Mauritius Reunion & Seychelles (Lonely Planet) (Paperback)

~ Jan Dodd (Author), Madeleine Philippe (Author) "In addition to their geographic isolation - adrift in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa - Mauritius, Reunion and the Seychelles have..." (more)
Key Phrases: mer palms, pink pigeons, dive centre, Port Louis, Grand Baie, Getting There (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Nobody covers the world like Lonely Planet.' --New York Post, May 2004
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

Chill out on the beaches of Rodrigues, clamber up smouldering Piton de la Fournaise, dive the crystal-clear waters of Beau Vallon, indulge in a Creole seafood extravaganza - discover your own Indian Ocean paradise with Lonely Planet. Whether you want to laze in the sun or savour the island ambience, this comprehensive guide is your essential companion.

• TAKE THE PLUNGE - diving and snorkelling special section gives you the when, where and how of the best dive sites

• BE INSPIRED - new highlights, itineraries and planning sections help you plot your path

• CONNECT WITH CULTURE with our discussion of the distinctive and vibrant island way of life

• WALK THE WALK - in-depth coverage of Reunion's hiking trails will have you exploring forests, mountains or a spectacular volcano

• STAY IN STYLE with our recommendations of the best rest-your-head options, from self-catering gites to swanky resorts

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 315 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 5 edition (December 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740593014
• ISBN-13: 978-1740593014
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #839,181 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #6 in	Books > Travel > Africa > Seychelles
  #8 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Mauritius

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable Guidebook, April 17, 2005

By	Youssef J. Habbouche (MA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I booked a tour to Mauritius in May-June 2004. Although I went with a travel agency, this book proved to be indispensable. I am rating it a five star based on my Mauritius experience only.

First and foremost, this guide provides a detailed map, essential for locating yourself on the island.
The book also provides true and accurate description of the various attractions and things to do.
The traveling tips concerning transportation, food and local culture were extremely helpful and saved me precious vacation time.
On top of all this, it provides a wealth of information on hotels and restaurants.

My advice:
- The prices in the book might be a little off now. It seems that the local currency, the Rupee, is pegged to the Euro which makes this island more expensive for US travelers (advice based on the currency conversion as we speak)
- Beware of tourist shops, their prices are 5 times the price you can get for the same item on the popular market.
- Go visit the popular markets, you will find nice exotic hand crafted items and some world renowned vanilla beans.
- Take hiking trips, there is some breath taking scenery out there
- And of course, take advantage of the magnificent beaches and water activities

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Maurtius, Reunion & Seychelles, October 4, 2007

By	Rana Aurora "Mesa" (Austin, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This book is well organized and written. Of the three nations covered, I was most interested in the part of the book on the Seychelles. Unfourtunately, that was the least covered place. I found the other book I ordered: The Bradt Travel Guide to the Seychelles, more to my liking.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for a family traveling to Reunion or Mauritius, March 16, 2009

By	Bachelier "Husband, Father, Catholic, Finance... (Ile de France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mauritius Reunion & Seychelles (Multi Country Guide) (Paperback)

This applies to Mauritius & Reunion ONLY. We have not been to the Seychelles, so I can't say whether this is useful for there.

Excellent little guide for a family traveling in these volcanic islands. We used the guide for both Mauritius and Reunion and found it to be very good, accurate, reliable, and insightful. Many of the favorite activities and special features (often fully described in text boxes) became our favorites as well.

A single flaw was that in keeping with Lonely Planet's origins as a backpacker and youth hostel market focus, much is made of public transportation in these locations. In Reunion in particular public transportation exists, is adequate, inexpensive, but is a time consuming method of getting around. Considering that we spent ten days in a rental economy car and barely consumed 20 liters of gasoline, all but the most pure of the ecotourists would find that an acceptable trade off on carbon footprint for four people getting around. LP should say so up front: rent a car if you want to reasonably explore the island's joys.

Restaurants, maps, activities, sites, hikes, transportation and hotels were all as described. The off-the-beaten path suggestions were often the best in Reunion (Gite de Theophane will always be remebered).

LP consistently puts out an excellent product, and I highly recommend this guide.