French Polynesia Travel Forum

We are going to the French Polynesian Islands in August. We plan to have one island to stay on primarily and travel with public ferries to nearby islands for day trips or one night stays.Where should we stay primarily and which islands would be best for day trips. Which ones would be best staying overnight on? Thanks for your advice. Dres

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Dres, the islands are too far apart to do day trips, except for Tahiti/Moorea.

You have to fly into Tahiti as that's the only international airport.

The new ferry Ono-ono goes Tahiti-Bora Bora, for example, but the journey takes at least five hours.

You really need to be looking to fly betwen the islands.

... Well, or you have to give up the idea of basing yourself somewhere and do island hopping.

According to my South Pacific gide there are two ships that go from Papeete to Huahine to Raiatea to Tahaa to Bora Bora - but one only once a week, the other one twice, and the stops are relatively short on each island. (I do not have to bother as I will go on a cruise with longer stops...)

There are also 7 day cruises from Papeete on offer.

Here is quite a good website where you can check your options:

http://www.papeete.com/gethere.html#cars