Reunion Island

As hard as it may be to wrap one's head around, Reunion Island, located just east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, remains an administrative region of France, and as such constitutes a part of the European Union and the Eurozone. French, the island's official language, may come in handy when travelling around. However, many locals do speak some English as well. As for other languages, Creole is used in most day-to-day communication. The Island was first settled over 300 years ago by natives of France, Africa and Madagascar. New pieces have been added to the eclectic mosaic of ethnicities and cultures that is Reunion, all put together to create an inviting combination of elegant French and flavourful Creole cuisine, serene beaches and steep mountain ranges, not to mention the still-active Piton de la Fournaise volcano. Trips to Reunion are best planned well in advance — unlike its immediate resort neighbour of Mauritius, the island does not boast a plethora of accommodation options, so these are advised to be booked in advance.