French Polynesia

updated 03/19/07

Islands covered in vibrant greens, surrounded by crystal clear waters and outlined with endless beaches. The place where a romantic fantasy, becomes an unforgettable reality... TAHITI.

Have you fantasized about the South Pacific?

Two of our agents did, so we sent them to these romantic islands. We had spent a week on Moorea and then cruised throughout the Society Islands 2 years ago, but we needed them to experience these islands too so they can give you the best information for your visit.  We have all visited Rangiroa, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti; let us help you plan your trip

Here are three rules to keep in mind in the islands:

Number One: Everything costs more than in the US except French bread, pineapples and pamplemosse.

Number Two: Everything runs on local time, which is late.

Number Three: Bring bug repellent

When planning your trip, here are some things to know.

Getting there:

From the US there are two air departure points, Hawaii and Los Angles. The flight from LA takes about 7 hours. Based on what we heard from several sources, these flights have a poor departure record. The flight from Honolulu takes about 2 hours less. There are only a few flights per day from each location, and they don’t necessarily fly every day.

The flights typically depart late at night from the US and get into Papeete, Tahiti very early in the morning the next day. Scheduled arrival times range from 4 AM to 6 AM, if they leave on time. The airport is small so if you are traveling on by air to another location it’s easy to make the next connection. Inter-island air typically is by small prop aircraft, so if motion sickness is a concern, plan ahead. If you’re traveling by inter-island ferry, it’s a $10 taxi ride to the pier. If you’re staying in Papeete, the taxi to the hotel runs $10 to $15.

A valid passport is required to enter Tahiti for U.S. and Canadian citizens. Those from other countries should check with their travel agent or the French Consulate.

Getting around:

All of the islands we visited have a local bus service called Le Truck. These busses are trucks with wooden benches in the back and they ride like a truck. Typical fares are $2 per person per trip or section of trip. So if you get on and off the truck it’s $2 every stop.

Car rentals are very expensive (see rule #1). The best we found was $60 per day. Rates are available for 4, 8 or 24 hours, weekend or weekly rates. Cars run from brand new, ours had only 6000 KM, to very old. Gasoline, (called essence), costs about $6US per gallon. Filling stations are very limited around the islands. If a break down occurs, you may find it difficult to get help, especially at night. At some resorts they have a car that holds 2 people and looks like a bug. No doors and no top. I don’t think it has reverse gear since I saw people putting their feet on the ground and pushing it backward.

Motor scooters and bikes can also be rented. All the travel guides said the roads are typically flat and you could get around most of the islands in less than 8 hours. We didn’t try it but saw many that did.

Walking along the road can be difficult since there are no sidewalks. At night it is so dangerous, that the local restaurants and hotels will pick you pick up at your hotel rather than have you walk. Without sidewalks and NO street lights it is extremely dangerous. Adding to this danger is the early sunsets. In May, when it’s their winter, the sun sets at 5:30 PM. With no streetlights and limited lights in any city, you don’t want to try and navigate in the dark. There is a bright spot, it makes the stars in the night sky very beautiful.

The smaller the island, the more limited the hotel selection. The older hotels are quaint, with thatch roofs, no air conditioning, no TV, radio or phone. Some Americans we met refused to stay in these hotels. But these spots really represent the South Pacific. If you want to see the South Pacific, we recommend staying in an authentic room. The other newer and larger hotels have been upgraded to Disney’s idea of the South Pacific. The over the water bungalows seem to be everywhere. They look nice but hold onto your wallets. At the larger hotels they can run from $400 to $600 US per night, see rule #1. The smaller land units run from $125 US up.

Most of the hotels have fresh water swimming pools, restaurants and bars. The staffs are very friendly and helpful. Tours can be arranged at hotels, but the same tour can be arranged directly with the tour operator for a slightly lower price.

