Honeymoon Advice: Maldives, Seychelles or Zanzibar?

The questions that came after our trip to Seychelles this summer pointed to one point: How is it for the honeymoon? When we were planning our honeymoon, we had a hard time choosing where to go and finally decided on Maldives.. But since everyone’s expectations for their honeymoon can be very different, basically “Maldives or Seychelles?” I wanted to make a comparison, and I included Zanzibar, which is one of our favourites, while I touched the subject of honeymoon proposals abroad.

Let me underline before going into details; I made the comparison according to the standard travel type preferred by the majority for all 3 islands; that is, for Maldives, you spend your trip at a single island resort (because there are now cheaper options to stay on local islands), for Seychelles you travel to 3 big islands (there are island resort options here), for Zanzibar, at a standard resort on the main island I evaluated the plans where you stay (if you have time, you have the chance to move to the neighboring islands). Detailed travel guides for Seychelles and Zanzibar are available on the blog; They may also be helpful at the decision stage.

Transparency is important! The Honeymoon Advice you started reading contains some collaboration links.. With any reservation or purchase you make through the links, you can ensure that I receive a small commission at no extra cost.. Thanks in advance.

Natural Beauty

Maldives, an island community of around 1200 coral sands. Coconut trees covering these white sands, which are formed by the crumbling of dead corals, together with the turquoise sea offer a beautiful view to set the background for our computer.

Seychelles is one of the other tropical islands in the middle of the ocean. The most distinctive feature that distinguishes it is that the islands in the center are made of granite rocks.. This means the luxury of spending time on beaches you can’t find anywhere else.. In addition to that, the forested areas of palm trees unique to the island are truly breathtaking.

Zanzibar also has beaches that are as beautiful as the other two islands.. If you are coming to a tropical island for the first time, it is impossible not to be affected by the environment, but I have to say that it is a little less than the other two islands.

I think; overwhelming superiority in this regard is Seychelles.. It is a satisfying destination not only with its beaches but also with its green areas.

Ease of Access to the Islands

THY now has direct flights to all 3 islands and the flight time for all of them is 8 hours on average.. The duration of your connecting flight depends entirely on the airline you choose.

The first stop of Maldives, there is nothing to do in the capital Male.. From here, you need to provide transportation to the island you have chosen for accommodation.. Depending on the location, the mode of transportation may be air taxi (flying planes) or fast boats.

Seychelles‘s first stop is Mahe, its largest island.. You can spend the entire trip on this island, or you can switch to Praslin and La Digue islands or to one of the island-hotels.. Depending on the location, an additional mode of transportation can be a jet plane or a fast ferry.

Zanzibar‘s first stop is directly to the island of Zanzibar.. You don’t need to leave the island except for one-day getaways like snorkeling.

In my opinion; none is superior to the other in terms of ease of transportation. You arrive at all of them tired and like a zombie after a long journey. Flying airplanes can be challenging if you have an extreme fear of airplanes.

Health Precautions

You do not have to get a yellow fever vaccine for any of the islands unless you are traveling from a country at risk of yellow fever.

Maldives. It is recommended to be protected from mosquito bites periodically against other diseases, but I don’t remember feeling the slightest discomfort on the island we went to.

There is no risk of malaria in Seychelles.. You should be protected from mosquito bites against other diseases. There are a lot of mosquitoes on every island and it can be annoying even during the day if you are in the shade.

There is still a risk of malaria in Zanzibar, you need to take appropriate precautions in this regard.. For detailed information, “Where Are Travel Vaccines Made?” you can see the article. When you go to the Travel Health Center and tell them you’re going to travel to Zanzibar, they also give you a yellow fever vaccine, but it’s not actually mandatory; It’s up to you whether to do it or not.. Since it is a long-term vaccine, you may want it to be removed.. But remember that pregnancy can be risky within a few months after vaccination.

In my opinion; The most comfortable honeymoon place in terms of hygiene and health Maldives. Although mosquito bites are plentiful, I can put Seychelles in second place. Zanzibar, on the other hand, is at a point where it can be challenging at times.

Visa / Honeymoon Recommendations

Maldives and Seychelles visa-free for Turkish citizens. You can get a free visa until the day you stay while passing through customs.

Zanzibar with visa at the door. You can get a 90-day visa at customs for $50. The visa fee of $100 plus for two is not less at current exchange rates

Inter-Island Transportation

Maldives traffic flows on the left, but you have nothing to do with the traffic. Since you will always be at the island resort, you either walk or ride a bike.

Seychelles traffic flows on the left. It is impossible to move around the islands of Mahe and Praslin without a motor vehicle.. You can take the bus, rent a car with or without a driver, or join a tour.. More detailed information in the article “Transport and Rent a Car in Seychelles”.

In Zanzibar the traffic flows on the left and it is impossible to move without a motor vehicle. You can take the open-back minibus dala-dala, rent a car with or without a driver, or join a tour.. More detailed information is in the article “Renting a Car or a Motorbike in Zanzibar”.

In my opinion; is the first place on my honeymoon suggestions list because Maldives is the most trouble-free place in terms of transportation.. On other islands, right-hand drive can be stressful. Instead, arranging a chauffeur-driven vehicle or taking a tour requires a separate planning and budget.

