Seychelles Rupee – SCR

Most people are familiar with the Seychelles – they are one of the most desired and iconic holiday destinations in the world. If you get the chance to go there on holiday you will use the rupee for that particular country while you’re there. You’ve no doubt heard of the rupee before, but the Seychelles has its own version that is commonly referred to as the Seychellois rupee.

What coins and notes are available for this currency?

There are 100 cents in each rupee, and four coins are used in cents while a further two – the one and five rupee coins – are in the basic rupee currency. The cent coins are the 1, 5, 10 and 25 cent coins.

There are also banknotes, all of which are in rupees. These are the 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 rupee notes.

From past to present – the history of the Seychellois rupee

We should travel all the way back to the beginning of the First World War to find the first use of the Seychellois rupee. This was of course in 1914. Before this the Mauritian rupee had been used, and indeed when the Seychelles version was brought in both currencies were legal tender to begin with. Ironically, seeing as the new currency was brought in at the start of the First World War, the old currency (the Mauritian rupee) was not taken out of circulation until the beginning of the Second World War in 1939.

How to get hold of the Seychellois rupee

Since we already know the Seychelles are incredibly popular it is no big surprise to learn the currency they use is easy to get when you go on holiday there. In addition to this the popularity of the Seychelles as a holiday destination means they also take other popular currencies such as the US dollar, the euro and the British pound. So while you should always have some Seychellois rupees with you, it is also fine to have your own currency if you are from any of the above regions or countries.

Furthermore you may find you don’t use cash that much anyway. Most tourist-based locations, restaurants and other attractions are happy to take payment via credit card. This is perfectly safe to do but make sure you take the same precautions you would while paying by card at home. Don’t let the card go out of your sight and make sure you alert the card issuer that you will be taking the trip before you do so. This can help prevent the card from being stopped in case they think someone is trying to make a fraudulent transaction.

There is no need to take traveller’s cheques really, and if you need any Seychellois rupees you can usually get them out of a cash machine quite easily with your usual bank card. Check the conversion rates and charges prior to leaving home if you can, and take a couple of cards in case the first one isn’t accepted.

How to find out the latest exchange rate between your home currency and the Seychellois rupee

Just find the best currency converter you can and use that to get updated conversion rates. Remember to enter your own currency first followed by the Seychellois rupee. To find it quickly you can always use the currency code SCR. This should take you straight to it.

If you would like to go to the Seychelles at some point it’s a great idea to discover more about the country prior to visiting. You can do this by going to the Republic of Seychelles Consulate in London, although you don’t actually have to physically visit there. You can go to the website at http://www.seychelles-gov.net/ instead.

Travelling safely with the Seychellois rupee

While the Seychelles are fairly safe to visit, there are potential problems that could affect you if you are not careful. Opportunistic crime is becoming more of a concern, but since it does seek the best opportunities to strike it is possible to reduce the odds of becoming a target. For example make sure you don’t flaunt any wealth and don’t carry large amounts of cash if you can help it. Whatever you have, carry it in small amounts in a variety of pockets and purses. At least then if you do have your pocket picked you won’t lose too much. Make sure you stow your passport safely away once you arrive in the Seychelles. You can keep it in your hotel safe for the duration of your time there.

Some of the other more obvious dangers are staying out at night, particularly if you are on your own. Try to stay in heavily populated areas so you are not wandering down dark and deserted roads at night. Take care wherever you go and remember to keep your valuables safe and only take with you what you really have to.

Where to spend your rupees in the Seychelles – and what to spend them on

The Seychelles should more properly be referred to as the Republic of Seychelles. It is an archipelago and is made up of over 150 islands. However only a little over a dozen of those have accommodation, so you are limited a little in where you can go. You will find the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.

The capital of the islands is Victoria, and this is located on Mahe Island. This is the main island of all those that make up the country. While it is a city it only had some 25,000 citizens back in 2009, so it isn’t exactly hugely crowded! It isn’t just a city either: it is a port. As such there are some charming views to be had out to sea, not to mention looking at some of the sights further inland, such as the famous clock tower.

It is well worth exploring more of Mahe Island while you are there, as it has some amazing beaches to share with you. Think of light greenish-blue seas – very clear – and a beautiful blue sky looming over white sandy beaches. That is a good description of Mahe and it provides you with a great place to go if all you want from the islands is to relax on a beach. It might be worth getting some exercise and going to see Morne Seychellois though, which happens to be the tallest peak in the whole of the Seychelles. It comes in at just under 3,000 feet in height and sits in the Morne Seychellois National Park, which itself is lovely to explore. There are many tracks and trails to explore here and you can watch out for various flora and fauna as well.

If you would prefer to see more of the waters that surround the Seychelles it is a good idea to consider such activities as diving and snorkelling. You can charter a boat to take you out to a diving site if you have experience in this, for example.

The second largest island in the Seychelles is known as Praslin Island. The Seychelles has a couple of sites that have been recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, and one of them is on this particular island. It is the Vallee de Mai, a nature park. There are some truly stunning sights here – it is definitely a place to take a camera, otherwise you will miss out on some of the great sights there.

One of the beauties of the Seychelles is the ability to stay somewhere that is rather private in nature. The islands are often seen as an escape – an opportunity to go and stay on an island that has but a few other people staying on it. Make no mistake: holidays in the Seychelles can be expensive but then you are getting an experience you wouldn’t get in many other holiday destinations. You’ll need some cash to go here and enjoy the experience, but it is cash well spent according to lots of people!

Conclusion

With plenty of islands to choose from, lots of attractions and tourist destinations and lots more to enjoy as well, it is no wonder people decide these islands are the ones for them when they have some cash available. From the thought of laying on a pristine and romantic beach for a week or two, to exploring everything the inhabited islands have to offer, you won’t run short of ideas. There are many natural habitats in the Seychelles and many creatures call it their home. Thankfully some are protected and you may just get a chance to spot one or two of them if you visit some of the national parks.

Whatever you decide to do in the Seychelles, there is no danger of being disappointed by your visit. You’ll spend a lot of rupees while you are there but it is worth every penny (or rupee!). In fact why not find out more about it now and see whether this could be within your budget this year or next?