Holidays > Practical information

Tourism Office Mauritius
Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA)
Air Mauritius Centre
11 floor, John Kennedy Street
PORT-LOUIS
Tel: 210 15 45
Web site: http://www.tourism-mauritius.mu/fr.php  

Mauritius Embassies/High Commissions abroad

United Kingdom
32-33 Elvaston Place
London SW7 5NW
Tel: + 7581 0294-8
+ 7584 3666 Tourism Office
Office hours: Monday-Friday – 09.30-13.00 & 14.00-17.00

Republic of South Africa
1163 Pretorius Street
Hatfield 0083
Pretoria
Tel: (27) 12 342.1283/4/5
Fax: (27) 12 342 1286

Australia
2, Beale Cresent
Deakin
Canberra, ACT 6200
Tel: (61) 6 281 1203/282 4436
Fax: (61) 6 282 3235

India
EP-41, Jesus & Mary Marg
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi - 110021
Tel: (91) 11 410 2161/2
Fax: (91) 11 410 2194

USA
4301 Connecticut Avenue,
N.W., Suite 441
Van Ness Centre
Washington D.C. 20008
Tel: 202 244 1491/1492 (office)
Fax: 001 202 966 0983

China
#2-2-11, San Li Tun Dong San Jie
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100600
People's Republic of China
Tel: (86) 10 6532 5695/96/98
Fax: (86) 10 6532 5706

Foreign High Commission/Embassies
High Commission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
7^th floor, Les Cascades Building
Edith Cavell Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 202 9400
Email: bhc@bow.intnet.mu
Website: http://wwwbritishhighcommission.gov.uk/mauritius

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
Royal Road, Belle Rose, Rose-Hill
Tel: 464 5556 / 454 9111
Email: cnam@intnet.mu

Embassy of the Russian Federation
Queen Mary Avenue, Floréal
Tel: 6961545
Email: rusemb.mu@intnet.mu

Embassy of the United States of America
Rogers House, Rue John Kennedy, Port-Louis
Tel: 202 4400
Website:http://mauritius.usembassy.gov

Honorary Consulate of Germany
32, St George Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 212 4100

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Austria
5, John Kennedy Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 208 6801
Email: rene.sanson@rogers.mu

Honorary Consulate of Switzerland
2, Jules Koenig Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 208 8763

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Italy
DML Building, M1 Motorway, Port-Louis
Tel: 211 1427
Email: consolato.italia@dmltourism.com

Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Spain
DML Building, Al Madina Street, M1 Motorway, Port-Louis
Tel: 212 3712
Email: pgoldsmith@dml.mu

High Commission of the Republic of India
President John Kennedy Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 2083775

High Commission of Australia
Rogers House, President John Kennedy Avenue, Port-Louis
Tel: 208 1700
Email: austhc@intnet.mu
Website: http://www.mauritius.embassy.gov.au

Honorary Consulate of Canada
c/o Blanche Birger Co.Ltd, 18 Jules Koenig Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 212 5500
Email: Canada@intnet.mu

High Commission of the Republic of South Africa
BAI Building, Pope Hennessy Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 212 6925 / 212 6728
Email: sahc@intnet.mu

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Zimbabwe
IKS Cargo, Marine Road, Quay D, Port-Louis
Tel: 241 5531
Email: iks@intnet.mu

Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Denmark
Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 202 6611
Email: philippe.espitaliernoel@rogers.mu

Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Sweden
Taylor Smith & Co Ltd, Old Quay D Road, Port-Louis
Tel: 206 3333
Email: colin.taylor@rogers.mu

European Union (Delegation of the European Commission)
St James Court, St Denis Street, Port-Louis
Tel: 207 1515

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport – Plaisance – Tel: 637 36 35

Passport and Immigration Office – Tel: 210 93 12 – Fax: 210 93 22

Prime Minister Office – Tel: 201 21 54 – Fax: 212 93 93

Emergency in Mauritius

Police: 999 ou 112
Tourist Police: 203 1212 ou 208 1212
Fire Stations - Hot line: 115
Ambulance – SAMU: 114
National Coast Guard – Hot line: 212 2747

Weather Forecast Mauritius
Tel: (230) 302 60 71
In case of cyclone, dial the 96
http://metservice.intnet.mu/

If you have any health problem during your stay, you may have recourse to hospital (free) or private clinic care (charged).

