Capital: St Denis
Time zone: GMT + 4
Telephone services: Country Code: 262
Outgoing Code: 19
Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 17, Fire – 18, Ambulance – 15
Tourist information: Refer to the French Consulate General in London or Comité du Tourisme de la Réunion, 90 rue la Boétie, 75008 Paris, France Tel: (1) 40 75 02 79 Fax: (1) 40 75 02 73.
Passport information: See France. Contact the French Consular authority for up to date information as passport/visa requirements are subjected to constant change.
Visa information: Visa requirements are constantly changing. It is advisable to contact the French Consular authority for current information.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended, There is a risk of Typhoid.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: French Franc (Ffr) = 100 centimes. Major cards are widely accepted although MasterCard has a more limited acceptance. Travellers cheques in French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.
Cost of living: Wide range of hotels, inns and guest-houses, all of which are expensive.
Languages: French. Local Creole is also spoken.
Weather: The climate is hot and tropical but temperatures are cooler in the hills. The cyclone season is from Jan to Mar and brings hot but wet weather.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.
Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 3 weeks.
Transport: SEA: Four shipping lines run services around the island. ROADS: Fair and many of the highways are tarred. The island can be crossed easily by bus, taxi, or hired car. CAR HIRE: Available from the airport and Saint-Denis.
Special information: The locals follow French fashion. Licensing laws are unrestricted.