Places to Visit

Maldives If you search for a place, you can probably go to the capital Male or the local islands around, but there is not much to do other than that.. The concept of vacation here is about lying down.

Seychelles You have the opportunity to visit both the main islands and the different coves on the islands.. Since every island and every bay has a different atmosphere, they are all worth seeing.. In addition to that, you can take a nature walk on breathtaking routes with different flora.. More detailed information is in the article “Seychelles Attractions and 12-Day Trip Plan”.

Zanzibar is the most generous island in terms of places to visit.. In addition to the coves in different parts of the island, you can visit the capital Stone Town, which has a deep-rooted history, you can enter and leave its villages, and join spice tours.. If you want to increase the dose of adventure, you can plan a honeymoon combined with safari in Serengeti National Park.. But if you include safari, you need to allocate at least 10 days.. More detailed information is in the article “Places to Visit and Activities to Do in Zanzibar”.

In my opinion; “I get bored on the bed; I dream of a honeymoon with lots of walking, dusting and different activities.” Zanzibar, the honeymoon place that will satisfy those who say. Maldives is ideal for those who think that getting married is a stressful enough process and do nothing on their honeymoon.

Entertainment and Nightlife

Maldives has various options to keep you entertained after sunset. It is possible to find activities, but they are limited to what the island resort offers.. In the evening, you can find options like a mini barbecue party by the pool or a local dance show.

Seychelles is a quiet country for nightlife.. Apart from a few bars you will find in the center of Mahe, the places where you can have fun at night do not go beyond the entertainment of a hotel.. When it comes to nightlife here, all arrows point to “Casinos”; I don’t know how much it will interest you.

If you are dreaming of a honeymoon focused on entertainment and nightlife, Zanzibar should definitely be your choice.. The people are already smiling enough and inclined to dance; Dancers appear to the accompaniment of “Jambo” every step of the way.. The northern beaches are famous for its nightlife.

Börtü Bug

We did not encounter a single insect in Maldives, surprisingly.. Here, crustaceans crawling on land have replaced the arthropods we are accustomed to seeing in nature.. So the most comfortable place in this regard is Maldives.

If you have a phobia of cockroaches and spiders like me, Seychelles can be a bit painful. There’s a large spider species that’s very common on the islands and you’ll see it everywhere, including in luxury accommodations like the Four Seasons Hotel; harmless to humans but officially everywhere. In addition, the probability of encountering cockroaches on the island of La Digue is quite high.

Zanzibar Whether you are dealing with insects depends entirely on where you are staying.. If you prefer a hotel with regular spraying, I don’t think you will have much trouble.. However, since the rooms in one of the cheap hotels we stayed in were bungalow type, we occasionally encountered mice.

Religious Elements

Maldives, a Muslim country with strict rules.. It is forbidden to bring alcohol and pork products into the country and to consume these products outside the island resort where you are staying.. There are no restrictions on island resorts, but local islands say that a little more attention should be paid to dressing.

Seychelles, is an island where the majority of the population is Catholic.. In this sense, there is no reflection on you as a tourist because there are no restrictions on clothing.. No one seems to mind if you start wearing a bikini after you get to the airport.

Zanzibar, a completely Muslim island. Topless sunbathing on beaches is not welcome. It is necessary to pay attention to the clothes after entering the village outside the beach and in Stone Town.. It is recommended that women do not wear short shorts and low-cut. Even if you wear it, you should be ready for unpleasant glances.

I think; It is a bit annoying to adapt to wearing closed clothes when it comes to a place where you go for a summer vacation.. In that sense, I loved the comfort of Seychelles.. In Maldives, you do not even feel the presence of strict rules in the country at the island resort you are staying.. But Zanzibar often says, “Don’t go out in beachwear,” even if you don’t have a direct problem. an island with its sign; That’s why I’m giving it a low grade.

Underwater Vitality

The Maldives is home to an underwater world I’ve never seen before. Sometimes you have the chance to watch the colorful fish, stingrays and turtles passing under your feet from the balcony of the water bungalow without even having to go into the sea.. And the sad part of the job; This experience will disappear in 50 years due to climate change.

Seychelles has an underwater world, although not as effective as the Maldives, but you can do it every time. You may not find it in the bay. Unfortunately, corals near the shore have already begun to die.. You can join snorkeling or diving tours and visit the corals in the open sea.

The tropical underwater life in Zanzibar’ is a little dimmer than the other two islands.. Of course, there are places where you can go with snorkeling and diving tours, but as long as you are on the shore, the variety you will encounter is a bit more limited.

I think; if you are interested in underwater, you can go to Maldives just to see this liveliness. worth a trip.

Swimming Facility

Maldives is not an island community that allows swimming from morning till night unless you’re snorkeling. Of course it will vary depending on where you are staying, but in our experience it can be very shallow with the low tide.. When the sea rises, the current is felt very strong.. I think that’s the main problem with swimming.. But most honeymooners to the Maldives lament the sharks on the shore; comments are generally “We never swam.” shaped. Yes, it is possible to come across reef sharks frequently on the coasts, but you should know that they are generally harmless to humans.