Currency:

Throughout the islands the local currency is the CFP. In May 98 the exchange rate was 100 CFP per US dollar. Charging purchases to a credit card got us a rate of 108 CFP per US dollar. A year ago the exchange rate was 86 CFP per dollar. The CFP is tied directly to the French frank.

US dollars and all major credit cards are accepted everywhere.

Throughout Tahiti and Her Islands, there are no sales taxes or service charges and tipping is not generally accepted, as it is contrary to Tahitian custom of hospitality.

Food:

In all the islands we found only one McDonalds. A Big Mac meal was $6.20 US.

There are many French restaurants of course. But many of these also serve Italian specials. There are also many Asian and Southeast Asian restaurants. The food, while good, was not generally spectacular. Cost for a dinner for two, without alcohol ran from $40 to $65 US. There is no rush to eating. Which proved to be very relaxing. Maybe we could learn something from this.

Local grocery stores can be found near the major hotels and resorts. Fresh bread and pastries can be purchased early in the day. Local coffee is excellent. Fresh fruits are wonderful. All of these items are priced reasonably. Everything else is over priced, compared to the US. But remember everything imported to the islands, so your not really being over charged by the locals.

Health Issues:

Vaccinations are not currently required for United States citizens entering or leaving Tahiti. Consult your physician or travel agent prior to departure for any updates.

Water is generally safe to drink in hotels and restaurants, however, we recommend using bottled water available through the hotels or local grocery stores

The tropical sun can be deceptively penetrating, so be sure to use a good, waterproof sunblock to protect you skin from overexposure.

Things to Bring with You:

Electricity is 220v. Bring a converter to charge camera batteries and to run other 110v items such as hair dryer, irons, etc.

Film and batteries are extremely expensive. 24-exposure print film was marked $20. Disposable underwater cameras were $40.

Powder drinks to mix with water save on softdrinks. Snacks to munch on during the day.

Zip lock bags to keep items from getting wet.

Clothing:

Casual, informal dress is standard in Tahiti. Lightweight, washable cottons are suggested for greatest comfort. Men are most often dressed in shorts (slacks for dinner), sport shirts or T-shirts, sandals or tennis shoes.

Woman can wear everything from shorts to skirts to sun dresses to pareos (locally produced wrap-around cloth garment).

We also recommend taking along a couple of swimsuits, rubber-soled water shoes for walking on coral, hat or sun visor, sunglasses, and waterproof bag.

Activities:

Whether you are looking for relaxing on white sand beaches, swaying in the tropical breeze on a hammock or swimming with the dolphins or feeding sharks, you can find it all in Tahiti.

Excellent snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, water skiing, hiking, sailing, surfing, wind surfing, and outrigger canoeing are available at most hotels.

Golf, helicopter rides and horseback riding, tennis, hang gliding, jeep safaris, and para-sailing are available at several locations.

Shopping

Black Pearls are cultivated only in French Polynesia. They are sold in many stores and come in many sizes, shapes, qualities and prices. If you plan to purchase them, go to a local jewelry store at your home and learn how to determine what’s good. Single pearls can run from $400 up.

Local paintings and handicraft items are available at many locations and prices. Hand painted pareos, T-shirts, painting, and seashell items are run from inexpensive to very expensive.

Local fruits and liqueurs can be purchased, but restrictions apply if you plan to bring them back home.

Phone calls

Local and inter-island phone calls can only be made using a French Polynesia Phone Card. These can be purchased at most hotels and post offices. You can not use coins. The smallest phone card is 1000 CFP or $10 US.

Calls to the US must be made through the long distance operator. This can take some time, so immediate calls to the states are difficult.

ATT, MCI or Sprint calling cards typically don’t work.

Entertainment:

Nightclub style entertainment is very limited.

Most hotels have a Polynesian Style Dinner Show. This is similar to a Hawaiian luau. There are both lunch or dinner shows. The lunch show being less expensive and better for taking photos.

So call us at 800-861-6747 for more information and to book your trip.

The Only Way to Travel
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Columbus, Ohio 43213
614-861-6747
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