Thanks so much for the very helpful reply. You have confirmed what I seemed to be finding from our research. Seychelles does seem to be a better fit for us but also seemed more expensive (both flight and hotel).

One other thing I should have mentioned is that we have already been to Krabi and loved it. My impression is that Seychelles or Mauritius would be most similar to that experience.

If you think of anything else, let me know. Or, if you have any questions for me on any of the places I have pinned on my map.

Cheers.

Hi again,

Have come on the Seychelles forum this time as that's where my expertise is, not Maldives! Just a few more thoughts after your replies. What was it about Krabi that you loved? The amazing limestone scenery? Variety of activities? If it's scenery you're after then Seychelles and to a lesser extent Mauritius (and Bali from the look of the pictures) is going to do the job much better than Maldives or Zanzibar. For variety of activities, Mauritius is probably your best bet (check out these guys: www.whitesandtours.com), although Seychelles has more than you might think (see www.creoletravelservices.com). You really don't need to worry about having enough to do for 1 week in the Seychelles. Seriously, you will while away more time than you can imagine just looking at the beautiful sea and beaches.

Seychelles will give you a completely different experience from Krabi (it's so un-touristy); Mauritius is more similar in terms of things to do there but really has a very different feel to it. Although I haven't been I get the feeling that out of your list, Bali might be the most similar to Krabi.

As others have said on the Mauritius forum, your money goes much further on hotels in Mauritius than in Seychelles, but I don't think you need a fancy hotel in the Seychelles, it's all about natural beauty. Mauritius is big on 'resorts' and has a lot of man-made beaches - there are stunning parts of Mauritius but it's not all the island paradise you might expect.

If you do decide on Seychelles, I would either spend the week on Praslin (a granitic island with the Seychelles' amazing signature boulders) or perhaps split it between the main island Mahe (for ease of travelling) and one of the outer, coralline islands (like Desroches) which are more like the Maldives.

I used to be a long-haul travel consultant so I can't help thinking about how you are going to get to these places from USA/Australasia. You might find the logistics of getting to the Seychelles puts you off as you're only staying for a week (off the top of my head I think you would have to go via Johannesburg in one direction and Dubai in the other, and stringing those flights and airlines together might be a logistical and finiancial nighmare!). Mauritius might not be much easier but there are direct flights from Australia.

right, that's the end of my incoherent ramblings for today, hope it's of some help!

SR,

Thanks for that additional info.

Your last paragraph about the logistics hit the nail on the head. It has been a nightmare of sorts trying to piece it altogether.

In fact, we may have to just end up scrapping it and staying in Dubai for 3 nights or so.

I am going to use what you said here to look at Seychelles and Mauritius one more time and figure out if there is a way to make it work with the flights (within a reasonable budget).

Thanks again!

you've probably already thought of this/been there, but couldn't you go to/from Australasia via one of the Pacific islands instead of doing a RTW? Bora Bora looks amazing!

Actually Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Mahe and is very well priced - in fact I found it cheaper than Air Seychelles.

Umm actually I would personally consider Krabi and Koh Samui quite different to the Seychelles. Very different beach scene I think. Much more isolated. More beautiful and cleaner I'd say. However, there's not as much choice for shopping or eating or entertainment.

Goa actually feels more like Krabi/ Koh Samui to me (minus the gorgeous limestone scenery) but similar beach scene access to markets/ food/ entertainment/ etc.

Emirates via DXB onto SEZ. Probably the best price, though both long segments - 12/hrs from JFK/DXB. But well worth it once on land. When I visited SEZ, is was after safari in Kenya/Tanzania, so outgoing was broken up. The return, however, had me moving for in excess of 48/hrs from wake-up last day, full day of activity, flight homeward via NBO and AMS to EWR... and I had house guests waiting for me when I walked thru the front door. Ugh! But did survive.

Also is choosing SEZ, suggest splitting time with most on Praslin where you can visit near-in islands, and/or day-trip to La Digue, concluding on Mahe.

However, end-Nov/early-Dec when we visited, some rain. Not enough to damper the time, but showers 1/full day and on a few others brief afternoon showers. The latter though is usual in many tropical areas. Temps in SEZ are in the 90s with humidity to match. Still compared to some NYC summers, not so terrible :)

SEZ - amazingly beautiful and not at all touristy. Mauritius will be more so.

When we visit Krabi and other Thailand sea resorts, around the same time... also rain/showers.

Zanzibar or other coastal islands off East Africa (Kenya or Tanzania) are also in the "short" wet season.

Nothing more romantic than walking barefooted on the beach in the rain? Think Fire Island or the Hamptons!

But weather is just that "whether it will or whether it won't. From year-to-year, who knows.

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