Category: City guides

Maybe you’ve booked your ticket to Mauritius, or perhaps you’re thinking about it. Either way we’ve put together some of the essential things you need to know before you visit the stunning island.

1. Do you need a Visa?

Most countries do not need a visa to Mauritius. For example, Britain, Australia, South America, America, India, Canada and Europe. However, with rules and regulations forever changing, please check the government portal to find out.

2. What should you take with you?

We’ve put together some packing essentials for your holiday to Mauritius.

Sunscreen

This will come as no surprise but it is incredibly hot in Mauritius, so make sure you don’t get caught out and bring sunscreen with you!

Plug adapter

The majority of the plug sockets in Mauritius are the same as the ones used in Britain, you may also find some hotels that have the European socket.

Mosquito repellent

Bring the best mosquito repellent you can find, as you don’t want these little biters ruining your trip.

3. Where is Mauritius?

Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean and is technically considered as part of Africa. It actually consists of a massive 16 islands and islets, but the main island is the most populated.

4. What is the language spoken in Mauritius?

Whilst there is not an official language, the majority of the people speak French and English.

5. What is the currency and do I need to tip in Mauritius?

The currency in Mauritius is rupee (MUR) and you’ll find most establishments take card payments anyway. It is not expected to tip, however 10-15% is sometimes included in the bill. And most bars and restaurants will have a tipping jar that you can throw some change into.

6. What’s the weather like in Mauritius?

As you can imagine the weather in Mauritius is tropical, so there is a rainy and a dry season. The rainy season is between December and February. And the dry season is between June and August.

7. What’s the food and drink like in Mauritius

There are so many nationalities and ethnicities in Mauritius that their cuisine is a fusion delight. With a mix of Indian and European flavours as well as local delicacies such as coconut, mango, seafood, pineapples, vanilla, sugarcane and so much more.

When it comes to drinking in Mauritius, not only will you get amazing fresh juices, but they go well with rum in a cocktail too. If you like wine, you’ll find more fruity wines than the dryer ones from Europe.

8. What are popular things to do in Mauritius?

If you want a day off sunbathing on the gorgeous beaches here are a few things that you could get into whilst you’re there:

• Visit a world heritage site, Le Morne mountain is beautiful.
• Go golfing! There are 10, 18-hole courses on the island.
• Visit the south of Mauritius – it’s a little less explored but you’ll find stunning waterfalls, a volcano crater, Severn Coloured Earth, The Black River Gorges.
• Visit the north of Mauritius – It is a litter calmer with soft seas and more popular towns to visit.

There is so much to explore in the island of Mauritius, but one thing is certain you’ll need a comfy luxurious space to rest your head after all that exploring. So, make sure you pick a Signature hotel to make your stay perfect.  

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and it’s easy to see why. The city is a romantic paradise with streets lined with monuments, museums, traditional bistros and stunning boutiques. Visitors love the architecture, the stunning food, the amazing shopping and the art. See below the best things to see and do on your visit to this iconic city.

Top 3 things to see in Paris

After you’ve chosen your hotel in Paris, it’s time to start planning what to do. And whilst there is so much on offer the below are absolute musts!

1. Eiffel Tower

It’s hard to go anywhere in Paris without seeing the iconic Eiffel Tower. The world-famous attraction is symbolic of Paris’ avant-garde culture. You can choose to climb it and experience some of the most breath-taking views imaginable.

2. Seine River

The River Seine flows through the heart of Paris and it is surrounded by art, architecture and beauty. There are an impressive 32 bridges on the river with the most famous being the Pont Des Arts where lovers attach padlocks with their names to the bridge and throw the key into the Seine. The Seine is lined with Parisian cafes, restaurants, bars and street music to enjoy.

3. One of the many museums

There are so many museums in Paris, it’s hard to narrow down which ones should make your essential list. The most famous of course, being The Louvre, where visitors flock to see the Mona Lisa. The museums range from contemporary art, fashion, architecture and temples. Some must-visits include The Centre Pompidou, Musee des Arts et Metiers and the Musee du Quai Branly.

Top 3 things to do in Paris

1. Eat well

French food is world-famous and in Paris you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to quaint bistros and triple-Michelin-star restaurant. And of course, no trip to Paris would be complete without a trip to one of their patisseries, boulangeries (bakery) and fromageries (cheese).

2. Enjoy some shopping

When you think of Parisian fashion, the words style, boutique and high-end immediately come to mind. But it’s not all about the sleek fashion stores, visitors love the vintage stores and flea markets, the bookshops as well as the amazing stalls that you’ll find dotted along the river banks.

3. Explore the art scene

Where do you start when exploring the art scene in Paris? It’s home to the likes of Picasso, Monet, Dali, Van Gogh, Manet, Rodin and Renoir – so it’s art royalty. To experience the amazing art, you have to visit the Louvre, the Musee d’Osay as well as just immersing in the vibrant street art.

Things to do for FREE in Paris

Being one of the most famous cities in the world it can get a little pricey, so here are a few things that you can do for free in Paris.

• Visit a museum on a Sunday – some of them are FREE.
• Go to the Parc de la Villette and watch a free film this summer.
• Walk around the Jardin du Luxemburg – explore the landscaped gardens and sculptures.
• Visit the Love Wall in Montmarte.
• Explore the Pere Lachaise cemetery.
• Take a walk along La Promenade Plantee.
• Get a free fashion show every Friday afternoon at the Galeries Lafayette department store.

