Mauritius

vale_2

Hi All

Off to Mauritius end of next month to get married and honeymoon.
We are staying at Le Touesrok which I'm told is very nice...that aside has anyone got any tips on places to go and things to see when there???

Cheers in advance! :beer:

Nile

Hello Vale

You might find the sea temperature is quite cool, it doesn't get hot in Mauritius until September.

If you go on any trips, I would recommend the Under Sea Walk from Grand Baie. You wear a diving helmet and walk on the sea bed.......it's brilliant. Make sure you take some disposable underwater cameras, I prefer the Fuji brand. For a throw away camera, the quality of the prints is very good.

Murtle

oh blimey, thinking cap on!! Chamarel, coloured sands. ooo there's another place as well that has more colours, and other bits and pieces to see - the name has gone from me for now. The botanical gardens are very pretty and very nice to wander around. Port Loius market, the meat market is a real eye opener! But the veggie side looks amazing, the textile and bits side can be over priced, especially when they see an Brit! Barter till you're happy. There is a museum in Port Louis that houses the skelton of the Dodo, there is also a stamp museum if you are interested it has a penny black and red (I think!) THere is also Caudan , the waterfront area in Port Lois, nice shops etc to wander around and restaurants. At the top of the hill in Port Louis, is a race track, it is still used - and very popular for Mauritians, and has some great history behind it. The undersea walk is very good, but so is snorkelling and diving in the area. Your hotel will be on the winder side of the island, but you can always travel to the west side for more beach activity if it gets too choppy. In the south, there are two waterfalls, again my memory deserts me currently, I'll post back when I remember! Casela is a bird park, and is on the west coast, this can be combined with driving past the salt pans in Black river. L'adventure de sucre is a great museum detailing the history of sugar and how it's produced etc. There is an Indian temple, well there are loads of different ones, but there one I'm thinking of has stunning views. There is an extinct volcano, although it looks like a huge crater, with trees growing in it.....it really is big though. The south coast road is beautiful to drive along, recommend taxis, if the weather is good. Domaine les Pailles is great for a treat of a meal, very expensive in comparison to *normal* local restaurants. The tea museum is very good, and you can sit and have tea in their conservatory with wonderful views over the land.

Hope that helps, not confuses - I have travelled to Mauritus a number of times and spent an extended time there!!

Try looking at this website for anything else....http://www.mauritius.net/

have a wonderful trip and please PM me if you have any questions and I'll try to answer them!!!

vale_2

Hi Both.
Thanks for your tips...seems like we are going to have a busy 2 weeks. As I mentioned in my post , I know the hotel and complex is good...but I get stir crazy and like to get around..I have been told guides/drivers (Mauritours???) are good?

Cheers

Murtle

Yes Mauritours are fine, as are MTTB, who have you booked your holiday through?? you should have a rep with them as well?! Mauritours are a ground handling company, as in they will deal with lots of tour operators clients. From memory, there was also Jet tours had reps (French), Kuoni had reps(British), best tours had reps (Italian). Mauritours or MTTB can often be *resident* in hotels. They are good, and are reliable. It can be worth getting a list of the tours they offer and seeing if any of them take your fancy. Or get them to organise a day trip for you, they can then book the taxi and explain what you want.

For a small island, there is a lot you can do! When I first went, the guest relations didn't really *sell* the idea of visiting a lot of places on the island.....they didn't understand why tourists would want to see it....they thought the beach was enough

If you are interested in factory outlets, then ask about these, they can have frustrating opening hours but the textile industry is huge on the island. Jumpers were always a favourite for me!

Nile

Yes, we booked our trips with Mauritours.


We also hired a car for a couple of days. You will not believe the pollution on the roads in Mauritius. Imagine a clapped out coach just starting up with diesel fumes belching out of the exhaust..............practically every vehicle you will see is in that state.:eek:

vale_2

We have booked with Elegant Resorts.Definately want to get around the island.If I am truthful the hotel we are staying at looks a lot "posher" than we are used to.Hope its not too "stuffy".Called Le Touesrok.
We are getting married there also so will be cool.
Is it best to take currency or use credit card?
Nile...best we pack gas masks then...LOL!!

Murtle

Oh no, your hotel is lovely, it is posh but I didn't find it at all stuffy. St.Geran I did find stuffy - it's next door to you and owned by the same group and just down the road is Cocobeach - more like an kids holiday resort!!

Sorry, not sure who Elegant Resorts would use as their ground rep.

Congratulations on getting married, it will be wonderful!

Take currency and your credit card. (Make sure the credit card is the nationwide one, less charges to incur )

Currency is useful for tipping, buying small things or buying things not in shops - although most places do take credit cards, it will be the one thing you want to buy/do that doesn't allow cards!! You can buy fruit and things on the side of the road, they won't take credit cards!!

Hope you have a fantastic time!!

Keep asking questions - if you need to...!

vale_2

Thanks for the advice and congrats.
Funnily enough I have just applied for a Nationwide account and card!! The charges the big banks make are shocking...no wonder thay make 6 billion + a year profit!!!(rant over)
Are there any restaurants close by that you recommend...we have got half board but it would be nice to have lunch elsewhere.
Ground reps are "white sands tours"

Murtle

WST - ah shucks, forgot them - but they're good to....and should be able to cater to your every need

I don't know any restaurants on that side of the island I'm afraid, I was based on the west coast in the sister hotels, La Pirogue and Sugar Beach and at Grand Baie. YOu can get nice road side snack, in Currepipe and samosas in Port Louis though.

Have a wonderful time!! you lucky lucky thing!!!

kaz

vale,
have a good time man..the weather is not too bad at the moment. There are loadsof stuff that i am sure will interest you.i lived there for years and been back several times..never had any regrets ...the people are nice,friendly...
have nice honeymoon..i am sure that you will have a wonderful honeymoon.
a little tip:hire a car..don't use the taxi-you might returned broke;) just kidding
you need any advice pm me..
kaz