Indoor smoking is not usually the defining social mood. Law vibe is relaxed and practical.
Minimum budget: rural $1600/mo, urban $1600/mo. Medical insurance: $1,500/yr.
Auto: Russian licenses are usually acceptable for short stays if readable, but an IDP, English, French translation is safer. Rentals are about €40-85/day for Picanto, i10/Suzuki class and small SUVs, with left-side driving and narrow roads. No land borders: inter-island movement is by ferry, flight, and cars usually stay on Mahe or Praslin where rented.
Smoking: Indoor smoking is not usually the defining social mood.
Police / rules: Police and public-order vibe is island-practical: visible when needed, usually calm in tone, and not built around gotcha enforcement for harmless small mistakes.