Taking Cash: Mauritius....pointers

G

guitarist28

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2008
Messages
109
Reaction score
0
Hey guys,

So pretty soon (just over a week...) the wife and I will be on our way to Mauritius. Yey!

Anyway, we've managed to save up some extra cash we'd like to take along.

We've heard a couple of pointers but I figured I'd ask here.

Some say to load all the cash onto a credit card and use the card...but I was informed that the "swipe fees" can be quite high.

I've also asked our travel agent who's indicated to exchange the cash when we get to Mauritius and carry cash.

The problem is that it's not exactly small change that you'd want to be travelling with, or keeping on your person at all times.

What do you guys suggest?
 
When we went we toke cash and exchanged when we go there at the airport, my issue was if you weren't near an atm and I hadn't been before so I really didnt know.

I just exchanged and kept the bulk in the safe (not all that much any case :p) and basically carried what I would need for activities, souvenirs etc for the day, also I split half on me and half with the partner in case something happened to one of us etc.
 
I used my credit card where ever possible, but did end up drawing around R10,000 cash - quite a few of the places where you bargain for cheaper prices (cruises, etc) - don't have credit card facilities.

There is no credit card swipe fee, you'll probably be charged a % on the exchange rate. I worked mine out, and it wasn't much different to paying cash.
 
xrapidx said:
There is no credit card swipe fee, you'll probably be charged a % on the exchange rate. I worked mine out, and it wasn't much different to paying cash.
Click to expand...

Great! I guess the hotels can also help with some withdrawals if actual cash is required?
 
We took a bidvest travel card thing. Can "pre load" it here with rand and then just draw cash that side from any atm. When you are there bargain on everything. Also booking a cruise etc at the hotel is 2/3 times the price of going into town and booking at an agent there.
 
@OP: Which resort are you going to?
And travel agent- quote that was used if you're comfortable posting it.
So far I'm looking @ the Kulula travel packages and flight centre. 10 days.

I'm planning to go end of June.

I'm going with a cheque+credit card and some cash. Don't forget to inform the bank that you're travelling.
Thanks!
 
guitarist28 said:
Great! I guess the hotels can also help with some withdrawals if actual cash is required?
Click to expand...

Not sure, but a hotel will most likely charge a premium for such a service, I just used my credit card and drew from ATMs. Just find one near where you're staying, and use it when ever you need cash.
 
SYNERGY said:
@OP: Which resort are you going to?
And travel agent- quote that was used if you're comfortable posting it.
So far I'm looking @ the Kulula travel packages and flight centre. 10 days.

I'm planning to go end of June.

I'm going with a cheque+credit card and some cash. Don't forget to inform the bank that you're travelling.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

1.)
I found Kulula to be useless, we flew from Cape Town, to Johannesburg, they made the Mauritius flight only 1h30m after we landed in Johannesburg, Kulula send it was more than enough time, but from my previous experiences that isn't enough for customs, etc. I kept raising it with them, and eventually insisted they change our Cpt > Jhb flight to an earlier flight, they wanted a couple of R1000 extra, even though it was weeks before, and the flight I wanted on was priced exactly the same as the one they gave us.

THEN - when we came back, they made the stop over in Johannesburg 8 hours. Again, with many flights before that, when we got to Johannesburg, they wanted R3000/pp to make it earlier, so instead we sat in Johannesburg for 8 hours.
2.)
We were on honeymoon, yet the honeymoon price was considerably more expensive, which isn't the norm, I queried this with Kulula, they said its because you get lots of free stuff. I then queried it with the hotel, and they said its not right, you get all the stuff + 50% discount on the brides accommodation, so it should be cheaper. Kulula didn't give a damn, we eventually paid the normal price, and I let the hotel know we were on honeymoon, so we lost out on the 50% discount on the brides accommodation, but she still got free stuff :p
3.)
Besides that, after we paid, the agent just stopped responding to emails, I had to resort to hellopeter to get all the information required.

Will never use them again. I think I spent around R65,000 with them, and got complete crap service.

I checked on another travel website, and the same trip came to R51,000 in their top of the range room, we stayed in the one just below that for R65,000
 
Last edited:
Try not to get hooked up with one taxi service...he'll rip you off! There are touring kombis & local buses - good to ride in them for a different experience. But keep some smaller denomination currency for them or they charge you in $US.... carry some local currency, change rupees at your hotel.
 
Ya...went and sat in the bus stops, the taxi's then become very cheap..
 
SYNERGY said:
@OP: Which resort are you going to?
And travel agent- quote that was used if you're comfortable posting it.
So far I'm looking @ the Kulula travel packages and flight centre. 10 days.

I'm planning to go end of June.

