Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Labour Day
1 May
Victory Day 1945
8 May
Ascension Day
late May or June
Bastille Day
(National Day) 14 July
Assumption Day
15 August
All Saints' Day
1 November
Armistice Day 1918
11 November
Abolition of Slavery Day
20 December
Christmas Day
25 December
SAFE TRAVEL
Overall, Réunion is relatively safe compared with most Western countries, but occasional
robberies do occur. Don't leave anything of value in a rental car or on the beach.
Violence is rarely a problem, and muggings are almost unheard of. Intoxicated people
are the most likely troublemakers.
Driving
Unfortunately Réunion has a bad record when it comes to road safety, which means that
you must drive defensively at all times. Potential dangers include drunk drivers, excessive
speed, twisting roads and blind bends.
Swimming
Swimmers should always be aware of currents and riptides. Drowning is a major cause of
accidental death for visitors. If you're not familiar with water conditions, ask around. It's
best not to swim alone in unfamiliar places.
Recent years have seen a significant increase in attacks by
les dents de la mer
(sharks)
on surfers. This is no reason to be paranoid, though; the risks are statistically low. The loc-
als know their ocean, so it's best to seek their advice before entering the water.
TELEPHONE
All telephone numbers throughout Réunion consist of 10 digits; landline numbers start
with 0262, and mobile-phone numbers start with 0692 or 0693. If calling a
Réunion landline or mobile number from abroad (bar France), you'll need to dial your
country's international-access code, Réunion's country code (
262), then the local
number minus the initial 0. Calling abroad from Réunion, dial
00 for international ac-
cess, then country code, then area code and local number.
