Author Topic: Mauritius or Seychelles  (Read 39185 times)

Offline Saulius

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #80 on: May 10, 2017, 02:43:13 PM »
The ferry is a 36-metre catamaran, and between Mahe and Praislin it's about 25nm sailing distance. It's no speed boat - the schedule says
about an hour, but it took much longer. The "direct ferry" from Mahe departs at 10:30am and makes a stopover in Praislin,
so direct means, you don't have to switch boats. From Praislin to La Digue is about another 4nm. Note, you should book your ferry online in advanced on http://www.seychellesbookings.com/ as upfront it costs significantly more, and they do get sold out last minute. The ferry also has baggage limitations, business class allows 40kg combined checked-in luggage, and 7kg to take on board. As far as the inter-island flights, they are 18 passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter, with no overhead compartment. They didn't weigh my hand luggage. I managed with my 20kg duffle bag on my knees for the short hop.

The supermarket in La Digue is quite basic, but I got my necessities such as eggs, cooking oil (OU), bottled water, etc. from there. You can
also buy fresh fish from the fisherman, just majority of what they have is not kosher, e.g. Red snapper, Groupers. Although the fruits there are quite nice, the place I stayed served locally grown papaya, starfruit, and soursop each morning. My trip to Seychelles was solo, and arriving in Seychelles and going straight to La Digue, it's extremely peaceful but feels like millions of miles away from civilization. When I travel, I go with the flow, only booked my stay for La Digue beforehand. If you decide to do Mahe, I would schedule it for the final days, but you would want to rent a car to get around, and Mahe can be time-consuming to get around due to the traffic. On Mahe, you have the Victoria Market, Saint Anne National Marine Park, botanical garden, hiking / beautiful mountain excursions, and you have stunning beaches as well.

On La Digue, visiting the Anse Marron is a must - just you either need to hire a guide for the 2-hour walk through forest and granite boulders. Or if you are adventurous like me, you could purchase the Wikiloc outdoor navigation GPS app, and download the trail on your smartphone.

Also, most of the day trips to the various islands are either from Praislin or La Digue, although they are not cheap either.


Thanks!

We are flying into AUH and are going to do some nights in Dubai and then I think it's a 4.5 hour flight to SEZ.

I've thought about adding on the 15 minute flight to Praslin with a separate ticket. The issue is that we plan to bring two bags each since we will be gone for a month and I've only read one report that Air Seychelles will allow two bags when coming from an international flight. We've done a similar speed boat ride from Bali to near by islands and you are right... after about 30 minutes you are ready for it to be over. Though, I thought there was a direct ferry to La Digue that was offered less frequently each day?

I think the biggest complaints I've heard about La Digue is the lack of food options and things to do. I think possibly the excursions could take care of that? The lack of food options is a downside, but we've been in places in the Philippines that were similar and it wasn't bad.

Do you think its worth spending any days on Mahe if we are planning days on Praslin and La Digue?
« Last Edit: May 10, 2017, 02:47:52 PM by Saulius »

Offline HDS

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #81 on: August 01, 2018, 02:53:33 PM »
I know this is an old thread, but interested in any experiences with Mauritius in the winter (Dec/Jan).

Thanks,

--HDS

Offline Dawie

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #82 on: August 01, 2018, 03:01:38 PM »
I know this is an old thread, but interested in any experiences with Mauritius in the winter (Dec/Jan).

Thanks,

--HDS
yeah it's the summer there

Offline HDS

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #83 on: August 01, 2018, 03:05:44 PM »
yeah it's the summer there

LOL, thanks - this much I know! Too hot, rainy, 1500% humidity?

Activities, experiences - ?

Offline Dawie

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #84 on: August 01, 2018, 03:18:31 PM »
LOL, thanks - this much I know! Too hot, rainy, 1500% humidity?

Activities, experiences - ?
hot humid and rainy
but gorgeous

Offline mochjas

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #85 on: August 01, 2018, 03:59:07 PM »
hot humid and rainy
but gorgeous
I dont see how you can have Hot, Humid, and rainy be gorgeous but to each their own

Offline HDS

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #86 on: August 01, 2018, 04:50:11 PM »
hot humid and rainy
but gorgeous

Yeah, this scares me. Can you tell us more about your trip?

Online TimT

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #87 on: August 01, 2018, 05:23:32 PM »
Yeah, this scares me. Can you tell us more about your trip?
Here’s a TR, if it’s any help

Offline Dawie

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #88 on: August 01, 2018, 06:02:10 PM »
Yeah, this scares me. Can you tell us more about your trip?
nothing to tell
For South Africans it's like going to the Caribbean from NYC
there are good times to go and better times (no bad times)
I know it would suck to go along way and have not such good weather but thems the breaks in the tropics
You can have that problem anywhere tropical
November is better than December and December is better than January (and like  the Caribbean with Hurricanes, it's cyclone season)
that said its not Miami in August

Offline HDS

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #89 on: August 01, 2018, 06:04:29 PM »
Here’s a TR, if it’s any help

@TimT - amazing of you to track this stuff down for me, you are the best - thanks!

