Is it possible to relax in the Seychelles on a budget? Can I pay with UnionPay cards in the island state? Can I bring alcohol into the country? Is it comfortable in the Seychelles with children? Answers to these and other frequently asked questions from tourists could be obtained on January 18 at an event hosted by tour operator Coral Travel.
On Wednesday, January 18, an event dedicated to holidays in the Seychelles was held in Moscow. Coral Travel experts and a representative of Seychelles hotels popular with Russians Savoy Resort &Spa 5* and Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel 4* spoke for the gathered travel agents.
The meeting was informative: experts discussed with travel agents many nuances of a holiday in the Seychelles: from entry rules, flight options, the right choice of resort to issues related to paying for services in the country, food and alcohol. We considered exactly those questions that are most often addressed to travel agents by tourists.
After the meeting, together with Coral Travel Elite, we compiled a memo for tourists going to the Seychelles.
WHAT ENTRY RULES APPLY TO THE SEYCHELLES< /h2>
The Seychelles have lifted all entry restrictions for tourists. Russians do not need a visa for 30 days. For entry you will need a passport, valid, which is convenient, on the date of travel. You will also need insurance covering all risks associated with covid (for organized tourists, insurance is included in the tour).
In addition, you will need to obtain an entry permit from the health department before traveling. You can get it as a QR code at https://seychelles.govtas.com.
Permission comes to e-mail quickly enough. Processing an application costs 10 euros, but you need to pay on the website with a card of international payment systems.
Russians who do not have cards valid abroad will be able to pay for this service upon arrival in cash. Or pay it at the box office of Aeroflot airline before the flight. True, in these cases the amount increases to 20 euros.
HOW AND WHAT TO FLY TO SEYCHELLES
There are different options. The most convenient way to get from Moscow to the international airport on the island of Mahe is direct Aeroflot flights. They fly twice a week. The fare for flights in early February is from 70.3 thousand rubles. in both directions per person with luggage. On the way – 9 hours. 45 min.
You can also fly with connecting flights of Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines.
HOW TO GET FROM MAE AIRPORT TO HOTELS
< p> Here everything depends on the budget. It is possible on high-speed ferries (boats), it is possible by plane, it is possible by helicopter.
Both a group transfer and an individual transfer are possible. By boat you can get to all the popular islands – Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette, Surf, Round.
Seychelles . Photo: piqsels.com
WHAT TRANSFERS ARE FOR DEMANDING TOURISTS
Let's start with the fact that discerning tourists who want to fly both to the Seychelles and to any other country are recommended by travel agents to trust a special department of Coral Travel – Coral Travel Elite. The department works with VIP applications and, according to agents, does it in such a way that even the most demanding tourists are delighted.
For them, the tour operator has developed a special service program that provides for all the nuances at all stages of the holiday. Naturally, premium tourists are also provided with their own individual transfer.
For example, helicopter transfers in the Seychelles are available to high-level hotels Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas 5* deluxe, Kempinski Seychelles 5*, Four Seasons Seychelles 5* deluxe, Constance Ephelia 5*, Raffles Seychelles 5* deluxe, Constance Lemuria 5* deluxe, Hilton Seychelles Labriz 5*.
Also on about. Mahe private transfers with premium cars are possible.
CORAL TRAVEL IS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE SEYCHELLES
The tour operator has been working with the Seychelles destination for more than a decade. The host company of Coral Travel in the Seychelles is 7 South. This is a reliable company with 20 years of experience in the Russian market.
The Seychelles range of Coral Travel is wide: 12 islands, more than 70 hotels (from budget apartments to 5* deluxe), competitive prices.
< p>You can buy a tour to the Seychelles from Coral Travel with a departure in February for at least 247.9 thousand rubles. for two for 12 nights.
WHAT MONTH IS BETTER TO FLY TO SEYCHELLES
Seychelles is a year-round destination. November to April is the wet season. The air temperature is at + 33 degrees. Humidity – 82%. May to October is the drier season. The air temperature is +28-30.
The season of “waves” begins in December. They are quite high, it is not always easy to enter the Indian Ocean. The wave season runs until the end of February. At the same time, as hoteliers say, it is the New Year period that is the most popular among Russians. So the waves do not scare the Russians.
The maximum number of cloudy days in the Seychelles is observed in January. But January also finds its tourists. These are people who have problems with blood pressure, and who do not like the heat. In addition, prices are lowest in January. This is a plus.
WHICH ISLAND IN THE SEYCHELLES TO CHOOSE FOR REST
The Seychelles consist of 115 islands, 33 of which are uninhabited. There are about 12 largest islands where hotels are located and tourists rest. Three of them are especially popular with travelers from Russia – Mahe Island, Praslin Island, La Digue Island.
There are more than 70 bay beaches and the only water entertainment center in the Seychelles on the island of Mahe.
The famous Coco de Mai nuts of a bizarre shape grow on Praslin Island, famous beaches are located – Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, as well as the Val Valley. de May, included in UNESCO.
On the island of La Digue – Anse Source d'Argens beach, proudly bearing the title of one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. There are glossy boulders, coral reefs and azure oceans and white sand beaches.
Experts recommend that tourists, if possible, combine the islands in order to get the most complete picture of the country and a lot of impressions within one trip.
HOW GOOD BEACHES ARE IN THE SEYCHELLES AND IS IT CONVENIENT TO RELAX THERE WITH CHILDREN
The beaches in the Seychelles are some of the best in the world. The entrance to the sea is gentle. Therefore, you can safely swim there with children.
There are no “sea reptiles” in the water. And jellyfish with algae too. Only during the transition from one season to another, biting plankton can appear in the water. It happens in June and September.
There are no tropical diseases or dangerous insects in the Seychelles. Therefore, you don’t even have to worry about this.
