Going to à l'île Maurice: Formalities and administrative steps
Organize your stay à l'île Maurice
Money à l'île Maurice
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 € = 51.5 Rs (1 Rs = 0.019 €) at the current rate of 2025, which is variable.
Budget & Tips à l'île Maurice
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 €25 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 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 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 à l'île Maurice
To enter Mauritius, you need a valid passport and a return ticket. Citizens of European Union countries do not need a visa for stays of up to 3 months. At the airport, you will be asked to fill in a form specifying your place of stay (name of hotel or villa).
Driver's license à l'île Maurice
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. 1,500 per day.
Health à l'île Maurice
There is no specific risk of illness in Mauritius, an easy destination where hygiene standards are generally satisfactory. Pharmacies are well-stocked, and the island has a number of private clinics able to provide first-aid and various treatments. No vaccinations are required to visit the island. Mosquitoes do not carry malaria and wildlife is harmless. The water in hotels is drinkable in principle, and you can brush your teeth without any problem, but it is not advisable to drink it (Mauritius is still an African country, and the water may contain certain bacteria to which our European immune systems are not accustomed).
Medical tourism. Interesting information to know before you leave: over the last few years, a certain form of medical tourism has been developing, often through French or Belgian doctors - a way of combining a stay in the sun with care that you don't have the time or inclination to receive in Europe. Some local clinics are organized for this purpose, and the savings can often cover part or all of the trip. This applies to a wide range of general treatments, and especially to cosmetic surgery and "comfort" treatments not covered by social security. For equivalent services, surgery costs are lower in Mauritius than in Europe. This is the case, for example, with certain dental treatments (including procedures that are not or are poorly reimbursed, such as teeth whitening, implants, etc.) or aesthetic treatments such as baldness treatment, wrinkle filling, peeling, liposuction, etc. Among the international-standard clinics offering these services, we recommend C-Care (several clinics in Mauritius, including C-Care Darné and C-Care Wellkin - www.c-care.com), Dentcare (part of the c-care group - www.dentcaremauritius.com) and the Centre esthétique de l'océan Indien (www.esthetique.mu)
Security à l'île Maurice
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 à l'île Maurice
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 à l'île Maurice
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 à l'île Maurice
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 à l'île Maurice
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 à l'île Maurice
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!
Daily life à l'île Maurice
Hello? à l'île Maurice
To call Mauritius from Europe: dial the international access code (00 in France), the country prefix (230) then the 7-digit local number (or 8 digits if you're calling from a cell phone, as you need to add a 5 just after the 230). e.g.: 00 + 230 + 123 4455.
To call abroad from Mauritius: dial 020, then the country code and the correspondent's number without the 0. For example, for a number in France: 020 + 33 + 1 23 45 67 89.
Local calls: for landlines, dial the 7-digit number directly. For cell phones, precede the local number by the digit 5, for a total of 8 digits.
Prepaid local SIM card: an economical way to call Europe. Apart from WhatsApp, Signal, Messenger, Facetime, Skype and other applications that allow you to call abroad for free, provided you have a good wifi connection - which isn't always the case - the cheapest way to call Europe (or to make calls to Mauritius at local rates) is to buy a prepaid SIM card locally. These can be purchased from telephone agencies on presentation of passport-type identification, or ordered online before your trip. Depending on the formula chosen, they entitle you to a certain amount of calls/sms/data, and can then be recharged directly online.
The 2 major operators in Mauritius are Emtel (www.emtel.com) and Mauritius Telecom alias MyT, a partner of Orange (www.telecom.mu, www.myt.mu).
Accessibility à l'île Maurice
All of the island's major hotels (and there are many) have at least one room for the disabled, as well as ramps and inclined spaces to access public areas.
Health à l'île Maurice
There is no specific risk of illness in Mauritius, an easy destination where hygiene standards are generally satisfactory. Pharmacies are well-stocked, and the island has a number of private clinics capable of providing first-aid care and treating many ailments. No vaccinations are required to visit the island. Mosquitoes do not carry malaria and the wildlife is harmless. Beware, however, of the small local wasps or yellow flies, whose sting can be painful. In the sea, don't walk barefoot where there are rocks or coral: they cut, sea urchins sting and, if you step on a stonefish, you'll get a very high fever or worse if you're not at your best.
