No, you don’t need a visa to go on holiday to Mauritius.

No vaccinations are necessary for travel to Mauritius and the island is free from malaria.

Mauritius is a very safe island. Security is strong at hotels, where guards check each arrival and stop people entering the hotel from the beach. All the hotels provide an electronic mini safe in the room. Pickpockets are a rarity, but like anywhere in the world, watch out for your wallet when shopping in crowded places.

Mauritius is a tropical island so you can get mosquitos here. Hotels are very good at fogging, so you’re unlikely to get bitten there.

Most major credit cards are accepted throughout the island. We suggest that you take at least £200 in cash for any incidental expenses during the first 24 hours. You can change cash and travellers cheques at the airport on arrival, which offers a good exchange rate. 

English is the official language, although most hotel staff will also speak three or four other European languages.

Electrical plugs in Mauritius are the same as those in the UK, so mains battery chargers and other electrical appliances will all work. All hotel rooms have shaver sockets.

The best option is to hire a car and driver for the day, which we can of course arrange for you. It is not overly expensive and you are guaranteed not to get lost.

Yes. We can book a car for you and either arrange this before your departure, or while you are in Mauritius. Make sure to take your driving licence; an international driving licence, though valid, is not a prerequisite. 

Driving is on the left, the roads are reasonable and Mauritian drivers are generally quite safe, although the maps and signposting can be a little erratic, especially if you stray off the main routes. If you are fairly adventurous, not in a hurry and have a good sense of direction, self-drive is not a problem.

Tipping in Mauritius is not invasive or compulsory. Most guests tip because they want to. As a general guide, tipping anything between 50 and 200 rupees for a service, such as a taxi ride, is more than sufficient. Tipping ‘as you go’ is not necessary in hotels. You can simply add on an appropriate amount – around 5% to 10% of your incidental expenses – to your bill on departure.

Government tax is added to all hotel and restaurant bills, but included in the price. All incidental hotel expenses will also incur a 12% tax, which will generally be included in the price quoted.

It is possible to use your mobile phone while in Mauritius. We can provide a free local handset and SIM card and advise you of the number in advance, which is cheap and convenient. All our hotels have free WiFi throughout.

We recommend that you drink bottled water, although officially the tap water is safe. Most hotels offer complimentary water on the beach during the day, and in your room at night.

We tend to recommend the west coast during the Mauritian winter months (May to the end of August). At this time, the east coast tends to be windier due to the prevailing southeast winds. However, several hotels on the east coast are sheltered from the wind, so do call us to chat about this.

The Indian Ocean is a sanctuary for whales, with resident sperm whales and migrating humpback whales (from July to October) along the west coast, as well as resident pods of dolphins. We can arrange wildlife-friendly  boat trips, with a marine biologist on board.

‘One Eye’ on Le Morne Peninsula is one of the top five spots for kitesurfing in the world. Give us a call and we can talk you through which hotels and kitesurf schools are best equipped.

The north has the best swimming beaches, and the sunniest days on the island. We’d be happy to talk you through the best luxury hotels for swimming straight from the beach.

Any major purchases on the island for subsequent export are tax free and there are special arrangements to facilitate this, including collection of the item from the airport on your departure. If you plan to do any ‘serious’ shopping, do let us know, and we can advise.

Most of our hotels have an infirmary staffed by a qualified nurse with an English-speaking doctor on call 24 hours a day. There is a large, modern hospital offering the full range of medical facilities near the capital, Port Louis. We can also put you in touch with a local GP and private clinics.