Mauritius – Practical info

No special vaccinations are required for travel to Mauritius. All travellers should be up to date with routine immunisations. Yellow fever vaccinations are required if arriving from an infected country. We recommend contacting your GP before travel for more details. 

Direct Carriers: Direct flights are available to Mauritius with Air Mauritius from London Heathrow and British Airways from London Gatwick.

TUI Airways operates a weekly service to Mauritius from London Gatwick.

Indirect Carriers: Emirates offers a daily indirect service from six UK airports to Mauritius.

In addition Air France and KLM both offer a daily service from several UK airports with connections via Europe to Mauritius.

 British citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Mauritius, however your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Mauritius. Please contact the Mauritius Embassy for up to date country and visa information on 020 7581 0294.

Mauritius uses the Mauritian rupee as its currency. You can exchange your money in the UK but we recommend exchanging upon arrival in Mauritius as the exchange rate is much better. Credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard, are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions.

There are numerous banks with foreign currency exchange counters available in the airport, as well as throughout the tourist areas of the island. There are also branches of Thomas Cook and Shibani Finance available in the towns of Grand Baie and Flic en Flac. You can withdraw Mauritian Rupees from cash machines in most towns. Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the island, although your home bank may charge a fee.  

For advice on staying sade and healthy abroad visit our Travel Advice page. 

The main language of Mauritius is Creole. Creole roots from the French language. Most TV shows and newspapers are published mostly in French. Almost everybody understands English, so communications with locals is very easy. 

Mauritius doesn’t have much of a tipping culture, although many people tip anyway. Contradictory, most hotels and restaurants include a 10 percent tip. If you are happy with the service it’s at your discretion to leave anything extra; typically a few loose coins. Most salaries are quite low in Mauritius, so tips are always appreciated. If your taxi driver was particularly helpful, an extra 100 to 200 Mauritian rupees is acceptable. Be aware that VAT (15 percent) is included by some traders, but excluded by others. Be sure to check the bottom of your menu or ask so you don't have any unexpected surprises when it comes to the final bill.

Holidays to Mauritius generally end up being relatively inexpensive. Lunch for two people costs anywhere from 500-1,000 Mauritian rupees, although it is significantly less if you buy food from the street vendors (10-100 Mauritian rupees). A 1.5 litre bottle of water from a grocery store costs around 14 Mauritian rupees, while a coffee might cost about 40 Mauritian rupees. A mid-range bottle of wine costs about 300 Mauritian rupees, although this can go up at a fine dining establishment or at a hotel.

Relaxed clothes that will keep you cool, in fabrics such as cotton or linen. A wide-brimmed hat, a swimsuit, hiking sandals or shoes for exploration. Bring a camera (even an underwater one if you plan on diving and snorkelling), smart-casual evening wear (long trousers for men). A sarong for women to use as a skirt when visiting religious places to cover knees and shoulders. Your passport, sunglasses, a good book, high factor sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. As well as a rain coat/poncho during the wetter seasons.