I'm going with a cheque+credit card and some cash. Don't forget to inform the bank that you're travelling.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

PM sent
 
Exchange and carry cash (local currency). Keep excess in a safe.

The best places to buy stuff cheap is in the markets which will only take cash. Bargain hard! Some guy wanted to sell me a jacket I didn't even want for over a grand, I walked away and eventually came down to R75.

Use the buses. They are safe and cost about R5.00 for a trip. A cab that takes you about 10km will cost between R200-R400.
Probably better off renting scooters or a car as some attractions are on the opposite side of the island.

Best restaurant around Mauritius is Luigi's in Grand Baie, it's along the main road near the petrol station. Other restaurant's prices are ridiculously expensive and quality of food at many of them can be rubbish.

Also if you are staying in Grand Baie there is a checkers type store called "Super U". Go to Super U and buy all your souveniers, the locals sell the exact same stuff for double or more.

Check out the market in Port Louie, lots of stuff there!

NB: All food and drinks prices quoted anywhere EXCLUDE 15% sales tax!!!


Things to do:
* Go to botanical garden (stunning place!)
* Coloured sands
* Crocodile park
* Snorkelling (there are catamarangs that take you to another island where you get a buffet meal and snorkelling for the day which is spectacular)
* Diving
* Undersea walk in helmet thing (like on those old school cartoons)
* Glass bottom boat
* Check out the mosques
 
Last edited:
^^vampire^^ said:
Things to do:
* Go to botanical garden (stunning place!)
* Coloured sands
* Crocodile park
* Snorkelling (there are catamarangs that take you to another island where you get a buffet meal and snorkelling for the day which is spectacular)
* Diving
* Undersea walk in helmet thing (like on those old school cartoons)
* Glass bottom boat
* Check out the mosques
Click to expand...

Thanks!!! My plan is more as follows:

1. Fly there
2. Do nothing but lie on beach all day
3. Come back...

lol
 
There is a flipping awesome ice cream parlour in Grand Baie...


Rather fly there, take a cruise and lie on the catamaran, go lie on a different beach, come back and lie on hotel beach some more, come back :p
 
guitarist28 said:
Thanks!!! My plan is more as follows:

1. Fly there
2. Do nothing but lie on beach all day
3. Come back...

lol
Click to expand...

That is the way to do it,
If you took an all-inclusive package you don't even need to think about money at all.
I would still recommend the snorkeling though.
 
^^vampire^^ said:
Exchange and carry cash (local currency). Keep excess in a safe.

The best places to buy stuff cheap is in the markets which will only take cash. Bargain hard! Some guy wanted to sell me a jacket I didn't even want for over a grand, I walked away and eventually came down to R75.

Use the buses. They are safe and cost about R5.00 for a trip. A cab that takes you about 10km will cost between R200-R400.
Probably better off renting scooters or a car as some attractions are on the opposite side of the island.

Best restaurant around Mauritius is Luigi's in Grand Baie, it's along the main road near the petrol station. Other restaurant's prices are ridiculously expensive and quality of food at many of them can be rubbish.

Also if you are staying in Grand Baie there is a checkers type store called "Super U". Go to Super U and buy all your souveniers, the locals sell the exact same stuff for double or more.

Check out the market in Port Louie, lots of stuff there!

NB: All food and drinks prices quoted anywhere EXCLUDE 15% sales tax!!!


Things to do:
* Go to botanical garden (stunning place!)
* Coloured sands
* Crocodile park
* Snorkelling (there are catamarangs that take you to another island where you get a buffet meal and snorkelling for the day which is spectacular)
* Diving
* Undersea walk in helmet thing (like on those old school cartoons)
* Glass bottom boat
* Check out the mosques
Click to expand...

The snorkelling trip to flat island was probably the best thing I did when I was there, highly recommend it. It leaves from Grande bay/ Port Louis area.

I rented a car which wasnt too expensive and had unlimited mileage, so spent a day driving around the island and did most of the tourist spots without taking a package, worked out a whole lot cheaper.
 
rorz0r said:
There is a flipping awesome ice cream parlour in Grand Baie...


Rather fly there, take a cruise and lie on the catamaran, go lie on a different beach, come back and lie on hotel beach some more, come back :p
Click to expand...

Ooooooo I know which one you talking about!!! I went there like almost everyday. It's the one on the way to Super U :)
 
guitarist28 said:
Thanks!!! My plan is more as follows:

1. Fly there
2. Do nothing but lie on beach all day
3. Come back...

lol
Click to expand...

You'll get bored of that and it seems a bit of a waste to go all the way there and not check the place out.
But it's your holiday so enjoy it either way, the place is beautiful!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X