The country of French Polynesia and its collection of 118 islands including Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea are some of the most romantic, unique, and idyllic islands in the world. With its crystal-clear waters, overwater bungalows, plethora of marine life, and tranquil tropical weather, the South Pacific Islands of Tahiti are a must visit for any traveler looking to unplug, unwind, and surrender to the art of relaxation.
Our blissful Bora Bora experience at the Four Seasons Bora Bora
The currency is the Franc: The Islands of Tahiti have their own currency: The Pacific Franc also known as the XPF or CPF. The currency exchange with the Euro is a fixed conversion at 100 XPF to .838 Euro. It’s recommended to take out cash at PPT airport as some islands don’t have ATM’s.
The languages are French & Tahitian: The official languages in French Polynesia are French and Tahitian. While it’s not an official language, English is spoken in all hotels you’ll have no problem getting by if you’re staying at a hotel.
Best Time to Travel: While many say there is no bad time to travel to French Polynesia, April to October is the dry season in Tahiti and the best time to go. Temperatures will be in the 70’s and 80’s, breezy and dry. The “wet” months bring warmer weather, humidity, and the potential for storms. The locals told us as their personal favorite times were May and the latter half of September.
You fly into PPT: The main airport in French Polynesia and the Islands of Tahiti is Faa’a International Airport (also known as Tahiti International Airport), or PPT. This is located on the main island of Tahiti. There are direct flights from San Francisco on United Airlines, from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui, and from Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. Once you arrive in Tahiti, you’ll be able to take a domestic hopper flight or ferry to one of the many islands. If you need to stay overnight, we recommend staying at the Intercontinental, which is less than two miles from the airport.
Everything is VERY expensive: Everything on the islands of Tahiti is expensive – especially the food and alcohol. If you’re staying at a nice resort, prepare to spend $75 – 100/meal without alcohol. If you can, try to have breakfast included in your resort rate as breakfasts usually cost $50+ and can add up very quickly. If you have a large breakfast, you may be able to skip lunch as well!
Buy Duty Free Alcohol when you LAND at PPT: Alcohol is very expensive once you leave the main island of Tahiti and head to your resort (cocktails at the Four Seasons Bora Bora were $25!). Bottles could be marked up 10x+ normal retail value. If you’re interested in popping bottles on a budget, upon landing at PPT, head to duty free and stock up. You will not be able to do this once you leave the international terminal.
The Four Seasons Bora Bora is worth every penny!
Baggage Allowance: While your international flight may not limit the weight of your baggage, Air Tahiti weighs every piece of luggage including hand luggage. You’ll be limited to 5kg/person on the inter-island flights on Air Tahiti.
Whale watching season: If you’re interested in enjoying whale watching or even swimming with humpback whales (yes, you read that right), then you’ll want to visit French Polynesia between August and October. Humpback whales head to the islands of Tahiti including Moorea and Bora Bora to give birth to their young in the crystal clear, warm waters. If you do want to swim with the humpback whales, we recommend booking multiple trips since there is no guarantee that the whales will be cooperative.
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