Mauritius Vs Maldives: Where To Go On Your Next Holiday

Mauritius:

Mauritius is a single, big island which is well connected through roads and transportation services which are comparatively cheap.

Surrounded by the shining waters of Arabian Sea, Mauritius is dotted with some of the best beaches loaded with swaying palm and coconut trees.

However the beauty of these beaches are not the only aspect which attracts tourists from all over the world.

The plethora of water based adventures provided here also attract a large footfall of the tourists. From diving in the dark blue waters to snorkelling and marvelling at colourful marines, here you can try your hands on so many adrenaline pumping activities.

Apart from the beachside thrill, the corners of cities are also home to various gaming and entertainment centres where you can indulge yourself in various once in a lifetime experiences like visiting the underwater diner and riding your way through the lanes of Mauritius. 

Maldives: 

Being a group of various big and small islands, Maldives is surrounded by serene blue waters which offer you a chance to explore the marines and corals. This destination is the perfect spot if you are wholly interested in water based activities.

From experiencing the dark silence of the sea while enjoying a session of scuba diving to taking up the dolphin sighting cruises to marvel at the flocks of these cute little mammals,

Maldives provides its visitors with an unforgettable experience and an array of experiences to choose from. However, which of these activities one can avail is totally dependent on the resort or the area you are residing in. Since Maldives is a group of various small and big islands, each island has limited resources and offerings.

For example, if you are interested in diving, you will have to take a ferry ride to reach Grand Baie – a famous location among the divers. Also, the above mentioned dolphin sighting tours are also not readily available.

One needs to pre book them days before the tour and travel to farther distances to avail it. Moreover, such conditions make these adventures more costly.

Suggested Read: Resorts in Maldives

Which Place offers the best food:

This round of comparison is a 60-40 one. On one hand, in Mauritius you are limited to the in house restaurant of your resort but the variety of food offered there is a big one.

On the other hand, Mauritius makes sure that you enjoy the best culinary experiences thus makes it easy for you to hop from one diner to the other.

Mauritius:

Roaming around in Mauritius is pretty easy, thus making it easy for the tourists to hop from one cafe to the other. Not limited to fine dining only,

Mauritius is loaded with some of the best local food joints where you can relish upon its streetfood. In addition to all this, all the restaurants, diners, cafes and clubs aim to provide the best culinary experience and to tingle your taste buds, an array of cuisines can be enjoyed here.

Apart from all this, being a tropical paradise, Mauritius beaches are loaded with bustling nightlife and various food shacks stay open till midnight to serve some of the best seafood items.

Maldives:

What restricts Maldives to offer the best of everything to its tourists is the fact that it is a group of various small islands and for your hunger pangs, you are solely dependent on the restaurant of the place you are staying in.

However having such a restriction, the in house restaurants of these resorts and hotels make sure that they are loaded with food options. Mainly serving a variety of seafood, finding vegetarian items is also easy.

From regional curries made using authentic recipes to multi cuisine dishes like pastas and Indian Tandoori tems, you will be provided with an array of items to choose from. 

Suggested Read: Maldives Honeymoon Packages

Transportation And Getting Around:

Giving the trophy to Mauritius, the islands of Maldives make it difficult for travellers to reach different places in time. On the other hand, Mauritius has a well connected system of local transportation and roadways and you can also hire cars and bikes to roam around.

Mauritius:

Loaded with a lot of sightseeing options, pristine beaches and adventurous activities, the Island of Maldives makes sure that you can travel in peace. Since all the major landmarks and islands of Mauritius are located on a single island, roaming from one island to another is comparatively easy.

Connected through roads, one can easily find local transportation here. You can also hire cars or bikes and swoosh your way through the local lanes and roads. 

Maldives:

Being a group of Islands, the only means of transportation found in Maldives is through the sea. Hopping from one island to another might be fun but is more costly and tiring.

You will have to hire yachts every now to travel from one place to another and finding them readily available is a bit difficult. The only place connected through the roads in Maldives is its capital city – Male.

