Budget holidays in Mauritius - prices, accommodation, food and the main life hacks

Mauritius was long considered a destination only for wealthy travellers because of its remote location. Today, this amazing island in the Indian Ocean is quite accessible in budget mode. In this article, we will explain all the details that can help you enjoy Mauritius without spending a fortune: when and where you can cut costs, where to stay if you want comfort similar to a 5-star resort, and the main ways to save your budget.

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Cheap flights to Mauritius

The secret of budget Mauritius is simple: you need to know when to go, where to eat and how to get around. Choosing the season is the first and probably the most important step in managing your budget. Mauritius has a climate that allows for holidays all year round, but the financial difference between seasons is huge.

High season. From December to April, the island has a humid and hot summer. This is the peak tourist season, when flight and accommodation prices rise to their maximum, and popular places fill up with crowds.

Low season. If your goal is to save up to 30%, it is worth paying attention to the period from May to November. At this time, winter comes to the southern hemisphere, but in Mauritius it feels like an ideal European summer: air temperatures stay around 20-25°C, and the water remains warm enough for comfortable swimming. In these months, airlines such as Air Mauritius and Corsair often run sales, and accommodation owners become much more flexible. What is more, it is precisely in the “low” season that the island looks the most authentic - without unnecessary bustle, with soft sunshine that allows you to explore natural parks without burning under the tropical sun.

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Where to stay: cosy apartments instead of luxury villas

Accommodation in Mauritius is one of the biggest budget items you can reduce several times over if you skip luxury hotels and the all-inclusive format. Besides large resorts, the island offers many villas and private apartments. By choosing this option, you not only save money, but also get more freedom.

It is worth keeping in mind that Mauritius is a place where it is more better value to travel with a group or at least as a couple. There are no guesthouses here like in Asia, and people usually rent a hotel room, an apartment or a villa. If you are travelling alone or as a couple, a studio apartment, a one-bedroom suite or a standard hotel room will suit you. If there are several of you or you are travelling with children, then you should choose apartments with two or three bedrooms, a villa or family options in hotels.

Kazalala Hosted B&B

Budget hotels in Mauritius

The cheapest hotels in Mauritius are 3-star properties or B&B options. The cost of a room is 150-200 dollars per night, depending on the facilities and the season. For that money, you can stay in a hotel by the sea, with a pool, restaurants, spa and other amenities.

• Tropical Attitude in Trou d’Eau Douce: an adults-only hotel on the east coast with direct access to the lagoon. Guests have 58 ocean-view rooms, a pool, a spa centre and a free boat shuttle to the famous Île aux Cerfs.
• Kazalala Hosted B&B in Bel Ombre: a charming guest house in the south of the island, offering an authentic atmosphere and a pool surrounded by a tropical garden, within walking distance of the beach.
• Veranda Pointe Aux Biches Hotel in Pointe aux Piments: a hotel with a barefoot concept on the north-west coast. It offers 115 comfortable rooms with different facilities, 3 restaurants and 2 bars, 3 swimming pools including a kids’ pool. It has three pools, restaurants and a special adults-only zone.
• Veranda Paul et Virginie Hotel & Spa in Grand Gaube: a beachfront hotel designed exclusively for adults. It has two panoramic pools, a spa and a restaurant overlooking the northern islands.
• Veranda Palmar Beach Hotel in Belle Mare: a hotel on one of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in the east. Guests can enjoy water sports, an outdoor pool, a spa and an excellent kids’ club.
• Cocotiers Hotel, Port Louis coast. A budget option right by the sea with a tropical garden and a pool. It is convenient to combine a beach holiday with trips to the capital of Mauritius.

In the Grand Baie area or along the coast in Belle Mare, you can find mid-range hotels that offer clean and comfortable rooms with breakfast at prices 4-5 times lower than the luxury resorts nearby.

Veranda Paul et Virginie Hotel & Spa

Renting an apartment or villa in Mauritius

For those looking for maximum value and independence, renting an apartment is the ideal solution. The advantage of apartments is that having your own kitchen allows you to save significantly on food. You can find excellent options for 30-60 euros per night.

For example, a studio in the La Gaulette area will cost around 45 euros per night. It will include a kitchen, bathroom, cleaning, air conditioning and internet. The complex will often have a swimming pool or may even be on the first line.

If you are travelling in a group of 3+, then consider accommodation with two or more bedrooms.

Two bedrooms. On average, apartments with two bedrooms and a good renovation cost around 70 euros per night and up. Two couples can easily stay there. There will also be a living room, kitchen, air conditioning, internet and cleaning.

Three bedrooms. The average price for apartments with three bedrooms is around 90 euros per night and up. Usually this is for six people. Cleaning, internet, kitchen and so on are included. By the way, always check the number of bathrooms. In Mauritius, apartments with two bedrooms usually have only one bathroom, which is not always very convenient if two couples are staying together. In newer houses, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms now matches much more often.

Mystik Life Style

Villa rental

Villas can be very different. Some have only two bedrooms, while others have five. The price depends on the year of construction, renovation, whether there is a pool, the number of guests, the season and the location. On average, from 200 euros per night you can rent a separate villa with a pool and three bedrooms. It will include cleaning, internet, a living room, kitchen, barbecue and all the necessary amenities.

