Timetable
Shops usually open from 9:30 am to 5-6 pm from Monday to Saturday and sometimes also on Sunday morning in the most touristic areas. In the interior of the island, they may be closed on Thursday afternoon in addition to Sunday. The malls follow the same schedule except for their food courts and entertainment areas which stay open later. The Bagatelle, Cascavelle and Grand Bay malls close later (around 8pm). Hypermarkets are open from 9am to 7:30pm-8:30pm but generally close around 3pm on Sundays and holidays. Markets generally start and stop earlier than shops, except for the big ones, such as the one in Port Louis, which stay open until 6pm.
Budget & Tips
The overall cost of living is lower than in Europe, except for imported products such as meat, wine, dairy products, etc., and all European-brand products whose prices are similar to those in France. In general, it's better to buy fruit and vegetables in markets than in supermarkets - a question of price and taste.
Otherwise, for non-food products, one of Mauritius' particularities is that it offers tax-free shopping. For purchases over Rs. 2,300 in a Tax Refund store, the 15% VAT can be reclaimed. To do this, you need to ask at the checkout for a receipt for vat paid supplies to visitors, and provide your passport number and return flight details. Once at the airport, before checking in your luggage, you must declare your purchases at the customs office in the departure hall - MRA Customs. Once you've cleared immigration, present your receipt at the MCCI Tax Refund counter and collect your refund in dollars, pounds sterling or euros. Alternatively, buy duty-free and collect your items from the MCCI Tax Refund counter on the day of departure.
For further information, please visit www.taxfreeshopping.mu: an online portal dedicated to shopping and, in particular, tax-free shopping. Managed by the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it ensures the authenticity of the brands listed, identifies and promotes interesting local brands, actively combats counterfeiting, and guarantees the quality and traceability of all the brands listed on the site - whether local or international. Simple and effective, the pages dedicated to brands and boutiques are packed with information on the history of each company, the location of stores in Mauritius (with maps for easy navigation and finding), opening days and times, and so on.
Thanks not only to tax-free shopping, but also to the quality of local production, you'll find good deals on textiles via a range of stylish Mauritian brands (Cottons, Habit, Inam, Michel Abad, The Kreol Republic, Tou Korek, IV Play...) and a number of international brands that make all or part of their garments locally, reselling surpluses or old collections at much lower prices than in Europe (Belle & Toile, Café Coton, Harris Wilson, Hugo Boos, Le Gall, etc.). Jewelry is another area where bargains are even more attractive, as precious stones (including diamonds) and semi-precious stones are sold at more attractive prices than in Europe. This is particularly true of Adamas, Morebelli, Patrick Mavros, Poncini, Ravior, etc.
What's very local
Tourist traps