SHOPPING
Mauritius is billed as a ‘shopping paradise’ and a lot of money could be spent buying intricately carved model ships, duty-free diamonds and designer clothing. Many tourists find it hard to resist the clothing factory outlets, where the clothes produced in Mauritius for export are sold at discounted prices. Although such shops are found throughout Mauritius, they are concentrated around Port Louis waterfront, Grand Baie, Flic en Flac, Curepipe, Floréal and Quatre Bornes. A shopping trip to these areas can be organised by most tour operators.
The government is doing all it can to promote shopping in Mauritius. In 2005, it announced plans to become one of the world’s few duty-free islands by abolishing, over the next four years, its 80% tax on 1,850 different types of goods, including clothing, electronics and jewellery. It offers incentives for investors to build large retail centres and shopping malls, such as Ruisseau Creole in the island’s west.
Shops in Port Louis sell everything from the latest electronic goods to coconut husks for polishing wooden floors. Near the harbour, the large and modern Caudan Waterfront offers something for everyone with duty-free jewellery and carpets, clothing boutiques, bookshops, model ship shops and an excellent craft market, where local artisans can be seen at work. Many of the handicrafts on sale in Mauritius are imported, mostly from Madagascar. However, if you head to one of the National Handicraft Promotion Agency (NHPA) or Small Enterprises & Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) shops, you can be sure not only that the handicrafts you are buying are made in Mauritius, but also that a percentage of the proceeds goes to the artisan. (For more information see Travelling positively, pages 83–4.)
Shops in Port Louis are open 09.00–17.00 on weekdays. On Saturday they close at midday and only a few shops open on Sunday mornings. Shops in Curepipe and Quatre Bornes are open 10.00–17.30 daily except Thursday and Sunday, when they close at midday.
Discounts on marked prices may be available if you have the courage to ask, although it’s usually Mauritians who are successful. Bargaining on unmarked prices, particularly in markets, is acceptable if you have time.
Markets Markets are good places to shop, as prices tend to be lower than in shops, and you can pick up vanilla and other spices to take home. Self-caterers will find a good range of fresh fruit and vegetables. They are held in the following towns:
Port Louis daily
Curepipe Wednesday and Saturday
Quatre Bornes Thursday and Sunday
Vacoas Tuesday and Friday
Mahébourg Monday
Centre de Flacq Wednesday and Sunday
Plaine Verte Tuesday and Saturday
Duty-free goods The duty-free shops primarily sell jewellery, watches and electronic goods. Particularly popular are the duty-free diamonds, which can range from 0.1 to 10 carats and from £50—£300,000. For duty-free purchases, buyers need to show a foreign passport and air ticket in the same name, so remember to take both when you go shopping. Payment must be made with foreign currency, travellers’ cheques or credit card, and at least 48 hours before the purchaser’s intended departure. You can claim back 15% VAT at the airport, provided you have the paperwork for your purchase.
Jewellery The production of jewellery for export has become a thriving industry, and some jewellers even have boutiques in the upmarket hotels. For handmade work – even to your own design – try the award-winning Ravior. Ravior also has shops at Newton Tower in Port Louis (% 212 8021) Ruisseau Creole shopping centre in Rivière Noire (% 483 6585) and at the airport.
Family-run business Adamas has been selling diamonds and jewellery in Mauritius since 1987. Adamas has a diamond showroom in Mangalkhan, Floréal where visitors can learn about diamond cutting and polishing, or even watch their commissions being made. It also has outlets at the Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis (% 210 1462), Richmond Hill complex in Grand Baie (% 269 1609) and Cascavelle shopping centre in Flic en Flac (% 450 9018).
Another well-known name in the local jewellery industry is Poncini, which has its headquarters in one of the handsomest buildings in Port Louis – a wooden, colonial Creole house built in 1850. It also has shops at the Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis (% 211 6921), on Royal Road in Curepipe (% 674 7044) and Sunset Boulevard in Grand Baie (% 263 8607).
The newly converted Citadel in Port Louis contains a series of shops targeting the tourist market, including Trésor, a diamond and jewellery shop (% 217 4040; e info[at]tresordiamonds.com).
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