Travel tips to the French Polynesia

After seeing the film "Six days and Seven nights" with Harrison Ford and Ann Heche, I fell in love with the French Polynesia most of all Tahiti. I decided to visit this part of the world so far away but so beautiful that you can not resist the temptations.

I made my research about this French territory on the internet and travel books like Lonely Planet and some others, drew out my plans and spoke to my hubby, who saw my plan interesting. He added his childhood dream destination Easter Island in Chili and we then started the travel preparations which included booking and buying of flight tickets, making hotel reservations and transfer flights in and around the islands.

Type of transportation:

When traveling to these destinations (Tahiti, its neighbouring islands and Easter Island), you need to determine the parts of the islands you wish to visit. You equally need to consider the means of transportation most suitable as regards your financial capability.

Some people prefer visiting the French Polynesia on a cruse ship, while others prefer arriving by air and visiting the inlands.

Transfer truck at Vaitape Village (le truck Bora Bora)

Visa enquiries:

The French Polynesia is a French territory, not a French department and thus can make their own administrative decisions so if you are one of those who need a visa, you should address your demand to the necessary visa authorities. You can get in formations from the French embassies, consulates and if you are in France, you can get in formations at the prefecture.

Flight reservations:

For the flights, you need to book in advance say at least a month in advance. I advice you reserve your internal flights to, within and from the islands because there are no constant flights and some times there might simply be a flight per week (maybe the carrier services have added more flights that I do not know of). The flights are safe except for a few accidents reported lately.

Flight schedule in and around Polynesia (Tikehau Airport)

Accommodation reservations:

You need to prepare your lodging accommodations. You have different possibilities which can vary from half-board (demi-pension), complete-board (pension-complète) or you can simply book for room in a hotel and eat out in restaurants. My advice is that you take a complete-board(either in hotels or "pension-complète") if you will have to stay in small islands, because it will be very difficult for you to find a restaurant or a supermarket that sells everything you might need for a meal.

If you are visiting Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Tahiti Iti or some bigger Islands, you can make whatever choice you wish to concerning your accommodation. But if you want to spend say your honey moon at the Meridian in Bora Bora, the Pearl beach resort in Tikehau in the Touamotou Archipel, in the Marquise Achipel or some smaller islands, you might want to consider the complete-board, except if you can afford the stress of needing to take the speed boat at all times you wish to eat away from your hotel. And remember, the transfers are at your cost.

Dancing with the locals (Bora Bora)

Mount Otemanu (Bora Bora)

Taking a walk across Vaitape (Bora Bora)

Polynesian dancers

Polynesian islands, seen from the sky

Xmas polynesian dance concert

What to pack:

The Islands are often warm with at most 32°c, so you can pack light. Don't travel like me, remember to be ready for at least a special night out, with a special dress for the ladies and a special party look for the boys. You never know he might be preparing a surprise!

When going to the beach or going for a walk, your sunscreen needs to come handy and always cover your head because the weather can be very scorching.

Take guard:

If you intend to visit the Marquise Island, take care of the tiny insects (nono) that bite mostly in Ua Pou around the natural spring bath. This sort of fly leaves in the sandy paradise beaches, waiting to bite you when you innocently rest on the beach. Apply your mosquito cream all over your body and enjoy your bath.

Ua Pou spring bath

The 7 pillars of the sky, native meaning of Ua Pou (Marquise Islands)

Polynesian tattoo

In general, the French Polynesian travel was a very interesting and an unforgettable journey. The Polynesians are peaceful people and proud of their culture and identity. We met with lovely people, learnt from the mayor as well as the professor of a small community of 400 and 1200 inhabitants respectively. He talked to us of the culture, the beliefs and the difficulties that the Polynesians undergo to import building materials and food stuffs; he said that this is due to the distance that exist between the territory and other neighbouring countries.

Easter Island:

After 3 weeks in Tahiti, we took a 5 day trip to Rapa Nui like the locals call their island. It was a 6 to 7 hours flight from Papeete on the Lan Chile air line. Arriving at the airport, it took the immigration officers a while to find out the immigration rule regarding my nationality.

When I inquired why this was so, they made me understand that I am the first black to visit the Island, they told me they have never seen a black person ever before, except on the television.

This explains the reason why I became a star in Rapa Nui. I only spent 5 days on the Island but I was a friend to almost all the locals. They invited my hubby and I to night clubs and in house parties, I hear people call my name when I walk past the streets and people want to take photo with me. It was a lovely experience.

Tongariki, the 11 Moais of Isla de Pasqua

Orongo volcano (Rapa Nui)

One error we made and wish any future traveller to any distant destination never makes, was that on arrival in Easter Island and after a quick shower, we took to the streets. Guess what, we fell sick that night and learnt our lesson. You should always make a pause after a long flight before pursuing your visit.