Time Difference
Mauritius is four hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight saving time. So in our summer, they are only three hours ahead.
Money
The national currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian rupee, which divides into 100 cents. Notes come in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 rupees. Coins come in five, twenty and fifty cents and one, five and ten rupees. ATMs are widely available. International credit cards are usually accepted in most shops, hotels and restaurants, however Mauritian banks often charge a high transaction fee on credit card payments. Banks are open from Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 15:00 and on Friday from 09:00 to 15:30, or sometimes until 17:00.
Electricity and Plugs
220 volts. The plugs are either UK or EU style, so bring an EU adaptor to be safe.
Local Amenities
Offices are generally open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00 in the public sector, and from 08:30 to 16:15 in the private sector. But these hours may vary from business-to-business. In Port-Louis, the shops are generally open from Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 17:00 and on Saturdays (and possibly Sundays) from 10:00 to 12:00. In higher parts of the country, the shops open from 10:00 to 12:00 on Thursday and Sunday, and from 10:00 to 17:30 on other days. Shops owned by Muslims close between 12:00 and 14:00 on Fridays.
Media
The Mauritian press is mostly all in French, but two English weekly papers are News on Sunday and the Mauritius Times. There are some radio stations that play the news and music in English, such as the BBC World Service. Most television is in Creole, but some English-speaking channels, such as BBC News, are available.
Post
Most post offices are open from 08:15 to 16:00 Monday to Friday, and from 08:15 to 12:00 on Saturday. The postal service is generally good.
Phone
To call Mauritius from the UK, dial 00 230 followed by the number you want to dial. To call the UK from Mauritius, dial 00 44 followed by the number you want to dial, without the first zero.
Internet and Mobile Coverage
Most hotels should have free WiFi, as may some public spaces. There is generally good mobile coverage across the island, but it may be worth checking with your operator whether there will be additional charges.
Currency
MUR
