About Mauritius
An enchanting island
What is the main Language in Mauritius? Are there any cultures or traditions we need to be aware of?
English is the official language of Mauritius, although Creole and French are the most commonly spoken. Teaching and administration is in English, but most of the press is in French. Apart from Creole, French and English, other oriental languages are used, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telegu, Marathi, Gujerati and Sanscrit all come from India, and Cantonese and the Hakka from China are also found. As of December 2006 the population of Mauritius was estimated at 1,219,220 and is divided into ethnic groups, namely the Indo-Mauritians, Creoles (European, Madagascar and African Origin), and Chinese Mauritian. As a result of this fusion of culture there are many festivities celebrated on the island.
What is the standard currency in Mauritius?
The Mauritian Rupee is divided into 100 cents. All major credit cards are accepted, and there are a number of ATM machines in the towns and at the airport.
Time
- Mauritius is currently 3 hours ahead of GMT.
- From the end of October 2010 to the end of March 2011 Mauritius will be 4 hours ahead of GMT.
Do I need a Visa?
European Union passport holders do not require visas for Mauritius. Anyone not holding an EU passport should speak to your local Consulate or call reservations on 01483 445623 for further details.
Health
Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers coming from infected areas. There is no malaria risk in Mauritius. Prior to departure we do suggest that you check with your GP or health worker. Alternatively, you can contact MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad) on 0845 600 2236. Travelling with Medication If you are carrying personal prescription medication to Mauritius, you must carry a copy of your latest prescription and the drugs should be carried in their original containers bearing the name and address of the dispensing pharmacy. Further information can be found on the Foreign Office website www.fco.gov.uk or from the Department of Health http://www.dh.gov.uk/.
Electricity
Power supply is 220 volts and there are two pin and three pin plug points in every room. Adaptors are not required for visitors from the United Kingdom.
Opening hours
Banks - Monday to Thursday 0915 - 1315, Fridays 0915 - 1715
Shops - these vary from town to town but generally open 0930 to 1730.
Many shops are closed on Thursday or Saturday afternoons, and most are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
What is the Check in and Check out times at the hotels?
The official check-in given by the hotels is 3pm. It is not always possible to have your room ready immediately on arrival, although they are very good and where possible will get you into your rooms as quickly as possible so you can start enjoying your holiday. A good tip from us (not that we have done this before) is to have your swimwear handy when you arrive especially if it is early morning so you can relax by the pool or on the beach whilst you are waiting – each hotel has somewhere for you to change, freshen up and store your luggage while you wait. The official check out time is 11am however if you would like to keep your room until departure this can be arranged at an addtional fee.
Wondering what to wear?
Although most of our hotels operate a pretty relaxed dress code you may want to read through our suggestions as some hotels enforce a dress code in the restaurants during the evening.
- For evening attire we recommend smart casual. Jackets and ties are not required, but we request you not to wear shorts, sleeveless t-shirts or jeans in the restaurants in the evenings.
- Swimwear and shorts and t-shirts are perfectly acceptable during the day and at breakfast.
- In the cooler months of May to September a light jumper, cardigan or shawl is advisable for the evenings.
- The weather in Mauritius between June and August can be extremely changeable and it is important to note that although Mauritius is an all year round destination it can be fairly chilly in the evenings and windy in patches during this period. It is therefore well worth taking some warm clothing if travelling in these months although we hope this clothing will remain safely in your bags and in many cases it does just that.
