December 20, 2023 | View Online | Sign Up
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There’s getting away from things, and there’s going to the Seychelles.
Eight hundred miles off the east coast of Africa, the 115-island-strong archipelago is renowned for its idyllic stretches of gold and turquoise, paired with its collection of high-end luxury resorts and unique mish-mash of cultures.
You might come for the beach. But you’ll leave with far more.
Welcome to the Seychelles.
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| EAT, SLEEP, DO
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Your Guide to the Best of the Seychelles
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🏖️ What to do
Its unrivaled beaches will top almost any Seychelles to-do list, but don’t be fooled into thinking the archipelago is a one-trick pony. There’s a tremendous assortment of cultural, culinary, and historical attractions to match its unique story. Here are the best things to do in Seychelles.
🐟 What to eat
The Indian Ocean provides the staples of one of the most unique culinary traditions on the planet. From shark chutney to bat curries, these are some of the best (and most interesting) things to eat during your stay on the islands.
🛌🏽 Where to stay
Seychelles is known for its luxury hotel scene, and frankly, you’re missing out if you’re not sampling at least a little of the high life. All the big names have a spectacular footprint here, so you’re spoiled for choice. Here are some of the best places to stay.
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| MONEY MOVES
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Big Trip, Low Cost
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Seychelles is a long way away from the US. In fact, it’s a long way from almost everywhere. The islands float in the middle of the Indian Ocean, nearly 800 miles from the eastern coast of the African continent. You can read that as “getting there can be expensive.”
But earning miles can lessen the financial burden of your trip or leave you a little more to spend on a special hotel. There are many ways to do it, but I have one excellent redemption that could fly you there by opening just one business card.
If you’re a small business owner with outgoing expenses of around $10,000 a month, you could open this card, the Capital One Venture X Business Card. With $30,000 of spending within three months of opening the card, you’ll earn 150,000 miles.
That’s enough to grab a roundtrip from New York with Qatar Airways with 25,000 miles to spare. There you go. Now you can splash on that Four Seasons.
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| YOUR BEST SLEEP EVER
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The Key to a Better Night’s Sleep – At Home and On The Go
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Want to know the secret to a good night’s rest? You can find it in a delicious cup of hot cocoa.
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Enjoy dessert and a better night's sleep. Shop up to 40% off sitewide here!
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| SYECHELLES FAST FACTS
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🌍 A world in one place: The Seychelles were uninhabited until Europeans, starting with the Portuguese, stumbled upon them. The French briefly controlled the island before the British took control until its independence in the seventies. Because of the changeovers, the population is an eclectic mix of Europeans, East Africans, and Asians.
💪🏽 Strong in culture: The local population is predominantly Seychelles Creole and speaks a language of the same name. They are the descendants of the original French colonizers and their enslaved laborers.
🏴☠️ X Marks the spot: The islands were once used by pirates as a hideout. It’s rumored to be the location of a vast treasure haul belonging to French pirate Olivier Levasseur.
🏙️ The littlest capital: Seychelles’ capital, Victoria, is the world’s smallest capital. Interestingly, it’s built on reclaimed land as space was lacking on Mahe, the island it’s located on.
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| KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
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Understanding Creole
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Seeing the term Creole might be a little strange to many hailing from the Americas. The word has become a catch-all term for many cultures, ethnicities, and languages in the Caribbean, while in Louisiana, it refers to African and mixed-race people and white descendants of French and Spanish settlers.
But Seychelles’ main demographic is also Creole. The term is far broader than many of us realize and has many, often conflicting meanings.
In Seychelles case, and Africa as a whole, it refers to any ethnic group created during colonial times. It can be assumed the groups are a mix of African and European. The languages have developed alongside these groups, often fusing parts of French, English, Dutch, and Portuguese–the most prominent colonizing countries.
In short, don’t expect to find any Caribbean or Louisiana culture in the Seychelles.
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Currency Qualms
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The Seychelles use their own currency, the Seychelles Rupee, but it’s virtually impossible to acquire any of it before arriving. It’s also illegal to take any out of the country–not that it’d be much use for you.
Luckily, almost everywhere will accept USD, GBP, or Euros. The exchange rates are usually fair, but make sure you keep on top of the global rates to ensure you don’t fall victim to a plucky salesman trying to earn a few extra bucks.
You may receive change in rupees, so make sure you try and use any significant amounts of it before you leave.
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It’s Pricey
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Most of the visitors to Seychelles aren’t there for a cheap trip, but it’s worth noting the country is a nightmare for budget-conscious travelers.
It’s possible to grab some more affordable hotels, but naturally, the quality decreases along with the price tag. Many travelers opt for self-service accommodations with the intention of cooking for themselves. This is a good idea in principle, but remember, it’s a remote island–everything is imported, and imported means expensive.
The best plan of action for maximizing your time is planning a palatable budget that allows you to indulge in the best of the island while keeping your wallet in a stable condition.
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN SEYCHELLES
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