**Jells2dot0**

Re: **Jells2dot0**

• Jells2dot0 mod

  

  January 2012

  Hello!
  
  Unfortunately, those prices for flights from So Africa to the Seychelles are accurate! We used miles to get from Johannesburg to Mauritius just because I couldn't imagine spending that much money for a 4 hour flight. We flew PHX-LHR-JNB and had a 3 hour layover, but on the way back, we flew SEZ-Qatar-LHR-PHX and had an 11 hour layover. We paid for the flights from Mauritius to the Seychelles and it was only about $400pp, but it was a 2.5 hour flight! Getting to the Maldives is not even worth it from there. There are not any good flight options and as you said, the layovers are horrible. When we were planning our trip, we wanted to combine the Maldives and Seychelles, but after doing more research, we opted for Mauritius instead and are doing the Maldives after I get out of grad school (if all goes well- late 2014!)
  
  If you are flexible, definitely do the Seychelles instead of Mauritius during the summer. Mauritius will not be as warm (low 70s), but the Seychelles will be close to 80 degrees. We went in September and even though it was dry season in the Seychelles, it still rained a lot. Apparently they had a drought for 6 months prior to use arriving. So, I think we got the worst of what it will ever be there.

  
  

  December in FP is one of the best times for pricing, but going over the holidays will definitely add some cost. Most resorts require compulsory add on dinners for Xmas Eve, Xmas Day, or NYE. The dinners can run around $150-$200pp! Flights also tend to book up on certain days because of holiday travel, so the prices go up. However, if you can avoid all of that, the rooms will be less overall. Depending on your budget, I would recommend Bora Bora and Taha'a! Le Taha'a is my favorite resort there. I've stayed there twice, but when I did that particular island combo (back in 2004), the package price was around $15K with business class air for 5 nights Taha'a and 4 nights horizon OWB at the BOB Nui in April. I believe that the Nui has gotten a little more reasonable since the Hilton took it over, but Taha'a is still wretchedly expensive. I would estimate that with yearly price increases and whatnot, my same package with coach airfare would run around $12K-$13K. Doing Moorea instead would probably drop the package to $10K. Of course, that all depends on what resorts you choose!
  
  HTH and let me know if you have any more questions!

   

  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

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• girlinchicago member

  

  January 2012

  Thanks for the very helpful information!  Wish we could just travel "whenever" - Vacationist has rooms at Le Taha'a available between now and April (if I remember correctly) for just $420 a night!  I am tied to a school schedule, so it's pretty much winter break, spring break or summer for us and this spring break is already spoken for.  I might look into Bora Bora and Taha'a, but we just got back from a trip to Asia and we're both kind of itching to go back and December is great in terms of the weather there.  Who knows?  Maybe we'll wind up at an AI in Mexico...I have such a horrible habit of always wanting to plan way too far out.  

  
  

  Great reminder on the miles piece - maybe we could use them for Johannesburg to Seychelles.  That would definitely help a bunch!  
  

  
  

  Thanks again!  

  

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• Jells2dot0 mod

  

  January 2012

  I understand about being tied to school schedules! I'm using my 3 week break between the summer and fall semesters to get married! I also understand about just doing an AI in Mexico. We have often just went to Cabo (2 hour flight from PHX!) when we didn't feel like putting a lot of effort into anything. It's a great way to get away when you don't have much time. I see myself doing that a few times until I graduate!
  
  FYI- I used my United miles for my flight from JNB-MRU. It's 35k/person for the round trip flight in economy on South African. To do MRU-SEZ, you'd need Delta miles to be able to fly on Air Seychelles. I don't have a Delta account, so I'm not sure how many miles it would be.
  

   

  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

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