The International airport here is connected to various local landmarks and resorts through the roads on which rickshaws and cycles can be seen.

Suggested Read: Maldives Tour Package

How To Reach:

Located close to India, Maldives is much more easily accessible for Indian tourists. It will take you around 1.5 hours to cover the distance through air and a whole day if you travel through the sea.

Maldives also has an international airport which is well connected to various other airports in the world. In the case of Mauritius, just a single airline operates, which is Air Mauritius, thus making it difficult to obtain the tickets.

Mauritius:

To reach Mauritius, the only available air operator is Air Mauritius which runs on a daily basis from various countries and continents. One can also opt for the sea route but the booking for the same is required to be done a few months before starting the trip.

The minimum cost of one side ticket to Mauritius from India will cost you around INR 35,000 and in times of peak months it can rise up to INR 50,000. In case of India, Air India also operates once in a week. 

Maldives:

In case of Maldives, there are various air carriers including Manta Air, Villa Air, Sea Wings, Trans Maldivian Airways. In the case of India, Maldives is comparatively closer than Mauritius and it will take just around 1.5 hours to cover the distance through air.

One can also take the sea route to reach this beautiful tropical destination, however finding timely running ships can be difficult. 

Suggested Reads: Places to Visit in Maldives

Where To Stay?

In this segment, both the places are winners in their own way. One provides you a serene, all natural and a stay away from the hustle and bustle and the other makes sure that you stay close to sparkling nightlife and marvel at the high standing marvels of architecture.

Mauritius:

Since Mauritius is a single island, thus, all the best stay options are located in a close proximity to the beaches and shorelines. Be it the five star luxury resorts or the affordable dormitories, finding a stay here is very easy. However, at the time of peak seasons the prices may rise to double. 

Famous locations of Mauritius:

Balaclava: If looking for rooms offering eye catching panoramas of the sea and seeking solace away from the hustle and bustle of streets then Balaclava is the perfect place for you. Located on the northern corner of this locality is the best place for tourist accommodations.

Flic En Flac: Located off the west coast, this place is the one if you want to stay surrounded by throbbing nightlife and flocks of crowds. Considering the pocket-friendly stays, here one can easily find cheap and secure accommodation.

Maldives:

Maldives is a group of multiple small and big islands, thus you will be offered a variety of stay options to choose from. Be it the cozy and comfy stays offering you top notch amenities or the resorts providing you with private beach areas, in Maldives you will be spoilt of choices of stays.

Famous locations of Maldives:

Male Island: Being the capital city, this place is a hub for travellers and party people. The most considerable aspect of staying here is its proximity to the Airport and accessible transportation services. 

Biyadhoo Island: If you are looking for a place surrounded by some of the best sceneries of the sea, forests and citylights. You can easily find various types of accommodations here including the high rated hotels and resorts and the small and cozy hotels.

Though, in the end, it is Bali that will present with different and more experiences. At the same time, the Maldives would offer a paradisiacal escape to an island with ample seclusion and privacy. And depending on what your preference is, either of them is ideal for travelling.

Suggested Read: Things to Do in Maldives

Nightlife: 

Nightlife is one such aspect which makes any vacationing experience fun filled and enthralling one. Either you are an explorer looking for some thrilling activities to try at night or a party lover looking for good music and booze, Mauritius is the best option for you.

Mauritius:

The nightlife in Mauritius is all about cafes, clubs and pubs. Not only can you spend your nights partying hard but you can also go on food tours late in the nights.

Having a sorted transportation service, it is advised to hire a two wheeler and spend the nights traversing the streets with your loved ones. 

Maldives: 

Maldives also offers a plethora of activities to enjoy at midnight. Be it hopping the clubs and sipping handmade cocktails or going on long walks on the shores, the nightlife of Maldives is bright too.

The most famous aspect of nightlife in Maldives which attracts hordes of tourists is the party cruises on which you can enjoy the best evenings of your lives.

