There are many islands in the Indian Ocean that are considered tropical paradise. Their names alone sound like a song: Seychelles, Maldives, Bali, Mauritius ... The list goes on, but let's first figure out what is the difference between one resort and another. Indeed, despite the fact that all these islands are located in the tropical climate zone, they are very different from each other.
For a good rest, weather conditions are important, but they do not determine it. The tourism infrastructure plays a huge role. Not the least value is the cost of a voucher or an independent trip. Those who do not have enough beach and sea are interested in what you can see on this or that archipelago. In this article we will comprehensively consider the question of where it is better to relax - in the Seychelles or the Maldives? Comparison of the two archipelagos we will carry out, based on the feedback of tourists on the following criteria:
- visa and transport accessibility;
- climate;
- beaches;
- attractions;
- leisure and entertainment infrastructure;
- Hotels
- prices.
Do I need a visa
Each state has its own policy of admission to the territory of foreigners. And, before planning a trip abroad, you need to make sure that you can easily get to your destination. Therefore, we begin the comparison of the Maldives and the Seychelles with the visa policy of the two island states. All tourists agree that both countries live off tourism. Therefore, the policy towards those who came to leave their savings here is the most humane.
A stamp is put in the passport upon arrival, you do not need to pay anything for a visa. But the territory of the states that the Maldives, that the Seychelles, must be left within 30 days after arrival. If you plan to stay longer, you need to apply for a visa in the appropriate department of the consulate. In any case, going to a tropical paradise, the tourist should take care of medical insurance. But special vaccinations do not need to be done.
Customs regulations
At this point, the answer to the question of which is better: Maldives or Seychelles, is unequivocal. In the first state, Islam is the official religion. Tourists complain that the Muslim foundations in the Maldives are so tough that you will not be allowed to bring in a milliliter of alcohol, even bought in duty free. There used to be a luggage room at customs. There you could leave your alcohol before departure from the country. But now it was closed, and alcohol is simply confiscated. But local restrictions on alcohol do not end there. Dogs are not allowed in the Maldives either. Pork products, including salami, are also prohibited. Customs inspection in the Maldives is fierce.
Travelers claim that in the Seychelles, tourists will find a more warm welcome. Four-legged friends, however, are quarantined for several days. But you can import up to 2 liters of alcohol per person, cigarettes. Seychelles medicines require a declaration.
In matters of export of goods, both countries are similar. You can not take with you corals, shells, products from tortoise shell and coco de mer nuts. Both states have not heard anything about the tax-free system.
Transport accessibility
And at this point, the Maldives is a win-win option. At least, those who managed to visit there think so. Aeroflot scheduled flights depart from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Ibrahim Nasir Airport (Hulule Island) every Wednesday and Saturday. The flight time is about nine hours, a one-way ticket costs at least 22 thousand rubles. As experienced tourists note, you can reduce the cost of the trip by using the services of Turkish Airlines with a connection in Istanbul (departure from Vnukovo, the journey takes 13.5 hours, the ticket costs 18 thousand rubles).
So, if you are concerned about the question of which is cheaper on its own - Seychelles or the Maldives, then travelers advise: definitely opt for the second state. Travel agencies help couples get to heaven for newlyweds. But getting to Russia from the Seychelles on your own is extremely difficult. There is no direct flight from Moscow. It is possible to get to Seychelles with one change (Emirates company, connecting in Dubai, travel time 13 hours, ticket costs from 41,400 rubles.
When to travel: tourist tips
Climate - this is how the Seychelles differ from the Maldives - all travelers say this. This does not mean that the wet tropics in one country and the dry desert in another. Both states are located near the equator. In both, the year is divided into a dry period and a rainy season. But, to be honest, these fluctuations are not too pronounced. Showers during the rainy season are short-term, occur mainly at night. The sea also does not storm, since coral reefs near islands and atolls extinguish all excitement. But if you definitely need to visit a tropical paradise in the dry season, you should know the main differences in the climate of the Maldives and Seychelles.