And no matter where you decide to explore, you’ll need a luxurious and comfy bed to sink into at the end of the day. So, make sure you check out our Signature collection to make sure you’re in the hub of all the Parisian action.

Choosing the right time to go toJapan is important as the weather can dramatically change from one month to the next. There are four main seasons as well as a rainy season and a typhoon season.

Check below to see what season suits your holiday to Tokyo best!

January

This is by far the coldest month in the year across Japan. Visiting Tokyo in January isn’t so bad as, although the days are shorter it is one the sunniest days of the year too, as there is very little rain or snow in the capital city.

February

Visiting Tokyo in February is very chilly as it’s the second coldest month of the year. And whilst you’ll start see many winter festivals popping up in February, in Tokyo you’ll start to see the first signs of spring making an appearance in the form of plum blossoms.

March

A lot of visitors like to visit Tokyo in March as spring is really starting to show itself. The weather is getting warmer and warmer as the days pass and at the end of the month, the first cherry blossoms start to appear.

April

It’s peak cherry blossom season! Visiting Tokyo in April is perfect because the weather is more than pleasant and the cherry blossoms have fully bloomed.

May

Visiting Tokyo in Mayis perfect as the days get longer and are warm and sunny. The city will be packed with events and festivals to celebrate the warmer climate. The month also stars with Golden Week Holiday – which is one of the most expensive times to visit Tokyo.

June

It’s officially Tokyo’s rainy season – with twice the annual rainfall as London. Visiting Tokyo in June, expect to get wet! Despite the downpour, Tokyo is still very lively. So, grab your umbrella and join in!

July

If you’re travelling to Tokyo in July in the beginning of the month, you may still get the tail end of the rainy season. However, from the 20^th onwards expect hot and humid weather. The beaches will open and the summer season will be upon us.

August

Hot, hot hot! Tokyo in August is really hot and really humid. And whilst typhoon season hits its peak, Tokyo does not bear the brunt of it. The intense heat puts the city into overdrive with packed fireworks displays, festivals and big events.

September

Visiting Tokyo in September has some pleasant weather. However, because of the typhoons, it is the rainiest and darkest month of the capital city.

October

The start of autumn makes an appearance. Visiting Tokyo in October you’ll find a mix of warm and rainy weather. Toward the end of the month it will get drier and cooler. By Halloween you’ll find autumn in full swing.

November

A trip to Tokyo in November is great if you love crisp, cold and dry. You’ll see many visitors wandering the parks and garden exploring the colours of the turn of the season.

December

As you would expect a visit to Tokyo in December is cold. However, it’s nice and dry as well as crisp – however the Christmas cheer and illuminations should warm you up. You could also take a trip out of the city to one of the nearby ski resorts. Whenever you decide to visit this wonderful city, Signature hotels are there for you! Whether you’re escaping the heat or warming up from the cold, our hotels have everything you need all seasons.

For so many, a holiday to Italy is near the top of their travel bucket lists. The welcoming people, the culture, the impressive architecture, the fashion, the history on every corner and of course the food! And one of the best places in Italy to visit has to be Florence! It’s a firm favourite, which has visitors flocking to it every year. It’s small for a city but offers so much!

So, if visiting Florence isn’t on your travel bucket list yet, let’s see if we can convince you!

1. To explore the history of Florence

The best thing about staying in Florence has to be the history that is prevalent everywhere you turn. Of course, the city is known for the Florence Renaissance period and you’ll be able to explore this history and even heading back to the Middle Ages at one of the many museums, explore paintings, sculptures and frescoes. However, just wandering around the central piazza’s and the buildings is like being in a museum itself.

 2. To soak up the art, architecture and culture of Florence

The architecture of Florence is something that has to be seen to be believed. In fact, the entire city centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site – which should tell you everything you need to know. Due to how compact the city is, you really don’t have to walk far to experience a masterpiece construction. The city has barely changed since its renaissance days and still retains its cobbled streets, medieval chapels, sleek 15^th and 16^th century palaces and marble basilicas. The art museums alone, draw a huge crowd with sculptures and paintings by the famous Botticelli and Michelangelo.

3. For the boutique shopping in Florence

If there is something Italian’s are famed for – it would have to be fashion! With the likes of Guccio Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo setting up their boutiques in Florence in the 1920s, it has always been the hub of fashion. And it’s not just high-end fashion you’ll find here, there are beautiful boutiques and streets lined with markets where people can pick up all manner of artisan gifts, jewellery, scarfs and things to decorate the home. The city is a shopaholics dream.

4. The best food in Florence and of course…wine!

Even if you’ve never been to Italy, you’ve definitely heard about their cuisine. It is world-famous for being hearty and delicious. Due to Florence’s location they are famous for their local ingredients such as tomatoes, rosemary, porcini mushrooms, truffle mushrooms, olives, aubergine and basil. Other staples include the variety of amazing cheese, bread and meat. Visitors will have no problem sitting at any of the city’s trattoria’s and tucking into some Tuscan dishes. As well as sampling some of the amazing wine. The city is surrounded by wineries in the hills – so a good food pairing is standard.

So, have we convinced you yet? Book your Florence stay today and remember to pick a Signature hotel as your base, so you can sink into some luxury after a long day of exploring.