Tahiti & Moorea
Written: May 16 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Papeete - great place for shopping. Moorea - great place to relax.
Cons: Not for those expecting ocean waves.
The Bottom Line: Add Tahiti & French Polynesia to your list of places to visit before taking your last breath.
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| hpndcn's Full Review: Tahiti and French Polynesia |
We spent a few days in Tahiti and Moorea in March 2002 (see our separate reports regarding the Sofitel hotels in Tahiti and Moorea). We love the two islands for different reasons, as set forth below.
The local Tahitians, both men and women, are beautiful with their tanned skin, Polynesian / French features, and frizzy hair. It's common for the locals to wear fresh flowers in their hair and wrap themselves in comfortable, colorful cotton pareos. The local women and European tourists prefer to go topless by the water -- something many Americans may not be used to.
Tahiti's capital of Papeete is a vibrant, bustling place with great shops and restaurants. Except for the heat and hot sun, it was wonderful to wander around from shop to shop. (Do bring lots of water, a hat, a backpack, and sunscreen).
We appreciate having the convenient and cheap Le Truck's to get around (about one U.S. dollar each way). It was hard to find out where we were going, and how late the Le Truck's would run, but we managed OK after a while. If you don't mind rubbing shoulders with the locals, riding the Le Truck's is the best way to get around.
Our favorite was the huge 2-level market. There were separate areas in the lower level of the market for the vendors of flowers, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, crafts, fast foods, etc. The upper level was for vendors selling pareos (simply beautiful fabric and vivid colors), black pearls, jewelries, souvenirs, etc.
Be sure to try the cold fresh coconut drink, sold by a vendor by one of the entrances. You'll love it, too, after shopping in the very warm market.
We found the vendors to be very honest and friendly -- unlike other countries we've been to where tourists were targets for rip-offs. We tried bargaining, but quickly found that it was not the custom there.
We felt the warm embrace of the locals' hospitality -- through the gift of a fragrant tiara flower from the old lady weaving a flower wreath at the flower market -- through the gift of a soursop from the lady selling fruits -- small items, great welcome gesture.
Do bring back some black pearl jewelry. The pearls are exquisite and elegant. You won't be able to find the same prices and quality in the U.S. (And they're not subject to U.S. tax upon your return to the U.S. -- at least for now under the current law). I was initially a bit intimidated by the many zeros on the prices, but upon conversion to U.S. dollars, the prices are very reasonable.
If you're on your way to Moorea, do finish your shopping in Papeete (snacks, souvenirs, gifts, etc.) since transportation is difficult and expensive in Moorea.
You can hop on the ferry between Papeete and Moorea, but it's not cheap (around $45 U.S. round trip per person). Besides, you have to pay for the ferry trip by cash -- they won't take credit card. This can be a problem if you don't plan ahead and don't have enough cash.
Moorea is a quiet island for relaxation by the water. We took a circle island tour by jeep. Julianne, the lady tour guide (recommended in a guide book by Jan Price) spoke English poorly and offered little narration as she drove us around (bouncing around in the open jeep without A/C).
The restaurants (including those well-known and mentioned in guide books) and shops in Moorea are scattered, far apart, and unimpressive.
We went to the dinner & dance show at the Tiki Village and are glad that we did. The food was different from, and better than the typical Hawaiian luau food. The Tahitian dance is different from a Hawaiian dance -- it concentrates more on the hip movement, and less on the arms and hand movements. The dancers worked very hard to entertain the guests. However, we wished that the village guide had put in more effort for the English-speaking guests.
There's very little to do in Moorea, except to relax by the water, read, snorkel, and enjoy the view. (Be sure to bring water shoes to protect your feet from broken corals.)
The water by the beach is like a lake. The islands all have a "necklace" of coral reef at a distance from shore which stops the ocean waves from reaching the beach. As a result, the water is calm and shallow -- safe but can be boring for those who prefer waves.
Life on the French Polynesia islands is simple and unhurried. The Tahitians are a gracious people. Many Americans have fallen under the Tahitian spell and relocated there. Now we understand why. Happy travels ...
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
hpndcn
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Reviews written: 5
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