Beach on the island of La Digue. Seychelles. Photo: piqsels.com
DO THE SEYCHELLES BEACHES HAVE PARTIES
The Seychelles is, first of all, a measured and quiet holiday. According to the laws of the republic, it is forbidden to listen to loud music on the beach.
Of course, hotels invite DJs, but at 21:30 the programs are already over.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO PAY WITH UNIONPAY CARDS IN THE SEYCHELLES
From experience, payment from UnionPay payment system cards of Russian banks in the Seychelles is possible, but not always and not everywhere. Therefore, you should not rely solely on this payment method.
It is better to take dollars or euros with you and use them to buy the local currency – the Seychellois rupee. Pay attention to the year of issue of dollars. Banknotes of the year 2007 and earlier are exchanged at a rate of 25% below the real one. Therefore, ideally, you should have banknotes with a year of issue of 2013 and older.
WHAT YOU SHOULD TRY AND BUY IN THE SEYCHELLES
You should definitely try bourgeois fish or shark chutney. It is also worth a drink, or buy a local Sey Brew beer and Seychellois Takamaka rum as a gift.
IS ALCOHOL EXPENSIVE IN THE SEYCHELLES? CAN YOU BRING WITH YOU?
Locally produced alcohol is inexpensive. For example, beer at the Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel 4 * can be bought for three euros. There is also a shop near the hotel, where they sell inexpensive alcohol. You can take it with you to your hotel room.
You can also buy alcohol before arriving in the Seychelles, bringing it with you.
WHICH CHEAP AND QUALITY HOTEL TO CHOOSE IN THE SEYCHELLES
The Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel 4 * on the island of Mahe is optimal for such a request of tourists. This is one of the very first hotels in the Seychelles and it has an affordable price.
The main feature of the hotel is its location. This is the only hotel on the island, which is located just 30 meters from the ocean. Its sound can be heard on the balconies of the rooms. And from their panoramic windows every evening you can watch the purple sunset. Tourists from all the hotels on the island come here for it.
Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel 4 * on Mahe Island is located just 30 meters from the ocean. Photo: Coral Travel
The shareholders of this hotel, as well as the nearby Savoy Resort &Spa 5 *, are Russian citizens. Therefore, they understand the needs of Russians and take them into account. These two hotels rank first in the Seychelles and in terms of the number of Russian-speaking staff.
The Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel 4 * is sympathetic to the “card difficulties” of the Russians. Therefore, this hotel does not take deposits from Russians.
The only thing is that for additional services in the hotel (SPA, room service, etc.), tourists must pay immediately in cash. There were cases when tourists left “in English”, so now services are paid immediately.
Now the hotel offers discounts on accommodation up to 50%. There were also discounts during the summer. A day of accommodation was cheaper than similar options in Russian resorts.
This year, the hotel carried out important work – they changed air conditioners and appliances. A larger renovation is planned for July this year.
Another feature of the hotel is an early check-out at 10 am. But taking into account the fact that planes depart from Mahe almost always in the early morning, tourists do not feel discomfort about this.
Every Wednesday evening, a local market comes to the boardwalk next to the hotel. You can buy handicrafts and souvenirs there. Near the hotel there are cafes, restaurants where you can buy delicious pies. Or you can go to an expensive restaurant and taste delicious dishes.
WHAT IS SAVOY RESORT & SPA 5*
Savoy Resort & Spa 5 * began to receive guests in 2014. Since then, the territory of the hotel has grown noticeably: there are a lot of trees, beautiful flower beds, a tennis court, a kids club, a gym, a hammam, a sauna.
The Savoy Resort & Spa 5 * hotel has a large and green area. View from the terrace. Photo: Coral Travel
Now the hotel is developing a family holiday concept. Slides for children will appear next to the kids club, special programs will be developed for the little guests of the hotel.
The hotel is located next to the Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel 4*. And guests of one hotel, if desired, can go to the restaurants of another. For a fee, of course.
In hotels, meals are prepared under the guidance of different chefs (the chef of Savoy Resort & Spa 5 * is Sri Lankan, and Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel 4 * is French), and guests are interested in trying different dishes.
Beach , both at one and the other hotel – snow-white and extended (several kilometers). This allows tourists to walk and enjoy nature.
WHAT ARE THE FOOD TYPES IN SAVOY RESORT & SPA 5*
Tourists can order only breakfast, or half board, or three meals a day. The hotel also has several offers for drinks. The standard package, which costs 30 euros per day (children – 15 euros), includes 2 drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) for lunch and dinner.
And you can order a premium package. It costs 100 euros per day and gives unlimited access to any drinks from 11 am and 11 pm. All drinks included: juices, tea, coffee, water, premium alcohol and local alcoholic drinks.
The hotel also serves champagne for breakfast. But only at the Savoy Resort & Spa 5*. Not at Coral Strand Smart Choice Hotel 4.
Check-in at the hotel from 14:00. Many tourists ask to settle them earlier. But the hotel can only offer tourists to spend a few hours waiting for their room in the SPA, on the beach, in the relaxation room.
WHAT EXCURSIONS SHOULD GO IN THE SEYCHELLES WITH CORAL TRAVEL
All excursions on The Seychelles are somehow connected with nature, which is simply extraordinary here and the ocean, of course. These are mainly excursions to the islands, viewing platforms, national parks, snorkeling, diving, fishing.
Excursions can be bought both from the tour operator before the trip, and directly at the hotel. Many tourists travel only to the islands in an organized manner, but to the capital, the city of Victoria, they often go by taxi on their own (if they rest on the island of Mahe).
But Coral Travel experts advise going to the city by public transport. Difficulties with taxis on the island. There are few of them. Therefore, it may take a long time to wait for the called machine.
Alexandra Polyanskaya