Cheapest place to stay in Tahiti?

Accomodations in Papeete are of poor value but due to flight and boat schedules sometimes you have to overnight there. I had mentioned Pension Teamo previously. It has now become Hostel Teamo and has a web site.

teamohostel@mail.pf
teamohostel@caramail.com
kay@mail.pf
(689)42 47 26
(689)42 00 35
(689) 43 56 95 Fax

8, rue du Point Neuf

Dorm rooms are available at 2200 cfp, a private room is 5500 cfp.

A kitchen is accessible for guests.

On their Web site they provide a handy map showing you how to get there after you get off the Le Truck from the airport.

Their online reservation form seems to suggest that they want a deposit in travelers checks but I noticed that they accept Visa and Mastercard. Be safe and either fax or call in your credit card information. Don't email it.

A New Air Connection between Tahiti and Rarotonga

Yesterday it was announced that a code share between Air Tahiti and Air Rarotonga will commence on April 3rd for flights between Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and Papeete, French Polynesia.
Air New Zealand is abandoning that route at the beginning of April.

The flights will be on Tuesdays and Saturdays in both directions.
On Tuesday the flight from Tahiti is at 7:15 am, arriving in Rarotonga at 9:55 am.
On Saturday the flight from Tahiti is at 12:15 am, arriving in Rarotonga at 2:55 pm.

Returning from Rarotonga on Tuesday the flight departs at 10:55 am and arrives in Tahiti at 1:40 pm.
On Saturday the flight departs Rarotonga at 3:55 pm and arrives in Tahiti at 6:40 pm.

Tahitipresse reported that the fares will be "from US$ 249/€ 192 to US$ 356/€ 275" for a one way.

It is already possible to book the flights on the Air Rarotonga Web site; there is no mention on Air Tahiti's site. The fares shown on Air Rarotonga's site (NZD 349 for a thrifty fare and NZD 499 for a fully flexible fare) are equivalent to the Tahitian prices.

Tahiti on a Rockbottom Budget - Part 4

Another option for Moorea is Mark's Place Paradise aka Haapiti Camping
(689) 56 43 02
(689) 78 93 65
Skype Phone: marksmoorea
mark@marks-place-paradise.com
PK 23.5

Mark's is located on the southwest side of Moorea. To reach Mark's one would take the southbound Le Truck from the ferry. If you were traveling from Te Motu Iti to Mark's you would take the Le Truck to the ferry and then take the other Le Truck to Mark's.

Though away from the more touristed areas of the island, everyone who has stayed here has raved about this place.

They offer dorms for 2000 and 2500.
Camping for 1050 per person.
A private room for two, 5000.
Cooking facilities are available.
They rent bikes and kayaks for 1000 a day (a very good rate).

They accept credit cards.

Tahiti on a Rockbottom Budget - Part 3

After a couple of days at Te Motu Iti head to the west coast of Moorea (the Petit Village area). There you will find Camping Nelson and Moorea Camping. These are not only for campers. They are on the longest stretch of beach in Moorea, with beautiful sunsets.

Camping Nelson
(689) 56 15 18
campingnelson@mail.pf
PK 27.1
A two bed dorm for 2000 for the first night, 1600 for subsequent nights.
A private room for 1 or 2 (double bed) is 4800 for one night, 4300 for subsequent nights.
Camping is 1200 per person.
For more money you can have your own fare.
There are communal cooking facilities, shops and restaurants are nearby.

Moorea Camping
(689) 56 14 47
no longer has a Web site
Their email einui@hotmail.com no longer works.
(That's not unusual in French Polynesia.)
PK 27.5
They have a similar set-up to Camping Nelson with prices reported to be slightly less. Their communal kitchen/dining area has a water view.

Moorea Camping does an inexpensive Shark & Ray Feeding excursion, for guests it's only 1500, 2000 for non-guests.

Tahiti on a Rockbottom Budget - Part 2

I recommend basing yourself in two different pensions during your stay in Moorea (reasons to be explained).

In Moorea take Le Truck (300) to Pension Te Motu Iti.

This pension is lagoon side on the peninsula between Cooks and Opunohu bays, close to the Sheraton hotel. A dorm bed will cost less than 2000.

