Where to stay in Mauritius
Every area in this guide lies within about 72 km of the airport by road. The coasts differ more than the distances: nightlife in the north, the capital, long beaches in the west and east, a mountain in the south-west and a quiet south-east next to the airport.
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How the areas differ
Grand Baie, in the north, is the liveliest base: the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority calls the north the most lively part of the island and describes beach clubs, bars and over 50 restaurants, malls and the Grand Bazar, and boats out to Ilot Gabriel and Coin de Mire. Port Louis, the capital and the country's financial centre, sits about 26 km south-west of it and suits business and a short city stay more than the beach.
On the west coast, Flic en Flac has one of the longest public beaches on the island, with a lagoon inside the reef and many hotels. Tamarin, about 10 km away by road, is a former fishing village that has become a residential area popular with surfers. Further south, Le Morne is a peninsula under a basalt mountain 556 m high, on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2008, and the tourism promotion authority's address for kitesurfing.
The east coast has Belle Mare, one of the longest stretches of sand on the island, and the fishing village of Trou d'Eau Douce, with boats from the east coast to Ile aux Cerfs. In the south-east, Mahébourg is the main town of the Grand Port district, and Blue Bay a marine park listed among the best snorkelling spots on the island.
Staying with a rental car
Mauritius drives on the left. UK travel advice says a UK photocard licence is valid, and that hire companies often ask for more, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age or an International Driving Permit. GetCar's guide Driving in Mauritius: Speed Limits, Cameras, the Alcohol Limit and Cyclone Warnings covers the road rules.
Road distances from the airport: Mahébourg about 9 km, Belle Mare and Flic en Flac about 47 to 48 km, Le Morne about 54 km and Grand Baie about 72 km. The airport car park has worked by number plate since 17 August 2026: a camera reads the plate at the entrance, and the ticket is paid by phone or at a pay station before leaving.
In town centres such as Port Louis, street parking is paid with paper coupons displayed on the dashboard and sold in booklets at fuel stations and shops (via GetCar). No official parking rules were found for Grand Baie, the west coast, Le Morne, Belle Mare or Mahébourg as of September 2026, so ask the hotel or host whether a space comes with the stay. At Le Morne the public beach has an open car park below the mountain.
Plan for the weather too. The cyclone season usually runs from November to May, and UK travel advice warns that during a cyclone guests are not allowed to leave their accommodation and that car insurance policies often become invalid.
What the tourist fee, VAT and licences mean for a guest
Since 1 October 2025 the island of Mauritius charges a tourist fee of EUR 3 per tourist aged 12 or over for each night in a hotel, guesthouse, tourist residence or domaine. The Finance Act 2025 wrote it into the Tourism Authority Act, and the Mauritius Revenue Authority collects it from the accommodation, which charges the guest. The fee applies even where the accommodation is not licensed. Residents, Mauritians with a Mauritian passport, holders of a valid Premium Visa or residence permit, children under 12 and guests who stay free of charge do not pay, and the fee does not apply in Rodrigues.
VAT is 15%, charged by VAT-registered businesses, and the Finance Act 2026 refers to VAT on accommodation services in hotels and tourist residences. Letting a home for a continuous term of more than 90 days is exempt.
The Tourism Authority licenses four types of accommodation: hotel, guest house, tourist residence, which covers any self-catering premises let to tourists, and domaine. A licensed business must display its licence at a conspicuous place in the premises, and UK travel advice recommends renting only accommodation registered with the Tourism Authority. No rule requiring a licence number in online listings was found as of September 2026, so ask the host for it.
When to book what
Book at least the first nights before flying. The Passport and Immigration Office lists a confirmed hotel booking, or a sponsor for accommodation, among the entry requirements, along with a return ticket and enough funds for the stay. Fill in the Mauritius All in One travel form online before arriving; without it, UK travel advice says, visitors fill in a disembarkation card at the airport.
Compare totals with the tourist fee in: a family of two adults and a 12-year-old owes EUR 9 a night in tourist fee. Between November and May, read the cancellation terms with the cyclone season in mind.
Which area for which trip
Nightlife, restaurants and boat trips: Grand Baie.
Business or a short city stay: Port Louis.
A long public beach and sunsets: Flic en Flac and Tamarin.
Kitesurfing and the mountain: Le Morne.
A long beach on the east side: Belle Mare and Trou d'Eau Douce.
Early or late flights and snorkelling: Mahébourg and Blue Bay.
Questions
How far is Grand Baie from Mauritius airport?
About 72 km by road. Flic en Flac and Belle Mare are about 47 to 48 km away, Le Morne about 54 km, Port Louis about 48 km and Mahébourg about 9 km.
Is the tourist fee included in the room price?
It depends on the listing. The accommodation collects EUR 3 per tourist aged 12 or over per night and may add it on its own line, so check the total before paying.
Where is parking paid in Mauritius?
In town centres such as Port Louis, with paper coupons displayed on the dashboard (via GetCar). No official parking rules were found for the coastal villages as of September 2026.
Which side of the road does Mauritius drive on?
The left. UK travel advice says a UK photocard licence is valid, and hire companies may ask for an International Driving Permit.
Does the tourist fee apply in Rodrigues?
No. The Mauritius Revenue Authority says the fee does not apply in Rodrigues under current law.