Organize your stay Mayotte
Money Mayotte
Mayotte is in France, and therefore in Europe: the euro has been in force there since January1, 2002. This replaces the French franc, which replaced the Comorian franc when the Comoros gained independence in 1975. It's a good idea to always carry a little cash (coins or €5 or €10 bills), so you can easily make a few purchases of fruit, vegetables or other items in the markets or small stores, which don't accept cheques or bank cards (although this is beginning to change). Most nautical service providers accept checks and cash, but not credit cards, so check before boarding. Self-service ATMs are now available in all towns, and most banks in mainland France are present in Mayotte (BRED, Crédit Agricole, BNP, Banque de France, BFC, Caisse d'épargne) - how convenient! You can withdraw cash at the counter with no special charges, and pay with a contact or contactless credit card. Be sure to check your limits before you leave (withdrawals, online payments...) to avoid unpleasant surprises. Note that ATMs are frequently empty (at the beginning of the month or at the end of the week), so don't wait until the last moment to withdraw cash.
Budget & Tips Mayotte
The standard of living for the Mahorais is still low compared with metropolitan France or even Réunion. Although Mayotte became a department in March 2011, it remains far from departmental standards in many respects. Since 2011, the SMIC (minimum wage) has been increased every year on January1 rather than July1, and is now closer to the level in mainland France, but the difference is still there: €1,334.67 gross per month in Mayotte on January1, 2024, compared with €1,766.92 in mainland France or Reunion Island. Many Mahorais try to be self-sufficient, as most of them own their own homes and plots of land. They eat a lot of vegetables and fruit (green bananas, manioc, brèdes...) from their orchards and fish from the generous lagoon. But because Mayotte is so far from mainland France, and lives mainly on imports, many products are expensive. As a result, all consumer goods are generally more expensive than in mainland France. That's why it's hard to say that Mayotte is a cheap destination compared with neighboring islands such as Comoros or Madagascar, which are nonetheless developing countries. As Mayotte is a small French island, the same cost of living applies. Shopping in Mayotte is estimated to cost 73% more than in mainland France, compared with an average of 66% in the French overseas territories. However, for tourists, supermarket prices often have less of an impact, and fortunately a meal in a restaurant is not always more expensive than in mainland France (around €15 per dish), and you can get by for less than €5 per meal by eating local in the brochettis.
It's possible to find low-budget rooms (with rudimentary comforts, around €50 for two per night), and to eat at the "mamas brochettis". Located in every village, they will treat you to chicken wings and beef brochettes for around 30 euro cents a piece.
For more comfortable accommodation, you'll need to pay around €30 for two people, and €15 for a meal in a restaurant or snack bar.
Finally, count on €100 to €150 or more for a double room with breakfast by the sea in exceptional settings. Count €30 for a good restaurant with starter + main course or main course + dessert.
Passport and visas Mayotte
All French nationals can enter and leave Mayotte at will, and stay as long as they wish, provided they show their identity card. European Union nationals must present a passport, and their stay is limited to three months, as for mainland France. Outside the European Union, the limit is one month. French customs in Mayotte pose no particular problems. Mayotte, now an outermost region (RUP), is part of the European Union, but the French overseas departments (which are RUPs) are not part of the Schengen area, and their tax system is different from that of mainland France and the EU. External dock dues and regional dock dues are specific taxes levied on products imported into the territory. These taxes are a financial windfall for local authorities, with rates ranging from 7% to 90% for external dock dues, and 2.5% for regional dock dues. VAT is not applicable in Mayotte. In short, you must declare the goods you are transporting and pay dock dues on the goods you are carrying. No customs duties to pay. No taxes to pay on goods valued at €1,000 or less.
Driver's license Mayotte
Your French driving license will work in Mayotte just as it does in mainland France. Like all your documents, remember to photocopy it for a spare copy. An international driving license is required for non-EU nationals.
Health Mayotte
Pharmacies are everywhere, but doctors are rarer: with fewer than 200 doctors for almost 400,000 inhabitants, it's more than a medical desert! For your information, the carte vitale has been operating in Mayotte since 2013, but not all practitioners have activated the service provided by the Caisse de Sécurité Sociale de Mayotte (CSSM).
Services. The island's main hospital is in Mamoudzou (CHM 0269 61 80 00), and includes emergency services, medicine (gastroenterology, cardiology), pediatrics, surgery (general and orthopedic), psychiatry, ENT and ophthalmology consultations, a maternity ward and a radiology/scanner service. On Petite-Terre, the Dzaoudzi hospital (CHD) includes emergency, medical and maternity services, and since the completion of construction work, a follow-up care and rehabilitation unit (SSR). Elsewhere, 20 dispensaries provide local medical care, and a number of inter-communal structures complete the hospital landscape. The island also boasts a number of dental practices, physiotherapists, an analysis laboratory, an X-ray laboratory, as well as several pharmacies and opticians, mainly in Mamoudzou.
Mosquitoes. Remember to protect yourself against mosquitoes, which carry diseases such as dengue fever. They are particularly fond of the rainy season and humid areas.
