tips for renting a villa in mauritius
Below is a Q & A related to the process of booking a villa for holiday rental in Mauritius, highlighting the advantages of using a local agent and Bookmauritius Villas in particular.
You can always book via the known international platforms but do they really bring extra value? Not really. Here is why.
Although we would not commit for all of them, there is a clear leading pack having received hundreds of guests over several years; decades in some cases. They would not have this longevity if they were not reliable. Furthermore, the regulations of Mauritius for handling tourists are pretty precise. For instance, a property / real-estate business is not permitted to make short-term rentals to tourists. Only agencies licensed from the Mauritius Tourism Authority can do so.
There is a trade association of actors of holiday rentals in Mauritius – AALSIM – which calls on its members for best operating practices and professionalism.
Bookmauritius Villas has been in operation for over a decade (company established in 2001), is a licensed tour operator and is a member of AALSIM.
We only work with properties / owners either on an exclusive basis or who take the engagement of applying same public rates to all agents. Some of our properties are proposed on platforms but at higher rates.
So yes, we have the best rates.
And no, we do not charge service fees, nor do we have hidden costs. Applicable tourist tax is clearly indicated in all our quotes and booking summary tables.
Of course! We will meet you at the villa upon your arrival and provide end-to-end support. It’s the main advantage of booking with us. We derive much pleasure in meeting and greeting our guests, we love sharing tips and advices about our island-country and we are proud when, owing to our personalised assistance, our guests keep coming back to Mauritius or recommending us to friends and relatives.
Our other advantage is that we have a local view and knowledge of the island. It’s easy to find out from the Internet about what to do, to see and what to avoid. What one cannot however get from the Internet is the “How to”. Because Mauritius is unique, because you are unique, you deserve to be best-informed and guided. Only small-scale structures like ours can bring you Mauritius with a twist.
We offer concierge services, helping you booking your rental car, airport transfers and activities, while housekeeping is always included in the villa rates. Cooking services are also commonly included in the rentals, to variable extents; these are specified on each villa’s factsheet. For detailed information refer to our page about our services and about cooking and catering services.
Yes, we do accept credit cards. Having said that, note that the vast majority of our guests pay by wire transfer or via payment platforms such as Wise or Revolut, that convert credit card payments into wire transfers at very low costs. More details on our “Terms & Conditions” page
We ask for deposit percentages equivalent to cancellation fees; which means that in case of cancellation from guests, the deposit is generally retained as fees. If it is a case of Force Majeure, we may obtain from the owners that the deposit be used for a future rental. Modifying bookings / changing dates of stay can be accepted, depending on lead time, availability and owner’s policy. Deposits vary between 25 % and 50 % and final payments must reach us one month prior to check-in. Refer to our Terms & Conditions page for detailed information.
We specialise in beach-front villas and there is always at least one visual in the property gallery that shows both the building and the beach / sea, proving its proximity. Furthermore each factsheet on our website displays a map with the location. Moreover, several of our villas are also present on public Google maps.
As regards to the villa rental, the main take-away is “the sooner the better”. Contact Sophie or Bernard as soon as your holiday plan germinates. Starting early will:
– increase your chances to book the best value-for-money beach villas and bungalows,
– secure a car for rent from our partner,
– allow us to better prepare your stay and address your special requests: dietary needs, children’s facilities, prepare your itinerary according to your wishes and expectations.
Refer to our blog Additional information – Mauritius for more tips and recommendations for your stay in Mauritius.
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