Alton/St Louis to Victoria (ALN–SEZ) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders enter Seychelles visa-free for up to 90 days. No advance application is needed. Seychelles does not require visas from any nationality. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) on Mahe, immigration issues a visitor's permit after reviewing your return ticket, proof of accommodation, and proof of sufficient funds (about $150 per person per day or equivalent in prepaid bookings).

The 90-day visitor's permit can be extended up to 12 months at the Department of Immigration in Victoria, Mahe. The Seychelles archipelago has 115 islands spread across the western Indian Ocean. Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue are the three main inhabited islands. The Vallee de Mai on Praslin (a UNESCO site) contains the world's largest population of coco de mer palms. La Digue's Anse Source d'Argent is among the most photographed beaches in the world.

No direct flights connect the US to Seychelles. Route through Doha (about 5 hours to SEZ on Qatar Airways), Dubai (about 4 hours 30 minutes on Emirates), Abu Dhabi (about 4 hours 30 minutes on Etihad), or Addis Ababa (about 4 hours on Ethiopian Airlines). Total travel time from the US East Coast runs 18 to 24 hours. Seychelles uses the Seychellois rupee (SCR), trading at roughly 14 SCR per $1. Euros and US dollars are accepted at hotels and tour operators. Card payments work at resorts and larger businesses. Cat Cocos ferries connect Mahe to Praslin in 1 hour for SCR 1,200 ($86) round trip. Inter-island flights on Air Seychelles take 15 minutes. Budget meals at takeaway shops cost SCR 75 to SCR 150 ($5.35 to $10.70).