Islands conjure dreams of paradise: an escape from the rat race and a perfect patch of sand where you can relax under rustling palms and gaze at the serene blue sea all day long. But more often than not, luxe islands are rarely created alike. The beauty of some is defined more by the turquoise oceans that surrounds them, which captivates connoisseurs with its crystalline clarity and thriving coral reserves. Other islands boast of luxurious jungles, exotic fauna, velvety peaks and some enchant travelers with their cultural jewels.
Now imagine if I tell you that there is one island where you can find all of these! Sounds too good to be true right? Well, that island is Mauritius, a rescluse in the heart of Indian Ocean, in the African Continent.
Read on as we help you to find your Shang-gri-La in the most beautiful island country in Africa.
Mauritius Planner
- Flight Bookings
- Visa & Currency
- Hotel/Resort Bookings
- Part of the Island for Perfect stay
- Packing Essentials for the Island Getaway
- Trip Length
- Places to Go
Let’s Roll. . .
Flight Bookings
Book your Flight Tickets well in advance, preferably atleast 2 months prior to your departures. This way you will be able to grab the best deal. We Booked our tickets with Air Mauritius. Round Trip for two people cost us around Rs 95K (INR).
Visa & Currency
The Best thing about planning a trip to Mauritius for Indian citizens is that there is absolutely no hassle for Visa. The Visa for Indians is ‘On Arrival’. You are required to fill up a form and sign a health declaration (which is provided to you at the airplane) and voila, you are good to go. The immigration is not too lethargic either.
As for Currency, we carried a ForEx card and around 10,000 MRU. Airport exchanges for INR are scarce and a bit pricey. So if your Hotels are prepaid we would suggest carrying at least 20K MRU in cash.
If you do not have a hotel pick-up from the airport, it is perfectly alright. Cab Services are in abundance. It will cost you anything between 1000 MRU to 2000 MRU depending upon your resort location.
Pro-Tip: Bargaining always helps.
Hotel/Resort Bookings
Whether you are on a budget trip or in for a splurge, Mauritius accommodations cater to every palate. You can book your homestays at www.airbnb.com or compare your resort price at trivago.in and then go for the deal that suits you the best. We recommend booking atleast two months prior to your planned departure.
Since almost all resorts open up to the beach, we chose a cozy B&B at Flic-en-Flac for our week’s stay. Vila Osumare was decently luxurious, although not a five-star facility. The little swimming pool, the bohemian craftwork adornments and the beautiful coffee tables in the villa really took our heart away. And not to mention that we got to carry the yummiest flavoured jams back home!
Per Night Stay in the Resort was around 2K MRU which includes breakfast. So, a week’s stay cost us around 14K MRU (30,000 INR).
Which Part of the Island do I choose as my Abode?
Ok, let’s do the Math. . .We reckon that you want to visit Mauritius for its ethereal beaches, palm adorned mini islands and under-water adventures. So, it’s a given that you would definitely want to ditch the hustle bustle of Port Louis in North Mauritius for a calmer sublime island experience.
The Eastern Part of the Island is too windy throughout the year. The Southern Part of the Island is more about the fauna and its geographical and historical reserve, than gorgeous beaches.
So, Flic-en-Flac in West Mauritius is our obvious pick for a complete beach and island experience. Perybearre Beach/Grand Baie in North Mauritius are also decent options. It’s your call really. . .
Trip Length
You can cover the entire island of Mauritius in mere 3 hours. However, to experience the island to bits, a week’s stay would be ideal.
During our stay, we allotted four days to exploring Flic-en-Flac in West Mauritius. This included the beach hopping, ocean splash, trying out sea-food and local cuisines and going for a deep ocean Scuba-Dive.
The remaining three days were attributed to going on road trips to North and South Mauritius, and taking the Catamaran Cruise to the famous Ile-Aux-Cerfs in East Mauritius.
Packing Essentials
It is a no-brainer that majority of your packing items should consist of beach wears and sun block.
- Carry a pair of good shades that shields the UV and sun-rays
- Your bikini/monokini/swimsuits (atleast 2)
- Get a floral bohemian shrug to go with almost all your dresses and shorts
- Get a few beach accessories to complete your beach look. It can either be the beautiful shell necklace or a couple of colourful bracelets
- Experiment with white. Nothing like an all white look with the turquoise ocean in the backdrop.
- Take one or two flowy floral dresses
- Invest in a pair of good beach sandals
Places to Go
We have curated detailed blog devoted to the places worth visiting in Mauritius. Check them out.
Parting Thoughts
Mauritius continues to linger within us, long after we had left the heavenly island. As a matter of fact, I still cannot stop swooning over the vast stretches of pearly white sand against the backdrop of sparkling turquoise Indian Ocean. My mouth still waters at the slightest memory of the delectable range of exotic sea food offerings, the yummy sugarcane and coconut juice that we savoured. My mind is still in awe of the geographic and historical marvels that we were witness to while on the exotic Mauritian island. Last but not the least the super friendly and chilled out locals whom we met, who are good friends today.
However, right now we can only drool over the pictures as we turn pages of the memories that we captured. Till, we visit again. . .
2 thoughts on “How to Plan the Perfect Vacation to Mauritius all by Yourselves?”
Mauritius is really an awesome place. I have been there for a week. You guys have pictured it so perfectly.
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