Useful facts for your holiday to Mauritius

Flight and Transfers

The direct flight from Gatwick or Heathrow to Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport takes approximately 12 hours. Regional flights from Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow are also available with stop overs in Dubai en route to the Mauritius helping you to get the most out of your holiday experience. You can also fly via Paris from a number of regional airports.

Depending on the resort that you choose, transfers can take over an hour from the airport. If you have pre-booked your travel arrangements with us you will be met on arrival by a Tropical Sky representative who will guide you to your transfer vehicle.

Visa Requirements

British Citizens travelling to Mauritus require a full British passport which must be valid for 6 months after departure from this country. All children and infants must also have their own passports for entry into Mauritius. A visa is not required. Please check up to date visa requirements with the Foreign Office.

Language

What you need to know is that anyone in the tourist industry (and most Mauritians generally) will have at the very least a good grasp of English. Mauritius has a rather unusual language structure. English is the official language – all government documents are presented in British English. However, English is rarely heard amongst the locals of Mauritius. French is the most commonly used language for the mass media and business. Most corporate or official dealings are held in French and television is generally shown in French.

But to complicate things even further, the usual spoken language is Mauritian Creole, which is a French dialect with inflections from a number of other languages.

Transport

While you may like to spend your holiday entirely within your chosen resort, Mauritius has plenty of sights to see and it’s worth travelling around if you feel adventurous.

Self-Drive: There are many hire car firms meaning that it’s easy and relatively cost effective to rent a car for the week. As in the UK, driving is on the left in Mauritius and the roads are fairly modern and in good condition.

Buses: Mauritius has a fairly decent bus service. The buses run regularly and the roads are in good condition meaning that your ride will usually be comfortable and easy going. Naturally it’s also the cheapest way of travelling. Buses are staffed by a driver and a conductor – the conductor is usually an excellent source of knowledge for tourists.

Taxi: Metred taxis are one of the best ways to get around. They are plentiful and reasonably priced, and you can often go on guided tours in them. You may see some unlicenced, un-metred taxis that will offer you cheaper rates, however, this cannot be advised as there may be ulterior motives.

Currency

The official currency is the Mauritian Rupee and currency can be easily exchanged in and around the airport. All hotels and resorts will accept credit cards, and it would be rare to find restaurants or tourist-aimed shops that don’t.

Electricity

240V with 3 pin plugs, as in the UK

Vaccination and Health

As health requirements change please consult with your GP or specialist travel clinic well in advance of your holiday for specific information related to your travel and medical history. Additional information can be found by visiting NaTHNaC or MASTA Travel health.

Mosquitos are a bit of a nuisance in Mauritius, as such it’s important to buy a very good mosquito repellent and re-apply anytime that you go in the water.

Dialling Code

00230

Time Difference

GMT +4 hours