BUSINESS HOURS- Shops are open from Monday to Friday 7.30am to 11.30am and from 1.30pm to 5pm/6pm. Saturdays from 7.30am to 11.30am. Some shops are also open afternoons. Most places are closed on Sunday including many restaurants, except for the Papeete market, which is very busy from 5 in the morning. There you can find a wide variety of flowers, food, pareos, hats, mother of pearl, art objects and a variety of souvenirs.
CLIMATE- Polynesia enjoys warm, tropical weather year round, with 2 main seasons. The months from November through March are warmer and humid. A drier season runs from April to October. The average year-round temperature is 78 degrees F, and the average water temperature is in the low 80s.
CLOTHING- Tahiti averages a comfortable 80 degrees throughout the year so dress requirements are understandably casual. Bring summer clothes. Comfortable and cool, natural fabrics such as cotton sundresses or T-shirts make perfect daytime wear. For daytime wear on the outer islands, shorts, bathing suits and the local pareo-a sarong-like wraparound garment- are ideal. Slacks and a golf shirt for men, and light dresses and resort wear for women are appropriate evening wear. Between June and September, evenings may occasionally be cool enough to warrant a light sweater or if you take boat or mountain trips.
And even though tropical rain showers are refreshing rather than chilling, a light weight rain coat that folds to fit into a pocket or purse may also come in handy.
An old pair of tennis shoes or plastic sandals are good to have for walking on corals or on the reef. Be sure to pack sunglasses, a hat or sun visors, sunblock creams (intense reflection off the lagoons) and a powerful anti-mosquito lotion (useful in the islands and certain seasons)
CREDITS CARDS- Major credit cards such as American Express, Visa and Master Card are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops. It is always best to confirm current policy direct with each establishment.
CURRENCY- The local currency is the
CFP -Central Pacific Franc- (the currency code is
XPF).
Banks, located on each island and at Tahiti's International Airport generally give a slightly better rate of exchange than hotels.
A word of warning: some atolls and islands in the Austral and Gambier group have no banking facilities.
In Tahiti, 2 extra foreign exchange offices are available: the Faaa International Airport office (from Monday to Friday from 7.30am to Noon and from 12.45pm to 4 pm as well as 1 hour before departures and after arrivals of international flights); and the Overseas Passenger wharf on the Papeete waterfront (open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and from 7am to 1pm Sundays and holidays).
The following forms of payment are accepted: all legal bank notes, international credit cards, and travelers checks (an exchange commission is charged on the latter)
CUSTOMS- All non-prohibited items brought in by tourists for their personal use, provided these are re-exported within six months, are allowed in free of duty.
Some products such as tobacco, alcohol, perfume, coffee and tea are permitted in limited quantities. For their personal needs, travelers may bring with them: either 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars; 2 liters of alcohol, champagne or wine; 50g of perfume, a quarter liter of Eau de Toilette; 500g of coffee and 100 g of tea.
Travelers less than 17 years of age are not entitled to duty-free tobacco or alcohol.
All telecommunications and radio equipment requires an import license. Please contact the Office of the High
Commissioner for French Polynesia, Postal and Telecommunications Division: Tel (689) 46-86-86, extension 630.
Strictly prohibited imports: live animals*, all plant material (unless with an international phytosanitary certificate), flowers and fruits (unless specially authorized), copies and pearls originally grown in Polynesia. Naturally, the following are also prohibited: weapons, munitions and narcotics.
*For further information, contact the Department of Agriculture, BP100, Papeete, Tahiti
or at Tahiti-Faaa Airport Tel: (689) 82-49-99 from 7am to 11am and from 1pm to 4pm, or visit their website.
DINING -In general, meals prices in Tahiti are comparable to those in other resort destinations such as Kauai, Maui or even Newport Beach, California. Most restaurant have a la carte menus so that you won't have to order a complete meal if all you want is a small salad. Meal plans are available prior to the start of your trip and will generally represent a cost savings.
ELECTRICITY- Electric voltage is 220V (60Hz), and most hotels have 110V outlets for electric razors. A converter/adapter kit will generally be needed for other appliances. Check before plugging in!
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS- For updated information, travelers should consult the
French Consulate.
It is solely the passenger's responsibility to ensure that all documents needed are complete and current.
All passengers entering French Polynesia must have a valid passport (good for
6 months past return date) and an outbound ticket.
French nationals only require a National Identity Card for a stay in Polynesia. However, they are strongly advised to obtain a passport valid for six months longer than their return date, in case of any extended or unforeseen stopover in the United States.
The following countries citizens can
stay up to 3 months with no visa: EEC (European Economic Community), Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta,
Monaco, Norway, St. Martin, Switzerland and the
Vatican.
The following countries citizens can stay up to 1 month with no visa: Argentina,
Australia, Bermuda, Brunei, Canada, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
South Korea, the United States of America and Uruguay.
Citizens of other countries from South America, Africa and Asia
need to apply for a visa before entering French Polynesia.
Please note that visas for France are not valid for French Polynesia.
Visas may be obtained from the French Embassy or French Consulate in the
country of residence. The visa must be endorsed: "Valid for French
Polynesia". Plan a minimum of 3 weeks for delivery of your visa to the French
Consulate.
Finally, there are no work visas nor resident visas...
