Mauritius

Drink

thumb|160x160px|A bottle of Phoenix beer Mauritius produces a wide range of cane rum. It is very cheap and is a nice drink when mixed with cola and ice. A popular drink is coconut water with a dash of lime and a splash of local rum over ice.

The local beer, Phoenix, costs around Rs30 for a pint. Usually served very cold. The local Black Eagle beer, brewed in Nouvelle France is also good. A local beer called Flying Dodo also offers beer with tropical fruits mix.

The Medine Estate Refinery shop at Bambous (4 km from Flic en Flac), on the west of the Island, has a wide variety of locally produced rums and liquors.

Sleep

There are many international brand hotels andsome luxurious hotels which are owned by Mauritian companies. Self-catered bungalows and apartments are also an option, many of them located directly on the beach.

Foreigners can buy villas, many of them in compounds located on the beach, through the IRS or RES Scheme.

Stay safe

thumb|Le Morne The crime rate has fallen, and Mauritius is a much safer country for visitors than most other destinations. The Tourism Police and Coast Guards patrol regularly in areas frequented by tourists, and most cities, beaches and other major attractions are under camera surveillance. Nevertheless, you should look out for suspicious behavior.

Stay healthy

Mauritius is a risk area for infection with dengue fever, also known as "breakbone fever" from the muscular convulsions it causes. No vaccine is available. Dengue re-emerged in 2019 after several dengue-free years, so be sure to take precautious against mosquito bites.

Since 2005 during the high season a certain type of mosquito called the Aedes albopictus causes the viral illness Chikungunya and the insect is more likely to be around in the daytime.

It is important to use anti-mosquito protection at all times. Mosquitoes are more prevalent in rural areas but they can also inhabit the beach in the tourist zone and may lead to swollen joints and/or rashes. Symptoms last from one week up to several months depending how seriously you are affected. Some people recover quickly but it can take several months to recover completely.

In 1991 86% of the population had antibodies indicating that they had been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, following an epidemic of the disease in 1989. Hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended for travel in East Africa (and most other places) by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Depending on the time of the year, many of the beaches are infested with sea urchins, and it is not uncommon to see broken glass on the beach or in the water. It is a very good idea to either buy or bring plastic/wet shoes when venturing into the water. This is generally not a problem at the big hotels as the designated swimming areas on the beaches are regularl…

Connect

Mauritius has a few telecommunications companies, the main ones being Emtel and My.t. They both sell sim card and E-sim at the airport from 700 MUR per month. Passport is required.