Article by Rite Rodder

Reunion Island is an overseas department of France. The island depends entirely on the mainland, on both economic and political points. The island, formerly known as Bourbon Island, covers 2510 km ² with 750 000 inhabitants, being a density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometer. The population of the island depends on the ground to survive and exports 70% of its agricultural production to mainland France, but she (the island) imports more than 65% of manufactured goods she needs.

The population is very mixed and cosmopolitan, made up of slaves from Africa in the beginning and people of Indian subcontinent, then a few more Asians, and of course by the French. The economy grows from the fishing and tourism, and agriculture, in particular that of sugarcane and vanilla.

Reunion has two international airports: that of Roland Garros, also known as “Gillot airport” which connects with the Indian Ocean islands such as Madagascar, Seychelles, Mayotte and Mauritius and some African countries like Kenya and South Africa, and the airport of Saint-Pierre Pierrefonds that communicates with only Mauritius.

Information on accommodation in Reunion

To facilitate your stay on the island of Reunion, here are some recommendations and advice on accommodation, since it is often many people who spend their holidays there are facing the main problem. Life in the regions of the seaside such as Boucan-Canot and Saint-Leu is quite expensive but the hotels are beautiful, comfortable and well attended. For your reservation there is a precaution. The cottages are numerous on the island, for the example of Mafate. Many indigenous invest in the rooms or guest houses, in the holiday’s inns of such as Bernica, L’Entre-Deux, Hell-Bourg and hostels in the Indian Ocean, since Reunion is mainly a tourism department. You will have no trouble finding a suitable accommodation if you avoid the high season that is to say during the summer holidays and Christmas. But if you go during these periods, advance booking is advisable to avoid the solution of the campsite, unless you prefer to go on an adventure, which is entirely possible but only at Etang-Salé, at Mafate and at Hell-Bourg. The most convenient would be to learn from your country, on the type of accommodation required and tariffs with the County Relay of Gîtes de France in Saint-Denis, or tourist offices. If you enjoy the scenery rather rural for a change of the towns of the cities, you can go for some farm-inns who provide lodging and food at the same time.

Description of the Island of Reunion

Mainly mountainous ground very uneven, Reunion Island can be compared to a large volcanic massif which lagoon is narrow. Visit The Piton des Neiges, at the intersection of the three most famous circuses of the island and situated at an altitude of 3069 meters. So if you want to walk the high peaks to admire the beauty of the landscape seen from these places, choose a time early enough, before the fog comes to cover everything. Its tropical climate has two seasons: a hot summer, rainy and cyclonic between October and March, and a cool, dry winter from April to September. The season for making a pleasant stay in the island of Reunion is the months of May and June.

Creole cuisine is fairly typical, with a very strong Indian influence through the use of condiments and spices, but it is sometimes Chinese, African and French as well. You cannot miss the samosas, spring rolls or the caps that are specialties of the country, when you have the opportunity to take an aperitif. The inhabitants of Reunion are very good to use spices and different varieties of condiments to compliment meat, chickens and stews in the kitchen. But it’s not just the meals that are fragrant. There are also “arranged” rums as they are called, with different flavors and aromas of spices such as ginger, fruits, herbs, vanilla, etc.

Activities on the island and places to visit

The hikes are recognized as very useful for exploring a unique wildlife: a varied wooden forest, rare and endemic regions of the Indian Ocean in general and the most beautiful wild flowers in countless varieties of orchids, hibiscus and bougainvillea, adorning both forests and cities. You can find several species of chameleons, lizards, birds and deer.

During a sunny day you can picnic in general on west and south coasts that offer beautiful beaches. For surfers, clubs are located in Saint-Gilles-Les-Bains is also the best place to enjoy the water because the beach of Boucan-Canot and that of the Roches Noires nearby. Do not miss to climb up Brûlé to 800 meters to admire the view from above of Saint-Denis from the highest point of “Cirques de la Roche Ecrite”. At the same time, visit the Piton de la Fournaise and Piton Maïdo at 1000 meters above sea level overlooking the Mafate. Speaking of circus, the island has three very famous: Cilaos, Salazie, Mafate. The latter is best visited on a hike because the landscape is largely intact with its still wild vegetation. Salazie is famous for her waterfall in the Veil of the Bride and Cilaos, for her thermal waters, her lens, her embroidery, wine and liqueurs.

About the Author

The author of this article, Rite Rodder, is a full-time travel booking manager and author on the subject of leisure travel. Also, she has a particular interest in reduced rate travel planning. On behalf of several web sites owners she spends most of her time writing contents for web publication for financial rewards in return.