Currency in Reunion: EUR Send & Spend FX Guide

Reunion holds a multitude of records and notable features that should have made it world famous. Instead, it remains an undiscovered secret among all but the French, who claim it as a part of their own country. This volcanic island is covered in large craters. So large, in fact, that entire villages can be found inside them. A visit to Cirque de Cilaos caldera, taking the one road in and out of the crater, offers a glimpse into a completely different world to the beaches and cliffs of the coastline. Inside, the climate changes completely, the temperature dropping and rocky scrub giving way to lush rainforest interspersed with spectacular waterfalls.

How do I get around in Reunion?

Réunion's major towns and many of the little ones in between are linked by bus, as there are no trains operating on Réunion.. The island's bus service is known as Car Jaune (www.carjaune.re) and has distinctive yellow buses. The main bus station is on Blvd Lancastel on the St-Denis seafront. Buses on most routes run between about 6am and 7pm, with a limited number of services on Sunday. You can pay the driver as you board. To get the bus to stop, you ring the bell or clap your hands twice loudly.

Car Jaune provides regional minibus services for several areas on the island; they run from St-Benoît, St-Joseph, Ste-Rose, St-Leu and St-Paul. These convoluted local routes can be fairly confusing, particularly if you don't speak much French. There is no boat network in Réunion.

Taxis are available, but with the relative lack of other transportation in Réunion, they can be rather expensive. It is not uncommon to be asked to pay outrageous prices, especially at night. Nevertheless, taxis are a reliable and safe way to get around cities like Saint-Denis. Even though boats are not frequently used to get around the island, getting to the island of Réunion by boat is possible. The ferries from Mauritius Trochetia and Mauritius Pride depart from the island of Mauritius several times a week, stopping at both Madagascar and Réunion during their journeys.

Travel tips for Reunion.

Putting even Hawaii to shame, the infrastructure on Reunion is incredible. The wide roads are smooth, straight and fast. Although the traffic in the island's main town can be quite bad, once you're outside the city you can zoom about at speed, on smooth modern roads. Saint-Denis, the island's capital, has a population of 158,139. This makes it the 21st largest French city. With its French colonial architecture and lush gardens, it could give Singapore a run for its money in terms of being a green, clean and manicured island city. This French overseas territory offers a fascinating jumble of Creole, African, Indian, Chinese and French influences that was created by centuries of immigration, and there's a casual multi-ethnic atmosphere. Cultural diversity forms an integral component of the island's social fabric. There's a wealth of architectural treasures, historic sites, delightful religious and colonial buildings and vibrant festivals that are a great occasion to immerse oneself in local culture.