What budget for activities and outings Mauritius?
Entrance to museums or natural sites is not expensive, rarely more than 600 Rs per person. On the other hand, as everywhere in the world, walking or cycling tours in small groups under the guidance of a professional guide are rarely less than Rs 1,600 per person, or even more for a full day with lunch.
Discounts are almost always offered to children, students and seniors, and even free admission for children under 3 years old. There are also family packages.
Due to its climate and topography, Mauritius lends itself to many outdoor sports and activities, both on land and water. As long as you bring your own equipment, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing and snorkeling are free, as well as hiking and trekking inland. When staying in a 3 to 5 star hotel, several activities, whose number increases with the status of the hotel, are included in the room rate such as: tennis, ping-pong, beach volleyball, etc., and, on the sea side, glass-bottom boats, pedal boats, sailing (dinghies or small catamarans), kayaking, snorkeling, sometimes even water-skiing, and systematically golf when one chooses a "golfing" hotel affiliated with a course (green fee included in the package).
Outside the hotels, some leisure activities are very affordable such as glass-bottom boat rides, kayak or stand-up paddle rentals. As soon as you start practicing supervised activities or requiring expensive equipment, the prices go up, even if they are often lower than in France. This is the case for scuba diving, which is not cheap but less expensive than in France. It is an opportunity to pass your levels, especially since the Mauritian lagoon lends itself very well to learning this sport. This is also the case for canyoning, skydiving, quad or buggy rides, electric bike rides, guided and accompanied hikes, zip lines and tree tours, microlight or helicopter flights and, on the sea side, surfing or kitesurfing courses, underwater walking, deep-sea fishing, submarine or underwater scooter rides, motorboat, catamaran or sailboat cruises, etc.
And if you have decided to relax, you should know that Mauritius has local massage parlors and beauty institutes (we are talking about the good ones, not the dubious ones that you should avoid in the most touristic areas) where prices are much lower than in spas, especially those in luxury hotels and resorts.
The cost of living is generally lower than in Europe except for imported products such as meat, wine, dairy products, etc., and all European branded products whose prices are similar to those in France. In general, it is better to buy fruits and vegetables in markets than in supermarkets - a question of price and taste.
Otherwise, for non-food products, one of the particularities of Mauritius is to practice tax exemption. From an amount of 2 300 Rs, any purchase in a store stamped Tax Refund allows to recover the 15% VAT. To do so, you need to ask for a receipt of vat paid supplies to visitors at the cash desk and give your passport number and the details of your return flight. Once at the airport and before checking in your luggage, you must declare your purchases at the customs office located in the departure hall - MRA Customs. Once you have cleared immigration, present your receipt at the MCCI Tax Refund counter and collect your refund in dollars, pounds or euros. Alternatively, purchase duty-free and collect your items at the MCCI Tax Refund counter on the day of departure.
For more information, please visit www.taxfreeshopping.mu: an online portal dedicated to shopping and in particular to tax-free shopping. Managed by the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it ensures the authenticity of the brands listed, seeks to identify and promote interesting local brands, actively fights against counterfeiting, and ensures the quality and traceability of all brands listed on the site - whether local or international. Simple and efficient, the pages dedicated to brands and stores are full of information on the history of each company, the location of stores in Mauritius (cartography facilitating navigation and location), days and opening hours, etc.
Thanks to the tax exemption, but also to the quality of the local production, you can make good deals on textiles via a range of stylish Mauritian brands(Cottons, Habit, Inam, Michel Abad, The Kreol Republic, Tou Korek, IV Play...) and some international brands that make all or part of their clothes locally and resell the surplus or old collections at a much lower price than in Europe(Baobab Company, Belle & Toile, Café Coton, Harris Wilson, Hugo Boos, Le Gall, etc.). There are also good deals on jewelry , with opportunities that are all the more interesting because precious stones (including diamonds) and semi-precious stones are sold at more attractive prices than in Europe. This is the case at Adamas, Caunhye Bijoux, Bijem, Patrick Mavros, Poncini, Ravior, etc.
As everywhere, the entrance of the clubs is free if you come before a certain hour. It is definitely offered to the girls during the ladies nightswhich take place once a week in general. Drinks are a bit cheaper than in Europe except in hotel bars. Bowling and cinema are much cheaper.
What budget to eat Mauritius?
