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About Reunion

Reunion Map Reunion is a small French island in the Indian Ocean, approximately 220kms south-west of Mauritius. A truly exceptional island, Reunion offers guests an intoxicating taste of French and Creole life in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. With it’s lagoons and ocean beaches, amazing mountains and active volcano, this tropical island will fascinate nature and leisure lovers alike.

The island features a natural amphitheatre comprising three cirques (Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos) and an active volcano (Piton de la Fournaise). The highest mountain peak, Piton des Neiges, rises to 3069 metres making hiking and trekking a feature on the island.

Surfers can also enjoy the waves at St Leu, renowned as one of the best left handers in the region. This reputation was further enhanced with the inclusion of Reunion Island in the world professional surfing tour in 2005.

A popular option is to combine the luxury of a holiday in Mauritius with a stay in Reunion. Daily flights from Mauritius make this an easy combination and offers two diverse and different countries in one exciting holiday.

General Information

Entry
A valid passport is necessary and a return or continuation ticket must be shown for entry into Reunion Island.

Visas
Réunion is a French department but is not part of the Schengen treaty. The visa requirements for entry to Réunion are similar as for France, however Western countries such as Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Mauritius currently do not require visas to visit Réunion as tourists. We recommend checking with the official visa consulate prior to departure in case of changes.

Currency
The Euro (€) is the official currency of Reunion. Euro coins come in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50 cents and one and two euros. Banknotes are issued in denominations of five, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. Credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at many establishments.

Electricity
220 volts. A European / French adaptor is required

Business Hours
Many businesses in Reunion close for lunch between noon and 2pm and close in the evening from 6pm. Banks are usually open from 8am til 4pm

Moneychangers
Changing money in Réunion is difficult since the introduction of the Euro due to a reduction in foreign exchange facilities, which have been replaced by ATM’s. There are no foreign exchange facilities at the airport except for an ATM. Therefore, it is recommended to bring Euro currency with you and then top it up from the ATM’s.

Travellers cheques
Travellers cheques are not widely accepted in Réunion. We suggest you take Euro and also a valid credit card.

Driving in Reunion
An international drivers licence is required for driving in Reunion. Driving is same as in France, left hand drive. Driving in mountain regions may take longer than expected due to steep inclines and narrow sections. More time should be allocated than expected when touring through these regions.

Weather 

Reunion has a sub-tropical climate similar to Mauritius, offering year round holiday fun for all guests. Temperatures and rainfall vary according to the altitude and exposure and can be significant variation from one end of the island to the other.

The average coastal temperatures ranging from 21 to 28 degrees. Mountain areas and the east coast region will be cooler and more prone to changes in weather so a light weight jacket and raincoat (or poncho) along with comfortable walking or hiking shoes is recommended.

Like Mauritius, the west side is the more holiday friendly area with the east coast suffering from the annual trade winds. The west coast is protected by the amazing mountains providing warmer drier weather and magical sunsets.  The milder dry season lasts from May to October while the summer months are from November to April. 

Getting to Reunion

The best way to get to Reunion from Australia is flying Air Austral which departs from Sydney or with Air Mauritius via Mauritius which departs from Melbourne and Perth. Connections from other cities can be arranged.