Travel MeFi: Travel tips for Mauritius
March 16, 2011 1:12 PM Subscribe
My wife and I are heading to Mauritius for 6 days. We'll be there between April 4 - 10. I'm looking for tips on cool things to do, restaurants or bars to visit, and any other items that one doesn't find in Wikitravel or Trip Advisor. We're both relatively young and active, we're renting a car, and are not highly constrained wrt money.
Thanks.
Best answer: Yeah, French will be helpful particularly if you're straying beyond the touristy-resort parts, but I don't speak much at all and got on OK. I didn't rent a car, I just rented a motorbike, which was fine for getting almost half-way around the island on the more aggressive days, so I imagine with a car you could see most of the island quite easily. There's some absolutely pristine public beaches that you will have almost entirely to yourself particularly on the southwest corner of the island - don't swim out too far though even in the shallows, I ran into some strong currents while snorkeling. And definitely hike to some of the waterfalls in Black River Gorges park - find Tamarind Falls in particular (might be worth getting a guide).
I'd avoid Port Louis for the most part if I went back, I also wasn't too fond of the overly-resorty north tip of the island (I stayed a night or two in Grand Baie). I loved the small beach-towns of Flic en Flac and Tamarin where I stayed.
Mauritius is perfect for deep sea fishing, as well as any number of water sports (its a particular paradise for kite-surfing if you're feeling adventurous). There's some decent normal surfing to be found in spots (that's why I stayed mostly near Tamarin) but most of the great surfing is over the reefs, so strap your balls on and talk to the locals if you're an above average surfer and up for some crazy.
If I went back I'd probably rent a car and head south from Port Louis just taking my time skirting the island counter-clockwise, finding random hotels to stay at in whatever town I ended up at in the evening, spending lots of time on deserted beaches.
posted by allkindsoftime at 11:23 PM on March 16, 2011
I'd avoid Port Louis for the most part if I went back, I also wasn't too fond of the overly-resorty north tip of the island (I stayed a night or two in Grand Baie). I loved the small beach-towns of Flic en Flac and Tamarin where I stayed.
Mauritius is perfect for deep sea fishing, as well as any number of water sports (its a particular paradise for kite-surfing if you're feeling adventurous). There's some decent normal surfing to be found in spots (that's why I stayed mostly near Tamarin) but most of the great surfing is over the reefs, so strap your balls on and talk to the locals if you're an above average surfer and up for some crazy.
If I went back I'd probably rent a car and head south from Port Louis just taking my time skirting the island counter-clockwise, finding random hotels to stay at in whatever town I ended up at in the evening, spending lots of time on deserted beaches.
posted by allkindsoftime at 11:23 PM on March 16, 2011
Response by poster: FYI, post vacation. It was a blast! My new favorite place.
We stayed at the Grand Mauritius on the northwest coast. It's north of Port Louis and south of Grand Baie. Fabulous resort, somewhat expensive though. We rented a car and drove around the NW area.
- Grand Baie is fun. We drove there several nights for the restuarants, bars, and general hanging out.
- Good public beaches at Perybere.
- Visited the Eureka plantation house. Dud, do not recommend it. A little difficult to find too.
- Driving is difficult until you figure out that you don't need street names to navigate, you just head in the general direction of the town where you want to go. It got much easier as we kept doing it. Also, you have to watch out for the locals on bikes and mopeds, they are reckless with their lives! Lots of stray dogs as well.
- Port Louis is extremely difficult to drive in. Narrow, crowded streets and no parking. In fact, we got a parking ticket in a poorly-marked pay lot. Only like US $6 tho.
- The Port Louis waterfront though is nice. Feels very new and modern, so if you are starved for that, good place to go. Again, very little parking.
- Shopping for authentic wares was shockingly difficult. And the "outlet" stores with their knock-off Armanis were asking high prices. I was able to bargain them down, but even so I felt rooked.
- Snorkeling is great. Water is warm and clear, and there are relatively undamaged reefs just off the coast.
Some of the points above are negative, but it was probably just our inexperience with the area. In all, a fabulous place, can't beat the weather. I don't know when we'll get back there, but next time we are going to experience much more of the island.
posted by zephyrian at 10:42 AM on April 21, 2011
We stayed at the Grand Mauritius on the northwest coast. It's north of Port Louis and south of Grand Baie. Fabulous resort, somewhat expensive though. We rented a car and drove around the NW area.
- Grand Baie is fun. We drove there several nights for the restuarants, bars, and general hanging out.
- Good public beaches at Perybere.
- Visited the Eureka plantation house. Dud, do not recommend it. A little difficult to find too.
- Driving is difficult until you figure out that you don't need street names to navigate, you just head in the general direction of the town where you want to go. It got much easier as we kept doing it. Also, you have to watch out for the locals on bikes and mopeds, they are reckless with their lives! Lots of stray dogs as well.
- Port Louis is extremely difficult to drive in. Narrow, crowded streets and no parking. In fact, we got a parking ticket in a poorly-marked pay lot. Only like US $6 tho.
- The Port Louis waterfront though is nice. Feels very new and modern, so if you are starved for that, good place to go. Again, very little parking.
- Shopping for authentic wares was shockingly difficult. And the "outlet" stores with their knock-off Armanis were asking high prices. I was able to bargain them down, but even so I felt rooked.
- Snorkeling is great. Water is warm and clear, and there are relatively undamaged reefs just off the coast.
Some of the points above are negative, but it was probably just our inexperience with the area. In all, a fabulous place, can't beat the weather. I don't know when we'll get back there, but next time we are going to experience much more of the island.
posted by zephyrian at 10:42 AM on April 21, 2011
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You should definitely head for Black River Gorges National Park
This Guy did a Grand Tour and wrote about it. Mysrerra is a useful site.
posted by adamvasco at 2:29 PM on March 16, 2011