Article for those who are still deciding on the dream vacation destination. You will find out which is better: Mauritius, Maldives or Seychelles. As the author, I have lived in all three countries and will share the unique features of each. There will be a comparative table to highlight their differences, along with insights for tourists. I hope that after reading this, you will be able to choose the perfect destination for yourself.

Commonalities among Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles

I’ll be honest from the start, even though this is a guide about Seychelles, I won’t praise them and claim that Seychelles is better than the Maldives or Mauritius. Each resort has its strengths and weaknesses 🙂

Let’s start with the basics and what these three countries have in common:

  • All three resorts are located in the Indian Ocean.
  • They are island nations with a large number of stunning beaches.
  • Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles are islands with a tropical climate. This means summer and warm oceans all year round.
  • Moreover, all three countries do not have a long rainy season. In fact, you can come here for a vacation under the palm tree all year round. Yes, there are months with more rain or stronger winds, but tourists relax here 12 months a year.
Maldives or Seychelles
In the photo, an underwater waterfall in Mauritius, a unique natural phenomenon in the world. You won’t see this in Maldives or Seychelles. The downside is that it’s visible only from a helicopter at a certain angle.
  • The time difference with EU countries for all three resorts is 2-3 hours. In contrast, with most resorts in Southeast Asia, the difference is 6 hours. In this regard, for a vacation with children, it’s better to fly to Mauritius, the Maldives or Seychelles. It’s much easier for children to acclimatize to a new place. Read more about time in Seychelles.
  • Since all the islands developed independently for a long time, and dangerous animals and insects didn’t reach here from the mainland, today there are no poisonous spiders, snakes (almost), or wild predators in their natural environment in all three countries.

Differences for Tourists

Now, the most important part of the article. Below you will find a table with differences between these three resorts. Each indicator is rated on a 5-point scale from 1 to 5, where 1 is very poor/difficult/very expensive, and 5 is excellent. If necessary, there will be comments after the table.

Important:

The ratings are subjective and based solely on the author’s (my) personal experience.
CriterionMaldivesMauritiusSeychelles
Prices241
Snorkeling524
Shoppin253
Transportation153
Nightlife142
Safety533
Attractions143
Hiking154
Tours243
Beaches545
Family-Friendly555
Total304537

Think for yourself – decide for yourself where to go :). I’ll provide a few comments on the table, concisely.

  • Prices: Seychelles is more expensive than all the resorts, significantly. A can of beer in an ordinary store is 3.5 euros. I take into account restaurant visits, groceries, alcohol, excursions, etc. The Maldives and Mauritius are considerably cheaper. It’s essential to understand that when I talk about the Maldives, I mean independent travel to local islands, not luxury and expensive resort islands.
  • Snorkeling: The Maldives has no equals. They are heads and shoulders above all others. If you are willing to snorkel for 2-3 hours every day, only the Maldives.
  • Shopping: In Mauritius, it’s like Europe, like at home. Large hypermarkets, online delivery, a wide range of everything. In Seychelles, there is only one hypermarket for the whole country, and in the Maldives, there is one in the capital, but there are no tourists in the capital.
seychelles or mauritius
I snorkeled by the beach in the Maldives and encountered such a manta ray. There is no better snorkeling experience than in the Maldives.
  • Transportation:
    • Maldives: A thousand islands. Everyone arrives in Male and then either sail or fly to their island, where they will stay. It’s expensive and time-consuming. The ferry and speedboat schedule causes a lot of hassle.
    • Seychelles: Three main islands where tourists stay. You can spend the entire vacation on Mahe, where you will arrive. If you want to swim among the islands, a round-trip ticket to the neighboring islands costs about 140 euros per person.
    • Mauritius: Everything is on one island. There is no need to swim anywhere; transportation is extremely simple and budget-friendly
  • Nightlife: Only in Mauritius, and that’s only on infrastructure beaches.
  • Attractions, Diversity, Hiking:
    • Mauritius: Tops in everything, Seychelles is also good.
    • Maldives: Nothing to see, no mountains, no attractions, all islands are 200 by 200 meters. Only you and the ocean. Snorkeling, the only daily entertainment in the Maldives 🙂
  • Beaches: Everywhere, they are beautiful, but Seychelles is a special luxury. You should go to Seychelles specifically for its beaches. One is more stunning than the other; no crowds of tourists, incredible beauty.
best destination in indian ocean
The best beaches are in Seychelles. Here, there are no jet skis, corn sellers, or crowds of tourists – it’s just you. This is true for almost any beach. The photo features Mahe Island, Seychelles.
  • Family Vacation: If your child is not picky about food, Seychelles or Mauritius. If you need a normal range of products in the store, then Mauritius is better. Details on family vacations in Seychelles.

What’s better: Mauritius, the Maldives or Seychelles?

Where is it better?

The main idea is that everywhere is fantastic. You will have a great time at any resort with sun, ocean, and stunning beaches. If you haven’t been to any of these three countries, choose any – Mauritius, the Maldives or Seychelles. But it’s still essential to consider the unique features of each when making your choice.
  • If you love swimming and watching fish, turtles, mantas, and sharks right by the beach – the Maldives is the only option here.
  • If you are prone to seasickness and easily get motion sick – only Mauritius. There are no ferries, and there’s no need to swim between islands.
  • Jungles, hiking, giant turtles, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints – Mauritius and Seychelles.
  • Wild beaches without people – Seychelles.
  • Infrastructure, shops, well-developed public transport – Mauritius.

If you have decided (or even if you haven’t), here are some excellent guides that will answer all your remaining questions:

In conclusion: there is no right answer to the question of what’s better: Mauritius, the Maldives or Seychelles. Everywhere is fantastic, and everyone should visit these three tropical resorts if possible. Remember, the best resort is the one where it’s good for you, not the one bloggers write about on the internet 🙂

Since you are reading this article, your dream vacation is coming soon!

IMPORTANT: essential links to organize your dream trip to the Seychelles:

  • FLIGHTS: Aviasales – direct flights and best deals.

  • CAR RENTAL: Mahe and Praslin, no deposit required – DiscoverCars.

  • TOURS and EXCURSIONS:
    • GetYourGuide – 75+ activities on land and water in the Seychelles.

    • Viator – 150 + activities in Seychelles.

  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA.

  • HOTELS, VILLAS, APARTMENTS:
    • Hotellook compares prices among a dozen other services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.

    • Booking – the most popular service for booking accommodation.

    • Agoda – the main competitor of Booking.

  • PACKAGES: from budget to luxury – Expedia.

  • AIRPORT TRANSFER: Intui.

  • INTERNET: eSIM of local telecom operator – Airalo.