Organize your stay Réunion
Money Réunion
Although more than 9,000 km from mainland France, Réunion is in France and therefore part of the European Union. The euro has been in use since January1, 2002.
Budget & Tips Réunion
Small budget: €80 per day per person: night in a gîte or dormitory, use of buses, meals in snack bars.
Medium budget: €160 per day per person for a comfortable trip, night in a 2-star hotel or charming B&B, car rental, small classic restaurants.
Big budget: €250-300 per day per person: fine hotels, top-class restaurants, car rental, daily activities (microlight flights, sea outings, diving, etc.).
Good deal: the new Sésame discount card, at the single price of €19.90 for two months, to be installed on your smartphone. Ideal for lightening your vacation budget, it offers unlimited discounts of up to 50% in over 700 establishments. It is valid on Reunion Island, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Mayotte and the Seychelles. Discounts are available in all areas: accommodation, restaurants, leisure activities, or simply for your everyday purchases. The investment generally pays for itself as soon as the first expense is made. More info ✆ 02 62 32 26 26 - www.cartesesame.com (assistance 7j/7 de 8h à 20h).
Passport and visas Réunion
Any French citizen can enter and leave Réunion at will, and stay as long as he or she wishes, provided he or she has an identity card. For neighboring islands, however, a passport is required. European Union nationals, on the other hand, must present their passport, and their right of residence is limited to three months, unlike in France. Although Réunion is part of Europe, it is not part of the Schengen area, which allows all Europeans to move and reside freely in the country of their choice. For non-EU nationals, residence is also limited to three months, even if you hold a residence permit in France. On the other hand, entry formalities are much more complicated, depending on the country of origin. Financial guarantees, a return ticket and an embassy visa may be required. Chinese and Indian nationals, on the other hand, are exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to two weeks.
Health Réunion
The level of care is equivalent to that in Hexagone, reliable and functionalized to the extreme. Your hexagonal prescription is valid in local pharmacies. All products and reimbursement rates are identical, despite the higher fees charged by private practitioners. Everything works with the same procedures and the same quality of service as in France. If you have the time, get a medical certificate before you leave: most diving, skydiving and other sports clubs require them. As for chikungunya, the mosquito-borne virus that hit the island hard in 2006, no cases have been reported for over ten years. There are still a few outbreaks of dengue fever, with epidemics occurring from time to time: to avoid the inconvenience of this tropical disease, it's best to read up on it in the press and with the regional health agency (www.lareunion.ars.sante.fr), and to protect yourself with a good mosquito repellent (if only for comfort). As far as water is concerned, there's nothing to worry about: you can drink it from the tap, even if it can sometimes be clouded by cyclonic or stormy episodes (in the Hauts and the East).
Security Réunion
Generally speaking, Réunion is a safe region.
In the cities, as everywhere else in France, there is insecurity due to crime, but nerves are less frayed than in the big cities of France. Certain areas should be avoided, such as the city centers at night. Similarly, hitchhiking is no problem, but avoid using this means of transport at night.
In the mountains, if you're going to be walking for several days, it's best to make sure you know where you're going and where you're going, to be accompanied and, above all, to avoid camping in areas far from any village. It's better to sleep in a gîte. Before setting off on closed trails, check with the ONF on its website (www.onf.fr). In the event of a problem, such as an accident or a sprained ankle, you can be safely repatriated to the Bas, thanks to mountain rescue services (112 or 02 62 93 09 30). It's a good idea to take your cell phone with you (well charged, as it's not always possible to recharge it in the gîte). During the cyclone season, it's a good idea to check the Météo France website (www.meteofrance.re) for the weather in the Hauts, as gullies fill up quickly.
At sea, caution is essential and you should always check the weather forecast before heading out to sea, especially during cyclonic periods (secours en mer: 02 62 43 43 43). Some beaches have very powerful waves and dangerous currents. In response to the upsurge in shark attacks, a number of measures have been put in place (protective nets, reinforced shark watches), and water sports such as surfing are now authorized in well-defined areas, which benefit from the safety measures in place. Pay close attention to whether or not these zones are open, and ask the lifeguards for advice. For more information, visit www.surfingreunion.com. Don't go in the water outside authorized areas, even to dip your feet in: attacks have occurred very close to the coast.
Beach and swimming. The lagoon (west coast) remains unspoilt and naturally protected by the coral reef. Safe bathing areas stretch from Boucan-Canot to Saint-Leu, including the Hermitage and La Saline-les-Bains lagoons. They are part of Réunion Island's Marine Nature Reserve, and include seven lifeguard stations supervised by lifeguards.
Find out more. For the latest safety information, visit the prefecture's website (www.reunion.gouv.fr).
Time difference Réunion
Mauritius and the Seychelles are in the same time zone as Réunion. To Paris time, you need to add 2 hours in summer (in France) and 3 hours in winter. So when it's midday in Paris, it's 2pm on Réunion in summer and 3pm in winter.
Spoken languages Réunion
Creole (kréol) is spoken on Réunion Island. Statistically, it's the mother tongue of almost 85% of the population!
But don't worry, everyone speaks French too. So you'll have no trouble making yourself understood, and you'll probably pick up a few Creole words and expressions very quickly. However, there's nothing like learning a few basics before you leave, so that you're ready to coz' kréol (speak Creole) as soon as you arrive in Réunion. There are a number of ways to get started: Creole lexicons and methods, workbooks, forums and online courses. To find out all you need to know about the Creole language on Reunion Island, visit the website of the Lofis la lang kreol la renyon association(www.lofislalangkreollarenyon.re).
Communication Réunion
Phone code: 262 is the international code for Reunion Island.
All numbers in Reunion have ten digits: they start with 02 62, except for cell phones, which start with 06 92 or 06 93.
To call from and to mainland France, Reunion, another French overseas department or Mayotte: dial the 10-digit number. E.g.: 02 62 12 34 56 (or 06 92 12 34 56 for a mobile).
To call abroad from Reunion: 00 + country code + local number. Ex: +262 262 12 34 56.
Cost of calls: roaming charges for subscriptions in mainland France have been abolished since May1, 2016. Calls and text messages are charged at the same rate as in mainland France.
On the Internet side , as everywhere else, there are fewer and fewer cybercafés, but Wifi is present in most accommodation, a little less often in restaurants, bars and public spaces.
Electricity and measurements Réunion
As in France, the electricity is 220 V (50 Hz) and the plugs are also identical. Likewise, we measure in meters, we weigh in grams... and we drink in liters!
Luggage Réunion
Hold baggage. Generally speaking, 23 kg of baggage is allowed in the hold for economy class, and 30 to 40 kg for first and business class. Some low-cost airlines offer to take no hold baggage when booking, to reduce the cost of the ticket. In this case, you'll simply have a carry-on bag. It is always possible to add it on the day of departure, but this costs more. Find out before you leave about the terms of your ticket, and take care when booking.
Hand luggage. In economy class, one piece of hand luggage and one accessory (handbag, laptop) are allowed, all of which must not exceed 12 kg or 115 cm in size. In first and business class, two pieces of baggage are allowed in the cabin. Liquids and gels are forbidden: only tubes and bottles of 100 ml maximum are tolerated, and then only in a closed transparent plastic bag (20 cm x 20 cm). The only exceptions to this rule are baby food and medicines accompanied by their prescription.
