Maldives or Seychelles?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 10 10
UNESCO listings among them 0 2
Cost level Very high Very high
Busiest month in our write-ups March April
Currency Rufiyaa (MVR) Seychellois rupee (SCR)
Plugs and voltage C, D, G - 230 V G - 240 V
Everyday languages Dhivehi Creole, English, French
Driving side left hand side left hand side
Region Southern Asia Eastern Africa
Capital Malé Victoria
Maldives
One island, one resort is the classic formula; local islands run by different, Muslim rules.
What we have written up
- Addu Atoll island
- Hanifaru Bay beach
- Maafushi and the Local Islands island
- Maldives Surf Breaks beach
- Maldivian Cuisine dish
- Malé old town
Worth knowing before you go
- US dollars are accepted everywhere alongside rufiyaa
- Resort service charges of 10% plus taxes are added to most bills
- Guesthouse tourism on local islands runs a third the price of resorts
Seychelles
Relaxed Creole warmth on island time; Sundays belong to church, family and the beach.
What we have written up
- Aldabra Atoll island
- Anse Lazio beach
- Beau Vallon beach
- Cousin Island Special Reserve island
- Curieuse and the Giant Tortoises island
- La Digue and Anse Source d'Argent beach
All 10 places in Seychelles →
Worth knowing before you go
- Hotels and restaurants often quote in euros and take cards; market stalls and buses want rupees in cash
- Many restaurants already include a service charge - check the bill before tipping extra
- Shops close Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.