Sun. As you know, the sun is not without danger. So remember that the sun's capital is not inexhaustible and that it's important to preserve it, especially for children. Don't forget sunglasses, hats, sunscreen and a double layer if you're taking a boat out on the lagoon. Even in winter, temperatures in Mayotte are high, around 26°C during the day. So, whatever the season, make sure you're properly protected.
Food. You can drink tap water in Mayotte, but be sure to budget for bottled mineral water, as it is not recommended after heavy rains. Fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and seafood can be eaten without any problems, as sanitary controls are in place.
Sex. Beware of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. The condom is your only guarantee of returning home unscathed!
Mandatory vaccination Mayotte
Although there are no compulsory vaccinations for traveling to Mayotte, the Pasteur Institute of Tropical Medicine recommends that you update your vaccinations (DTP) and get the following: hepatitis A and B, typhoid and possibly rabies.
Security Mayotte
Over the past few years, Mayotte has suffered from a resurgence of tensions that are damaging its reputation. In the evening, be careful in Mamoudzou town center and the Kawéni area, where young people can sometimes cause problems under group pressure. Avoid leaving your personal belongings in plain view in the car, or taking all your important papers to the beach (ideally, leave them where you are staying). There are a few places on Mayotte where you are advised not to leave your rental car unattended. In the mountains, in Mayotte as elsewhere, avoid walking alone, or tell someone close to you about your itinerary. In the event of a problem, network coverage is good, so it's best to always bring your mobile phone. At sea, even in the lagoon, caution is essential, and it's best to know the weather and take a specialist with you before setting off. When it comes to driving on Mayotte, always bear in mind that zebus, goats and children can cross the road without warning... So it's best to respect speed limits and safety distances. Be particularly vigilant when visibility is poor, on bends for example, as this is often where there is a risk of collision with a car trying to overtake.
Time difference Mayotte
Mayotte is one time zone east of mainland France. This means adding two hours in winter and one hour in summer to Paris time. When it's midday in Paris, it's 2pm in Mamoudzou in winter, and 1pm in summer. Madagascar is in the same time zone as Mayotte. Reunion, Mauritius and the Seychelles are one hour ahead, both in summer and winter.
Spoken languages Mayotte
As Mayotte is a French overseas department, the official language is French. This makes it easy to be understood and heard. However, due to its geographical location and its Madagascan and African origins, the vast majority of Mahorais speak Shimaore more immediately. Shimaore has the same roots as the Swahili spoken in East Africa. For some of them, descendants of Malagasy migrants, Shibushi is the language of the heart. The two languages are diametrically opposed and not related. Classes at state schools are now taught in French, so all young Mahorais speak the language of Molière more easily than the older generations who, apart from saying hello, still find it difficult to hold a whole conversation in French. But when faced with a M'zungu, which in Mahoran means "metropolitan" or "white" without any pejorative connotation, the Mahorais speak in French. We sometimes hear a few well-known Muslim formulas such as "Inch Allah" and "Salamalekum", for those who wish to say hello in a respectful manner will be answered with "Alekum Salam"..
Communication Mayotte
In the past, Mayotte had the lowest bandwidth in the world, but the Lion II (Lower Indian Ocean Network) submarine cable, operational on the island since 2012, has arrived like a cybernetic breath of fresh air! Originating in Madagascar, its 3,000 km extension to Kenya enables us to serve the island and offer a quality of service and reception equivalent to Europe, for the moment mainly concentrated on Mamoudzou and the surrounding area. Since 2019, the Lion III cable has opened up a new route, towards Moroni, to compensate for any malfunctions on the other line. You can connect from most hotels and the few restaurants that offer this service free of charge. For residents, Internet access offers with Orange have been operational for several years, with packages including Internet, TV and Internet telephony. Cell phones operate in the same way as in mainland France, with no extra charges for calls and SMS.
Electricity and measurements Mayotte
Mayotte is connected to 220 V just like mainland France, so there's no need for an adapter. And like metropolitan France, the Mahorais use the international system of units, so they use meters, kilometers, tons..
Luggage Mayotte
The advantage of sunny destinations is that you can travel light and keep room in your suitcase for souvenirs. One basic rule: feel comfortable. Light and wide trousers, T-shirts, shorts, pareos, swimsuits, tennis shoes, sandals are welcome... For the sun, bring a cap, sun products and anti-UV creams. For hiking, trousers, a good backpack, strong walking shoes, mosquito repellent, a K-Way. If you like to dive, bring a mask and fins. A medical certificate for authorization and diving certificate are required in the diving centers for the levels. In general, you should know that everything is more expensive here. Also, take what you can according to your needs and the size of your suitcase: books, shampoo, batteries, cosmetics, medicines, contact lenses, sun creams, sunglasses... Finally, remember to photocopy your identity papers in case you lose them. However, when you prepare your suitcase, you should remember to respect the security instructions since they have been reinforced in the airports.
Sunscreens. Note that most sun oils and creams are harmful to coral: they coat it and suffocate it slowly because, let's remember, it is a living organism. Some creams have been specially designed for this type of marine environment, so remember to behave responsibly and buy a suitable product so that you and your children can enjoy this exceptional environment in the future. You will find these creams in mainland France, but it will be difficult to find them once you get there.
