Passports:
A valid passport, where the expiry date is at least six months beyond the date of the stay.

Currency:
Mauritius uses the Mauritian rupee. Currency rate is GBP£1.00 = 46.68 rupees ( Feb'11). Mauritian rupees do not circulate outside Mauritius so that you can only change money on the island.EURO/GBP or US$ travellers cheques and cash can be changed in the banks. (Please NOTE that the exchange rate for traveller's cheques is much better than for cash).

Money and Banking:
Banks are open to coincide with the arrival and departure of international flights at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.

Banking Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 9.00am - 3.00pm
Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Closed on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays

Credit Cards:
Banks and most hotels, restaurants and tourist shops accept credit cards.

Medical Services:
Free public medical facilities are widely available at hospitals and regional health centres. Private clinics provide payable medical services.

Shopping Hours:
Shopping hours in Mauritius’ main cities run from 9.30am to 7.30pm (Monday to Saturday). Some shops open until noon on Sundays and public holidays. Many duty free shops and modern shopping centres offer a wide choice of products. Please note that shops only open for half-days on Thursdays in Rose-hill, Vacoas, Curepipe and Quatre-Bornes.

International Driving Licence:
In Mauritius, driving is undertaken on the left-hand side of the road and drivers have to give way to traffic from the right. Visitors with a driving licence issued by a competent authority in their respective countries are allowed to drive during their stay in Mauritius.

Tipping:
Tipping is common but not compulsory.

Nudism:
Nudism is not allowed.

Public Holidays:
There are 15 annual public holidays in Mauritius. Seven of these are fixed holidays: 1st and 2nd January; 1st February; 12th March; 1st May; 2nd November; and 25th December. The remaining public holidays are religious festivals with dates that vary from year to year.

2011 Public Holidays:

• 1st-3rd January – New Year (as this takes place during a weekend, Mauritians will also take Monday 3rd January as a public holiday)
• 20th January – Thaipoosam Cavadee
• 1st February – Abolition of Slavery
• 3rd February – Chinese Spring Festival
• 2nd March – Maha Shivaratree
• 12th March – National Day
• 4th April – Ougadi
• 1st May – Labour Day
• 31st August – Eid-Ul-Fitr *
• 2nd September – Ganesh Chaturthi
• 26th October – Diwali
• 1st November – All Saints Day
• 2nd November – Arrival of Indentured Labourers

• 25th December – Christmas
  
  * NOTE: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon. The dates given above are therefore approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night. Normal business patterns may be interrupted as a result. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking in other locations. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region.