@Dawie - appreciate the perspective, and the advice about going earlier than later is well taken.

Offline ludmila

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #90 on: August 01, 2018, 10:46:21 PM »
I dont see how you can have Hot, Humid, and rainy be gorgeous but to each their own
+1, I can't stand this kind of weather.
I was the Best,still the Best, and will always be the Best.
Pele Good,Maradona Better, George Best.

Offline Drago

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #91 on: December 08, 2018, 05:43:00 PM »
I know this is an old thread, but interested in any experiences with Mauritius in the winter (Dec/Jan).

Thanks,

--HDS
Did you end up going? Crossed my radar as well, but booked to SEZ due to award space on dates needed.

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #92 on: December 08, 2018, 07:10:10 PM »
I loved SEZ. You must see La Digue. enough said

Offline justmeha

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #93 on: December 05, 2019, 12:17:47 AM »
any info on award flights from nyc i understand its a big q but any help is appreciated

Offline KSMH

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #94 on: December 05, 2019, 01:52:56 AM »
any info on award flights from nyc i understand its a big q but any help is appreciated
Mauritius - u can use Ethiad miles for Air Mauritius. They dont have gr8 availability form EU but do have decent form SA. U can search in EF.

Seychelles - You  can go with Saudi Airline - I believe they make 1 seat available in F, u can book with DL for 85K

This is based on what I remember form researching. I'm sure their are more options  such as SA from JNB.

Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline chuchem

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #95 on: December 08, 2019, 05:43:11 AM »
I did seychellese and mauritius
Seychelles are a little nicer and more laid back (not so much to do)
Mauritius has alot of activities and is much bigger
I did seychelles only with wife and mauritius with our kids
Would i repeat seychelles- prob not, to expensive for what we paid, maldives much nicer
Mauritius with kids, any day. alot to do, nice beaches, you can rent a villa for good price and a amazing chabad shliach is a great help


Offline shmebeble

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #96 on: December 08, 2019, 07:53:25 AM »
I did seychellese and mauritius
Seychelles are a little nicer and more laid back (not so much to do)
Mauritius has alot of activities and is much bigger
I did seychelles only with wife and mauritius with our kids
Would i repeat seychelles- prob not, to expensive for what we paid, maldives much nicer
Mauritius with kids, any day. alot to do, nice beaches, you can rent a villa for good price and a amazing chabad shliach is a great help
do they have kosher food on Maritius?
I went to Seychelles, didnt find it so expensive, but yes, limited activities. If you go to the Hilton, its a great value and they treat diamonds well. And then a day trip to La Digue cant be missed.

Offline jomaster28

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #97 on: December 26, 2019, 11:45:04 AM »
do they have kosher food on Maritius?

Chabad Mauritius Grand Baie

The source for everything Kosher and Jewish in Mauritius.
KWB’s Highlights:

Chabad Mauritius / Jewish Mauritius: The source for everything Kosher and Jewish in Mauritius.
Open year round.
Located in Grand-Baie a village in northern Mauritius.
They offer food delivery to hotels.
They host Shabbat meals with NO charge, but a donation is appreciated.
Currently, they do not have a women’s mikvah, instead, they use the Ocean, but are building one in the near future.
They have Minyan in December and January.
There is not an Eruv, yet.
You can contact them directly at JewishMauritius@gmail.com or +230-5490-2362 / +230-5491-3095.
Chabad recommends activities and other tourist spots contacting Mauritius Attractions. Please specify Rabbi Laima referred you.
Our friends from the Chabad informs that there are many available kosher products in local supermarkets from South Africa, France, UK.

Offline KSMH

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #98 on: December 26, 2019, 12:12:55 PM »
Chabad Mauritius Grand Baie

The source for everything Kosher and Jewish in Mauritius.
KWB’s Highlights:

Chabad Mauritius / Jewish Mauritius: The source for everything Kosher and Jewish in Mauritius.
Open year round.
Located in Grand-Baie a village in northern Mauritius.
They offer food delivery to hotels.
They host Shabbat meals with NO charge, but a donation is appreciated.
Currently, they do not have a women’s mikvah, instead, they use the Ocean, but are building one in the near future.
They have Minyan in December and January.
There is not an Eruv, yet.
You can contact them directly at JewishMauritius@gmail.com or +230-5490-2362 / +230-5491-3095.
Chabad recommends activities and other tourist spots contacting Mauritius Attractions. Please specify Rabbi Laima referred you.
Our friends from the Chabad informs that there are many available kosher products in local supermarkets from South Africa, France, UK.

Is it an official chabad?
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline jomaster28

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Re: Mauritius or Seychelles
« Reply #99 on: December 26, 2019, 12:14:46 PM »
Is it an official chabad?

No idea. I didn't use them. I ordered a ton of food from JBurg and the hotel heated everything up for us.