Suggested Length of Stay
With an array of activities available on the Island, the length of stay depends on why you want to travel to the island, a good overview of the island and its cultural and natural wonders 3-5 days would be ideal, for hiking 5 days minimum.
Modes of transport
Road
It is often said that Reunion has more than its fair share of cars, and it’s true. At certain times, the road networks can become jam-packed with vehicles, but to overcome this, all a visitor needs to know is when to travel and how to travel.
Due to the high number of cars, traffic jams often occur so you should avoid travelling during peak times. Because of the volcano, the road is sometimes closed along the east side of the island. The four-lane highway between La Possession and Saint-Denis, known as the route du littoral, runs between an unstable cliff and the sea. Because of the rain (mostly between December and March), this highway may be “basculée”, that is switched to a two-lane road. Expect traffic jams in such circumstances.
Do not underestimate driving times, even if the island seems small. The main roads, especially on the west coast, tend to jam; so do the streets of Saint Denis. The roads in the interior are mountain roads, some with many turns and steep slopes.
Bus
Intercity bus travel around the island is served by Car Jaune (“Yellow Bus”, buses are easily recognizable by their yellow colour). There are 13 lines. Apart from these buses, there are also local buses. Most of the lines operate between 6 AM and 6 PM.
Health Precautions
No vaccinations are officially required, many doctors recommend hepatitis A and B immunisations just to be sure.
Food
Réunion is a culinary delight: thanks to a mix of influences and prime fresh ingredients (plentiful seafood, succulent meat, spices, aromatic plants, and fruit and vegetables bursting with flavour), you’re sure to eat well wherever you go. There’s a balanced melange of French cuisine (locally known as cuisine métro) and Creole specialities and flavours, not to mention Indian and Chinese influences.
Money
Reunion is part of the Eurozone, so as in many other European Union countries the currency used is the euro (symbol: €).
It is compulsory, for the large majority of businesses, to post prices in windows. Hotels and restaurants must have their rates visible from outside.
Most shops accept international credit cards (Visa and Mastercard), but most of them require a minimum amount for credit cards payments (usually €15).
There are some ATMs (called “gabier”) which don’t charge you for using them.
Time Zone
Reunion is 4 hours ahead of (GMT/UTC + 4 hours) and 6.5 hours behind AEST.
Visas
Australian citizens do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days.
Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts in Reunion
Australia does not have an embassy or consulate in Reunion. For consular assistance, contact the Australian Government at the Australian High Commission in Mauritius.
Australian High Commission, Port Louis
2nd Floor, Rogers House
5 President John Kennedy Street
Port Louis, Mauritius
Phone: +230 202 0160
Fax: +230 208 8878
Website: mauritius.highcommission.gov.au
Reunion Embassy contacts in Australia
As Reunion is a French overseas territory, contact the French Consulate in your nearest capital city.
Electricity
220V, 50Hz AC, using European-style two-round pins.
Getting there (stopovers)
Flights to Reunion from Australia are via Mauritius from Perth.
A brief history
The island was originally known as Île Bourbon but named Réunion in 1793. Between 1801 and 1810 it was known as Île Bonaparte (after Napoleon Bonaparte), and between 1810 and 1848 the island was again called Bourbon. The island’s official name of Île de la Réunion has stood since 1848.
Slavery was abolished in 1848 and landowners were required to pay salaries. While wages and working conditions remained poor for a long time, work opportunities on Reunion Island attracted immigrants from India, China and Africa. This contributed to the diversity of the island’s population. Reunion Island was briefly colonised by Britain between 1810 and 1815. During this time, coffee was replaced by sugar cane. In 1819, vanilla was introduced.
Tipping Guideline
Tipping is not expected in Réunion.
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