Seychelles experiences their rainy season between October to April each year. The betting money is to get to Seychelles during the transition months like October, November, April and May. My visit during April landed some heavy rain for an hour in the evening. I was grateful for the downpour to quell the humidity (which should not be underestimated).
As you would expect, the summer months are a key school holiday season so prices rise accordingly. December and January for people who are trying to look for winter sun. Avoid these months.
Seychelles La Digue Petit Anse Beach by drone
Getting between Seychelles Island on a Budget
There are over 100 islands in Seychelles so inter-island transport is a serious consideration and variable cost. This raises the question of whether you should travel between the islands at all. The more you travel between islands then the more you spend on transportation.
If you do not want to travel between islands then I recommend you stay on the main Mahé Island. If you are willing to go to one island then I strongly recommend going to La Digue.
There are a few options but you are most likely to consider either getting an inter-island flight (from Air Seychelles) or cruising on a ferry.
A child surfing near Anse Source d’Argent; Slow Turtle Cider, a local Seychelles brew
The ferry is usually the cheapest option. Ferry times will vary between destinations and by the provider. During my visit, there were five ferries a day between Praslin and La Digue. There were two ferries a day between Praslin Island and Mahé Island leaving at 8AM and 4PM. Many of the ferry times are compromised because of COVID restrictions. You will want to plan in advance. Your ferry times may also have knock-on effects such as your accommodation and the length of time in each location to sightsee.
The ferry ride between Praslin and Mahé was €50 each way per person. This is approximately half the price of getting a flight with Air Seychelles one way. The ferry rides between Praslin and Mahé Island are €35 per person. This means you will save money getting the ferry back from Praslin Island if you opt into the flight through Mahé Island to Praslin Island on Air Seychelles. Naturally, you need to weigh up the other costs of staying on Praslin Island.
There is only one inter-islands provider that will connect you between the main islands in one journey. This will of course be the most expensive option because you are paying for the convenience. You can take advantage of using different ferry providers if you plan your journey. Make sure to use the connection times to explore the island! After all, you are here to check out one of the most beautiful places on Earth! You are seldom ever more than 15 minutes away from a stunning beach!
La Digue Petit Anse Beach, Seychelles
Accommodation in Seychelles on a Budget
Self-catering. Your best cost-saving option is self-catering accommodation. Some will offer breakfast included in the price.
Airbnb or Tripadvisor are reliable sources for self-catering options around the island. Costs for self-catering will start around €35 a night but better locations will climb to €80 a night.
Get air conditioning. You may be tempted to avoid this or think it’s not essential. I’m here to tell you it’s essential. Seychelles is hot and it’s also very humid. You must check that every room or lodging comes with air-con. Fans are not enough.
Eden Island offers a number of Airbnb locations from apartments to villas
Where to Stay in Seychelles on a Budget
Mahé Island is the largest island with the widest variety of accommodation options across the value chain. Other islands can be more pricey because they are more niche. La Digue is smaller, more isolated and highly sought after for its breathtaking beaches. Praslin is a honeymooners island replete with high-end resorts (but also a lot of self-catering options). This makes Praslin another option in case you want to stay somewhere different. Staying in and touring around La Digue can get very pricey. La Digue is best done as a day trip (but check ferry times, they finish around 3pm).
Mahé Island strikes the right balance. There are a number of very small islands around Mahé Island such as Silhouette, Therese and others offering day trips. You can ‘walk’ to Therese from Mahe Island.
Eden Island is positioned closed to Victoria-Seychelles Airport on Mahe Island
Getting Around the Seychelles on a Budget
On a budget, you will probably choose two forms of transport: taking the bus or walking!
Buses in Seychelles cost about 6 rupees and they are popular with locals. The blue Tata buses can be a white knuckle ride so keep this in mind! There are a few routes and they are also notoriously slow. What is cheap is therefore not always good. There are flat rates here meaning you pay the same amount per day no matter how far you go or how many stops you make.
