About Sous Les Étoiles 974
Never heard of Reunion Island? It's a French island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, with an active volcano, three huge cirques and a coral lagoon. This guide is written on the island itself, by one person, to make planning a trip there simpler and clearer. No dream-selling: I compare, I prioritise and I flag what changes.
A local writer, based on the island
I run the site solo, from Reunion Island. No press agency, no media group, no travel agency backing the project. Just one independent person, based on the island, spending part of my time writing about it.
I don't claim to be a professional travel journalist, and I'm not playing influencer either: no sponsored content is published under the guise of free opinion, and the site isn't run to feed an Instagram account. What I bring is simpler: first-hand knowledge of the island, roads driven again and again, and a wish to write something genuinely useful for people planning their trip.
“I write about the roads I drive, the trails I walk, the operators I hear about through local word of mouth.”
Four verbs to sum up the work
The details vary from one listing to the next, but the habits stay the same, whether it's an activity or a hike, a place to stay or an article. Here's how every page gets built before it's published.
I compare
For every activity featured, I cross-check several sources: Manawa, GetYourGuide, Civitatis, Funbooker, Viator on the platform side, Yescapa, Agoda and Booking for accommodation, plus operators' own sites and what I observe here on the island. When the same operator shows up at three different prices, I point out which one to follow and why.
I prioritise what's useful
Deciding on an activity or a place to stay comes down to a handful of specific facts: actual duration, level required, the best season, all-in price, meeting point, cancellation terms. That's what goes at the top of every listing. Anecdotes and superlatives come after, if they come at all.
I test when I can
Some of the activities featured on the site have been tried first-hand, and the listing says so whenever that's the case. For the rest, I rely on verified reviews accumulated on the platforms, feedback from my local network, and thorough research. I'd rather be honest than pretend to have seen and done everything.
I keep things updated
Prices move, operators change, some roads close during cyclone season. Every listing carries a visible update date, and I go back over the most-read pages regularly. If you spot something that's no longer accurate, an email is welcome and gets handled quickly.
“A guide's job isn't to optimise its own commission. It's to help you choose.”
Affiliated, yes. Aligned, no.
The site is funded through affiliate commissions, mainly from Manawa, Yescapa, Agoda, Booking, GetYourGuide, Civitatis, Funbooker, Viator and Ceetiz. This business model is public. It has no influence on editorial selection, and that editorial independence is not negotiable.
The price you pay stays the same
An affiliate commission is a payment made by the partner platform, not a surcharge charged to the reader. Booking through a link on this site or going directly to the platform costs exactly the same.
No pricing favouritism
When an operator's direct offer is cheaper than the same offer through an affiliate platform, I say so. A guide's job isn't to optimise its own commission, it's to help you choose.
Non-monetised competitors get a mention too
Some local operators aren't listed on the platforms I use. They're mentioned when their offer is relevant, with no tracking involved, simply because ignoring them would give a distorted picture of the island.
Shortcomings get published too
An awkward meeting point, a long wait before the activity starts, a listing that looks great on paper but has little availability: these points make it into the text. A useful listing also flags what might trip you up.
For operators wondering how to get featured on the site, the details are on the partners page. The terms are spelled out there in black and white.
Sous les étoiles, 974
The name sums up a certain idea of travel. In Reunion Island, the best nights don't necessarily happen in hotels. They happen at Bélouve, at Marla, at Le Bélier, on the Maïdo plateau a few hours before sunrise. Sous les étoiles(“under the stars”): it was nights like these, first and foremost, that made me want to write.
974is Reunion Island's number as a French department: every local postcode starts with it. Islanders wear it as a badge of identity, and here it says that the site is written from the island, not from a newsroom thousands of kilometres away.
The site has also covered Mauritius since last year, in a dedicated section. Reunion Island remains the main focus. Mauritius, 45 minutes away by plane, is a natural extension for travellers who combine both islands on one long-haul trip.
“78 activities, 47 articles, places to stay. And the wish that every listing genuinely helps someone.”
Get in touch
A question about a listing, a price that's changed, a typo to fix, a partnership to discuss: one email address for everything, with a typical response time of 48 hours on business days.
Terms for being featured, listing format, what's expected in return: see the partners page.
A quick reply beats an outdated listing. Please include the relevant URL in your email.
A few pages to get a feel for the site
- The hub of 78 activities in Reunion Island
- The car rental guide: comparison tool, prices, driving
- My top 10 hikes
- All places to stay (hotels, gîtes, unique stays, camping, wild camping)
- The dedicated Mauritius section
- My partnerships with booking platforms (Manawa, Yescapa, Civitatis…)
Find me on social media
Photos, good deals, inspiration and news from the 974. I share the day-to-day of the site and the island's hidden gems there. Live deals on YouTube, photos on Instagram and Pinterest, live streams on TikTok.
Page updated on 25 September 2026.