You can eat for absolutely any price in Mauritius, starting for a few rupees in the street (street-food) and along the beaches with street vendors (samoussas, fritters, dumplings, faratas, dholl puri and other exotic snacks), or at the table of the numerous Indian, Creole or Asian gargotes scattered in the towns and villages. It is not only cheap but also very good, spicy without tearing the palate - a harmonious blend of local products and a cuisine with diverse influences. The most popular dish for less than 100 Rs: fried mines. Not expensive either: the food-courts stands in the malls and other fast-foods not necessarily American.
For a good table in an independent restaurant (understand: out of the hotel), count around 15 to 25/30 €, rather 35 € if you opt for expensive products like lobster or camel. You will pay an equivalent price (from 15 €) for a nice mixed salad, pasta or pizza in a hotel restaurant at lunchtime by the sea or the pool. In the evening, in resorts, prices are higher, especially for a select dinner at a luxurious establishment - prices equivalent to those of the good and great French restaurants in this case.
Happy Hours are frequent at the end of the day from 5pm/6pm to 7pm/20pm.
What is the budget for accommodation Mauritius?
Although Mauritius has a majority of luxury hotels and is sold as a high-end destination, it is nevertheless within the reach of all budgets in terms of accommodation. Each region offers a wide range of accommodations: from small, inexpensive bungalows to luxury resorts, charming hotels, guest houses and modern apartments. What most of the facilities have in common is aesthetics and quality. Most of the constructions privilege natural materials (thatch, wood, stone), the buildings are widely opened on the outside (and a fortiori on the ocean), the constructions remain on a human scale and coconut height. The only categories absent are youth hostels and public campsites (not to mention a few very nice private camps in the wilderness like lodges) - a sign of a certain threshold of requirement in terms of overall standing.
As everywhere else, prices vary according to the season and the standard of the accommodation, but if you are on a tight budget, you will be able to stay without any problem in small tourist residences equipped with a kitchen or share the price of a villa or an apartment. But wouldn't it be a shame to come to a dream island without waking up in the morning facing the lagoon or enjoying the superb hotels or charming residences that line the coastline? Especially since on the island, if the luxury hotels are exceptional (lush landscaped parks, swimming pools, spa, gym, range of bars and restaurants, plethora of activities, miniclub and teen club, etc.), the smaller 2 and 3 star hotels are also very charming and perfectly run. In any case, when choosing a stay in a 3 to 5 star hotel, it is best to choose a flight and accommodation package through a French or Mauritian tour operator. For accommodations such as guest houses, bungalows or apartments in a small residence, book directly and take the flight separately.
Travel budget Mauritius and cost of living
The destination is reputed to be upmarket (and therefore expensive) and is positioned as such. It is true that the coastline is mostly lined with luxury hotels and that you can hardly find a return flight 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, especially on hotel websites or online booking platforms, especially when looking for packages: flight + hotel stay. Generally speaking, prefer packages to direct reservations for 3 to 5 star establishments. Also avoid the Christmas period when rates go up.
Apart from the price of the flight, which is high, the cost of the vacation, contrary to popular belief, is not necessarily expensive on the spot: the cities 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 vacationers for 15 € per day per person; the bus network is well developed and you can find small cars to rent from 23 € per day all inclusive; cheap fruits and vegetables adorn the stalls of the markets and you can get fish directly from the fishermen.
On the other hand, international hotels are the same as everywhere else in the world, but with superior services overall. And the a la carte prices of the big restaurants are only slightly lower than in Europe. If you rent a villa and decide to live exclusively in the European style, the average price of a full tank of groceries will be the same as in France. But you will be able to benefit from the services of qualified personnel (cleaning lady, cook, gardener, nanny...) for three francs six pennies, which changes the quality of the vacations!
Small budget. Studios, bungalows, apartments and cheap villas from 15 € per day and per person for a minimum of 4 people sharing the same location (friends, family...). Overnight stay in a pension or a small hotel around 25 to 30 € per person. Meal in a local restaurant : 6 to 10 €. Average budget. Overnight stay in a 2 or 3 star hotel: between 40 and 75 € per person for half board. Meal in a decent restaurant: 15 € to 20 € on average excluding drinks. Comfort budget. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel: from 90 € per person with half board. 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). Meal in a gastronomic restaurant: from 35 € per person, much more for the great tables of luxury hotels.
Tipping. It is not generalized and remains a free gesture, at the discretion of the client.
Haggling. This practice is not systematically used in Mauritius, even if it is common in the markets, with cab drivers, trinket sellers and excursion vendors who roam the beaches..., and even with the owners of small hotels and villas for rent in 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, consider checking at the bottom of the menu.
