How much does a holiday in Mauritius cost – accommodation, food, and entertainment?

Mauritius is an incredibly beautiful natural corner of our planet . The island is often considered a destination exclusively for the wealthy, a place for luxurious honeymoons. But is that really true? Spoiler alert: this island paradise can be surprisingly affordable: it all depends on your budget and travel planning approach.

In fact, a budget in Mauritius can be around $50-70 per person per day with careful planning. Here, you can find comfortable accommodations for $30 per night, rent a car for $23 per day, and eat for just a few dollars. Add to this the entertainment options-for example, all of Mauritius' beaches are completely free-and you have the perfect vacation destination.

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Accommodation in Mauritius: From Cozy Guesthouses to Luxury

One of the main charms of Mauritius is the almost complete absence of high-rise complexes. The entire island is lined with elegant boutique hotels, cozy bungalows, and villas, usually no more than two stories high. This creates a very harmonious and relaxed atmosphere.

Budget Accommodation in Mauritius

There are almost no hostels in Mauritius. The most affordable and popular format is small guesthouses. These typically offer clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom, air conditioning, a refrigerator, and often a balcony.

If you simply need a clean and comfortable room without unnecessary luxury, you can easily find options from $30-75 per night. This is an excellent choice for those who plan to travel extensively around the island and spend time at the hotel. They may also have pools available for guests. Interestingly, starting from $35, you can find not just a double room, but a triple room with several bedrooms-it all depends on the season. Examples:

• Mountain View - spacious apartments with a kitchen and a large balcony - $45 per night for a double room. La Galette area in southwest Mauritius.
  Aux Plaisirs de la Vie guesthouse with a pool - about $50 per night. In the Flic-en-Flac area (west).
• Coastal Blue 1 (Flic-en-Flac) - from $45 per person for a two-bedroom apartment with an on-site pool.
• Residence Le Point Choisy - $75-85 per night. Located in Mont Choisy in the north of the island.
• Résidence au bout du Morne - about $90 per night. This guesthouse is located in Le Morne, near La Prairie Beach. It features a garden and terrace, and offers sea views.

Residence Le Point Choisy

Middle segment

A comfortable hotel with beautiful grounds, good service, and several restaurants will cost you from $100 per night. This is the golden mean. For $100-200, you can easily find an entire villa with 2-3 bedrooms, even with an ocean view and a pool. Examples:

• Villa Kaz en Poz - two-bedroom holiday home with pool - $100.
• Sunrise View villa - a villa with two bedrooms, a living room with a sea view - $120.
• Beachfront Escape in Authentic Mauritian Paradise - Private Three-Bedroom Ocean View Villa - $150

Prices vary by season. An additional tourist tax of $3 per person per night applies. A 15% VAT may not be included.

Beachfront Escape in Authentic Mauritian Paradise

Luxury Hotels in Mauritius

Luxury hotel stays in Mauritius are often lower than in other tropical destinations. Well-known chain hotels can be found for $300-$400. Lesser-known but decent hotels average from $200. Examples:

• InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort by IHG - $280.
• Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa - $300.
• SO/ Sofitel Mauritius - $350.
• Hilton Mauritius Resort & Spa - $360.
• Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas - $400.
• One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius - $1200.

There are fewer all-inclusive options on the island than in the Maldives . However, at a good hotel, you can find one for around $300-400 per night for two. For example, Veranda Tamarin Hotel & Spa is around $300 per night for two in March, all-inclusive.

Important: During high season (October through March), be prepared for accommodation prices to increase by 30-50%. So, booking early is a top priority!

Hilton Mauritius Resort & Spa

Cost of transport in Mauritius

Buses are an inexpensive way to get around the island, but renting a car is still a good idea. Mauritius is a country made for road trips.

Traveling around Mauritius by car

• A small car like a Hyundai i10 costs about $23 per day. Driving is on the left side of the road. It's best to get an automatic.
• Gasoline will cost approximately $40 per week.
• Parking. All beaches have free parking. You may have to pay for it only in larger towns like Port Louis , Quatre Bornes, or Curepipe. However, it's not too expensive-$0.50 per hour.

Traveling by bus

An hour-long trip around the island costs $1.00. A 10-minute bus ride from Mont Choisy to Grand Bay costs just $0.15.

There are bus routes in Mauritius. But there's no official schedule, and the buses are old and lack air conditioning, making the ride far from comfortable. You could end up waiting on the side of the road for up to an hour. Furthermore, the journey time doubles due to stops and stops.

