Is it worth taking lots of belongings with us ?

Hello and welcome on board Olga !

Please note that I have created a new thread from your post on the Mauritius forum as you have very specific questions.

I hope members will be able to guide you.

All the best

Bhavna

Thanks Bhavna.

As I am very new to this Forum, could you guide me where I can that thread with my question and how in general do I find information ob specific topics. Thanks

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Have a nice day

Bhavna

I can help a bit as in weeks we are coming for a year Premium in Mauritius.

As far as I know, it is only those with occupation permits or perm rez status, which Premium is not, that can bring in a container load of household goods...and even then there are restrictions..if that is not true, kindly someone update me.

So we have rented a furnished house and are bringing much of our our full airline baggage allowance of 230+ kgs for the 4 of us for toys, special cookware we use, a years supply of medicines ( Kenya you can buy nearly all of them like antibiotics and anti-asthma drugs OTC, in Mauritius only in Pharmas with a Drs note--but we are coming with prescriptions otherwise they could be dutiable), our computer and used office supplies and kit like staplers and punches etc ( for a home office as the furnished house won't supply them)

Everything will be by air. One bike = one bag and dependant on airline you only get 2 x a person so you can rapidly run out of bags before you run out of kilos.

The furnished house is unlikely to have your wife's fave hair drier, a massage vibrating belt, and some other bath and beauty stuff, so we will throw that in too. And of course all the electrical stuff, chargers and whatnot that go with the electronic stuff we all need today.

If you drink, or entertain others who do take full advantage of the 5 x litres per person of spirits that are allowed duty free into MU as the cost of Scotch etc will make your eyes water. Ditto tobacco if you use any. All this can be easily bought on arrival, the shop is just next to Customs.

We will bring lots of clothes, some favourite bedding/toiletry linens etc, board games and video games for the kids.

Many things are French in MU, retail wise. Therefore if you have favourite cosmetics, shampoos etc for example you might want to make sure those are included.

Generally consumer goods are not as cheap as one would like in MU. Apart from furniture which I have noted is very dear, you won't find bargains like in Dixons in UK that easy. However neither are they exorbitant as in some countries.

Maybe others have other ideas to contibute?

Many thanks for your reply.

Yes, more clear for me now that as a non resident would need to pay extra taxes if take a container.

so we will also take only personal belongings.

Did you mean 23kg+ per perelson for a suitcase otherwise please guide me how can you have 230kg allowance?

we are 5 of us, would love to take some toys, board games, books etc with us, but with 23kg suitcase would be impossible.

Thanks for all tips!

Ps: have you rented a house in advance without seeing it? Would you recommend to book a hotel and explore the island prior to renting a house for a year?

thanks

dont rent before you see the place

I agree, don't rent without seeing the place first.

Thanks. On the pictures the houses look very appealing!

I was renting online worldwide, was lucky!

But I have bever been to Mauritius.

Welcome to the forum.

Just a few things to consider. Do not rent before seeing the house. Make sure that the rental agreement is explicit about what you expect.  Many owners do not provide bed linen etc. Plug sockets are usually UK compatible. Costs of items are similar to that in the UK so keep that in consideration. You might want to buy a car if you are staying for a couple of years, and then sell if/when you leave - it will hold value and may be cheaper than renting.

I would also recommend that one of you come over first to explore where you want to live, and how you want to live. Road connections, metro, bazaars, supermakets,etc.

In addition, some airlines allow 2x23 kg bags. Please do have a search. That way you can bring in lots of items. However, clothes here can be purchased cheap from the weekly markets if you will only use for a couple of years, the quality is not brilliant, but easily wearable.

Your main costs are rental, car and schools.

I am currently in Mauritius, from the UK. I was looking of retiring here, but am working here for the time being  hence have done lots of reading up and experiencing somethings now. You can message me separately if you wish.

@Lavrun

Some airlines allows 23 kgs hold baggage x 1 and 10kg hand luggage. Others like Kenya Airways allow each passenger 23 kgs x 2 + 12 kgs hand or cabin luggage.

Infants do not get luggage allowance that big, but any fare payers over age of two usually do. Thus for our family of 4 x we have 23kgs x 8 + 12kgs x 1 = 232kgs total.. So we will be bring some of our favourite cookware and utensils' desktop computer, office files and more .

I have already seen the house we have rented. However some of the better rental companies are quire reputable and one could rent unseen from them, but you would have to set  strict standards.

Take an AirbnB and explore and decide where you want to be. Propertycould (Mauritius), L Express Property have hundreds of ads , Advalorem and Remax are big agencies.

I have a complete inventory for the house we have rented and that's why I will use the massive luggage we get to bring things like a pressure cooker, a juice blender a bain marie and other cooking items. But in your case you will have to make up whatever is missing from local purchases.

Clothes' are all made in Mauririus but not very cheap despite that...you are paying for the Brand Name so bring enough of your own

Start studying the real estate market so you will know what to look for and where before you arrive,

@peterg123

thanks! I think I have a better understanding now!

with 2x 23kg hold baggage you can bring most of needed things!

climate wise, where would you recommend to live? ( not too windy and less mosquitos).

take care and have a great day 🙏

@lavrun West or north. Depends on what sort of life you want .