The first state is considered a winter holiday destination. The high season in the Maldives lasts from November to mid-April. At this time, the air temperature confidently keeps at around +30 during the day, 24 at night, the water warms up to +26 degrees. In the Seychelles, winter is a low tourist season. The rains, although short-term, stop pouring in mid-April-May. All summer, until the beginning of November, the sky pleases tourists with the absence of clouds and the bright sun. Temperature in the Seychelles in the dry season are the same as in the same period in the Maldives.
Maldives and Seychelles: a description of the beaches
Both states are a mecca for snorkelers and divers. Coral reefs fascinate with many underwater inhabitants. Maldives is a few huge archipelagos of tiny atolls. Of the 115 Seychelles, only about 30 are inhabited. And all these tiny landmasses have superb beaches. Does all these coasts mean identical? Not really, vacationers say.
By law in Seychelles, hotel beaches are accessible to all comers. Tourists write that everyone can choose the coast to their liking. Seychelles offer a wider variety of beaches. There are secluded coves hidden from prying eyes by high capes, a flat coast with a wide strip of white sand framed by palm trees, fancy rocks and cliffs. Maldives has a flatter relief. You will not find rocks here, but there are excellent sand spits. Tourists write that all the beaches - in the Maldives and in the Seychelles - are clean, well-groomed, with developed infrastructure.
Hotels
Tour to the Seychelles is bought mainly by newlyweds. This country is the first in the list of special destinations Wedding destination. A honeymoon here will cost a lot, but a wedding doesn’t happen every year. For the newlyweds, the most heavenly conditions are created here. Some hotels occupy the whole island, and everything is arranged so that the couple in love felt like Adam and Eve in Eden. Tourists vying to praise employees. The staff of such hotels, when necessary, can become invisible, and appears if the guests have a need for this. In this regard, not all Seychelles hotels accept guests under 18 years old.
The specialization of the Maldives is identical. But there are more often hotels that position themselves as places of family relaxation. Basically, both island states are known for their luxurious hotels, consisting of bungalows that stand on stilts in the water. In such houses, there is often a glass bottom so that their inhabitants can observe the life of coral reef inhabitants.
Hostels
But there is another category of vacationers who are not interested in what is better - the Maldives or the Seychelles. These are divers and, in the low season for beach goers, surfers. Most often, young people and students are engaged in extreme water sports. They get to the tropical islands on their own and live in budget hostels or low-cost hotels.
There are many in the capital of the Maldives, Male, the main city of the Seychelles Mahe, as well as in Victoria and Praslin. Budget accommodation options are not located on the first line. But tourists are not afraid. Can there be anything far from the sea on a tiny atoll?
sights
If you are interested in excursions and think that the best is the Maldives or the Seychelles, choose a second state. But even there the program will not be very busy. Tourists write that they are invited to go to Mahe, a city that is a miniature copy of London, lost in the tropics, with its Big Ben and St. Paul's Cathedral.
There are even fewer attractions in the Maldives. You can see the main mosque in Male and buy souvenirs on Chaandani Magu Street. The main attractions of the two states are natural beauties located both above and under water. Baa Atoll in the Maldives is even included in the UNESCO list. And on the island of Praslin (Seychelles), coconut de mer endemic nuts are grown. From the entertainment infrastructure, tourists are offered diving, snorkeling, yachting, sea fishing, and in the evenings - a romantic candlelit dinner right on the beach.
Prices: which is better - Maldives or Seychelles
Both destinations are deluxe. If you plan to buy a ticket, and do not spend anything else, then choose the Maldives. But the Seychelles have more opportunities to save. Of course, to get to this state from Russia, you need to pay a larger amount than to the Maldives. But in the Seychelles there are many guest houses and cheap hotels, and prices are generally lower. Many "package" tourists choose the Maldives. A tour to the Seychelles from Moscow costs two from 142 thousand rubles.