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Where to stay in Mauritius on a budget

In villages such as Flic en Flac or in the Mahébourg area, there is a huge amount of affordable accommodation. When choosing, pay attention to how close it is to bus stops, so that later, while travelling around the island, you do not depend on expensive taxis.

• Flic-en-Flac (West): one of the best beaches, many inexpensive apartments and supermarkets.
• Mahébourg (south-east): an authentic town near the airport. This is where you will find the cheapest accommodation and real local life.
• Grand Baie (North): the tourist centre. It is more expensive here, but if you move 10 minutes away from the beachfront, apartment prices fall sharply.

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Transport in Mauritius: getting around the island cheaply

Buses. The island has a well-developed bus network. Bright, often noisy buses connect almost all major towns and beaches. This is not the most comfortable way to travel around Mauritius, but it is definitely cheap and authentic. Buses run often, but slowly. If you need to get to the other side of the island, allow 1.5-2 hours.

A bus trip of 20-30 kilometres will cost you less than one euro, which makes this mode of transport a favourite for budget travellers. Buses stop running early, around 18:30-19:00, so plan your return in advance.

Car rental. To explore harder-to-reach corners, such as secluded mountain trails or wild beaches in the south, a car can be useful. In this case, it is more reasonable to rent a car for only two or three days, so you can drive around the remote attractions, and use buses or route taxis the rest of the time. Renting a car in Mauritius costs 25-40 euros per day plus petrol. Renting a scooter in Mauritius is not worth it. It costs about the same as renting a small car. Besides, there are very few motorbikes here, and they often break down.

The rental price for a Nissan Micra (automatic) will be about 35 euros per day. This type of car uses little fuel. If you need to carry equipment, you can rent a pickup truck. Prices start from 40 euros per day if it has a manual gearbox. Most pickup trucks are diesel.

A litre of petrol costs 1.3-1.5 euros.

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Food in Mauritius: how to save on meals

Food in Mauritius can be either very expensive or incredibly cheap. The main life hack is to avoid tourist restaurants on the first line. This way, you will discover Mauritian street food. Small eateries or snack’s are found everywhere on the island. Food trucks at markets offer delicacies such as dholl puri, samosas and fish curry for less than 1 euro per portion. A full and very tasty meal on the street can cost only 2-4 euros.

At the markets in Port Louis or Mahébourg, you can buy fresh exotic fruits several times cheaper than in beachside stalls. Local beer such as Phoenix or Blue Marlin costs around 1.5 euros. And the famous Mauritian rum is of excellent quality and very inexpensive.

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Shopping in supermarkets

Almost every town on the island has supermarkets with everything you need. They usually work from 8 in the morning until 7 in the evening. And on Sunday - from 8 until lunchtime. Large supermarkets, such as Super U, work until 8 in the evening and on Sundays as well. On big local holidays, even they may be closed, so shop in advance. There are also small local shops, but the choice there is very limited: water, bananas, beer and household basics.

Approximate prices for some products:

• Yoghurt - 0.4 euro.
• One litre of milk - 1.1 euros.
• Juice 1 litre - 2.4 euros.
• A pack of jamón, salami or ham - around 3.7 euros.
• A 300-gram pack of Brie cheese - 4 euros.
• Local liqueurs - 8 euros per bottle.
• Jack Daniel’s whisky - 45 euros per bottle.

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Things to do in Mauritius: what you do not need to pay for

Beaches and snorkelling. The island’s greatest treasures are free. All beaches here are public, which means you can enjoy the same azure ocean as the guests of the most expensive hotels. The best beaches - Trou aux Biches, Flic-en-Flac and Blue Bay - are open to everyone. Snorkelling also does not require big expenses - it is enough to buy or bring your own mask, and coral gardens with thousands of colourful fish will be available right off the shore, without the need to book expensive boat excursions.

Hiking. For lovers of active holidays, the island offers free hiking routes. For example, Black River Gorges National Park is a huge territory with jungle, waterfalls and viewpoints, and entry is free.

Visiting local markets in Port Louis or Mahébourg also turns into a full adventure. There you will find not only affordable souvenirs and handicrafts, but you will also be able to feel the culture of the island. Botanical gardens, such as the famous Pamplemousses, also offer quite reasonable entrance fees - around 5-7 euros.

Fishing. But Mauritius also has very expensive, exclusive excursions. If you want to go fishing for the famous marlin, you need to head out to sea. The price for such a trip is around 30,000 rupees for half a day, which is about 600 euros. Around 6 people can go on the trip, so it works out at about 100 euros per person.

Water activities. Not cheap if you need an instructor. On average, an individual surfing lesson costs around 350 euros for 3 hours with video analysis. If an advanced group of 2-3 people forms, the lesson will cost around 400-500 euros. Kitesurfing lessons cost about 200 euros per hour.

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Several useful tips

It is better to exchange currency in banks in major towns, not at the airport, because the rate there is usually better.

Do not worry about internet access. In this respect, Mauritius is one of the most equipped countries in the region, and 80% of the country is covered by 5G. A tourist SIM card costs around 15 euros for 200 GB.

Using local drinks instead of imported ones, buying fruit at markets rather than souvenir shops, and travelling by public transport - all of this together helps reduce daily spending to a minimum.

By planning your flight in advance and watching the offers of major agencies and airlines, you will see that a holiday in Mauritius is a very real and affordable dream that does not require sacrifices, only a little curiosity and good preparation.

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