Organize your stay Mauritius
Money Mauritius
The official currency is the Mauritian rupee (abbreviation: Rs), which is divided into 100 sous or cents - 1 Rs = 100 cents.
Coins are available in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 5 and 10 rupees. Banknotes are available in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 rupees.
1 € = 47.5 Rs (1 Rs = 0.021 €) at the current rate of 2023, which is variable.
Budget & Tips Mauritius
The destination has a reputation for being upmarket (and therefore, a priori, expensive) and positions itself as such. It's true that most of the coastline is lined with luxury hotels, and that you'll hardly find any dry round-trip flights for less than €800 per person from Paris (taxes included). However, it is possible to benefit from exceptional discounts at certain times of the year, particularly on hotel websites or online booking platforms, by looking out for packages: flight + hotel stay. Generally speaking, packages are preferable to direct bookings for 3 to 5-star establishments. You should also avoid the Christmas period, when prices soar.
Apart from the high cost of the flight, contrary to popular belief, the cost of a vacation is not necessarily expensive locally: towns abound with small Asian, Creole and Indian restaurants where you can get a decent meal for €6 per person, or even less from street vendors; bungalows and small hotel residences welcome holidaymakers for €15 per person per day; the bus network is well-developed and small cars can be hired from €23 per day all inclusive; cheap fruit and vegetables adorn the market stalls and you can buy fish directly from the fishermen.
International hotels, on the other hand, charge the same rates as anywhere else in the world, albeit with superior services overall. And à la carte prices in top restaurants are only slightly lower than in Europe. If you rent a villa and decide to live exclusively European-style, the average price of a full tank of groceries will be the same as in France. But you'll be able to take advantage of the services of qualified staff (housekeeper, cook, gardener, nanny...) for three francs six cents, which changes the quality of your vacation all the same!
Low budget. Inexpensive studios, bungalows, apartments and villas from €15 per day per person for a minimum of 4 people sharing (friends, family...). Overnight accommodation in a pension or small hotel from around €25 to €30 per person. Meal in a local gargote: 6 to 10 €. Average budget. Overnight stay in a 2- or 3-star hotel: from €55 per person on a half-board basis. Meal in a decent restaurant: average €15 to €25 excluding drinks. Comfort budget. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel: from €90 per person on a half-board basis. Overnight stay in a 5-star hotel: from €160. Overnight stay in a 5-star luxury hotel: from €250. Please note that the above rates are lower when booking a full week (package). Meals in gourmet restaurants: from €35 per person, much more for the top tables in luxury hotels.
Tipping. Tipping is not a general rule and remains a free gesture, at the customer's discretion.
Haggling. This is not systematically practiced in Mauritius, although it is customary in the markets, with cab drivers, trinket sellers and excursion vendors who roam the beaches... and even with the owners of small hotel residences and villas for rent in the low season.
Taxes. A 15% government tax is added to hotel and restaurant bills. Since 2016, it is normally included in the initial price of services and not added separately and after the fact. As this is not systematic in restaurants, remember to check at the bottom of the menu.
Passport and visas Mauritius
A valid passport and a return ticket are required to enter Mauritius. Citizens of European Union countries do not need a visa for a stay not exceeding 3 months. At the airport, you will be asked to fill out a form stipulating your place of stay (name of the hotel or villa).
Driver's license Mauritius
French, Belgian and Swiss driving licenses are accepted, or an international driving license if required. You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car, and have had your license for more than a year. Once you've got used to driving on the left and the steering wheel on the right, it's no more difficult than elsewhere to get around on Mauritian roads. A driver is neither necessary nor obligatory, but this service is available from around Rs. 2,000 per day.
Health Mauritius
There is no specific risk of disease in Mauritius, an easy destination where hygiene standards are generally satisfactory. Pharmacies are well-stocked and the island has private clinics capable of providing first aid and various treatments. No vaccinations are required to visit the island. Mosquitoes do not carry malaria and the wildlife is harmless. The water is drinkable in the hotels in principle, you can brush your teeth without any problem, but it is not recommended to drink it (Mauritius remains an African country and the water can contain certain bacteria to which our European immune systems are not accustomed).
Medical tourism. Interesting information to know before leaving, we have been witnessing for a few years the development, often through French or Belgian doctors, of a certain form of medical tourism - a way to combine a stay in the sun with care that you don't have the time or the desire to receive in Europe. Some local clinics are organized for this purpose and the savings often made can cover part or all of the trip. This is valid for a multitude of general treatments and especially for cosmetic surgery and so-called "comfort" treatments not covered by social security. For equivalent services, the costs of surgery are less expensive in Mauritius than in Europe. This is the case, for example, for certain dental treatments (notably procedures that are not or are poorly reimbursed such as teeth whitening, implants, etc.) or cosmetic treatments such as baldness treatment, wrinkle filling, peeling, liposuction, etc. Among the European standard clinics that offer these services, we recommend the Centre esthétique de l'océan Indien (www.esthetique.mu) and Dentcare (www.dentcaremauritius.com).
Security Mauritius
On the whole, and provided that basic security standards are respected, Mauritius is a rather safe and quiet destination, even if there has been an increase in thefts in recent years. Thefts mainly take place in private homes and, when they affect tourists, in bungalows and rental villas, very rarely in hotels where guards are on duty... The more touristy the cities, the higher the risks incurred. Thus, Grand Bay and its surroundings seem to be the most concerned by the problems of racketeering, prostitution, drugs and theft. Be extra vigilant in these places, especially at night, because during the day the problems are minor. As everywhere else in the world, avoid tempting thieves by leaving valuable objects lying around.
Time difference Mauritius
3 hours more in Mauritius during our European winter (Mauritian summer), 2 hours more during our summer (Mauritian winter). In January, when it is 7pm in Mauritius, it is 4pm in France.
Spoken languages Mauritius
Everything administrative is in English. It's the official language, the language of instruction. It is used alongside French, which remains the most widely spoken language, especially in the press. Most of the time, however, Mauritians speak Creole, a language whose roots are close to French. Several languages of Indian origin are also spoken: Bhojpuri, Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Marathi and Sanskrit. At home, the Chinese minority speak Cantonese or Hakka. Overall, Mauritians are fluent in 2 languages (Creole and their native tongue), and often 3 or 4. They switch from one to the other with an ease that leaves many Europeans dumbfounded!
Communication Mauritius
The phone coverage is generally good in the whole island, and even at sea provided you don't go too far from the coast. As far as wifi is concerned, finding a connection is not a problem. The airport, hotels, cafes, bars, restaurants, cultural and/or leisure places, etc., are generally equipped with wifi, which is free most of the time. Some hotels, but it is increasingly rare, charge for the service, especially for a higher and faster speed.
Electricity and measurements Mauritius
220 volts. Remember to bring an adapter for English-style plugs. In hotels, you can get one at the reception when the rooms are completely devoid of French plugs.
Weights and measures : grams and meters.
Luggage Mauritius
Bring very light clothes... which can be bought locally at lower prices than in Europe. As in any season it can happen to be surprised by a tropical shower, think of taking a raincoat. Essential: bathing suit, high factor sun cream, sunglasses, hat or cap, sandals to walk in the water without scratching the corals or stinging yourself on the sea urchins. Also bring light walking shoes or trainers as Mauritius offers a wide range of outdoor sports (hiking, quad biking, zip lining, horse riding, etc.). In winter, one or two woollens may be useful for the cooler evenings. Residents of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels should remember to bring smart and casual clothes for the evening - most establishments play the romantic card, so it is forbidden to wander around the bars and restaurants in flip-flops and shorts after sunset!
