Mauritius
2000 kms off the coast of south east Africa, situated in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is an oasis paradise surrounded by fringing coral reefs and natural lagoons. Only total relaxation and personal intimacy can be found in Mauritius, uplifting the soul and romancing with your senses.
The people
French is the major language spoken in Mauritius so it is unusual to find that over half of the 1.2 million people who live In Mauritius are Hindu, the rest being Muslim and Christian. Creole is a culture that you will find widely spread, also Chinese, Indian and European with a French twist. A contrast of influences it is, from the gourmet cuisine to the colourful attitude of her people, Mauritius really is a unique destination.
How far will your dollar go?
The Mauritian Rupee (MUR) is the nations unit of currency, divided into 100 cents. Our Aussie dollar will get you around 19.70 MUR. Mauritius isn’t really a shopper’s destination although the local textiles and pottery are great buys. Food costs differ greatly, a meal in a notable restaurant will set you back anywhere between 500Rs (AUD$25) to 1000Rs (AUD$50) or more, whereas you could get a full meal in a street stall for about 200Rs (AUD$10).
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Beer |
100Rs (AUD$5) |
The climate
Believe it or not Mauritius does have a winter and June to August is the winter months – in saying that the temperature rarely drops below 22 degrees during this time and less rainfall occurs. The rest of the year generally sits above 27 degrees with most of the rain falling in January and February. Being a tropical island it is very green and lush, from the mountains to the beaches, there is very little seasonal variety.
Power
If you’re a beauty queen or an Ipod junkie you will need to know that the electricity runs on 220 volts with 50 cycles. The power points have 2 round sockets or 3 flat prongs, ask your hotel for a converter.
What to do in paradise
Oh lets say… get married? It’s romantic, passionate, mystical, magical and memorable, an experience engraved in your mind forever. Or, if you’re a guest you can enjoy a wide range of water sports, kayak through the reefs or catch your dinner with some deep sea fishing. The ladies can be pampered at the many day spas, whilst the gentlemen can tee off at one of the many championship golf greens. Of course the beaches are at your leisure, turquoise water tickles the powdery white sands of the shore and being surrounded by a coral reef it’s safe to frolic in the water all day long (just slap on the sunscreen!)
Before you start packing
Australian passports are required with at least 6 months of validity remaining from your return date into Australia. A visa isn’t required unless your passport is of another origin, if so then you must contact wedding destinations to check your required procedures.
Air Mauritius is the nation’s carrier, with direct flights from Perth and Melbourne operating weekly. It takes an average of 12 – 14 hours. Quite long but very much worth it!
Remember you are allowed to take with you 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products or 50 cigars. 1L of spirits and 2L of wine or beer.
Why Wedding Destinations lurrrrves Mauritius!
With the sublime beaches, world class resorts, wonderful people and the melting pot of culture it is essentially divine.
From the scrumptious cuisine to keep your belly full and the wonderful hospitality of the friendly locals, your destination wedding will be nothing short of an exuberant celebration. The music and dancing lasting for hours. One thing the Mauritians know how to do better than almost anywhere else on earth is service you’re every whim. You will experience service here like no other and it will be a stand out memory for many years to come.
With no high rise buildings and concrete jungles, ways of life have been the same for the locals for years, without the mass hordes of tourism demands. The colonial style towns and villages tucked into the mountains, no eco-pollution has even been heard of here, virgin beaches still exist – it really is gods own island in the sun. We’d have to agree with Mark Twain when he announced that “God made Mauritius first – then heaven!”
Honeymoons
Mauritius itself is a great honeymoon spot, whether it’s the mainland or a little secluded island you can enjoy your time further here. A lot of people also fly across to the nearby island of the Seychelles. It’s only a short flight away and has the most incredibly stunning scenery, water and beaches.
Africa is just a stones throw from Mauritius, why not take an adventure with an African wildlife safari? No feeding your spouse to the lions please! Shoot the animals with your new 10 mega pixel camera you got as a wedding gift and frame them with the textiles you bought in Mauritius? Experience a trip of a lifetime as you travel through grass lands, deserts and mountains, be swept away in the Savannah and watch the sun go down across the horizon. Combining Mauritius with Africa has got to be the ultimate in a wedding/honeymoon!!