From a pre-booked airport taxi to a surprisingly spacious apartment, my first day in Mahe showed me that Seychelles was going to feel very different from Mauritius.
I arrived in Seychelles after having already experienced Mauritius, so naturally I started comparing the two. It didn't take very long to notice the difference. Instead of renting a car this time, I had arranged a taxi from the airport to my accommodation in Mahe. That immediately changed the pace of the trip.
A surprisingly comfortable apartment
I had booked an apartment rather than a typical hotel room. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the size. It was spacious, comfortable and cosy—exactly the kind of place where you can come back after spending an entire day outside and actually relax. It became my base for exploring Mahe.
Seychelles felt more expensive
One of my early impressions was the cost. Compared with Mauritius, Seychelles felt noticeably more expensive to me. That wasn't necessarily a problem, but it did make me more conscious of how I was getting around and where I was spending money.
The Seychellois rupee is the country's official currency, although foreign currencies are also encountered in parts of the tourism economy. I found it useful to have local money for everyday things rather than assuming everything would be paid in euros.
Getting around like a local
Instead of relying on taxis everywhere, we started using the local buses. That became part of the experience. You are no longer moving between tourist attractions inside a private vehicle. You're sitting with people going about their normal day, watching the island pass outside the window. For me, that was a much more interesting way to see Mahe.
A different kind of island trip
My first day didn't involve a major excursion. It was mostly about arriving, settling into the apartment and understanding the place. But I already knew Seychelles was going to be different. Mauritius had given me the freedom of a rental car. Seychelles was going to give me local buses, markets, island trips and eventually one of my favourite days of the journey—La Digue.
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