French Polynesia Travel Forum

I have been enjoying everyone tips and photos. They add to my anticipation and excitement of my upcoming trip.
I still have a couple questions:

What is the conversion rate for GFP? I've seen GFP referred to in the tips but when I use VT travel tools it's not shown nor is it shown on my swing thru google.

Where have most of you traded your dollars for GFP?

I see so many tips about searching out deals on Black Pearls. I've been doing some homework but would still appreciate any further thoughts anyone may offer.

Thanks all!

Have you seen this currency converter, it converts all currencies into Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF - not GFP):

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/pacific/french-polynesia/currency.htm

The change is was fix with French Franc (18:1) now is fix with EUR
100 Central Pacific Franc = 0.83800 Euro
100 Euro (EUR) = 11,933.2 Central Pacific Franc
so if you just know how much is USD vs EUR...
the best place to change money is at FAA airport(Tahiti), there is a bank there and it's open only when there are the international flight, so it will be open at niht and closed at noon. When it will be close, there at airport, there are changing machine and they work also with c/c.
The fee for changing money is fix, it's not expensive and it doesn't matter how much you chance 1 or 10.000 it will be the same, I suggest to calcolate about how much you need, take care in many places (islands) credit cards are not accepted and banks (if one is there) are working few hours and not all days. No worries about crime, the only danger places could be Moorea and all those place where there are many tourist or western people (what a strange!), if you went to Moorea, close always your car, lock the door.... no problem on other island, many nights I slept with the window opened, there the most danger things are coconuts, stay away palms!!! it's not a joke!!
enjoy FP... I wish I'd go back there, but the flight is always quite expensive and not less then 22 hours each way for me... once there it's possible to pay not too much, there are a lot of 'petite hotelerie'.

Thanks to you both for the quick answers.

Can either of you tell me how to pronounce some of the names of the islands

Is Papeete - phonetically Pa Pete or as I have Pa Pe Et a

More like: Pa-pe-e-te.

Phonetically:

Pa like a in car
pe like a in had
e like ea in head/wet
te again like e in head/wet

Thanks so much!

It would be great if you could give some feedback after your trip, for example about the acceptance of credit cards, etc.

Will you go on a cruise or travel individually?

As we will be going on a cruise in June I would be very interested to hear back from you.

Hi Jelw,
I hope you'll have a great time in French Polynesia, and wish I could be there, too, again.

You have some good advice above on the French Polynesian Franc, variously abbreviated as xpf and cpf. I'd also change money right upon arrival at the airport. The airport, Faa'a (yep, three A's) is pronounced "fa-ah-ah". Tahitian has a lot of vowels, and the apostrophe generally indicates a dropped consonant. Papeete is pronounced by English-speakers as "pah-pay-ay-tay," and "pah-peht" by French speakers. The language is actually very easy, as long as you remember to pronounce each vowel as it appears in a word. There are phrase books at the bookstores in town, and in some hotel gift shops.

Crime: I'd have a little amendment to what Cgf wrote, as there is some petty crime in Tahiti -- don't go alone on dark beaches at night, lock your doors, and your rental car, if you have such.

Black pearls: They are expensive in Tahiti, and also in the outer islands, although if you are in the Tuamotus, where they are produced, there are sometimes better deals. (They cost less in the Cook Islands, which also cultivate them.) You might want to study up a bit to make sure you know the difference between real pearls (which always have slight imperfections) and their plastic imitations (they look perfect -- but buyer beware). Good luck, and we'd love to hear your report post-trip.

Wow terrific insight, so helpful Marianne2.
Though I am marginally aware about pearls I can also use all the education available from more knowledgeable travelers. Half the reason I travel is to learn.

I am doing a private travel "tour" (isn't that an oxy moron!) on the Paul Gauguin. The cruise ship has been hired privately and I was fortunate enough to be invited.
I am a sailor by nature so I am looking forward to getting some sailing in whilst there but it will be very limited. Any insights here would be so appreciated.

I will certainly make tips, add photos and haunt the FP forum upon my return.

You have all been such a wonderful help. Your input just adds to the marvelous anticipation.

You will have a terrific time on the Paul Gauguin -- a great ship and you're so lucky to be on a private charter.

I'm a sailor, too, and spent a fair bit of time in F.P. in past years sailing my own boat around the islands. I'm not sure what the saiboat charter industry is like there right now, but you'll see private yachts of all nationalities everywhere, and sometimes you can pick up an extemporaneous "ride." Some of the main places the sailboats anchor/moor are:

-- Tahiti: Right on the main quai in the center of town (stern-to moorage), and also in the anchorage off the Maeva Beach hotel over on the leeward side.
-- Moorea: Both Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay, and also off some of the hotels.
-- Huahine: Town of Fare anchorage.
-- Raiatea: Anchorages and moorage on the island's north side, not far from the main town.
-- Bora Bora: Anchorage and great hang-out spot at the Yacht Club (assuming it's still in business). Just ask anyone for directions.

The weather there is just about to enter the good tradewind season (April-October), but you're still on the edge of the rainy season, so you might want to take a light foul weather jacket. Bon voyage!

Wow. wow. I am so very excited. I will certainly put this information to good use.

The one thing you need to be SURE to do on the cruise ...
Is to go on the most interesting tour In Polynesia .
Go on Mark Eddowes Archaeology Tour on Moorea .
" Hiking Trails of the Ancients"
He does a lecture on the ship that is not to be missed !
Its an easy downhill Walk, through the Beautiful valley of Opunohu .
You see ancient Tahitian Temples and village sites .
Mark is a super interesting guide and Opunohu Valley is the Pearl of the Pacific.

Also as far as plastic pearls... no such thing..
One way pearls are graded is by the amount of imperfections.
The most valuable pearls have NO imperfections .
You also look for color, clarity ,luster and size.
Check Tahia Collins Black Pearl web site .
For info on grading pearls .