Seychelles Travel Guide - Essentials

Safety: there are few caveats with regards to safety since levels of crime and in particular violent crime are low throughout the region. Petty crime exists however, so visitors should take basic precautions to avoid being ‘separated’ from their cash or valuable items. In general, it’s not wise to carry large amounts of money around nor to keep items of high value on you.

And it’s especially inadvisable to leave either in vehicles, particularly in places where they can be seen by miscreants. The capital, Victoria, is a likely destination in which to fall foul of ill-intentioned individuals if it were to happen anywhere; hence visitors should keep their wits about them, especially at night. Women are advised not to walk alone on the beach after dark.

Those visitors coming to the islands for scuba diving should be aware that April, May, October and November are the best months in terms of sea clarity and calmness of the waters. May to September meanwhile is the best time to enjoy a spot of bird-watching.

Money: the official currency in the Seychelles is the rupee, a volume consisting of 100 cents. Notes are available in denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 rupees while coins come in 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents and 1 and 5 rupee denominations.

Traveller’s cheques or foreign currency can be exchanged for rupees at all banks on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. ATMs meanwhile, can be found at the same destinations. Converting rupees back to foreign currency requires the official receipt from the previous exchange.

Emergency: 999

Ambulance: 999

Police: 999

Recommended hospital:
Victoria - Victoria Hospital (248) 224 400

Business needs: Cable & Wireless Seychelles Ltd is the chief mobile phone service provider across the archipelago and maintains roaming agreements with a large number of international providers, allowing many visitors to make phone calls using their own handsets and SIM cards on the region’s GSM network.

Internet access is available in all of the major hotels and at internet cafes in the main tourist destinations on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Overseas visitors wishing to conduct official business in the Seychelles islands will need to apply for the relevant business visa from a Seychelles consulate. Business is invariably conducted in English or French and smart casual dress is considered acceptable attire.