How to save money on a family holiday to the Seychelles

How to save money on a family holiday to the Seychelles

Family holidays are always highlights of the year, but they can be extremely expensive, especially if you want to jet away on a trip somewhere exotic like the Seychelles. For a chance to experience a holiday of a lifetime on a shoestring, read our tips.

Choose your holiday deals carefully

This might sound obvious but getting the best deal for a family holiday on an island in the Seychelles involves spending a lot of time doing your research. These days, you'll have plenty of choice of tour operators, airlines and travel agencies, so make sure you look for deals in all of these establishments.

By shopping around and comparing quotes, you'll get the best offer and save a bundle in the long-run!

Don't forget, peak times such as school holidays bring up flight and hotel prices considerably. So, if you have little ones that aren't of school age yet, you could look at travelling outside of the expensive seasons to save money. Be flexible with your time as well by looking for flights that leave on a weekday or at unsociable hours. These are often less popular among holidaymakers and therefore cheaper, but if you have got young children, you'll be used to being up at all hours anyway.

If you used to travel a lot before the kids came along and are pretty confident you can book your own accommodation, take advantage of these skills by arranging your flights and lodgings separately. You may find this will save you money, particularly if you're looking for self-catering accommodation. But should you think it'd be easier to stay in all-inclusive hotels with your little ones, it might be more cost-effective to go for a package holiday.

Become a local and make your money last longer

Once you have landed in the Seychelles, there are also many ways you can stretch your budget. Firstly, choose somewhere to visit that isn't in the most popular destinations. Many people stay on Mahe or Praslin - the largest and second biggest islands - as this is where they'll find idyllic beaches, large resorts and crystal-clear waters.

However, if you're willing to go off the beaten track, you could find some quieter - and cheaper - gems of your own. Do some research before you leave and find a destination that is further out of the Seychelles's cities or main tourist resorts. You'll find these definitely save you some cash, while giving you and your children a chance to see a more authentic side of the nation.

In fact, immersing yourself in the local culture will both save you money and enable you to have a really fulfilling and rewarding experience. How many kids will get the chance to say they have see how Seychellois people really live?

As well as picking somewhere more traditional to stay, go on low-cost excursions to cut down on your spending. These include shopping at local markets where you can put your haggling skills to the test, visiting fishing villages to learn more about the livelihood of locals, and taking a trip to Valle-de-Mai on the island of Praslin. This last excursion will enable your kids to run through a real rainforest and possibly spot the world's largest seed, coco de mer. But don't try to pick it up, as these can weigh up to 30 kg!