Seychelles
Seychelles - Essential Holiday Information
Sunsail Seychelles
Eden Marina, PO Box 1076
Eden Island
Mahé
Seychelles
Tel: +248 346 122
Base Manager: Stephanie Niepceron
TIME
• Time difference between UK and Seychelles is + 4 hours.
LANGUAGE
• Creole, French and English.
PASSPORT & VISAS
• Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return.
• Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.
• Non-British passport holders should check with their local Consulate direct.
• If your child is not already included on a valid British Passport they are required to hold their own passport.
VACCINATIONS
• Immunisation or tablets are recommended for protection against Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid.
• Inoculation against Yellow Fever is essential if arriving within 6 days of having visited an infected country.
• Please refer to the Department of Health's 'EHIC and health advice for travellers' web page at www.dh.gov.uk or consult your family GP for further details.
FLIGHTS
• Gatwick Information 0870 000 2468
• Heathrow Information 0870 000 0123
• Manchester Information 0161 489 3000
• Luton Information 0158 240 5100
• Glasgow Information 0141 887 1111
• Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend traveling light and using folding luggage.
• Lost or damaged luggage whilst flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance, however First Choice Airways has no liability for loss or damage to valuable or fragile items packed in hold baggage however caused. You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewellery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.
• If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials and ensure Property Irregularity Reports (PIR) are completed. Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport.
• If you are taking our First Choice Charter flights and wish to enquire about pre booking seats please call the airline direct on 0870 757 2757. Group seats are available for pre booking through Sunsail. Call the team for more details.
• SAVE UP TO 30% when you book your airport parking with BCP through Sunsail. Call the team for more details quoting Sunsail reference BN545
CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION
• On arrival, you will be required to show your passport, completed Immigration card (distributed on the aircraft) and your return ticket.
• Going through Immigration, Customs and Baggage Collection can take up to an hour.
• Duty free allowances are similar to those in the EU. Airlines will assume no liability for perishable articles, e.g. food, which may also be confiscated by Customs.
AIRPORT & TRANSFERS
• Arrive at Mahé International Airport, which is 20 minutes from Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles.
• It is important to reconfirm international flights at least 72 hours before departure.
• It is recommended that clients make their own way to the base by catching a taxi from the airport. Approximate cost is €12 to €15 each way.
CURRENCY
• The local currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SCR).
• Due to fluctuating exchange rates it is strongly recommended to take either Euros or US$ (in small denominations) rather than the Rupee, as the Rupee is not widely accepted.
• Please note that the Sunsail base is unable to accept the Rupee. All transactions, provisioning, services etc made through the Sunsail base will need to be made in Euros or US$.
• Cash and travellers cheques can be changed at banks at the airport and in some villages around Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
• Major credit cards, particularly Visa, are widely accepted.
• Currency can be exchanged commission free at any high street First Choice Retail travel agent on production of your Sunsail invoice. You can pre-order your currency from a First Choice travel agent by telephoning them in advance on 0870 9005154 to find your nearest branch.
BRIEFINGS
• The personalised chart briefing given on your arrival describes the cruising area and any potential hazards.
• The yacht briefing introduces you to your yacht, it’s systems and rigging. It is carried out individually for each yacht. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood. Briefings are mandatory.
SAFETY
• All yachts are equipped with life jackets and a harness for everyone on board. We leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.
• We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck.
• Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine.
ILLNESS OR INJURY
• Contact a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible on either a lead boat or at Sunsail base or Club.
• If you need to make a claim for curtailment due to illness, ask the base manager for assistance and contact your insurer’s emergency medical service immediately.
• Your insurance company will assist with travel arrangements, advice and payment of bills.
• Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim.
PROVISIONING
• You can provision online before you depart. The provisioning pages will confirm the latest order date for your chosen destination.
• Supermarkets can be found in Victoria and there is a large market every morning in the centre of town, which is a good source of fruit, vegetables, fish, exotic herbs and spices, chilli oils and sauces. There are also small village shops on some of the other islands.
BASE FACILITIES
• Toilet & shower
• Water
• Fuel - charges cost approx £40 for a week on a small yacht up to approx £150 for two weeks on a large yacht.
• Bar
BOARDING/DEPARTURE
• Your yacht will be ready at 1800 hrs for boarding. Please be aware that the yacht and chart briefings will be arranged on your arrival. At the end of your charter your yacht will need to be vacated by 0900 hrs so we recommend that you return to the base the day before.
CHARTS AND PILOT BOOK
• All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht. Charts and pilot books can be purchased in advance from www.imray.com or www.kelvinhughes.com
• The British Admiralty charts that cover this area are:
742, 740, 724 and 722. These are supplied as part of the yacht’s inventory, together with a Sunsail Cruise Guide.
