Fri 30 Jul 2010, 8:01
About Seychelles General Information
| General Information |
 |
 |
|
Health regulations Health regulationsThere is NO risk of contracting malaria, yellow fever, cholera or other common tropical diseases in Seychelles. No vaccinations are required except in the case of yellow fever where a vaccination is required for travelers over 1 year of age who have come from, or passed through a partly or wholly infected area within the preceding 6 days. Infected areas include certain parts of northern and central South America and Central Africa. (South Africa is not considered as an infected area). Persons traveling to Seychelles via Nairobi, Kenya and who remain in transit in Kenya do not require a vaccination against yellow fever. Hours of businessSeychelles office hours are from Monday to Friday 0800hrs - 1600hrs. Medical & Dental facilitiesMedical facilities and call-out doctors are available to visitors on request from accommodation establishments and island resorts. The rates for private clinics/doctors' and State clinics vary depending on the nature of the services that are being offered, for example for a call-out, consultants, admission etc.. For emergency cases please call 999. Money & BankingThe local currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SCR) which is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in 5, 10, 25 cents, and 1 and 5 Rupee denominations. Notes come in 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 Rupee denominations. Exchange rates are featured on the central Bank of Seychelles website and are available at all banks. Banking hours are generally Monday-Friday 0800hrs - 1100hrs. All banks process traveller's cheques and foreign exchange transactions. Passports are required for visitors' transactions and nominal commissions may be charged. ATM facilities exist at major banks and at the airport on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Please note that these provide cash in local currency. Exchanging foreign currency into Seychelles Rupees must only be done at banks, authorized money changer or with the hotel cashier. BE WARNED! It is a criminal offence to change money with any person or business other than those authorized to do so and who are mentioned above. Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Seychelles. If you require Rupees, it is advisable to exchange only what you need on a daily basis. To re-exchange Seychelles Rupees into foreign currency on your departure from Seychelles, you MUST produce the official receipt from your initial authorised dealer to the bank. Your money will not be re-converted into foreign currency without this receipt! Personal safetySeychelles enjoys a low level of crime. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to take some routine precautions to ensure your personal safety and that of your possessions.Walking alone on isolated beaches, swimming alone or leaving yachts unlocked at their moorings is not advisable. It is also not recommended to carry large sums of money or valuables on you or to leave them unguarded in your room or in the boot of your car or to advertise the fact that you possess them. Public HolidaysFollowing are the list of public holidays in Seychelles;Official:
Assumption Day - 15th August Visitors may enjoy almost 12 hours of daylight throughout the year with sunrise occurring just after 0600hrs and the sun setting around 1830hrs. CommunicationsThe international dialling code for Seychelles is 248.Seychelles enjoys modern, efficient communication services. At present, there are two GSM networks in operation, Cable & Wireless and Airtel. Payphones are available in most districts on the Inner Islands while the international roaming agreements in force between Seychelles and an increasing number of countries are always looking to provide more comprehensive services. The offices of internet service providers, internet cafés, postal and courier services are located in or around central Victoria. Among the increasing number of Internet cafés, several may be found in the Beau Vallon area on Mahé, as well as on Praslin and La Digue. Postal services are also available on Praslin and La Digue. Credit cardsMasterCard / Access and Visa cards are widely accepted while Diners Club and American Express cards are honoured to a somewhat lesser extent. Such cards may be used for car hire, hotel and restaurant services, for all of which the visitor will be charged in foreign currency. Shops and boutiques accepting credit cards will typically display the relevant card logo on their doors or windows.ATM facilities exist at major banks on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and at the airport on Mahé and Praslin. These machines provide cash in local currency; Seychelles Rupees (SCR). WaterTap water meets W.H.O. (World Health Organization) specifications and it is safe to drink nation-wide. As tap water is chlorinated, visitors are advised to drink bottled water but there is no imperative to avoid soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and ice.If you are in any way concerned about drinking water, several different brands of bottled water are widely available in super markets, shops, restaurants and hotel bars. What to packLight clothing suitable for Seychelles' warm tropical climate is recommended and visitors should prepare themselves for the relatively hot, humid atmosphere.Hats, sunglasses and adequate UV protection - SPF30+ are advisable. It is important to remember that even on an overcast day the tropical sun is still strong and able to cause unpleasant sunburn. Wearing a t-shirt for the first swim or snorkel is a good idea. A camera is an absolute must! Please bring a stock of film (particularly for non-standard cameras and video cameras) together with a supply of batteries. Casual eveningwear (long trousers for men), together with appropriate footwear, is necessary for dining out and for gaining entrance to casinos and most hotels. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended if you intend to take guided walk and trail excursions. Visitors suffering from a specific medical condition should be sure to bring an adequate stock of the appropriate medication along as well as their preferred brand of sun cream, mosquito repellent etc. |