Travel Answers

We are planning our honeymoon and we both like the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and the Intercontinental Resort. Price difference isn't really an issue. We want really great service, food, and an awesome over water bungalow. Can't decide between the two can anyone help?

How did you previous visitors to Bora Bora call Home?
I lilve in California and have Smart Phone service with AT&T.

I am told that our Hotel will have WiFi.

Will Google Voice work - calling from Bora Bora to California?

How do I get a Virtual Tourist Flag to take along on my vacation?

Any guidelines on Drinking Water? Should I stick to bottled water only. Should I avoid Ice in any beverage?

What type of Electrical Plug Adaptor should I bring to Bora Bora. I have read that the Hotels provide them, but I want to bring one just in case.

Should I book excursions before I leave for the islands or should I wait and do it through my hotel?

My husband and I love sandy beaches and snorkeling. We want to be close to restaurants and activity. Which part of the island is best for those things?

I found a company on Moorea that does tranfers from the dock to Cooks Bay for 1000 XPF/person each way based on two people. Is there such a thing on Tahiti? I don't want to pay the horrible taxi fair and I don't know how well Le Truk will work with my dive gear luggage? I look forward to your answers :o)
Sharkbait

Hi,

Does anyone have a map with the OWB at the IC Le Moana? I would be interested on a map that shows the bungalow numbers. The ones I could find on the internet show only the bungalow disposal, but not their numbers.
We have booked an OWB horizon, any room tips?
Thanks!

Hi,
we are planning to go to Bora Bora end of July. Since we prefer to pay cash in restaurants, shops, etc, could anyone tell me where is the best to exchange our money? Should we do it in Tahiti, before arriving to the island? I am thinking maybe the exchange rate on the island is not as good.
Thanks in advance!

Our Air Tahiti Nui flight from and to California has a one bag weight allowance of 50 lbs per passenger. The Air Tahiti Interisland flight has a check-in bag weight limit of 44 lbs. I am told that our bags will be transferred to Air Tahiti once we land in Papeete so there should be no issue going to Bora Bora if we are between 50 and 44 lbs.
What about on the going home flight? If we are over 44 lbs when we check-in with Air Tahiti in Bora Bora, will we be penalized or does that fact that we are connecting to an International Flight give us the 50 lbs allowance with no penalty. We would like to do a little shopping in Bora Bora.

When we return home to the U.S. from Bora Bora we will of course be connecting to our U.S. flight via Papeete.
Will our checked bags with Air Tahiti be transferred to our Air Tahiti Nui flight automatically at Papeete? We will have to check-in with Air Tahiti Nui in Papeete - will we still be in the Secure Zone or do we leave the Secure Zone to check-in at the Air Tahiti Nui Ticket counter to get our boarding passes , go through Security again and then go to our departure gate?

We are flying into Tahiti via Air Tahiti Nui and then taking Air Tahiti Interisland flight to Bora Bora. Are the carry-on restrictions for Air Tahiti (Interisland) at one bag at no more than 6.6 pounds for real? Any way to get around this?

My wife and I will be staying at Le Meridien Resort. How do we get to the Viatape area once we are dropped off by the Resort Shuttle Boat? What is the best way to get around the Main Island for shopping and sightseeing. We know that our Resort will be able to make dinner reservations and the Restaurant will pick us up.

Is this a good choice without going too high end? Do they have meal plans and how is the Internet access and phone service for calling back to the United States?

I have never been to bora bora but plan on taking a vacation with my boyfriend. What is a nice hotel/resort to stay at with a reasonable price?

Hi everyone, does anybody know if banks in Paris chance Pacific Francs into Euros? I've recently gone to Bora Bora and I got home a few XPFs... A shame, but the airport bank was closed by the time I was coming back home (and also in my arrival). Thanks in advance. Alex

Our Honeymoon is booked and we arrive April 28th at the Pearl Beach Resort on Bora Bora!!! So excited! It is imperative that I stick to a budget while visiting here because to be honest I couldn't afford to book this trip to begin with! It is a gift from my parents, this Honeymoon vacation of a lifetime, and I am so very thankful! However, I will have a budget of about 2500 US dollars to work with for 2 people! I want to be able to snorkel and do some excursions but everything is so expensive, and while we do have breakfast at our Resort covered, we still have to factor in Lunch and Dinner, which especially at the Pearl is very expensive! Oh well, I think I can make this work anyways, but I just wanted some advice from you all! I want to kayak from our resort (Pearl Beach) and snorkel areas I have been researching, but since there are sharks and I'm not an experienced snorkeler I wanted to know if this was getting a little too risky? I figure since all reviews I read say that snorkeling is safe in Bora Bora that this would be okay to do, but most of those reviews are almost always definitely "guided tours." I hope nobody thinks of my as complaining here either, I am an avid traveler but French Polynesia is the cream of the crop, and the pricetag definitely says a lot about how much people give up to get here! I just don't have that much money and want to be able to get by on some cheaper meals if possible and still be able to do excursions, or at least find out if I can do some of these by myself??

We will be in Papeete for a full day on an Oceania Cruise in mid-January and are looking for a quality service to provide a full day tour of the area. We had originally booked through Viator which uses Tahiti-Nui Travel. Unfortunately, they subsequently canceled our tour saying their group capacity was full. We also have heard that one of the cruiselines uses them and limits the number of cruise passengers the agency can book directly as a condition of using their services. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks. Carl

I am planning a trip to Tahiti in July/August 2013 and I was wondering ig anyone had a ball park figure as to what packages run for that time frame. Thank you!

What kind of electrical plug is used in French Polinesia? Whats the limit of baggage between islands? Is there possibility to pay for exccedent weight? How much it cost? Thanx

Having problem understanding the exchange rate. My wife and I will be traveling to BB in Jan 2013 . If the price of an activity is listed as 54.500 CPF, how much is this in american dollars. We have not traveled outside the usa and will be celebrating our 51st anniversary.

Hi everyone, I'm going to FP next week and I like to know the best place to chance my dollars into XPF. I'm arriving in Papeet late at night (23:00) and I'm going to Moorea in the morning. Should I make the conversion at the airport? Are their rates too unfair? Are there banks downtown in Morrea and BB, where the rates are better? Thanks in advance.

We'll be in Nuku Hiva in mid-January for a day on a cruise. Can anyone recommend a reliable qualified agency that does tours of the area? Carl

Can anyone recommend a reliable source for a snorkeling tour by catamaran in Moorea? We'll be there in mid-January on a cruise, so an agency that picks up from the cruise terminal would be the most convenient. Carl

got any names of afordable b&b's50-75 US in Tahiti

Looking for some advice: I've read somewhat contradictory things about the maraamu trade winds that blow around July. In short, I want to visit several of the islands next July, and this would include doing a lot of snorkeling. Is the weather/wind really that disruptive during that time for snorkeling? Would it be a problem only on some of the isles?

I am wondering if it is possible to travel around the different resorts and eat at their restuarans? We are straying at the INC Thelasso and would like to eat at other resorts, St Regis and Four Seasons. Is this possible to do???

We are thinking of renting villa at one of these 2 properties which are in similar location - wondering if any Feedback as to one vs. other? Also, if you have any recommendations of self catering properties for 3 nights that may be available in October, let me know - most appear to be booked.... Thanks! Karen

Hi - we are looking for smaller places to stay - ideally small place for 2 with kitchenette - we are going in Oct and many places appear to be booked- what appears to be a new listing seems available and it is called Ecolodge Cooks Beach (not to be confused with Ecolodge Cooks Bay) There are no reviews on this property so wondering if name/owner change or new - let me know if you have any feedback on this property - thanks! Karen