EQUIPMENT ON THE YACHTS
Sunsail yachts are equipped with just about everything you will need for a safe and enjoyable holiday.
• A deposit is required for dinghy, outboard engine, windsurfer, ocean kayak and GPS.
• A refundable security deposit of £300 (regardless of number of items booked) is payable by credit card or Travellers Cheques at the Sunsail base against the loss or damage of these items, whether included in the basic holiday price or as an extra.
• You will be given a checklist on arrival to make sure you have all the items listed on the inventory.
• Please inform the base manager before you leave the base if anything is missing as it is not always possible to replace or exchange items once you have departed on your cruise. Stolen items must be immediately reported to Sunsail management and the local police. An incident report will be completed for insurance purposes
• Any problems with, or damage to, your yacht must be reported to the local staff immediately. If not we cannot be held responsible.
• Each yacht is equipped with two pairs of snorkelling equipment, linen and bath towels and navigation equipment. Please bring beach towels with you. We advise you not to bring self-inflating life jackets or buoyancy aids fitted with gas-cylinders as they may not be allowed on the aircraft.
• Clothing - In Sunsail locations dress is informal, but we ask you to respect local etiquette.
MOORINGS
• Apart from Port Victoria and, space allowing, the harbours on Praslin and La Digue, mooring will be at anchor.
EATING OUT
• In Victoria itself there are 4 restaurants open in the evenings, serving Creole or Chinese food with many other places to eat at Beau Vallon, a short taxi ride away.
• Many different bars and restaurants can be found around the islands and there are 3 casinos and a cinema on Mahé. Some of the larger hotels have discos and there are 2 night clubs in Victoria.
COST OF LIVING
Prices vary between areas and from restaurant to restaurant. As a rough guide:
• A bottle of wine costs from about £10 in a supermarket and £15 in a restaurant.
• A bottle of beer costs about £1- £3.
• A snack can be bought for about £2.50.
• A three course meal is likely to cost over £15 per head.
• Mooring fees vary from about £3 - £25 per person.
TOURIST OFFICES
• Tourism offices and information centres are available in Victoria. Sunsail can also arrange a variety of shore based excursions, e.g. diving, car and bike hire.
TRANSPORT
• A public bus service operates on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Buses are frequent and fares are between 3 and 5 Seychelles Rupees.
• Taxi prices vary depending upon the trip.
• Inter-island ferries run between Mahé and La Digue and Praslin. Day excursion boats also run from Mahé to the two main islands which can also carry passengers on one way trips.
WEATHER
• There are two seasons - the North West Monsoon (October to April) and the South East Monsoon (May to September).
• During the South East Monsoon, the weather is consistently sunny and dry with calm seas with wind speeds of Force 3-6. Temperatures are usually in the region of 30°C.
• During the October to April season, the winds are from the North West and temperatures are approx. 28°C. Anchorages during this time are on the east and south coasts of the islands.
• We recommend taking polarised sunglasses to help navigation around the reefs, and light waterproofs may be useful in case you should encounter a tropical shower.
LOST PROPERTY
• If any valuables are left behind in your base, please contact the relevant base as soon as possible after the loss.
• Our base staff will endeavour to locate your property and will contact you with the result of their search.
• Return of property to you will normally be by DHL. The cost of the courier service plus a £15 charge will have to be taken by credit/debit card.
• If goods are left on the plane you will need to contact the airline direct. For First Choice Airways this number is 01293 507160. The office is open between 10am and 4pm. If there is no reply leave and message and they will return your call.
PLEASE NOTE SUNSAIL DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY GOODS THAT SUBSEQUENTLY GO MISSING DURING TRANSIT TO THE UK
PLEASE NOTE
• If you feel that a problem may adversely affect your holiday, you must give our staff the opportunity to resolve it for you. If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, please ensure that you inform the base manager and it is essential that you complete a holiday report form.
• Unfortunately, claims made for problems not reported first to the base staff and then to the manager locally, cannot be considered.
TO REITERATE THE HOLIDAY BOOKING CONDITIONS, ANY COMPLAINTS OR CLAIMS MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE END OF YOUR HOLIDAY.
SUNSAIL – RESPECTING DESTINATIONS
• Sunsail remain committed to looking after the environment and supporting the cultures where we operate and over many years you have helped us to ensure that our presence does not negatively impact these areas. Please continue to assist us to leave these areas ‘As good or better than we found them’
PLEASE NOTE: Times and prices are correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change without prior notice.
Seychelles Information Sheet last updated 24.09.08
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