Climate
Port Louis has two very similar seasons, with beautiful warm
weather nearly all year round. Summer is from November to April,
with temperatures reaching as high as 86ºF (30ºC). Cyclones, with
strong winds and heavy rain, can occur in Mauritius during the
rainy season (January to March) and the average rainfall in Port
Louis over this period is 8.3 inches (212mm). During winter, Port
Louis' temperatures drop only a couple of degrees.
Getting Around
Travellers in Port Louis will find themselves getting around the
town by foot, as none of the distances are too great. Taxis are
readily available and efficient, and are easily recognisable by
their yellow signs. Car rental agencies such as Hertz can be found
throughout the town for visitors wanting to explore the island
themselves.
Language
English is the official language of Mauritius, but the
most widely used is French and the local dialect, Creole. Hindi,
Urdu and Chinese are also spoken.
Money
The currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee (MUR), which is
divided into 100 cents. Travellers cheques and foreign currency can
be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and larger hotels.
Travellers cheques usually exchange at a better rate than cash.
ATMs are widely available in most towns and hotels, restaurants and
large retailers accept major credit cards.
Shopping
Since Mauritius is a completely duty-free country, shopping in
Port Louis is something that all serious shopaholics should do at
least once in their lifetime. From the plethora of shopping malls
and street-side shops and vendors, to bustling markets, shopping in
Port Louis might require some comfy walking shoes! Le Caudan
Waterfont features 170 boutiques and is a must for those who prefer
a more sophisticated shopping experience. All famous international
designer names and fine jewellery shops can be found here and there
is a wide variety of restaurants for weary shoppers to stop and
refuel as well fabulous views over the marina where one can even
take in a boat ride. Those who like to hunt out a good bargain
should head for the Port Louis Central Market, which is open daily,
where tourists can pick up souvenirs. A haggler's paradise where
just about anything can be found, with a little perseverance, this
market sells the usual tacky tourist tat, but amongst it are also
great finds and popular buys such as Mauritian handicrafts,
antiques, costume jewellery, DVDs, CDs, meat, seafood, fruit and
vegetables. Shoppers should beware of pickpockets who operate in
the frenzied jostle of Port Louis' flea markers. Holidaymakers can
even fit in a spot of shopping while lazing on the beach as beach
hawkers walk the shores selling
paréos(sarongs), Ralph Lauren shirts, pineapples
and shell jewellery all at the lowest price available, of
course!