HEALTH- Polynesia has modern medical and dental services, pharmacies, private clinics and a large hospital in Tahiti. The outer islands have hospitals or dispensaries, and private practitioners. Take care not to over-expose your body to the tropical sun, and pack a good waterproof sunscreen. Although tap water in hotels and restaurants is generally safe to drink, we recommend bottled water which is sold by all hotels.
LANGUAGE-French (official language) and Tahitian are the main languages. English is understood and spoken in the hotels as well as most shops and restaurants.
LUGGAGE WEIGHT -For inter-island flights, the weight limit per person is 20kg (42lbs), hand luggage not included.
OVERWATER BUNGALOWS- The development of a few micro-organisms on the stilts and access ladders can sometimes provoke some allergies in sensitive persons. It is better not to brush up against them.
SECURITY- Theft is rare in French Polynesia, but unfortunately, it does exist. When you step out of your room, try not to leave anything visible (bags, jewels, money or papers) in your room or in your rental car. Most of the hotels have in-room safe boxes, please use them. When you leave your room/bungalow, you can avoid any outside temptation by remembering to close the doors and maybe windows also.
SNORKELING- Most of the time, hotels will provide with fins, masks and snorkels. Do not touch anything with your hands as you may hurt yourself or destroy the coral.
The lagoon is alive and has a very fragile marine ecosystem. As much as possible, please observe the following guidelines:
-Do not touch: Some coral species can be harmful and touching them might irritate your skin.
-Watch your fins: Don't stand on corals or swim too close.
-Do not collect species, Do not move species: You might harm them.
-Do not feed the turtles, Do not scare them: In some hotels, the turtles in the lagoon are under observation ( with the authorization of the ministry of environmental
control.)
SWIMMING- Try and avoid to go swimming: 1/ Just after a meal, 2/ After having absorbed alcoholic beverages or medicine,3/ After having exposed yourself to the sun for a lengthy period of time, 4/ If you feel tired or unwell in any other manner.
Always step progressively into the water wetting your neck and your stomach.
According to meteorological conditions, a current sometimes appears. Be vigilant prior to stepping into the water.
If you wish to go on the reef or walk in the water, the use of shoes is highly recommended in order to avoid injuries or cuts caused by the coral or sea urchins.
TAXES & TIPS-There are no sales taxes or other hidden service charges in French Polynesia. Tipping is not customary, and is actually contrary to the Tahitian idea of hospitality. This represents savings to you when compared with other destinations.
TELEPHONE-
To call any country from Tahiti, dial 00+country code+ area code+ number
To call the US from Tahiti, dial 00+1+ area code+ number
To call Tahiti from the US, dial 011+689+ number (local numbers have 6
digits)
All hotels have direct dial but their charge per minute is expensive (up to approx. US$10/minute). Please inquire with your hotel.
There are public phone
booths in all islands and the majority of them is operated with Phone
Cards ("Telecarte").
The telecartes can be purchased at the airport shops, in some bars, at some
magazine stands and at the Post Office.
The telecartes are priced according to time units ("unitιs") pre-loaded in
the card's embedded microchip. While you talk, the card is debited and you can
read on the phone box how many units you have left. Price varies between 1000
and 5000 CFP (approx. between US$10 and US$50) depending on the number of units
purchased.
Cell phone coverage is available in the main islands (or
in some areas) -Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Taha'a, Raiatea, Huahine, Maupiti,
Rangiroa, Fakarava, Manihi, Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Rurutu-
Tikiphone is the local provider in French Polynesia with their VINI network. As
in Europe, a standard GSM 900 MHz network is used.
To use your cell phone in Tahiti, you first have to know if your mobile
operator is one of their Roaming Partners :
If your operator is on the list : You have to check now if your
mobile phone is suitable for their network. Tikiphone uses a GSM 900 network
standard but some operators do not use the same frequencies or bands. Therefore,
to make sure your mobile will work on the Vini network, you should get a dual
band (GSM 900 / 1800) or a tri band (GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900). Roaming charges
will apply!
If your operator is not on the list and if you have an unlocked
multi band phone, you can take your mobile phone in French Polynesia and
buy a refillable Prepaid Vini card (a SIM card to be inserted in your mobile
phone).
But not all GSM phones are compatible or they may be locked by your provider, so
make sure to test a local SIM card in your phone at the shop before buying it. A
VINI card of 35 minutes costs approx. US$65.
With the Vini card, you have a Vini phone number to receive calls and a credit
to make local or international calls (without invoice).
Here are some of the VINI shop resellers:
TIME DIFFERENCE- Tahiti and her Islands are 10 hours different from GMT.
This is 12 hours behind on summer time or 11 hours behind wintertime difference from Paris,
2 hours behind Pacific Standard Time in the US (same time zone as Hawaii)
6 hours different from Santiago Chile,
19 hours from Tokyo and Sydney,
22 hours different from New Zealand
TRAVEL INSURANCE-We strongly advise travelers to always inquire about available insurance plans. In case of emergency interruption of your trip, a travel insurance will allow you to obtain some reimbursement instead of losing your whole payment...
SOME USEFUL LINKS-
Center for Disease Control
US State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets
WORK- Work permits are almost impossible to obtain, unless you have an employer who can be responsible for you. Furthermore, the necessary residency permit is very rarely granted.
