Saving Tips

Mauritius can be surprisingly affordable if you know a few tricks:

• Use public buses: The bus network covers the entire island. A ride costs 15–70 MUR (0.30–1.40€). Slow, but reliable and unbeatable in price. Express buses connect the main cities.
• Chambres d'hôtes instead of hotels: Mauritian guesthouses cost 20–50€ per night and often include breakfast and tips from locals. Many are located right on the beach.
• Local restaurants (Table d'hôte): Mauritian families offer lunch and dinner in their homes — homemade Creole cuisine for 5–10€ per person. Ask your guesthouse for recommendations.
• Public beaches: All beaches in Mauritius are publicly accessible (by law!). You can lie on the beach even in front of luxury resorts — no need to book a hotel.
• Self-driving instead of organized tours: A rental car costs from 25€/day — cheaper than organized full-day tours (60–100€). The island is small, and driving on the left is quickly learned.
• Market instead of supermarket: The central market in Port Louis and the weekly markets (Flacq, Quatre Bornes, Mahébourg) offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices at a fraction of supermarket prices.
• Early booking & off-season: Hotels are cheapest in May, June, September, and October — up to 40% below high season prices. Early booking discounts of 20–30% are common.
• Rum instead of cocktails: Mauritian rum (Chamarel, New Grove, Labourdonnais) is excellent and available in supermarkets for 10–20€ per bottle. Cocktails in restaurants cost three times as much.