Seychelles or Maldives?
Sep 13th, 2006, 01:05 PM
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Seychelles or Maldives?
Hi exotic travellers,
My husband and I went to Tahiti, Bora Bora, Tahaa and Tikehau for our honeymoon and loved it. Now we'd like to explore the other end of the ocean. We are young, early 30's, divers/snorkellers and live in the US. Where would you recommend us going to for the first time, Seychelles or Maldives? Which is easier to get to and what are the major differences between the two? Thank you so much!
My husband and I went to Tahiti, Bora Bora, Tahaa and Tikehau for our honeymoon and loved it. Now we'd like to explore the other end of the ocean. We are young, early 30's, divers/snorkellers and live in the US. Where would you recommend us going to for the first time, Seychelles or Maldives? Which is easier to get to and what are the major differences between the two? Thank you so much!
Sep 13th, 2006, 02:31 PM
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sorry didn't answer your actual question.
seychelles is reachable by flights from europe, kenya and south africa and singapore. maldives is reachable through singapore and india and sri lanka.
the major difference is that seychelles are expensive, overrated french islands and the maldives are pristine idyllic stand alone island resorts.
i'm actually so fed up with the fact that (stereotyping here) every single french island (new caledonia, tahiti, seychelles) has the same problem: nobody seems to know how to smile.
the food was outstanding in seychelles, but the inflated prices ($50 for a sarong) that are the result of the deteriorating government only serve to irk the casual visitor. it's not as though you are getting something special or elegant- it's just literally overinflation.
the maldives individual island resorts each have their own reefs. if you are beach people there is no way to not visit the maldives.
both groups suffer the same problem: do you really want to travel all that way and ignore india in the case of maldives and africa in the case of seychelles?
that is, mosty of us visit these places as add-ons to larger culural or safari trips so it's hard to recommend spending endless amounts of beach time so far from home when much more interesting attractions are nearby.
kerikeri
seychelles is reachable by flights from europe, kenya and south africa and singapore. maldives is reachable through singapore and india and sri lanka.
the major difference is that seychelles are expensive, overrated french islands and the maldives are pristine idyllic stand alone island resorts.
i'm actually so fed up with the fact that (stereotyping here) every single french island (new caledonia, tahiti, seychelles) has the same problem: nobody seems to know how to smile.
the food was outstanding in seychelles, but the inflated prices ($50 for a sarong) that are the result of the deteriorating government only serve to irk the casual visitor. it's not as though you are getting something special or elegant- it's just literally overinflation.
the maldives individual island resorts each have their own reefs. if you are beach people there is no way to not visit the maldives.
both groups suffer the same problem: do you really want to travel all that way and ignore india in the case of maldives and africa in the case of seychelles?
that is, mosty of us visit these places as add-ons to larger culural or safari trips so it's hard to recommend spending endless amounts of beach time so far from home when much more interesting attractions are nearby.
kerikeri
Sep 13th, 2006, 03:00 PM
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I haven't been to either yet (doing Maldives in March) but I've done a lot of research on both. They are definitely different from one another.
Here's what I found:
- Maldives has tiny, flat islands that are mostly sand. Seychelles has more rolling hills and lush vegetation.
- Maldives has more bath-like water, smooth and very swimmable. Seychelles has areas that are not always swimmable.
- Maldives activities are limited to beach and ocean. Seychelles has more land options (hiking, wildlife viewing)
- Maldives has Indian culture and food. Seychelles is more French(?).
- Both are generally expensive, but if you can handle French Polynesia, you can handle either.
I'd say both are equally difficult to get to but if you can combine with India, Sri Lanka or African safari, either would make a fabulous trip.
If you are really diving nuts, I think the Maldives has a little bit better for diving (generally considered top 10).
Both island chains have fabulous resorts!
Here's what I found:
- Maldives has tiny, flat islands that are mostly sand. Seychelles has more rolling hills and lush vegetation.
- Maldives has more bath-like water, smooth and very swimmable. Seychelles has areas that are not always swimmable.
- Maldives activities are limited to beach and ocean. Seychelles has more land options (hiking, wildlife viewing)
- Maldives has Indian culture and food. Seychelles is more French(?).
- Both are generally expensive, but if you can handle French Polynesia, you can handle either.
I'd say both are equally difficult to get to but if you can combine with India, Sri Lanka or African safari, either would make a fabulous trip.
If you are really diving nuts, I think the Maldives has a little bit better for diving (generally considered top 10).
Both island chains have fabulous resorts!
Sep 13th, 2006, 03:01 PM
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Hello euros,
Having been to the Tahitian islands, I can say that there are many similarities between them and the Seychelles.
The Seychelles do have nice snorkling areas and reefs, miles of pristine beaches,many wildlife areas and lovely people. I did however find the food to be so-so and nothing as wonderful and fresh as The Tahitians. If you go to the East African Index and enter my screen
name, you can see my photos of the Seychelles and read my report for more info. If you need any further info. let me know.
We flew from Kenya which only has flights 2x a week Sun. and Thurs. There are indirect flights from the US but I'm not sure where in the US you're coming from.
As for the Maldives, I haven't been.
Sherry
Having been to the Tahitian islands, I can say that there are many similarities between them and the Seychelles.
The Seychelles do have nice snorkling areas and reefs, miles of pristine beaches,many wildlife areas and lovely people. I did however find the food to be so-so and nothing as wonderful and fresh as The Tahitians. If you go to the East African Index and enter my screen
name, you can see my photos of the Seychelles and read my report for more info. If you need any further info. let me know.
We flew from Kenya which only has flights 2x a week Sun. and Thurs. There are indirect flights from the US but I'm not sure where in the US you're coming from.
As for the Maldives, I haven't been.
Sherry
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