Doctors, hospitals and clinics. There are doctors' surgeries in every town, some of them run by French doctors - get a list from the French embassy. Medical services are also available in the major hotels, in close collaboration with a doctor who can come on request. Mauritius has two types of health service: a private service, which foreigners, travelers and expatriates have to pay for, and a public service where hospitalization, treatment and medicines are free for Mauritians. Services are far inferior to those offered in Europe, and it is not advisable to use them in the event of a serious problem - opt for private clinics. C-Care Darné (230) 601 2300, C-Care Wellkin (230) 605 1000, https://c-care.com (and their branches in Grand Baie and Tamarin) Clinique du Nord (230) 247 5290, www.cliniquedunord.mu.
Emergency numbers à l'île Maurice
The emergency numbers are 114 for the Samu and 999 for an ambulance. These numbers are free.
Securty à l'île Maurice
Overall, 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 are mostly committed in bungalows and rental villas, but hotels are sometimes affected. In the large structures of international standing, guards keep watch... The more the cities are tourist, 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.
Emergency numbers for the police: 112 or 999.
LGBTQ à l'île Maurice
Culturally, homosexuality is a taboo value. Within the confines of international hotels, everyone is free to express their inclinations. But on public beaches and in towns and villages, it is better not to display your sexual orientation.
Embassies and consulates à l'île Maurice
The French embassy and consulate are located in Port Louis, where they have 2 offices: one at 14 rue Saint-Georges for all matters relating to the diplomatic chancellery and social affairs, the other at 5 rue Auguste Rouget for visas, passports and other administrative formalities. The consular section is open to the public from 8am to 12pm, Monday to Friday, and by appointment only - call (230) 202 0100 or, in an emergency, (230) 5257 6100.
https://mu.ambafrance.org
The Belgian Consulate is also in Port Louis, at 10 rue Dr Ferrière. It is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 9am to 12pm. To contact us, call (230) 203 2002 or (230) 208 2879, or send an e-mail to [email protected]
Mail à l'île Maurice
Air mail takes between 3 and 5 days. The postal rates for a mail in Europe vary according to the formats: approximately 18 Rs for a postcard, 30 Rs with an envelope.
There are post offices in all towns and most villages. They are generally open from 8:15 am to 4 pm on weekdays (with sometimes a break from 11:15 am to 12 pm for the offices in small towns) and from 8:15 am to 11:45 am on Saturdays. Large hotels also provide this service and sell stamps at the reception.
Local media à l'île Maurice
Press. Apart from the two Chinese dailies, the Mauritian press generally expresses itself in French and sometimes in English. It is free and does not hesitate to criticize government authorities. There are several daily newspapers, but the most widely read are L'Express (lexpress.mu), Le Mauricien (lemauricien.com) and Défi Media (defimedia.info). As for weeklies, L'Express du Dimanche, Business Mag and Week-end, as well as a curiosity, the newspaper through which the scandals arrive like Paris Match : 5 Plus Dimanche (5plus.mu).
Radio. There are several radio stations on the FM band (Radio One, Radio Plus, Top FM...), which broadcast mostly Sega, hits from the 1980s-1990s, Indian music (traditional, variety, electro), general information (especially Radio One) and sometimes repeats of French or English programs. Since 2002, the airwaves have been liberalized and independent radio stations have emerged. Most of them broadcast on the Internet and you can listen to them from home, before or after a trip to Mauritius for example. On the main waves, you can receive Radio France Internationale (RFI), France Info and NRJ.
Television. Founded in 1964, the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), the national TV, has three channels and offers a melting pot of programs in French, Creole, English, Hindi and Mandarin. Télé Réunion also broadcasts some programs and TV 5 allows news fans to follow the news of France 2 and France 3. All large and medium-sized hotels are cabled and offer access to a bouquet of international channels.