Transfer by car

Airport transfers can be booked online or on-site. The cheapest online option to anywhere on the island is $40, which is quite reasonable for Mauritius.

Taxi

There are taxis on the island, and you can even hire a driver to take you on a day trip around the island. Expect to pay between $65 and $85 for a car and driver ride. Trying to hail a taxi on the street can be more expensive. There are no meters, and fares are often made up on the fly. Therefore, before calling a taxi, it's worth asking a local how much you should expect to pay. This could be hotel or restaurant staff, or even just passersby-Mauritians are friendly!

Joint trips

The best ridesharing app in Mauritius is called Yugo, and it has a blue and orange logo in the app store. You can also try Ala-Lila Taxi. The apps are quite clunky, so don't expect an interface as user-friendly as Uber. These rides are slightly cheaper than simply hailing a taxi on the street. For example, a 15-minute ride from Grand Baie to Trou aux Biches will cost around $10.

Scooter rental

Renting a 125cc scooter costs around $13 per day. The roads are narrow, scooters are rare, and car drivers aren't used to them. Therefore, navigating the entire island on a scooter can be dangerous; it's best to limit yourself to the surrounding areas.

Train

It runs between Port Louis and Curepipe and costs just $1. This light rail system launched in 2022 and has been expanding its destinations annually since then.

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Food in Mauritius: From Street Food to Restaurants

Mauritian cuisine is a treat in itself! It's predominantly Creole, with Indian and French influences: lots of fresh fish, aromatic curries, and rice. Pork is rarely eaten here. And street food is Mauritius's main culinary treasure.

The most popular local dishes, like dholl puri (a pea-filled pancake) or roti (a curry-filled flatbread), cost less than a dollar at street vendors! They're incredibly tasty and very filling.

• Roti (curry flatbread) - $0.60. Two roti is a complete meal.
• Samosas and gateau pimento - about $0.10 each.
• Neapolitan Cookies - A snack of two buttery sponges filled with strawberry jam and topped with pink icing - $0.80 each.
• Marinated pineapple and mango sprinkled with chili powder - $0.20.
• French fries - $2.
• Cheeseburger - $1.30.
• Shrimp Fried Rice - $2.70.
• Curry - $1.60.
• Steamed Chicken Noodles - $2.20.
• French pastries: croissant or pain au chocolat - $0.60.

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Restaurant prices in Mauritius

Lunch or dinner at a good local restaurant, especially in popular tourist areas, will cost $10-$16 per entree. A three-course dinner at a mid-range restaurant will cost $22-$55 per person. Examples:

• Rugay is a thick, rich Creole tomato-based stew made with sausage or seafood: $9.
• Fish Vindaie - spicy marinated fish delicacies that are first fried and then marinated with mustard seeds: $11.
• Magic Bowl - boiled rice with fried vegetables, meat and egg: $6.
• Chicken Biryani: $4.
• Mine Bouille - boiled egg noodles in a rich fish-soy sauce with chicken, egg, dumplings and other fillings: $3.

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How much does entertainment cost in Mauritius?

Despite its modest size, Mauritius offers entertainment for every taste and budget.

Free or for a small fee:

The island's greatest beauty is its natural beauty! You can hike to Tamarin Falls or along the trails of the Black River Gorges National Park absolutely free. The views are worth a million! And all the island's beaches are free. Mauritius has two UNESCO World Heritage sites, both of which are free to visit:

• The cultural landscape of Le Morne Brabant , which is a symbol of the struggle of slaves.
• Aapravasi Ghat tells the story of immigration to Mauritius, from the days of slavery to today's vibrant cultural melting pot.

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Available adventures:

• Casela Nature Park is a huge amusement park with safaris, ziplines, and animal attractions. Admission is about $26 per person.
• Swimming with dolphins is one of the most popular excursions on the West Coast. It costs approximately $43.
• A day trip on a catamaran . Spend a full day at sea with lunch, drinks, and snorkeling for an average of $75.
• Le Morne Mountain with a guide - $53.
• Seven Colored Earths of Chamarel - $5 (includes waterfall and turtles).
• Pamplemousses Botanical Garden - $6.50.
• Chamarel Rum Distillery with Tasting - $13.

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Exclusive experiences

A famous natural wonder, the "underwater waterfall," is a popular spot. A helicopter ride over the site costs about $650.

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