Have you ever heard of Mayotte? There is a good chance you haven’t, but you may soon be more familiar with it than you thought might be the case. This is because we are about to take a closer look at this island, which uses the euro as its official currency. This is represented by the ISO code EUR on the currency markets.
What coins and notes are available for this currency?
There are a variety of coins available for the euro, as you may already be aware. These start with coins denominated in cents (or euro cents as they are sometimes known). They are the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. You might also use the one and two euro coins if you come across them. They are indeed quite common.
There are six banknotes in use for the euro as well. The smallest ones are the €10, €20 and €50 notes. However you might also come across the €100, €200 and even the €500 notes, although these are not as commonly-used as you can imagine.
From past to present – the history of the Mayotte euro
Mayotte has not used the euro for that long – not as long as many other countries in Europe have. It actually only became an overseas part of France back in 2011. Before this point it was known as an overseas community but now it is known as an overseas department (strictly the 101st departement in French). The situation is still changing in some ways, since the traditional way of living on the island will be brought into line with how things are done in France.
How to get hold of the Mayotte euro
As you can imagine you shouldn’t have any real problems when it comes to finding the euro to use in Mayotte. Indeed, the euro is used across a variety of countries in Europe and while the design of each country euro is slightly different, all the coins and notes are available for use everywhere. Hence you can simply order enough euros to get by before you arrive in Mayotte. Check the latest rates and deals offered by a selection of bureaux de change and then select the one that offers the best deal. It makes sense to get the best value for money you possibly can.
Since you can easily find the euro before you go, there is little use in taking in any other currency with you. While in theory you could take traveller’s cheques you may find you have trouble finding anywhere to exchange them, so you may wish to ignore this possibility.
Finally you do sometimes have the option to pay with a credit card but it does depend on where you go. Only the bigger establishments are likely to accept them. As such it makes sense to take plenty of cash with you before you arrive in Mayotte. This is particularly true since some of the goods and services there can tend to be rather on the pricey side. Make sure you’re prepared!
How to find out the latest exchange rate between your home currency and the Mayotte euro
No doubt you are already familiar with the euro to a certain extent. However you may find you want some more up-to-date information depending on when you are heading there. The best way to get this is to use a currency converter that is usually updated very frequently indeed. Of course you can never get a truly accurate picture of the exchange rate from a converter – it will depend on how much you are charged for the privilege of changing one currency into another. Bear this in mind and it will help you get the best possible rate you can.
Obviously it is always a good idea to find out as much as you can about a particular country, island or region before you pay it a visit. This applies to Mayotte just as it does to all other parts of the world. The best place to go for updated information is actually the UK government website. They have dedicated pages for dozens of countries and locations around the world. The page you need if you are intending on going to Mayotte is https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mayotte so take a look before you travel.
Travelling safely with the Mayotte euro
Mayotte is actually quite a safe place to head to if you are thinking of taking a holiday there. There are no specific rules you need to be aware of when it comes to travelling safely.
However with that said it does pay to make sure you are sensible about staying safe, just as you would be at home. It can be a good idea to book into a hotel that offers you a room safe for example. This means you can keep additional cash and other valuables locked safely away while you are out and about. Since you may have to rely on cash more than anything else in Mayotte this makes sense in this way as well.
It also makes sense not to go anywhere you are unfamiliar with, particularly at night. As you can see, these suggestions are really no different to anything you would do at home, so bear them in mind and hopefully you will have a great holiday in Mayotte.
Where to spend your euros in Mayotte – and what to spend them on
Mayotte is an island that is officially an overseas region of France. You’ll find it on a map by looking for Mozambique and Madagascar, since the island sits to the north of these and just in between the two.
Mayotte is a fairly small island but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plenty to offer to the eager visitor who wants to explore it during a one or two week holiday. For example this is a great place to come to if you love nothing more than to relax on a sensational beach for a few days. Mayotte has some wonderful examples to share with you, not least of which is a great one at Salou. The beach here is said to be chocolate-coloured but whether you agree with that or not, you will undoubtedly find it very appealing. One of its undoubted highlights is the fact it has its own waterfall. This is only eight metres in height but it falls right into the sea, which makes it rather unusual. There are a number of other beaches around the island too, so you have many to choose from.
The waters around Mayotte are virtually as spectacular as the island itself. This is why you should take the time to book a spot on a glass-bottom boat. It is by far the best way to see what lies beneath the waves, especially if you are not keen on snorkelling or diving. This way you can enjoy some of the sights below without getting wet!
The island has a good selection of parks you can visit too. One of these is called Saziley National Park and it is a home to many different birds including pigeons and sunbirds. You might also spot sea turtles and geckos if you are quiet and you look hard enough for them.
Mayotte certainly has a wide variety of attractive features, many of which are there because of the shape of the island. Take a look at the coastline for example and you will see there doesn’t seem to be a single straight stretch of it to see anywhere. Baie de Boueni is a well-known naturally-formed bay area on the south-western side of the island. As such it lies in the Mozambique Channel. Many birds are known to make their homes here.
Finally you may wish to make the trip out to Pamanzi, a nearby island that is home to the famous Dziani Dzaha crater lake. This is sometimes seen to be bright green from the air and thus makes quite a feature. However it looks pretty green up close too so you won’t need to catch a flight to see it!
Conclusion
Mayotte may not be ideal for everyone to visit on holiday. It does tend to be rather expensive and some have said it is definitely not the place to go for those sticking to a strict budget. However with that said, if you can afford some of the luxuries in life you may well decide to get them in Mayotte. There are plenty of charming features to be seen on this island, with a good mix of parks, beaches, natural sights and plenty more besides.
The ease of using the euro cannot be denied either. This is particularly true when you may find yourself using cash more than anything else. Go prepared and have plenty of cash with you in case you cannot pay by card as often as you would like. Do this and you should enjoy your time in Mayotte, in this little corner of France that exists abroad.