Tahiti is a beautiful island in French Polynesia, most of the people residing in French Polynesia live there, and it is referred to as the “island of love”. The trip is very, very expensive, but worth it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if you save your pennies and plan ahead! There is wonderful scenery and many things to do and see. Feel free to wander outside of Tahiti during your trip, there, as there are 118 islands in French Polynesia.
Note that Tahiti is both the name for the main island and all of the islands in French Polynesia – all are known as “Tahiti and her islands”. There are two names for it!
StepsPart 1Part 1 of 2:Making Travel Plans
1Consider your budget. It is very expensive to travel to Tahiti, with costs being around $6000, and the food also contributes to the expense. There are ways to reduce the cost, though:Try planning your trip through a travel agency; this is a wonderful way to save cash. The agency should concentrate, or specialize, in French Polynesia. Typically this agency plans trips “in bulk” and gains larger discounts for you. Air Tahiti Nui, the official conveyor of Tahiti, teams up with travel agencies for the best deals.When deciding on a package, make sure you pick one that will give you breakfast every day, which will also save you many pennies, as breakfast buffets in hotels are also very, very expensive.Have a late lunch and make it the largest meal of your day, then eat a light dinner with snacks (and even a drink if you’d like!).Plan your trip in December, March, April or November. From December to March, rates cost less because Bora Bora is raining at the time. This also applies to April and November.
2Decide which airline you wish to travel from. You will need to fly to Tahiti, the main island, which is in the middle of Los Angeles and Sydney, and the flight duration is about 7 hours and a half, and many international airports offer service there. Note that your flight will land in the capital, Papeete, since the only international airport is there. Here are several of the airlines that offer service: Air FranceAir New ZealandQantas (airline in Australia)Corsair (airline in France)Note that there are also flights available in Asia, but they are only in Japan, in Osaka and Tokyo.
3Note the other travel requirements, such as whether you need a visa and how long your passport should be valid.LGBT travelers are absolutely welcome and accepted. There are no laws against LGBT travel at all.No vaccinations are required.In order to travel to Tahiti, your passport should be good for at least three months after the day you return from your vacation. If you have a passport, a visa is not required if you are staying for less than 90 days. You might need a visa if you are not traveling for pleasure/tourism, though (such as if you’re going to Tahiti on a business or research trip).Part 2Part 2 of 2:Navigating the Islands
1Stay in Papeete for awhile. Papeete is the bustling and lively capital of Tahiti. There is so much to see there – many boutiques and stores with French fashions, “shell” jewelry, and local handicrafts. There are also buses which are in the open air and very colorful, and this allows you the opportunity to explore Papeete downtown and meet the locals. There are vistas and landscapes away from Papeete, too, if you wish to check them out. You’ll have a wonderful time! X
2Go to The Marché de Pape’ete. This is Papeete’s main market, and it’s lovely to check out. This will give you a taste of Polynesian life. There are many traditional crafts sold there, such as hats, baskets and “woven goods”. Garments such as sarongs are also sold. So many affordable souvenirs! XThis market is also open from 5am to 6pm, for 13 hours. You can get up early and go there, but it closes early, so be sure to go in time!
3Go to the tamara’a feast – this is very wonderful! At this feast, food is cooked in a hima’a (an oven dug in the ground), covered & wrapped in banana leaves, a hole is covered with sand, and the hole is made airtight. The cooking takes a long time, but you will appreciate the wait as long as the food comes out, tender, soft and falls off the bone ready.
4See the Vai’ete Square, or the Place Vai’ete. You can find it in downtown Papeete; during the day, you can relax and take a slow walk on the waterfront. At night, the Place Vai’ete is full of energy, where you can find very colorful food wagons. They sell the local food and delicious, rich desserts for everyone. Tourists and locals can sample food from grilled calf heart to french crepes, and even Tahitian pizza! XIf you don’t like loud and rowdy places, go during the day where it is calmer and you can enjoy a walk on the waterfront.When you are done with your meal, you can also explore downtown to see some of the nightlife on the island. Feel free to see dance performances, too!Outside of Papeete
1See a Polynesian dance show. Polynesian dance involves shoving your pelvis, swaying your hips, and dancing to a powerful, booming drum beat with pleasurable chanting in the midst of that. Polynesian dance is very attractive and fun!
2Try the local food! There are many delicious local foods in Tahiti that are worth a try – you don’t want to miss out. A few of the options for local food are listed below:
3Try poisson cru, or e’ia ota, which is ahi tuna marinated in lime juice. It is the staple of Tahiti and an extremely popular Tahitian recipe.
4Wander off to other islands. There are 117 islands other than Tahiti to see, and they include Moorea, which is 17 km away, Bora Bora, and much more.Bora Bora is highly recommended to check out; it is incredibly beautiful! There are two majestic and beautiful peaks there, Otemanu and Pahia, and there is also an incredible “backdrop” of an incredible lagoon with multiple colors, which is popularly known as the best one in the entire world.When people see Bora Bora from in-flight, they compare it to a small emerald in turquoise, with a necklace of shining pearls inside – that’s how pretty it is. Life is incredibly chill there.Many new married couples honeymoon in Bora Bora; it is a very romantic place to be.See Moorea, another wonderful island in French Polynesia. It is 12 miles from the main island, Tahiti, and there are wonderful volcanic peaks and clear waters of Opunohu Bay and Cook’s Bay. There are houses painted with pastel with “birds-of-paradise”, as well as content and “simple” villages. Life is also very laid-back. There is also warm air, tropical flowers and beautiful, romantic sunsets which point to the end of a wonderful day.
5See La Plage de Maui. It is a wonderful restaurant next to a beach on “Tahiti Iti”, or small Tahiti. There is also an incredible view of fish right out the window and the wonderful, clear, light blue water. It is open from 10am to 5am. Note that there are very expensive fish dishes; try ordering something for people like a cheaper burger, or something else that people like but isn’t too overpriced. X
6Go to the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands. It is a wonderful museum with four different sections of exhibits: natural history and geography, pre-European culture, what colonization led to, and natural wonders. There is also a beautiful ocean view right outside, and you can see surfers fighting the waves! X