However,  considering the shortage of transportation services, you are limited to one specific island only and cannot visit multiple of them late in the night. 

Best Time To Visit:

Having a perfect atmosphere all year long makes Maldives the winner in this segment, however if time restrictions do not affect your vacation dates then Mauritius is also a good option.

Mauritius: 

When in Mauritius, you will enjoy a pleasant environment throughout the year. Being a tropical island, the island receives bright sunshine, thus has moderately high temperatures and a bit of humidity.

In addition to this, the months between January to April received high thunderstorms and cyclones, making these the wettest months.

The best time to visit Mauritius is from April to June and September to December.

Maldives: 

The temperature and climate in Maldives remain average and around 24 degree celsius throughout the year. However the best time to visit this group of islands is between the months of December to March.

This partition of months is the peak season when tourists flock here to spend their vacation, which further results in hikes in the transportation fares and accommodation prices.

Also, this footfall has a positive side too as big crowds result in extravagant and chic parties.

If travelling on a budget and seeking a place for solace then you should consider visiting Maldives in months other than the mentioned.

Natural Beauty: Mauritius Vs Maldives

When it comes to Natural Beauty, Maldives has no comparison. From pristine beaches to swaying palms and from thick forests to grasslands on the rolling hills, the awe inspiring scenery of nature exhibited here is breathtaking.

Mauritius:

Around 50% of yearly revenue of Mauritius comes from tourism, thus it is clear that the place is bustling with the best entertainment options. Apart from activities,

Mauritius is known for providing the best panoramic views of the sea. Apart from the beaches, Mauritius does not have any other natural aspect to attract tourists towards it.

However, the other aspects which attract tourists here are the city lights of the high standing skyscrapers and its bustling nightlife. 

Maldives:

Maldives is a combination of several islands called atolls, thus one can imagine how beautiful and watery this destination will be. Unlike Mauritius, visiting the beaches in Maldives is very easy and almost every island here has a famous beach.

From pristine shores dotted with swaying palms to the colourful and rich marine like, Maldives is all about nature and natural experiences.

Here you can indulge yourself in various activities like hiking through the thick green forests, going on plantation tours and what not. Solely made for tourism,  you can easily find an affordable stay amidst the best of nature in Maldives.  

Currency:

Mauritius: 

The official currency of Mauritius is Mauritian Rupee and one Indian Rupee is equal to 0.54 Mauritian Rupee.

The denomination in which this currency comes include banknotes of Rs 25, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 200, Rs 500, Rs 1000 and Rs 2000 and coins of 5¢, 20¢, 50¢, Rs 1, Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 20.

Maldives:

The official currency of Maldives is Maldivian Rufiyaa (MDR) and one Indian Rupee is equal to 0.21 Mauritian Rupee. In addition to MDR, US Dollars are also accepted in Maldives and 1 USD is equal to 73.09 INR.

Language:

In case of Language, Mauritius surpasses Maldives as here all the tourism area uses english as a language to communicate. In addition to this, various other languages like french are also common in Mauritius.

Mauritius:

The official language of Mauritius is English, however for educational and media purposes, French is used. In addition to this, Mauritian Creole, which is a french based creole is also spoken and understood by around 90% of the local population. In the tourism industry, English language is used to communicate with tourists. 

Maldives:

Dhivehi is the official language of the Republic of Maldives and is spoken in all the corners of this country. In addition to Dhivehi, various other regional languages like Mulaku, Huvadhu, Maliku, Haddhunmathee, Mulaku are also used here. 

Conclusion:

Considering all the above mentioned points, Mauritius is the winner and if you are looking for a small, easy, accessible and fun filled trip, then you can choose this place.

On the other hand, if you are kind of an explorer and are on a big trip in which you can marvel at the best of nature, then you should probably choose Maldives.

Overall, both the places have some special features and offer their best, but when compared, Mauritius is the sole winner.

FAQs: Mauritius Vs Maldives