Money

Mauritius has long been geared to high-end travelers, and hotels and resort dining are expensive. Cafés and bars outside resorts are reasonable. A strong textile industry means that there are some good clothing bargains to be had, especially in the central towns of Floreal and Curepipe and in the capital city of Port Louis. Due to the profusion of sugarcane, rum is very cheap.

Currency and Exchange

The currency is the Mauritian Rupee, (MUR). At this writing, $1 equals around 31 Rupees. The bank notes are Rs25, Rs50, Rs100, Rs200, Rs500, Rs1000, Rs2000, and while there are coins, they are rarely used. It is best to change currency at the airport on arrival. Banks and ATMs are plentiful; Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted.

Taxes

There is a 15% value added tax (VAT) on all goods and services, including hotel and restaurant bills.

Tipping

There is no obligation to tip in Mauritius; however, as wages are quite low, especially for those working as porters and maids in hotels, gratuities are appreciated.