Seychelles was better than expected for backpacker like me. Good things are cheap bus which cover the whole island (in Mahe) though the number is few and everybody can speak English and they are also friendly. The bad thing is a bit expensive accommodation (minimum around 70 Euros) and restaurant (minimum about 10 USD in a small restaurant) for backpacker standard. The beaches were wonderful. Anse Source d’Argent in La Digue, Anse Lazio in Praslin, Beau Vallon and Anse Royale in Mahe were the beaches made me saying Wow at first sight.
my highlight
1. Admiring beauty at Anse Source d’Argent beach in La Digue and Anse Lazio beach in Praslin 2. Seeing how resemble Coco der Mer to human being in vital instruments at Valle de Mai (Praslin) 3. Stay at Beau Vallon beach in Mahe with beautiful beach and convenient location. 4. Beach hopping by public bus in Mahe. 5. Dancing with local at Creole Festival Ball at Victoria.
itinerary
30-Oct-09 Arrived in Mahe Airport by Emirates. Walked around Victoria, see the bazaar at Creole Festival. Stayed in Beau Vallon Bungalow. 31-Oct-09 Joined tour “2 Island Melody” by Creole Travel Services company to La Digue and Praslin (Vallee de Mai, Anse Lazio). Night joint the dance ball for Creole Festival at Victoria. 1-Nov-09 Visited a church in Beau Vallon, went to Victoria and did the beach hopping with public bus to Anse Royale and Baie Lazare. Swam at Beau Vallon.
my review
Money - 1 USD = 13 Rupee; 1 Euro = 17 Rupee - ATM is a lot especially in Victoria’s Independence Avenue. I could withdraw money from my Japanese Citibank account at Barclay Bank’s ATM. The Barclay’s ATM near Pirate Arm Restaurant gave clean and new money. There is also one in the Airport.
Visa Not required, but I had to show hotel booking (Immigration staff called the hotel to confirm) and return ticket.
Transportation - Bus in Mahe was cheap 7 Rupees per ride. The Route map was in the board in Victoria terminal and the copy could be found in the Tourist Information in Victoria (Independence Ave.). All buses to north and south Victoria will end/start at the Bus Terminal in Victoria. To Beau Vallon, take bus with "...via Beau Vallon" depart from Platform "I". - From Airport to Victoria by any bus going north (right) at bus stop just in front of the airport. 7 Rupees. To Beau Vallon, have to change bus in Victoria bus terminal. - Chartered taxi from Beau Vallon hotel to airport was 350 Rupees or 25 Euros. - Chartered taxi from Beau Vallon to Victoria was 100 Rupees at night. - Taxi was all private/ individual with “TAXI” indication on top of the car. No taxi company. One recommended driver, Antoine tel.522381. - Tour (full day trip, picked-up at hotel about 6:20 am and returned to hotel about 19:30) by Creole Travel Services from Mahe to Praslin (Valle de Mai and Anse Lazio, lunch at Britania Hotel) and La Digue (Anse Source d’Argent and L’Union) was 155 Euros. Creole Travel Services was in the clock tower. Good day excursion. They also have other day trip tours. - Regarding tour agencies, during my research before traveling, I found Holidays Seychelles was good in responding email. Their price for La Digue and Prasling one day trip was 150 Euros. During my stay I saw that the biggest companies were Creole Travel Agencies and Maison’s, I saw them everywhere in the island.
Accommodation - Beau Vallon Bungalow (http://www.beauvallonbungalows.com). Good room and garden, good location near Beau Vallon beach and close to restaurants Baobab Pizza and buffet style Boat House. Recommended if you don’t mind that the Receptionist was most of the time not available. 75 Euros per night if paid by cash (bargained from 85 Euros). Room with bathroom, AC, refrigerator and safety box. Breakfast included. Same location (at the back side) with Romance Bungalow. - In my search to other budget accommodation, I found following hotels. Georgina's Cottage Guesthouse in Beau Vallon, Mahe (georgina@seychelles.net): Recommended in LP, but was full when I inquired. Email response was good. Panorama Guesthouse in Beau Vallon, Mahe: Recommended in LP. The reservation system was only through their website, which sometimes error. I failed to make reservation due to system error in correspondence system in their website. 75 Euros per night. Villa de Roses in Beau Vallon, Mahe (vderoses@seychelles.net): Room with kitchen 100 Euros per night. Good email response. Reef Holiday Apartment in Anse Aux Pins, Mahe (reefholiap@intelvision.net): Room only 66 Euros (breakfast is 10 Euros for full English and 5 Euros for Continental). Rosemary’s Guest House: was full. Aubergean Anse Boileau (www.aubergeanseboileau.com): was full
- During my stay in Beau Vallon, I had a chance to see these luxury hotels in Beau Vallon. Berjaya: Not so stylish and look like old resort hotel. There is Taxi stand stand-by 24 hours which is useful to take to go to Victoria. Le Meridien Fishermen Cove: Very stylish.
Eating - Pizza at Baobab Pizza in Beau Vallon was about 70-90 Rupees, beer was 35 Rupees, Spaghetti was about 70-90 Rupees. - In the stall on the street (if any), a small sausage Kebab was 15 Rupees, a pork chop was 30 Rupees, a hamburger was 25 Rupees. - Buffet restaurant at Anse Royale (Mahe) was 220 Rupees. Coffee not included. - Buffet at Boat House Restaurant (Beau Vallon, Mahe) was 350 Rupees. There was live show (2 people playing drum and sing) every night. - Pirate Arms Restaurant (Victoria). Beer was 34 Rupees.
Sightseeing and others - Mass service in most churches is at 7 and 9 AM every Sunday. There is English service in Mt.Fleury just south of Victoria at 5 PM. - On Sundays, Victoria will become like a ghost town, no shops open except Pirate Arm Restaurant and two small shops. - Creole Festival, was not that worth to visit. I was on the last 2 days, and the events were only bazaar at a park near on Independence Avenue and several dance parties. Looking the local people dance was interesting though.