SSR airport transfer to your hotel can cost anywhere between MUR 800 to MUR 2,600, depending on your destination, but most first-time visitors end up paying way more than they should. I learned this the hard way back in 2019 when I handed over MUR 2,800 for a ride to Grand Baie that should’ve cost around MUR 2,000.

Three random guys literally grabbed my luggage at arrivals. Started pulling me in different directions before I could even process what was happening. One quoted 1,800 rupees. Another shouted 2,200. The third claimed his was the “best car” for 2,500.

I was exhausted after an 11-hour Emirates flight. Just wanted to reach my Airbnb and crash. Ended up paying 2,800 because I was confused and desperate. My Airbnb host told me the next morning I’d overpaid by at least 800 rupees. Felt like a complete idiot.

That disaster pushed me to figure out how the Mauritius airport transportation system actually works. Been back six more times since then. Tried pre-booking, used the official taxi stand, even tested those sketchy unofficial drivers once (don’t recommend it).

This guide covers everything I’ve learned about getting from SSR International Airport to your hotel without getting scammed. Real prices from January 2025. Actual companies I’ve used. Mistakes I made so you don’t have to repeat them.

How SSR International Airport Actually Works

The airport isn’t huge, but it’s not tiny either. You land, walk through immigration (usually 15-20 minutes unless your flight is packed), grab bags, and go through the green customs channel. Pretty standard stuff.

Then you push that cart through the exit doors, and boom, that’s when everything starts happening at once.

Taxi drivers holding signs. Tour companies waving brochures. Official desk saying “best rates.” Random guys approaching you with “My friend, taxi?”

Most tourists make their decision in the first 60 seconds. That’s usually when mistakes happen.

Real Distances from the Airport (Not What Brochures Tell You)

Your hotel is probably farther than you think. SSR airport sits in the southeast near Mahebourg. Most tourist areas are on the opposite sides of the island.

Grand Baie? That’s 60-75 minutes of driving. Sometimes longer if there’s traffic near Port Louis.

Flic en Flac on the west coast takes 40-50 minutes on a good day.

Belle Mare resorts are maybe 50-60 minutes away.

Le Morne down south? Budget 75-85 minutes minimum.

Only Mahebourg hotels are actually close—10 to 15 minutes max.

The point is, you’re not taking a quick 20-minute ride. Plan accordingly.

What I Do Now: Pre-Booking Through WhatsApp

After that 2019 disaster, I started booking before my flights. Game changer.

Here’s my exact process: About a week before flying, I message a taxi company on WhatsApp. Give them my flight number, date, time, and hotel name. They send back a quote within an hour or two.

Price is fixed. No surprises. No negotiating when I’m tired.

On the day of arrival, I clear customs like normal. Walk into that chaotic arrivals hall. But instead of dealing with all those drivers, I just look for my name on a sign. Find my driver. Load bags. Done in 5 minutes.

What It Actually Costs (January 2025)

Destination	Price Range (MUR)	Price in Euros	Drive Time
Mahebourg	800 – 1,000	€16 – €20	10-15 min
Flic en Flac	1,200 – 2,100	€24 – €42	40-50 min
Grand Baie	1,900 – 2,400	€38 – €48	60-75 min
Belle Mare	1,800 – 2,200	€36 – €44	50-60 min
Le Morne	2,200 – 2,600	€44 – €52	75-85 min

These are for normal cars that fit 3 people with regular luggage. Got a family of 5? You’ll need a bigger vehicle. Add about 500-750 rupees.

Night arrivals (midnight to 5 AM) cost extra. Usually, 300-500 rupees more. Fair enough—someone’s waking up at 3 AM to pick you up.

The company I’ve used twice is GoTaxi.vip. Worked perfectly both times. But there are others too. Just make sure they respond quickly and give you a fixed price in writing.

Option Two: The Official Taxi Queue

Didn’t pre-book? No problem. Walk through arrivals, follow the signs, and you’ll find the official taxi stand outside.

There’s usually a dispatcher with a clipboard. You tell him where you’re going. He quotes a price. If you agree, he assigns you the next taxi in line.

Realistic Prices at the Taxi Stand

Route	Expected Price (MUR)
Mahebourg	700 – 900
Flic en Flac	1,100 – 2,000
Grand Baie	1,800 – 2,300
Belle Mare	1,700 – 2,100
Le Morne	2,100 – 2,500

Why the ranges? Time matters. Landing at 2 PM is cheaper than 2 AM. December and January (peak season) run higher. If you’ve got 4 massive suitcases, that bumps the price too.

