Mauritius Reunion & Seychelles (Lonely Planet) (ISBN 1740593014)

Indispensable Guidebook:
I booked a tour to Mauritius in May-June 2004. Although I went with a travel agency, this book proved to be indispensable. I am rating it a five star based on my Mauritius experience only. First and foremost, this guide provides a detailed map, essential for locating yourself on the island. The book also provides true and accurate description of the various attractions and things to do. The traveling tips concerning transportation, food and local culture were extremely helpful and saved me precious vacation time. On top of all this, it provides a wealth of information on hotels and restaurants. My advice: - The prices in the book might be a little off now. It seems that the local currency, the Rupee, is pegged to the Euro which makes this island more expensive for US travelers (advice based on the currency conversion as we speak) - Beware of tourist shops, their prices are 5 times the price you can get for the same item on the popular market. - Go visit the popular markets, you will find nice exotic hand crafted items and some world renowned vanilla beans. - Take hiking trips, there is some breath taking scenery out there - And of course, take advantage of the magnificent beaches and water activities

Maurtius, Reunion & Seychelles:
This book is well organized and written. Of the three nations covered, I was most interested in the part of the book on the Seychelles. Unfourtunately, that was the least covered place. I found the other book I ordered: The Bradt Travel Guide to the Seychelles, more to my liking.