Practical info
Once the island is picked and booked, these are the pre-trip questions asked most: whether you need a visa, how to carry money, what is easy to leave out of the bag.
Visa & entry
Seychelles requires no visa for visitors of any nationality, but you must apply online for a Travel Authorization before you travel and enter on it, staying within the permitted period. Rules, fees and length of stay can change, so rely on the latest official information (immigration or tourism authorities) before you go.
- · Apply for the Travel Authorization through the official channel, not an unofficial agent site
- · You may be asked on arrival for a return or onward ticket, accommodation confirmation and proof of funds
- · Keep passport validity at least 6 months beyond your departure date
- · Take travel insurance covering overseas medical care and evacuation — transfers between islands rely on light planes and boats
Currency & payment
The local currency is the Seychelles rupee (SCR), but resorts and many businesses quote in euros or US dollars. Resort bills can generally be paid by international credit card; Mahé, Praslin and La Digue have ATMs, but the outer and private islands do not.
- · Pay resort bills mainly by international card (Visa / Mastercard) and keep small notes for shops and markets
- · Withdraw enough cash before leaving Mahé; outer and private islands usually have no ATM
- · Check that taxes and service charges are not double-counted, and whose exchange rate is used
- · Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay are of little use there
Getting around & transfers
Mahé International Airport (SEZ) is the gateway for almost every visitor. Mahé resorts are reachable by road (usually about 20–60 minutes on winding hill roads); Praslin and La Digue need a domestic flight or ferry; private and outer islands need a light plane, helicopter or boat.
- · If your international flight lands late at night you will probably miss the last ferry or plane onward, so book a buffer night on Mahé
- · Ferries run on fixed schedules and small planes and helicopters have strict baggage limits — weigh bags before packing
- · La Digue is mostly bicycles, ox-carts and walking, so check that your luggage is easy to manage
- · Multi-island trips (Mahé + Praslin + La Digue) are common; count each transfer and wait in the schedule
Connectivity, power & water
Wi-Fi at the Mahé, Praslin and La Digue resorts is generally usable; speed and stability on outer and private islands vary a lot, and some deliberately keep connectivity light. Tourist SIMs / eSIMs from local operators can be bought at the airport (operators as offered on site).
- · Buy an eSIM before you fly, or a local SIM at the airport on arrival
- · Resort Wi-Fi is mostly free, but remote private islands may throttle or limit hours
- · Power is 240V/50Hz with British-style Type G (three square pins) sockets, so bring an adapter
- · Tap water in rooms is generally treated; resorts usually provide bottled drinking water daily
- · Air-conditioning runs strong, so rooms feel cool in the evening — pack a light layer
Health & safety
Ordinary travel to Seychelles needs no special vaccinations and it is not a malaria area; what matters more is sunburn, dehydration, cuts from coral and granite rocks, mosquito-borne illness (dengue and similar occasionally occurs), and rip currents and big waves on some beaches in the southeast-trade season.
- · Ultraviolet is strong so near the equator: SPF50 every 2 hours, and seek shade around midday
- · Follow beach flags and lifeguard advice; in the southeast-trade season some open, wavy bays are unsafe for swimming — ask the hotel first
- · Wear water shoes or reef socks for snorkelling, avoid standing on coral or rocks, and do not touch sea urchins
- · Do not fly for 18–24 hours after diving (including light plane or helicopter hops between islands), so skip diving on your last day
- · Carry insect repellent — mosquitoes are worst at dusk and after rain; seek medical care for fever
- · Do not linger or park under coconut palms; falling nuts can hurt
Tipping
Seychelles has no compulsory tipping culture, and many resort bills already carry a service charge. Tipping an outstanding butler, guide or dive instructor is common but voluntary.
- · Ask the front desk at check-in whether the bill already includes a service charge
- · A little cash in small denominations (euros or dollars) is the easiest way to thank a good butler, guide or instructor
- · If a restaurant bill already lists a service charge, there is no need to add more
- · Carry some small notes, but there is no need for the wad you would want in a compulsory-tipping destination
Culture & etiquette
Seychelles is a mixed Creole society whose official languages are Creole, English and French; English works at resorts. Dress is relaxed at resorts, but there are local rules on protecting nature and behaving properly.
- · Do not take coral, shells, turtle products or live marine life — most are protected
- · Coco de mer nuts need an official tag and certificate to leave the country, so buy only through legitimate outlets and do not pick them up yourself
- · Full nudity on beaches and overly revealing dress in public are not accepted; dress properly in towns, churches and villages
- · Follow national-park and reserve rules; do not feed, chase or touch giant tortoises or nesting birds
- · A simple Creole or French greeting (such as "Bonzour") is always appreciated
Travelling with children or older relatives
When choosing, ask the resort about: the minimum age for children (some private-island and honeymoon-oriented resorts have age limits or are adults-only), whether there is a kids club, and whether the transfers between islands are hard on older relatives and young children.
- · The quiz filters out age-restricted resorts by your children’s ages, but confirm current rules with the resort before booking
- · Large Mahé resorts usually have the most developed family facilities and are reachable by road with few transfers, suiting children and older relatives
- · Praslin and La Digue add ferries or light planes, and rough crossings and baggage limits are harder with babies and older travellers
- · Wavy beaches are not for small children; ask the hotel about age and height limits before booking boat activities
Packing checklist
The destination is hot and humid year-round; most items are standard for any overseas trip — the ones with a reason noted are specific to this destination and easy to forget.
- Passport (valid 6+ months beyond departure)
- Printed or digital copy of your approved Travel Authorization
- Photocopy or phone photo of the passport page, kept apart from the passport
- Return-flight itinerary and hotel confirmations
- Travel insurance policy (ideally covering water sports and medical evacuation)
- International credit card plus small euro or US-dollar notes
- Phone charger + power bank
- British Type G (three square pin) adapter
- Waterproof phone pouch (for snorkelling photos)
- Underwater or action camera (optional)
- 2 swimsuits so one can dry
- Long-sleeve sun shirt / rash guard
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Flip-flops / beach shoes
- Hiking or grippy trainers (for Vallée de Mai, La Digue cycling and trails)
- Light jacket or rain shell (for showers and air-conditioned rooms)
- Modest clothes for towns and churches
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- After-sun gel / aloe
- Lip balm, ideally with SPF
- Basic toiletries — most resorts provide them, so bring only your favourites
- Insect repellent
- Seasickness / airsickness tablets — for ferry and light-plane legs
- Stomach and cold medicine, plasters
- Regular prescription medicine, enough for the whole trip rather than a few emergency doses
Entry and payment rules can change; check the latest official rules before you go. For a specific resort’s dining / occasion fit, go to Browse resorts