Walking. The islands are very walkable closer to the coast. I regularly walked from the hotel to restaurants or beaches. However, the interior of the island(s) is VERY hilly making for an unexpected hike. You should not take this lightly.
Car rentals. You should consider renting a car if you are in a group of four. Car rentals in Seychelles start from €35 a day. This is about €8 per person per day. You may not want to do this every day. For a one day rental, you will absolutely be able to get around Mahé Island in one day. I set off at 10 AM with a two-hour lunch stop, a swim to Therese Island and a few drone sessions. I still made it back to my Airbnb rental by 5 PM. A day rental gives you a lot of flexibility. Petrol is cheaper in Seychelles than say in Europe so seriously consider this option if you’re in a group. There are a dozen car rental places at Victoria-Seychelles airport.
Getting around La Digue on a bike is the most popular option but a Bull Cart is also an option!
La Digue presents a unique option: rent a bike!
Renting a bike in La Digue. There are three options but the most popular is to cycle around by bicycle. A normal pushbike costs a mere SCR150 per day (US$10, £7, €8). Electric bikes are available at certain places. Do not worry about getting a bike. Ten toes down on La Digue ferry pier and you will be hounded like a Hollywood A-lister sauntering down the red carpet. We went with Tati’s Bikes which is just around the corner on the right at the end of the pier. Tati also offers electric bikes for day rentals. The third option is to cruise around by golf cart. These were not available when we arrived on the 11.30AM ferry from Praslin. This tells me that you need to arrange a golf cart quite some time in advance.
A Note About Cycling Around La Digue. Pushbike cycling is wonderful. La Digue’s coastline is stunning with loads of small attractions nearby within moments of the ferry pier (see below). HOWEVER, the second you want to access the middle or eastern coast of La Digue, you better dig deep for an intense cardio workout. It’s a very hilly ascent through vines tangled around thick trees, brilliant flora and the odd chickens running into the road. It’s a tough trail but one that leads to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Eating Out In Seychelles on a Budget
As a food blogger, I possess an unnatural obsession with food and, therefore, I will irrationally justify eating everywhere. This adds up quickly in Seychelles. Eating local food will drive the bill down. Seychellois food is predominantly curries and fish-based. Staying away from tourist-trap areas like Beau Vallon, Eden Island, hotels and resorts will help considerably.
There are cheaper eats around the island with people cooking simple meals on grills on beaches or out of food trucks around the island.
There is a Wednesday market at Beau Vallon known as Bazar Labrin between 4pm to 8pm where you get tuck into local food and more for next to nothing.
A selection of local curries, chutneys and local vegetables
Mahe Island.If you want to self-cater all the way, there are large hypermarkets near Eden Island where you can line up with locals to buy food and essentials. Just note that a lot of items are imported and therefore come at a higher cost. Praslin Island. Towards Anse Volbert on the north side of the island, there is a high density of restaurants in the area catering to different budgets such as Pirogue Restaurant and Bar or La Goulue, both leaning towards local food.
Fish curry is a very popular local dish everywhere in Seychelles; Beau Vallon Market along the main beach near the Boat House
Day to day costs
Bring your toiletries. Nothing is made in Seychelles so you are WELL advised to bring everything you need before you arrive, maybe even! Sunscreen, hand sanitiser, shower gel, shampoo – name it. You can get name brands but you will pay a lot more than you would at home.
Booze. This varies but local beer (SeyBrew), cider (Slow Turtle) and rum (Takamaka) are the cheap go-to options. A brisk SeyBrew will set you back about 50 SCR per bottle in the cheaper local bars. Supermarkets sell them cheaper.
Bring snorkelling gear. Even the most innocuous beach in Seychelles can offer beautiful snorkelling. Some excursions will offer this as part of the cost. Most places will charge you. It is worth bringing in a backpack with you.
Taking cash out. You will want to take cash out as little as often due to the conversion rates. There are also not as many cash machines on the island as I hoped, especially in Praslin and La Digue. Most places accept Euros and Seychelles rupees.
La Digue Notre Dame de L’Assomption Church
