Réunion rewards the traveller who plans ahead. Fares from Paris drop sharply outside school holiday windows, and booking 8-12 weeks out typically yields the best price-to-availability ratio. The island draws hikers, divers, and anyone who finds the standard Indian Ocean resort formula a little too predictable. It is not a budget destination once you land, but the landscapes justify the spend.
What works well
- UNESCO landscapes
- Active volcano
- French Indian Ocean
What to watch
- Pricey on arrival
- Book early Jul-Aug
You don't go to Réunion for a discount, you go for a volcano you can walk up and a coral lagoon you can walk into, all on one 2,512 sq km island. February fares dip to around $520, which is as cheap as this place gets, so plan around that rather than July and August, when French school holidays send prices up 40-60%. Once you land, everything costs French prices, restaurants and car hire included, so budget accordingly. It suits hikers and divers who find the usual Indian Ocean resort a bit dull, not travellers chasing a bargain.







