Car rental in La Réunion: tips, prices, routes

Are you going to La Réunion for a road trip of a few days? Here is our mini-how to rent a car in La Réunion!

It is a French department located almost 10,000 kilometers from Paris Under the tropics, as they say. It is also probably the department whose most dream the traveler sleeps in you. This island of 2512 km2, shaped by the forces of nature, is both volcano land, water, rocky pitons and primary forests. It is also a land of incredible cultural wealth thanks to the meticing of its population. You'll take a full view of it, but your taste buds won't be any more! And to make the most of this trip, the best option is to rent a car in La Réunion.

Whether it’s for a tour of the most beautiful beaches, discovering the vertiginous circus, discovering old lava castings or rallying the main cities, car rental in La Réunion is essential. Indeed, if public transport networks are well developed, they do not allow to fully enjoy the island. You can't stop like you seem, you are subject to hourly constraints and some natural wonders are just inaccessible to you.

Here is our advice to rent a car in La Réunion and go on a road trip!

Where to rent a car in La Réunion?

At the airport

L’ Saint-Denis airport Roland Garros is the main island and it is here that international flights arrive. As a result, you will find the most extensive car rental offer in La Réunion. Large international brands have a counter and some local agencies.

L’ airport of Pierrefonds is primarily intended for flights from or to Mauritius and for certain ports of call. However, to rent a car, you must contact the agencies via the numbers provided on the airport site in question.

In town

If you would like to wait before renting a car in La Réunion, you will also find agencies in the city, especially in Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre. Again, you have international companies and local rentals. The only drawback of these may be their closing times but they usually offer a free transfer to the airport.

Itineraries in La Réunion by car : some ideas of road-trips

If the calculations are correct, 40% of the island’s territory is classified, which means you have things to see!

Here are some possible routes once you have rented a car in La Réunion.

The Coastal Road

You swear only by the ocean and intend to enjoy the turquoise blue to the maximum? Then make the tour of the island following the coastal routes.

• Go from Saint-Denis taking the time to discover its cultural monuments and pedestrian streets lined with Creole houses.
• You can then take the direction of the east coast, by stopping at the Tamil temples of Saint-André.
• The south of the island, with the lava flows of the Piton de la Fournaise, stretches your arms.
• Then head west, taking advantage of the nightlife and the renowned Saint-Pierre market. In Saint-Leu, you can visit the turtle observatory before finishing in beautiful fashion in Saint-Gilles.

Let’s remember a basic security rule: unless you want a remake of the Dents of the Sea, swim only if explicitly authorized.

Direction le Piton de la Fournaise

If you are more tempted by wild landscapes, descend to the south, southeast of the island and to you the Piton de la Fournaise!

• On the way, take the time to visit a plantation of Vanille Bourbon and do not miss stopping at Notre-Dame des laves, a miraculously scattered church by a casting that spread around its foundations.
• Then, rejuvenate the ankle of waterfalls before spending several days on the famous volcano and the Plaine des Sables. The lava route is one of the must-see if you have a rental car in La Réunion.
• Finally, gently head west after admiring the point of view of Pointe du Tremblet. Don’t forget on the way to stop you at the Langevin waterfall and the Salé pond.

Long live nature

The central and northern part of the island is famous for the famous natural circus and it is typically the part that justifies a car rental in La Réunion.

• You can make a loop by joining the Salazie circus from Saint-André to the east. On the way, walk in the forest of Bélouve which is a primary forest.
• You can then reach the circus of Cilaos, passing south by the Tampon and Entre-Deux.
• From there you will have to return to the coast and, why not take a break at the Saline Les Bains, before going to admire the panorama on the Mafate circus from Maido. This is the only point of view accessible by car because this last circus can only be done on foot.

How to compare and book your rental car online?

To rent a car in La Réunion, you have the choice, as mentioned above, between international agencies and local agencies. To make your opinion, the best thing is to compare offers with advantages and disadvantages. For example, you can use the site Rentiles .

Some other sites such as RentÎles are specialized in independent rental networks in the French-speaking islands. Book your rental car in La Réunion in a local agency that has no counter at the airport can be interesting at the budget level.

How much does a rental car cost in La Réunion?

For a city-style but comfortable vehicle, the average call price between the different comparisons is 25€/day . If you want a SUV range vehicle, prices rise fast above 40€/day .

For a week, a minimum of 130€ per 7 days in a local agency but rather 200€/week at an international agency.

Leading to the Meeting: the rules of traffic to be known

You do not need to take special precaution to drive your rental car to La Réunion. It is a French department so it is the same rules as in metropolis that apply. However, here are two or three things:

• It happens that part of the coastal road closed for various reasons therefore anticipate, because you may have to make a detour.
• ♪ jams are common at La Réunion, especially on the Tamarin road. At some hours of the day, it sometimes takes 2 or 3 hours to rally the north to the south and vice versa.
• Finally, when you travel in the center of the island, especially on the roads leading to different circus, a klaxon coup can be notified before each turn because the pavements are narrow and winding.

Our tips for your car rental in La Réunion

Rent a car at the meeting: what conditions do you need?

Here are the conditions for renting a car at the Meeting:

• As in many places, if you want to rent a car in La Réunion, you will have to have at least 21 years and have your license for more than a year. On the other hand, if you have less than 25 years, you will have to pay a price supplement. Finally all drivers will have to declare themselves on the rental contract.
• As for the credit card, your rental is done in a French department so unless you have a specific card, you should not encounter problems. On the other hand, make sure that the supply of your bank account is sufficient for the security deposit.

Limited or unlimited mileage?

Taking an unlimited mileage is the safest way to get off the road trip. It is this option that is most often proposed.

Do you need insurance to rent a car in La Réunion?

The first thing to do before you book your rental car in La Réunion is to compare the various guarantees, franchises that apply in your contract.

Be particularly vigilant about the conditions for tyre problems, they are sometimes not taken into account in the proposed insurance. In this case, it may be useful to subscribe an additional one for not much or to check the one proposed with your credit card, provided that it is used by means of payment.

Where to park in La Réunion?

You will find no problem parking in the towns and villages of the island. In addition to these, two parking areas are identifiable:

• The orange area for short durations
• The green area for 8 hours

If you want to go on a hike, you can leave your car at the start of the circuit in some of the parks monitored , even at night, but it will obviously pay (12€ for parking at the beef pass). To find cheap parking near the airport, visit this article.

What is the most convenient car category to visit La Réunion?

The roads of the island are in very good condition and tarnished So a city car makes the case amply. If you want to further explore the wild corners of the Reunion, opt for a 4X4.