French Polynesia - What to Expect

yeah brad, trop power tahiti pei!

Alfredo's a typical tourist trap in Polynesia is actually quite entertaining if you go on a Thursday evening.  Ron, an American expat living in Moorea for a few decades entertains guests playing his ukulele and singing...he takes requests and does a great Je ne regrette rien by Edith Piaf.On the whole food is ok, not true authentic Italian cuisine but good enough.  Their drink menu is excellent, there is a large variety and each one we tried was delicious!

Hieva festival rocks!

Raiatea, L'ile "habité" la plus proche de Bora... il y a meme un marquage au sol sur les routes, des ronds-points, un feu tricolore... l'ile est grande pour faire le tour de l'ile, Le mieu est de louer une voiture (voire avec le garage en centre ville, les voitures sont mieu que celles qui sont dans le garage à l'exterieur la ville). Le faire en vélo comme à Bora Bora ou Maupiti est faisable, mais si on reste une seule journée à Raiatea, c'est fortement déconseillé... le maupiti express part trop tot, et on ne profite presque pas de l'ile. Pour manger, je deconseille le restaurant en face du quai pour les gros bateau et à l'angle de la rue... enfin, si vous y allé, n'allais surtout pas au toilettes hahaha... enfin, meme apres plus de 6 mois en Polynésie... ça fait "un Choc", je croyais que ça n'existait que dans les restaurants Parisien de TF1 pour le 13h. Raiatea... une ile a voir... puis il y a aussi les cascades, ça change de se baigner dans l'eau douce...

We stayed at Le Meridien Bora Bora in November 2004, which was a privately owned, licensee of the hotel chain. It is on a motu, which is one of the small sandbar like-islands that make up the ring that forms Bora Bora's famous lagoon (it also generally keeps the Sharks out.) I highly recommend the Meridien as some of the other hotels are on the main island and are also a little bit old. We stayed in an over-water bungalow that has spiral staircases that walk you right into the lagoon. We also got the canoe delivered Polynesian breakfast, and had a glass bottomed floor so my wife and I could wave at each other from underneath the bungalow. No pictures or words do the place justice. The hotel had the best creme brulee I have ever had (must be the vanilla) and a variety of things to do at the resort. The boat ride from the airport itself was an adventure, too. Also, take the sail-canoe tour at Sunset with Franck.

Everybody goes to Bloody Mary's which is the famous restaurant on the island. Seafood and all else was awesome. The dining room is like a bunch of tables set up in an indoor beach.

Be wary of sunburn, you would think because of the purity of Polynesian environment that the Sun wouldn't burn you...my dark skin literally can not burn in Hawaii...but it sure did in Bora Bora and made for a slightly uncomfortable trip that would have been perfect otherwise. Also, the best advice I ever received and didn't follow, was to cut my trip short on Tahiti, to extend on Bora Bora. Don't make the same mistake I did. You only need one or two days max on Tahiti for Pearl Shopping etc.

Hotel Bora Bora, Amanresorts http://www.amanresorts.com

When on Mauptit, ask a local to indicate you the way to the top of the old vulcano. The view up there is amazing, and takes you through undangerous lush jungle.

a partir de tahiti, a 21 km environ, trajet rapide en bateau, une île formidable et paradisiaque à conserver le plus possible telle quelle

You can find cheap food in the market amongst which are: burger and fries in a baguette, chicken and fries in a baguette and my personal favourite, pak choi, pork, mix veg and soft noodles in a baguette. All for the equivlant of £1. Beats having to pay £20 for burger and fries from the hotel.Also if you are exploring Papeete, at 6pm food caravans come out around the harbour area - opposite the main shopping district. Food is cheap and delicious, highly recommended.

weeeeell, depending on funds, a visit to hotel bora bora leaves no questions unanswered!!!