Shopping in Mahe Island - authentic goods, best outlets, malls and boutiques

People of Seychelles have quite peculiar traditions concerning dealing with money. I might be a little frustrated as you’ll get a change with a small colourful clump on a market for the first time. But it’s completely ok. The local currency which locals also use is being produced from non-tearable plastic paper. Market-sellers have transparent packets with ball-formed bank notes in it instead of cash boxes. Besides, you don’t have to straighten your money, you can simply give it just like that. But remember that almost nobody accepts cards here. You can only use it in hotels.

It’s better to exchange currency as soon as you come here. In case you’re run out of local money, you can pay dollars without any problems. Why dollars? Well, the answer is pretty simple – locals are somehow sure that euro is cheaper (or of the same value) than dollar. So, if you ask to recalculate currency, even then it should come so that American currency is a much better option.

Even though there are no siestas, most stores have time off from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. That is why it’s recommended not to plan shopping at this time period.

You can see young guys all around the island, especially in the city beaches area, who sell local coconuts. Usually, not highly ambitious ones with different drug problems do it, they just pick old coconuts from the ground and sell it to tourists. It’s up to you to decide whether you need it or not. However, if you’re looking for a nice unusual coconut with a peculiar shape, then it’s young ones. It’s better not to buy it from hands, even though it would be rather cheaper than in supermarkets. The explanation is simple – you won’t be allowed to bring it home from the island without special permission and, as a result, you’re likely to get a fine. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

If a whole coconut with all the essential documents is a too expensive purchase for you, then you can look for hand-made stuff from its shell. They look really cute and, furthermore, are cheap. Or you can buy yourself a bottle of coconut liquor. It’s one of the main ingredients for the majority of local cocktail recipes.

In case you actually want to buy something really special, then spend one day visiting a trade village which is not far from Victoria. You can get there by bus, a rental car or a bicycle. You can see how a master creates a marvellous jewellery box from two coconut halves or braid baskets from leaves. Moreover, you can also buy a straw hat or a beautiful coral craft there.

Sometimes tourists are offered to buy a souvenir made of a turtle shell. Do not buy it if you don’t have any particular knowledge concerning these animals. For instance, if you buy such a purchase and then it appears that it was made from hawksbill endangered species, you might be sent to prison. Just buy yourself a hand-painted plate with turtles on it, there is a great variety of pottery.

One of the most popular mementos here are so-called «magic bottles» – bottles made from multi-coloured glass and filled with colourful sand. One more creative gift from the island is real shark jaws. Then, some tourists also buy local flowers. In addition, local species, especially vanilla beans that you could use for several years, are highly popular too. Tourists also often buy rum and vanilla tea. Or you can, for example, buy a galleon model as a reminding of privateers who used to rule the island.

Local fruit is definitely worth trying. Buy not in shops but on markets where variety is wider and you would also have a chance to bargain, despite the fact that local sellers low their high prices only on rare occasions.

The best option to immerse yourself into the atmosphere of a night fair is to visit food fest in Beau Vallon. Food, jewellery and souvenir traders as well as youths and those who just want to have fun and dance around fire come there in evenings. By the way, you can also buy traditional local clothes and jewellery (precious and non) in national style right there from craftsmen who created it themselves.