My brother used the taxi stand last April. Paid 1,900 rupees to Grand Baie. Totally fine. The driver was nice, the car had working AC, and no issues.

But you need to be confident. Some dispatchers try quoting tourist prices if you look confused.

Three Critical Rules:

First rule: Agree on the TOTAL price before bags go in the trunk. Not per person. Not per bag. Total. Once luggage is loaded, you’ve lost all negotiating power.

Second rule: Ask specifically, “Does this include everything?” Some drivers try adding tolls later (there aren’t many tolls in Mauritius, but they’ll claim there are). Or luggage fees. Or mystery night charges.

Third rule: Have small bills. Drivers love saying they don’t have change for 2,000 rupee notes. The ATM in arrivals gives you local currency—hit it before the taxi stand.

If the first quote sounds too high, say no thanks. Ask the next driver. Prices shouldn’t vary wildly between official taxis in the same queue.

Those Random Guys Approaching You (Just Don’t)

Within 10 seconds of walking through customs, someone will approach you. “Taxi boss? Where are you going? Good price for you!”

These aren’t official. Some might be okay. Many aren’t.

My friend Sarah from Leeds got burned badly. Guy quoted 1,500 rupees to Grand Baie. She thought Great, cheaper than expected. Halfway there, he said, “oh that’s per person, not total.” She’s traveling with her husband. They argued for 20 minutes. Eventually paid 2,800 just to end it.

Met a German couple last year who took an unofficial taxi. The car “broke down” 30 minutes into the trip. Conveniently. The driver’s “friend” showed up with another car. Suddenly, they needed to pay extra for the transfer. Ended up paying almost 3,500 total.

Not saying all unofficial drivers are scammers. But enough is that it’s not worth the risk.

The money you save (maybe 300 rupees) isn’t worth the potential headache. Use the official stand or pre-book. Simple.

Shared Shuttles vs Private Cars

Some people ask about shared transportation. Yeah, it exists.

Shared shuttle picks up multiple passengers from the same flight. Drops each person at their hotel one by one. Costs around 800-1,200 rupees per person regardless of destination.

Sounds cheaper, right? Here’s the catch: what should be a 45-minute direct drive becomes a 2-hour journey, making 5 different hotel stops.

I watched this happen once. This poor British couple was last on the drop-off list. They sat in that van for 2 hours watching four other families check in before finally reaching their hotel. After an 11-hour flight from London. Brutal.

For couples or families, private always makes more sense. Even for solo travelers, the time saved usually justifies the extra 500-800 rupees.

Stuff You Need to Know Before Booking

Got kids? Car seats aren’t standard in Mauritius taxis. You have to request them specifically when booking. And then confirm again 2 days before arrival. Even then, be ready with backup plans.

I brought my nephew last year. Requested a car seat twice. The driver still showed up without one. Had to hold him in my lap for 45 minutes to Flic en Flac. Not safe, not fun, just stressful.

Bring your own portable car seat if this matters to you. Pain to travel with, but worth the peace of mind.

Traveling with 6+ people? Standard cars fit 3-4 max. You’ll need a minivan (add 500-750 rupees) or minibus (add 1,000-1,500 rupees).

Book these ahead. There aren’t many just sitting around at the airport.

Need wheelchair access? This is tough. Regular taxis aren’t equipped. If you need a ramp or special vehicle, book 2-3 weeks minimum ahead. Options are super limited on the island.

Landing at 3 AM? Pre-book. Taxis run 24/7, but you don’t want to be negotiating with strangers when you’re exhausted. Expect a 300-500 rupee night surcharge, though.

My Step-by-Step Booking Process

This is exactly what I do now:

Step 1: About a week before my flight, I open WhatsApp. Message GoTaxi.vip (or whoever). Send them: flight number, date, arrival time, hotel name and area, how many people, and how much luggage roughly.

Step 2: They send back a quote. Usually within an hour. Sometimes minutes.

Step 3: I check the price matches what I expect (use the tables above). If yes, I confirm.

Step 4: They ask for payment. Sometimes the full amount is upfront. Sometimes you pay the driver. I prefer paying the driver in cash, but either works.

Step 5: The Day before my flight, I message them again just confirming everything. They say yes, all set.

Step 6: Land in Mauritius. Clear immigration. Grab bags. Walk through customs. Into the arrivals hall. Look for my name on a sign. There’s my driver. Confirm it’s the right company. Load bags. Go.

Total time from customs exit to leaving airport parking: 5-7 minutes.

Compare that to 25-30 minutes negotiating at the taxi stand. Easy choice.

Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have To

Mistake #1 (2019): Assumed my hotel included airport pickup. It didn’t. The confirmation said “transfers available on request,” which I misread as “included.” Always check specifically.

