French Polynesia Over Water Bungalows for $220 USD!

Amazing but true! A combination of the falling Euro (to which the Tahitian currency is fixed to) and years of declining tourism is finally producing bargains.

I went to Expedia, selected Manihi (in the Tuamotus), entered November 13 - 17th and Voila! A real over-water bungalow - with the glass coffee table that you can see the fish through, your own stairway to the the lagoon at the Manihi Pearl Resort at a rate that a budget traveler, such as myself, could consider splurging on. Just 220.18 US dollars per night. (Expedia also adds $34.36 taxes and fees per night.) When I shortened the stay to three nights the rate went up to $264 per night.

Is there a catch? Yes, it's the food costs. The only restaurants are the resorts and the prices are high. The 2008 food rate sheet is posted online.

American breakfast 2600 xpf
Lunch (set menu) 7900 xpf
Dinner (set menu) 10900 xpf
but MAP (half board) is only 3200 xpf
and AP (full board) is 5600 xpf

Transfers are 1000 xpf each way from the nearby airport. (Again'08 rates).

There is a daily tax of 150 xpf per person, per night due direct to the hotel.

Overwater Bungalows for $293 in Manihi

I checked out Expedia and while they offer the Manihi Pearl Beach Resort $147 Garden bungalow special (on fewer dates and with only a free breakfast) what caught my eye was the Premium Overwater Bungalows for $293 per night including breakfast.

That is a great deal! Imagine yourself staying here:









Snorkeling in the lagoon there has been described as being inside an aquarium.

Manihi Pearl Beach Resort on Sale at Travelocity

On Travelocity select dates are showing Garden rooms at the Manihi Pearl Beach Resort for US$142.77 plus tax including breakfast and dinner.

That is an incredible deal!

On the Pearl Beach Web site they only have last years rate but the rack rate for a Garden room is 28000 or $307 USD. A continental breakfast is 2300 and dinner is 5400.

I put in April 23rd - 26th but the rate is available on many dates in March and April.

This is what I copied from the Travelocity Web site:

Room: Premium Beach Bungalow (2 Adults)
Nightly rates are based upon 2 people in the room.

Two Breakfast and Dinners daily

3 Nights:
Mon, Apr 23 $142.77
Tue, Apr 24 $142.77
Wed, Apr 25 $142.77

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Sum of Nightly Rates: $428.31
Taxes & Fees: $62.58

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Total for 1 Room: $490.89

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There is a daily tax of 150XPF (est. $1.50 USD) per person, per night due direct to the hotel.

Photo courtesy of Tahiti Tourisme.