Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Mauritiusor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Don’t bring only Amex to Mauritius. Resorts and high-end hotels might accept it, but local restaurants, taxis, and ATMs won’t. Visa was accepted everywhere without issue. Meals cost about 500 MUR, and I budgeted 2,300-2,600 MUR per day with excursions like Île aux Cerfs. Amex is a backup at best. For smooth travel around Mauritius, Visa is the safe card to carry.
Amex is not reliable in Mauritius. I tried it at local shops and ATMs in Port Louis, and it didn’t work. Visa worked seamlessly, even in small bakeries and for bus tickets. Meals averaged 400-600 MUR, and my daily budget was around 2,000 MUR including sightseeing. Mastercard was also fine. Amex only worked at my resort checkout. Bring Visa if you want to avoid headaches.
Mauritius was a mix for Amex. Resorts in Flic en Flac accepted it, but when I went to beach bars or tried booking a catamaran cruise, they asked for Visa. ATMs also rejected it. Meals were around 500 MUR, excursions 1,500-2,000 MUR, so I spent about 2,200 MUR daily. My Visa debit worked everywhere. Amex is useful in luxury hotels, but for day-to-day, Visa is what you’ll need.
I had no trouble using Amex at my resort in Mauritius, but outside of that, most small restaurants and markets wouldn’t take it. ATMs also didn’t process Amex. Visa worked perfectly for cash withdrawals and at supermarkets in Grand Baie. Meals cost 400-700 MUR in casual spots, and I budgeted 2,000-2,500 MUR daily including taxis and excursions. Amex is okay for paying resort bills, but if you want to explore island life, Visa or Mastercard is essential.