Congratulations! You’re one step closer to booking your flight to Seychelles, an island nation located off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean.
Hopefully, you’ve already researched important topics like popular things to do in Seychelles and when’s the best time to visit. Today, let’s examine one crucial factor that you’ll also need to consider before scheduling your trip: Is Seychelles expensive to visit?
Currency Rates in Seychelles
First, let’s start with a showing of how the Seychellois Rupee stacks up against popular currencies used around the world as of the end of 2022. Due note, the amounts shown in the article will be shown in US Dollars.
$1 US = 13.58 SCR
Euro = 14.33 SCR
Australian Dollar = 9.25 SCR
Canadian Dollar = 10.12 SCR
Indian Rupee = 0.16 SCR
Chinese Renminbi = 1.95 SCR
Accommodation
Wondering what type of accommodation you’ll find in Seychelles, and most importantly, are they expensive? As a popular travel destination consisting of 3 main islands—Mahe, La Digue, and Praslin—Seychelles is equipped with everything from hotels, villas, and massive resorts, to guesthouses, apartments, and Airbnb rentals.
The prices for accommodation in Seychelles vary from inexpensive, to moderate, expensive, and luxury living, but even then their prices are typically significantly higher than what you’ll find in popular budget-friendly island regions like Bali and Thailand.
Expect hotel rates to start around $50 and increase to as much as $2,200 per night (Trust me, I’ve just seen it listed on Google’s hotel search).
For a nice beachfront hotel, you’ll more than likely need to spend at least $150 to $300 a day. Here are a few recommendations to look into:
$ – Glacis Heights Villa, Le Chateau Bleu, Coco Bay Villa
$$ – Carana Hilltop Villa, Bayview Seychelles, Berjaya Praslin Resort
$$$ – Savoy Seychelles Resort, DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles Allamanda Resort and Spa
WTF – Constance Lemuria Praslin Seychelles, Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas
Transportation
Seychelles is equipped with public bus transportation on Mahe and Praslin. Bus fare is a mere 40 cents a ride so you won’t need to dig into your pockets to get around.
Plus, although you can travel by boat, cruise, and even helicopter, ferry boats are the cheapest and most convenient way to visit Seychelles’ different islands. Tickets from Mahe to Praslin are $50, while ferrying between Praslin and La Digue are $15.
Speaking of which, in La Digue, the island is very tiny, so it’s recommended to take a bicycle rental to get across town. Expect to pay $10 or less for a daily rental.
Attractions
Most of the things to do in Seychelles, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and boat trips, consist of tagging along on a tour or having some kind of guide, which can set you back moneywise. Nevertheless, as an island paradise, you’ll still find plenty of free to inexpensive adventurous things to do that you can complete on your own.
You can go on hiking trails, check out the botanical gardens on Mahe, visit coconut and vanilla plantations, feed giant Aldabra tortoises on Praslin, and of course, relax on any one of the beautiful coastal beaches on any island.
What’s the Verdict?
Unfortunately, yes, Seychelles is expensive. Nevertheless, the beautiful island nation is still worth visiting whether you’re looking for a budgeted trip or a vacation where you’ve got wads of cash to blow. Whichever way you decide to choose, just make sure that you’ve taken plenty of days off work to enjoy your stay. Safe and happy travels!
