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The Traveler's Basics |
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| Practical
Stuff Currency Credit Card/TC Driving License Calling Home Climate Weather Guide
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Currency: Rupees and Cents
(Best of both worlds). 100 cents make a Rupee (Elementary my dear
Watson). The value of the MUR fluctuates between 24 to 30 to a USD.
This makes the place more expensive than India so get a good hotel deal
before coming here. Convert your USD into MUR at the airport. Hotels
have the worst rates. You should convert 200 USD on entering the
country.
Credit Cards/TC: Suggest you carry a credit card to make payments. (Now don't go getting one especially for the trip) This reduces the risk of carrying cash. TCs are a safer bet. But carry 50 USD per day (if you have a good hotel deal). Plan your cash so that you don't keep think about it when you are in the middle of the sea. Driving License: You can easily get a local driving license by producing you passport and Indian driving license at the RTO at Port Louis. An international driving license (from IAAs) will save you the hassle. Calling Home: Best strato, give you worried parents a VCC in India. that way they can call you any time at the minimum cost. Hotels charge a bomb, roaming cell will burn a hole. Buy an international calling card (Passe Partout) worth 500 MUR and you can call from the hotel at an affordable rate. |
Climate:
First thing, this
place is in the Hemisphere Sud (Southern Hemisphere). For the
un-initiated, when it is winters in India/US its summers here. And
contrary to what you see in the films, when its winters here, one can't
step into the water. Avoid June/July/Aug and best time is
Dec/Jan/Feb/March. Don't forget to carry your sun tan lotion during any
time of the year.
Weather: It fluctuates like the NSE Index. Sometimes it rains and is sunny at the same time... and you can see some amazing rainbows round the year. Class IV cyclones that the hit the island between Dec and March can upset flight schedules and keep you indoors for a couple of days. Guide: Pick up a copy of the Lonely Planet (Mauritius and Seychelles). Gives some great tips than will be really useful. We still refer to our copy when we are lost in this tiny place. |
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