The Seychelles Islands are a notoriously expensive destination to visit. I remember being taken aback by the sheer cost of the flight from Nairobi to Mahe. To put things in context, the 3hr flight within the same East African region cost me much more than a 7hr flight to Europe for the same timeframe. But can travellers visit Seychelles on a budget?
The relatively short answer is yes, but it depends on what you define as โbudget travelโ. If we are talking about being generally price-conscious and looking for ways to reduce expenses, then any country can be visited on a budget. However, if we define it as spending a certain amount per day (for example $50), then Seychelles may not necessarily fit that definition.
Letโs go with the former definition and since we have already established that this Island country is not cheap to visit, letโs explore a few ways to visit on a relatively reasonable budget.
Tips for Visiting Seychelles on a Budget
1. Consider travelling during off-peak periods
This one is a no-brainer for visiting any destination around the world. Flights and accommodations are generally more expensive during peak travel seasons. For Seychelles, this could fall within the summer months, between June and August. Holidays are also quite popular and come with prices to reflect that.
But because Seychelles is an all-year-round destination, you might need to play around with your dates a bit to find a time that fits your budget.
Luckily, this is one destination Nigerians can visit spontaneously as it offers visa-free entry (with conditions) for all nationalities.
2. Book in advance
You can often find better flight and accommodation deals if you book far out in advance. This will ultimately help to cut down costs, save you some money and allow you to visit Seychelles on a budget.
Tip: You can use flight aggregators or trackers like Google Flights to track changing flight prices and find a price range that fits your budget.
Stay Safe While You Travel
Protect yourself from the unexpected while you travel by purchasing an Insurance Cover. I use SafetyWing, which is affordable and covers several travel-related risks, such as unexpected illness or injury, eligible hospital expenses, lost luggage and more. Click here to purchase a cover for your travel and visa application needs.
3. Choose a budget-friendly accommodation
Apart from the cost of flight tickets, accommodation costs are one of the biggest price drivers for any holiday experience and that includes Seychelles. All around the islands, you will find luxurious accommodation options with a hefty price tag in tow.
For budget-conscious travellers, guesthouses and self-catering apartments tend to be more affordable.
If youโre considering where to stay, booking.com has a range of accommodation options available. During my trip, my favourite accommodations were Kot Babi Guesthouse (La Digue) and Precious Residence C (Mahe). I also stayed at Lemongrass Lodge in Beau Vallon, Mahe and thought it was good value for money.
4. Eat at Takeaways
Another way to successfully visit Seychelles on a budget is either to self-cater or dine at takeaways. Many takeaways, as they are called on the islands, sell delicious creole meals at relatively affordable prices. This is certainly a great way to save some money as eating out in restaurants tends to add up a lot.
5. Opt for Free Activities
There is no shortage of beautiful beaches on the Seychelles Islands. You can easily spend your days simply roaming from one beach to another.
There are numerous gorgeous hiking trails to choose from and they all lead to fantastic beaches! If you are keen on visiting Seychelles on a budget, then skip expensive organized tours and explore the islands on your own. Alternatively, you could hire the relatively affordable services of a local to show you around the island.
During my trip, my best experiences were hiking in Praslin, beach hopping in La Digue, including the hike to Anse Cocos and morning beach walks in Mahe. I only paid for an experience with Crystal Kayaks in La Digue. It was affordable and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
So back to the question, can you visit Seychelles on a budget?
To summarize, I would say that though the island nation is quite expensive to visit, travellers on a budget can make some choices to reduce costs. Depending on where you live, a one-week budget trip to Seychelles could take you further in some other places. However, Seychelles is unlike many places and I believe it is a destination worth visiting.
Tell me, have you been to Seychelles? Did you visit on a โbudgetโ? What are your top tips to help travellers looking to do the same? Share with us in the comment section below!
Also, if you have any questions about visiting Seychelles, feel free to leave them in the comment section as well!