Mistake #2 (2020): Booked a transfer to “Heritage Hotel” without specifying which one. There are like 4 Heritage properties around the island. The driver took me to the wrong one. Added 40 minutes to my journey, fixing it.

Mistake #3 (2021): Tried to pay the driver in euros. He accepted, but the exchange rate was terrible. Basically paid 18% more than if I’d used rupees. Always use local currency.

Mistake #4 (2022): Forgot to tip even though the driver helped with 3 heavy bags and gave good restaurant recommendations. Felt bad later. 100-200 rupees is standard for good service. That’s like €2-4.

Mistake #5 (2023): Didn’t take a photo of the license plate. Left my phone charger in the car. Had no way to contact the driver. Never saw it again. Now I always photograph the plate just in case.

Ways to Save Money (That Actually Work)

Book early: I asked for a discount once because I was booking 3 weeks ahead. Guy gave me 7% off. Didn’t hurt to ask.

Avoid night surcharges: If you can choose flight times, daytime arrivals (6 AM to 10 PM) skip that 300-500 rupee extra charge.

Split with other travelers: Traveling solo? Met another solo traveler on my flight last year. Both are going to Grand Baie. We split a private taxi. Paid 1,000 rupees each instead of 1,200 each for shared shuttle. Got there faster, too.

Use rupees always: Some drivers take euros or dollars. Don’t do it. The exchange rate they give you is robbery. Use the airport ATM. Get rupees. Pay in rupees.

Don’t book through your hotel: Hotels add 300-500 rupees commission when they “arrange” your transfer. They’re just calling the same taxi companies. Book direct.

But don’t be stupid cheap: If someone quotes 1,200 rupees to Grand Baie when everyone else says 2,000, something’s wrong. That’s not a deal. That’s a scam waiting to happen.

Common Questions People Keep Asking Me

How much should I actually pay to Grand Baie?

Between 1,900-2,400 rupees (€38-48) is normal with pre-booking. Maybe 100-200 cheaper at the official stand if you negotiate well.

Can I just pay by card?

Pre-booked companies take cards online. The taxi stand is cash only. Rupees preferred.

Do I have to tip?

Not required. But 100-200 rupees is nice if they help with bags or give good local tips during the drive.

How long to Grand Baie, actually?

60-75 minutes. Longer if you hit rush hour traffic near Port Louis.

What if my flight’s delayed 3 hours?

Pre-booked drivers track your flight automatically. They adjust. You don’t need to do anything.

Can we stop for groceries?

Most drivers don’t mind a quick supermarket stop. Maybe give them an extra 100-150 rupees since it adds time to their trip.

Is it safe at night?

Yeah. Mauritius is super safe for tourists. Official taxis and pre-booked services are fine 24/7. I’d skip the unofficial random guys at 2 AM, though.

Can I book after landing instead?

Sure, at the taxi stand. But you’ll wait in line (5-30 minutes, depending on how many flights just landed) and might pay more. During December/January, the queue gets long.

What I’d Tell My Sister If She Asked Me

My actual sister is flying to Mauritius in March. Here’s what I told her:

Pre-book through GoTaxi.vip or someone similar. Message them on WhatsApp a week before your flight. Get a fixed price in writing. On arrival, look for your name, get in the car, and done.

You’ll pay maybe 2,000-2,200 rupees to Grand Baie (where she’s staying). That’s about €40-44. Is it the absolute cheapest possible option? No. You might save 200-300 rupees using the taxi stand if you negotiate perfectly.

But after an 11-hour flight, do you really want to stand there negotiating with a dispatcher while other passengers push past you and taxi drivers shout prices?

For €4 extra, you get zero stress, and you’re at your hotel 30 minutes faster.

That’s worth it. Your vacation starts the moment you land. Make sure it starts smoothly.

My Honest Take After 7 Trips

That first experience in 2019 was frustrating and expensive. Felt like I got taken advantage of before even seeing a beach.

Every trip since then, I’ve pre-booked. Zero issues. Zero stress. Fixed price means no surprises. Flight tracking means delays don’t matter. English-speaking drivers make everything easier.

Could I save 300 rupees by negotiating at the taxi stand? Probably. But I value my time and peace of mind more than €6.

The SSR airport transfer is your bridge from a long flight to your actual vacation. Make it smooth. Pre-book with a reputable company. Pay the fair rate. Tip if the service is good. Get to your hotel and start enjoying Mauritius.

That’s what works. That’s what I do. That’s what I’d recommend to anyone flying into SSR International Airport this year.