The reason for the recommendation is that for me the magnificent bays are the highlight of Moorea. At Te Motu Iti you will have access to free kayaks (both singles and doubles). They have plenty of them. You can spend the day exploring.

The best snorkeling on Moorea is reputed to be in this area. You can snorkel from the Te Motu Iti (no beach but they have an overwater room available to all) or from the beach at the Sheraton. (Swimming and snorkeling among the overwater bungalows in $800 a night waters sure feels good.)

The drawback to the location and why I recommend only staying maybe two nights is the lack of cooking facilities and inexpensive meal options.

There is a restaurant on the premises. It's no longer open all day (and they no longer do the Sunday Tahitian lunch.) Budget around 1500 for the cheapest dinner.

There is a small pizzeria/hamburger place between the Pension and the Sheraton.

There are two supermarkets about 5 km (3 miles) away in PaoPao at the head of Cook’s Bay. It’s a nice walk. There is a small shop (magasin) past the Sheraton (around 2 km from the Pension). Check with the pension as to the hours of operation of the stores. There is also a “Snack” restaurant in Cooks Bay.

If you are heading to Cooks Bay stop by the Moorea Fruit Juice Factory at PK 12. It's open Monday - Saturday from 9 am - 4 pm and you can sample their liquers for free.

Photo courtesy of Tahiti Tourisme

Tahiti on a Rockbottom Budget - Part 1

If you arrive in the middle of the night you can spend the night at the airport. See sleeping in airports. There will be others doing it too. It's not a comfortable place to sleep with plastic bucket seats, hard floors and few benches. Some folks bring inflatable airbeds to sleep on.

You might want to bring some snacks with you and pack a bottle of water in your checked luggage so you don't have to pay 350 at the airport for a small one.

If you arrive in the evening you can take Le Truck (200 fare after 6pm) downtown and stay at Pension Teamo.
8, rue du Pont Neuf - Mission
teamohostel@mail.pf
2300 for a dorm

Or walk out of the airport and take the walkway to the right of the car ramp. Walk to the main road, cross the street and go halfway up the hill,
Pension Chez Fifi will be on your left.
(689) 82 63 30
Dorms are around 2000

There have been some pretty dismal reviews of the above places on Bugpacific. However, I have heard that Teamo now has new management and people who have stayed there recently have recommended it.

Otherwise the Tahiti Airport Motel has dorms for 3,500.

In the morning take Le Truck (daytime fare 130) downtown. You can head over to the market area and get breakfast.

A cup of coffee is a pricey 250. Croissants and pastries are 100 and up. You can get a really nice and large baguette "hero" or "submarine" sandwich for around 250.

If you plan to walk around a while the Tourist Office will hold your luggage for free. Their hours of operation are:

Monday to Fridays 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday 8 am to noon and then 1 pm to 4 pm
Sunday and Holidays 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

The days that cruise ships arrive someone is there Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm.

Let me also note that the Tourist Office has very nice and clean restrooms.

Next stop is the Moorea ferry. Approximately 2000 for a round trip (aller retour).

New routes for Round the Worlders

Back in October Air New Zealand announced changes to its Pacific schedules effective April 2nd 2007. I've noticed that folks planning RTW trips are not yet aware of these.

Air New Zealand will no longer fly from Papeete to Rarotonga (and there is no other way to travel directly between French Polynesia and the Cook Islands). Their flights from Los Angeles to Papeete will be via Air Tahiti Nui as a codeshare. Two of their flights to Auckland from Papeete will be via Air Tahiti Nui as a codeshare.

What this means is that if you are traveling from Easter Island you would go to Papeete, as before. From Papeete your onward choices would be to Noumea, New Caledonia (Air Calin), Honolulu (Hawaiian Airlines), Los Angeles (Air Tahiti Nui), Auckland (Air Tahiti Nui , Air New Zealand), Sydney (Air Tahiti Nui ), and Tokyo (Air Tahiti Nui ).

Connections to other Pacific islands are available in New Caledonia via Air Calin (Wallis and Futuna) and Air Vanuatu (Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands). Connections to other Pacific islands from Hawaii are via Hawaiian Airlines (American Samoa) and Continental (Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Palau, Northern Marianas).

The only way to reach Easter Island is via Lan Chile from either Santiago or Papeete.