Hotels
There is a wide choice of hotels on the island, including very luxurious ones. Local hotels have world-class standards in terms of facilities offered. Leisure activities like casinos, tennis, golf, water sports, saunas are available. Also, a number of "Leading Hotels of he World" are found in Mauritius.
Further information can be found on the website of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

Touring the island
Though the 'sun and sea' experience in Mauritius is matchless, there are numerous sites around the island worth a visit:
The Pamplemousses Garden - considered as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, it is famous for its giant water lilies and rare plants.
The Black River Gorges National Park - contains more than 150 plant varieties, nine species of unique birds, among which the Kestrel and the Pink Pigeon.
Chamarel: one of the attractions of the island with dunes made of earth of seven colours.
Other places of interest are the Museum of Natural History, the Naval Museum, 'Domaine du Chasseur', Casela Bird Park, Rochester Falls, 'Domaine les Pailles', 'la Vanille' Crocodile Park, and Trou-aux-Cerfs.

Shopping
The reputation of the island as a shopping paradise has been strengthened by the diversity and quality of the purchasing possibilities. The duty free shops, exclusively for tourists, have multiplied in number during the last years. Models of ancient ships, clothing, jewelry, paintings, leather products and handicrafts can be found in various parts of the island.

Leisure and sports
Mauritius offers excellent possibilities with respect to nautical sports. Many hotels offer possibilities of doing windsurfing, water skiing, kayaking, etc. Diving and big game fishing can be carried out at a reasonable price. Hotels Casinos, restaurants and night-clubs constitute the main outings at night.

Visiting Rodrigues
Rodrigues is also an island of volcanic origin. There are four extinct craters that constitute the central tourist attractions. Located some 560 km to the North East of Mauritius, Rodrigues has a total surface area of 108 sq. kms. and around 37 000 inhabitants. The climate in Rodrigues is very much similar to that of Mauritius. The island holds a number of tourist attractions in form of its handicraft, historical sites and beautiful hotels. Rodrigues is an integral part of the Mauritian territory and can be reached by air or by sea.

Air Services
Mauritius is very adequately connected to the rest of the world. It is very easy to access the island by air, as the local airline company Air Mauritius has planes landing regularly in four continents, and dozens of international airlines are represented locally. Air Mauritius currently has regular flights to 27 cities in four continents.

Entry formalities
People coming from the following countries, including the homeland of any European country, can obtain a visa for two weeks on arrival but extension depends on the presentation of valid passports, air tickets, internationally recognised travel documents and adequate funds: Albania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Madagascar, Comoros Poland, Ex Czechoslovakia, Romania, Fiji, Ex-USSR (CIS)
More information on visa requirements can be obtained from the Mauritian High Commissions and Embassies in respective countries or from the Passport and Immigration Office.

Customs
No customs duty is payable on used items such as personal effects and clothing when entering Mauritius. All persons at least 16 years old are allowed the following items duty free:
· 250 g of tobacco (either in the form of cigarettes or cigars)
· 1 litre of whisky
· 2 litres of wine/beer
· 25 cl of 'eau de toilette'
· At most 10 cl of perfume
The importation and entrance of plants, flowers and fresh fruits have to be cleared by the Ministry of Agriculture and the importation of sugar cane is strictly forbidden. A permit is needed for the importation of live animals while dogs and cats have to be kept for 6 months in quarantine. Further information on these are available at the Chamber.