Welcome to The Seychelles! I was so excited to be able to visit the beaches here. The beauty was there but high winds and humidity put a slight damper on our trip, but not much!
The Seychelles archipelago, a sprinkling of islands in the Indian Ocean, boasts a fascinating history. Mahe, the largest island, is at its center. Uninhabited for most of its past, Europeans discovered this paradise in the 16th century. The French claimed the island in the 18th century, naming it after a minister and establishing plantations with enslaved labor.
Victoria, Mahe’s capital, reflects its British colonial past with its name, honoring Queen Victoria. After gaining independence in 1976, Mahe blossomed into a stunning tourist destination, captivating travelers with its natural beauty and pristine beaches.
While Mahe’s beauty is undeniable, it comes with a hefty price tag. It was the most expensive island we’ve encountered on our travels. We’ll delve into that cost factor later.
Our 4-night stay began on a Saturday morning at a charming beachfront hotel. Unable to check in until later, we slept and relaxed on beach loungers for a while. We than red eye flight so really needed some sleep.
Coco de mer is French for “coconuts of the sea”, and sailors in ancient times named the nut after observing it floating at sea. The nut’s shape is similar to the human female pelvis, which may have been a welcome sight for sailors who were short on female company
The strong winds and red flags unfortunately limited swimming opportunities, except for brief periods during low tide.
As a result, we spent most of our time at the hotel pool, socializing with fellow travelers seeking a break from the world cruise (though none were joining us on our upcoming safari).
Dining in Mahe proved to be a shock. We’re still adjusting to the reality of the high prices. The hotel buffet, for instance, cost a staggering $54 per person, an option we readily passed on. The other restaurants likely had similar pricing. Even a casual poolside eatery offered pizzas, burgers, and fish & chips – none were priced lower than $20 each, which felt excessive to us.
Venturing outside the hotel, we explored nearby restaurants, only to find prices consistent throughout the area. We did manage to find a tiny convenience store, where we squeezed in to grab some snacks – two small Oreos and two Coke Zeros for a combined price of $5. Euros and Seychellois Rupees are both accepted here (we exchanged some Rupees at the airport upon arrival).
That’s all for now! Depending on internet availability, our next update might come after the safari. We’ll keep you posted as much as possible.
May God bless you always!
Chuck & Le aAnn
WorldTravelReynolds 