French Polynesia Dos and Don'ts

yeah brad, trop power tahiti pei!

Papeete - town center ... local government, businesses, and commerce. Visitors come through the Papeete airport and make their way to Bora Bora or Moorea. People should stop by, explore the town, maybe stay a night and then move on ... why not visit the real Tahiti while you're in the neighorhood?

Papeete, capital of French Polynesia, meaning waterbasket in Tahitian (pape=water, ete=basket, recipient), is a bustling little city lost in the Pacific. Entry point to French Polynesia, most tourist head on to other islands and don't "waste" much of their time in Papeete. Paradise or city like any other? I would rather opt for city like any other set in Paradise. You can find a number of bars and restaurants, above all the famous roulottes on the main square as well as the big covered market of Papeete (Mapuru a Paraita), worth a visit, boasting local handicraft, flowers and food of any kind. A good place to have a chat with locals. Ia ora na ( Hello in Tahitian)

Beautiful on the outer islands although Papaeete itself is not that great. Shopping/living is expensive here so would advise buying souvenirs from some other part of the world. Not a huge amount of english spoken amongst the locals so either learn french or make sure you are good at playing charades!

Stay at Le Meridien take one sea cabin, go on a shark feeding boat trip, rent a 'very easy very noisy' automobile in mainland and make the tour of the island (20 to 30 minutes), try having your body tatooed in mainland studios (if you dare!), shop local products at the open market in mainland.