign exchange include: car hire, diving, boat charter, ferry or air transportation, excursions, entrance fees (to reserves, marine parks, etc.). Effective 1st July 2004 , costs for taxis and for restaurants not forming part of a hotel may be settled using either foreign or local currency. Other incidental purchases are payable in local currency.Exchanging foreign currency into Seychelles Rupees must ONLY be done at banks, authorised money dealers at the Seychelles International Airport , or with the hotel cashier.
BE WARNED! It is a criminal offence to change money with any person or business other than those authorised and mentioned above.Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Seychelles . If you require Rupees, it is advisable to exchange only what you need on a daily basis. To re-exchange Seychelles Rupees into foreign currency on your departure from Seychelles , you MUST produce the official receipt from your initial authorised dealer to the bank. Banks are allowed to convert up to SCR 800 per passenger back into foreign currency with a valid boarding card issued by the airline as well as the original purchase receipt. Your money will not be re-converted into foreign currency without this receipt!

:: Personal safety

Seychelles enjoys a low level of crime. However, it is advisable to take routine precautions.Swimming alone on isolated beaches or leaving yachts unlocked at their moorings is not advisable. It is also not recommended to carry large sums of money or valuables on your person. Most accommodation establishments have room or reception safes to secure your valuables – please take advantage of this service.

::Public holidays

LOCAL HOLIDAYS 2007
Jan 01 - 02 , 2007	New Year
Apr 6, 2007	Good Friday
Apr 9, 2007	Easter Monday
May 01, 2007	Labor Day
Jun 05, 2007	Liberation Day
Jun 7, 2007	Corpus Christi
Jun 18, 2007	National Day
Jun 29, 2007	Independence Day
Aug 15, 2007	Assumption Day
Nov 01, 2007	All Saints' Day
Dec 08, 2007	Immaculate Conception
Dec 25, 2007	Christmas Day

LOCAL HOLIDAYS 2008
Jan 01 - 02 , 2008	New Year
Mar 21, 2008	Good Friday
Mar 24, 2008	Easter Monday
May 01, 2008	Labor Day
Jun 05, 2008	Liberation Day
May 22, 2008	Corpus Christi
Jun 18, 2008	National Day
Jun 29, 2008	Independence Day
Aug 15, 2008	Assumption Day
Nov 01, 2008	All Saints' Day
Dec 08, 2008	Immaculate Conception
Dec 25, 2008	Christmas Day

:: Time difference

Seychelles is 4 hours ahead of GMT, 3 hours ahead of British summer time and 2 hours ahead of European summer time. You will enjoy almost 12 hours of daylight throughout the year. Sunrise occurs just after 0600hrs with the sun setting around 1830hrs.

:: Tipping

Most charges (restaurant, hotel, taxis, porters, etc) already include a 5% to 10% service charge or "tip" and tipping is not obligatory in Seychelles . However, we consider the care of customers to be extremely important and appreciation of exceptional service is therefore warmly received.

:: Water

Tap water meets W.H.O. (World Health Organization) specifications and is safe to drink throughout the country. Because it is chlorinated, visitors are advised to drink bottled water but there is no imperative to avoid soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and ice.If you are in any way concerned about drinking water however, bottled water is widely available in shops and hotel bars.

:: What to pack

Light clothing suitable for the warm tropical climate is recommended. Visitors should be prepared for the relatively hot, humid atmosphere that can take them by surprise on disembarking on arrival.Bring hats, sunglasses and adequate UV protection -- SPF30+ is advisable. It is important to remember that even on an overcast day the tropical sun is still strong.A camera is an absolute must! Please bring a stock of film (particularly for non-standard cameras and video cameras) and batteries.Casual eveningwear (long trousers for men) together with appropriate footwear is necessary for dining out and for gaining entrance to casinos and most hotels.Sturdy walking shoes are recommended if you are booking guided walk and trail excursions.Visitors suffering from a specific medical condition should bring the necessary medication.

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