Main hospitals Mauritius

Dr Jeetoo Hospital, Port-Louis  212 3201-06

Flacq Hospital  413 2532

Nehru Hospital, Rose Belle  603 7000

National Sir Seewosagur Ramgoolam Hospital, Pamplemousses  243 3319-20

Victoria Hospital, Candos  425 3031

Clinics Mauritius

Grand Bay Medical Clinic, Sottise Road  269 1666

City Clinic, Port-Louis  216 7424-25

Clinique Darné, Floréal  601 2300

Clinique de Lorette, Curepipe  675 2911

Clinique Ferrière, Curepipe  676 3332

Clinique du Bon Pasteur, Rose Hill  464 2640

Clinique du Nord, Baie du Tombeau  247 2532

Clinique Mauricienne, Réduit  454 3061

Medisave Clinic, Quatre Bornes  427 7000 

Medpoint Clinic, Solférino  426 7777

Fill your bag with…

…light cotton clothes since it is hot from March to October. Think also about a hat, sunglasses, flip-flops, and a raincoat which may prove useful in case of big summer rain. Do not forget plastic shoes if you want to avoid sea-urchin pricks or other possible flesh wounds with corals or shells (depending on where you swim).

From June to September, bring trousers and sweatshirts/jumpers for cool evenings.

Do NOT forget mosquito repellents!

Note: it has to be said that nudism and topless are not welcome on Mauritius beaches. 

Money: The monetary units the Mauritian Rupee (Rs). Coins exist as: 1-rupee, 5-rupee, 10-rupee, 20-rupee, and also, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50-cent. Notes exist in the following denominations: Rs 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000.

Exchange: Most of foreign currencies are accepted and exchanged in Mauritius, which is not the case for the Mauritian Rupee abroad. It is only and occasionally exchanged in India and in South Africa.

Check the exchange rate of the day on links below:
http://www.xe.com
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic?lang=fr

Credit card: Credit cards (Visa, American Express, Diner’s and MasterCard) are generally accepted by banks, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and tourist shops.
You can find operational ATMs in all towns and nearly every village.

Traveller’s Cheques: Traveller’s cheques may be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorised dealers without any restriction.

Banks: Banks are widespread. All banks apply the same exchange rate which is set by the government. They have ATMs which accept nearly all credit cards. Banking hours are: from Monday to Thursday - 09.15 to 15.15, on Fridays – 09.15 to 15.30 and for some banks, on Saturdays – 09.00 to 11.00.

Drink a lot of water in summer time. Mauritians drink tap water in their everyday life for it is drinkable. Yet, to prevent from diseases of any kind during your holiday, buy some mineral water sold in bottles everywhere.

Taste our typical Mauritian beverages: fresh coconut water and ice cold Alouda. Delicious!

Alcoholized beverages

Several rums are distilled on the island. Inevitably…considering the vast sugar fields! Some of Mauritian rums are of good quality, like the sought-after Green Island which is used for punches. There are others, like the White Diamond or the Number One, which are cheaper and which are used for rum-based cocktails with steeped fruits in. First class!

Local beers

Beers are sweet and very much likeable. Generally, tourists love our local beers. You can find various brands sold at a moderate price: the Phoenix, the Blue Marlin, the Stella, and lately, the Black Eagle.

Wine

Mauritius is certainly not reputed for the wine. However, grapes from South Africa are imported to be turned to wine here. Some restaurants propose it on their wine lists.  Just to satisfy your curiosity, why don’t you taste it?

Tea

Tea is cropped in the south of the island. It is served well brewed. The vanilla flavour is renowned in Mauritius, and you will now also find a whole variety of flavours suiting with everyone’s taste (green, exotic, lemon, jasmine, etc.)

Power supply throughout the island is around 220/240 volts.
Sockets are British type - three-pin or two-pin plugs can fit in.
Plugs are also available.

Telephone MAURITIUS

The telephonic network in Mauritius is well developed and runs smoothly.
You will find public phone boxes without difficulty.
Access to the international network (IDD) is available. Mauritius telephone code is 230. There is no area code.
International access code: 020
Cell phones can be hired on arrival at the airport. There are agreements between different companies – GSM.900 is networked throughout the island. Network operators are Cellplus Mobile Comms (www.gocellplus.com) and Emtel (www.emtel-ltd.com).

Post office Mauritius

There are post offices in every village. Postal service is effective, reliable and well set /established in the island. A letter for Europe will take a week to arrive. Stamps are available only in post offices.
Open hours:
* from Monday to Friday - 8.15 AM to 4.00 PM.
* on Saturdays - 8.15 AM to 11.45 PM.

Internet Mauritius

Most hotels have a business centre or, at least, an email service. You will also find cybercafés easily in the island.