French Polynesia: How to be well prepared for your trip

Ia Orana !!!

Aaaaah ! French Polynesia !

A change of scenery and relaxation guaranteed.

It was one of the most relaxing and time-consuming trips I've made in my young adult life :)

Even though it was 2017, the memories are still fresh and I think the tips I offer here are still relevant.

N.B.: You'll find more tips in other posts about French Polynesia.

1. Minimum number of vacation days

As the famous Jacques CHIRAC (former French President) would say: "It's beautiful! But it's far away!"

Indeed, there are more than 15,000 km between Paris and Pape'ete. As a result, it takes almost 20 hours to reach your destination, with a time difference of almost 12 hours.

N.B. 1: If Air France's policy hasn't changed since then, and if you have vacation vouchers, don't hesitate to go to an Air France agency to pay for your plane tickets to Tahiti. The €40 handling fee will be more than offset by the use of your vacation vouchers (if you have plenty of them).

N.B. 2: If you have the time and the means, to ease acclimatization on the spot and be efficient as soon as you set foot on Tahitian soil, you can spend 3-4 days in Los Angeles, which is one of the legs of the flight. This is what I personally did.

Remember to sleep as much as possible on the plane. And above all, watch out for turbulence when crossing the tropics, as you'll be passing through the southern hemisphere.

To start enjoying and speaking Polynesian, a minimum of 15 days is required. The ideal is between 3 weeks and a month. By doing so, you'll have the opportunity to visit and enjoy every aspect of the different islands of French Polynesia.

Indeed, no two are the same, and all are unique.

2. Telecommunication

Please note that French Polynesia is neither a department nor an overseas territory (DOM/TOM). It is an overseas principality (POM).

While this may seem trivial at first glance, what it really means is that your French phone and data plan won't work once you're there.

You'll need a local sim card if you want to be reachable. I can speak from experience, thanks to a sublime out-of-plan experience that I'm still remembering as I write these words.

3. Currency and money management

As you'll be on an island, what we call a city is a big word. So it's best to withdraw a few soft Polynesian bills from the mainland, as ATMs are rarely available in sufficient quantity.

Euros and dollars are also appreciated, as the owners of your accommodation are former Europeans who constantly travel back and forth to the Old and New Worlds. Having a little bit of foreign currency is very convenient for them.

Also, take two credit cards with you, as ATMs are fickle and don't accept all cards.

4. Moyens de locomotion

Once you've landed on the island of Tahiti, you're bound to want to visit other islands. If you haven't done so, I strongly recommend that you do, otherwise you won't get the full Polynesian experience.

There are two ways of getting to an island: either by ferry or by plane.

• Some ferries have the special feature of being able to load cars. This can be interesting if you're ever in Tahiti and want to visit Mo'orea.

• By air, you can save time and reach some islands that are no longer served by ferries. This is particularly true of Maupiti.

N.B.: As I was staying in Bora Bora, I wanted to go to Maupiti. Unfortunately, the ferry line was cancelled. Looking for other means of locomotion, I was advised to use fishing boats, but I confess I wasn't that adventurous.

Once you've arrived on an island, no matter how small, it's virtually impossible to get around and visit without a car. In fact, there's only one road around the perimeter of each island, and doing so on foot will be long and tedious. You might as well be motorized.

After that, if you wish, you can enjoy the ultimate Polynesian experience by va'a or pirogue.

5. Cost of living

Try to buy local as much as possible. All imported products are necessarily expensive locally. After all, you're on islands supplied by the USA, Europe and China.

If you want to eat properly and at relatively low cost, you can eat at roulottes, which are the equivalent of our food trucks. These are institutions where you'll find the various families of the area getting together and sharing good times together. Special mention should be made of the Mahi-Mahi burgers.

When it comes to accommodation, costs are also high on well-known islands and cities such as Bora Bora or Tahiti. Resort living is not for everyone either.

Here's a tip: it's better to live in a bungalow and spend a day at a resort. You can enjoy the full resort experience for the cost of a restaurant and access, which is very cost-effective.

6. Climate

Polynesia enjoys a warm, humid tropical climate all year round. Temperatures are generally pleasant, ranging from 25°C to 30°C, with short but intense periods of rain, mainly from November to April. So take appropriate clothing with you.

When it does rain, it can be very intense, but everything dries very quickly (in less than an hour).

Because of its proximity to the equator, the Polynesian sun is more intense than that of the capital. So make sure you're well protected.

N.B.: My stay took place in September. Although there were moments of gray, and some rain, the stay was very pleasant and I was able to see a whale with its calf.

7. Attention à la faune errante

Moquitoes

Curse the mosquitoes! They're everywhere. So be careful, especially when exploring waterfalls or tropical forests:

• Outside, 5sur5 antimoustique is your friend. Do not hesitate nor forget to put it on you and your clothes.

• In your accommodation, sleep under a mosquito net and close the windows/doors. Above all, don't chase geckos. They're there to eat the mosquitoes.

Poultry

Forget waking up in the morning, the sun and the roosters will remind you that it's time to get up.

You'll find that it's not uncommon to find all kinds of poultry roaming the islands. Their freedom is part of Polynesian traditions and farming methods. You'll see, it's a change of scenery guaranteed.

Cave Canem

When you're out and about in Polynesia, you'll soon realize that there are a lot of stray dogs everywhere. These are linked to the abandonment of domestic dogs, which then go on to reproduce. So you'll find packs of stray dogs.

Be careful not to upset them. Stay calm and, above all, don't feed them.

Crabs

Another surprising animal you're bound to come across: crabs.

During the day, they're right in the middle of the land and won't hesitate to eat any garbage thrown at them. Then, at nightfall, they migrate to the beaches for various biological reasons, such as reproduction.

Be careful when driving at night, as you're likely to come across a large number of them. So don't drive fast to avoid running them over (the noise is horrible).

8. Before buying any pearl

When you're in Polynesia, you'll quickly realize that pearls are everywhere. What's more, they have a soul that gives them depth and charm. Don't hesitate to buy them locally, as they are less expensive than in mainland France.

But before you buy any pearls, take a tour of the Musée des Perles de Tahiti (located in Pape'ete).

Inside, you'll learn about the evolution of the pearl industry, admire various works of art and, above all, learn how to recognize pearls in terms of size, caliber and so on.

So when you're ready to take action, you'll know what to choose.

For those who don't want pearls, as they are aggressive and invasive to the shell, you can buy natural pearl rejects, which are Keshi.

Please note that the price of a pearl will vary from one island to another. For example, the Tahia boutique in Pape'ete is less expensive than the one in Vanuatu.

9. Have enough to open a coconut

Before you set down your belongings in the shade of a "Coconut tree, golden beach", don't forget to shake the one you've selected so you don't unexpectedly get a coconut on the head (which can prove fatal). And I assure you, even the locals do it.

If the penknife isn't just a little piece of junk, it, or its cousin the opinel, can be very useful in helping you to enjoy an excellent coconut that's all around you.

To avoid damaging your blade, don't hesitate to bang the coconut against rocks and logs to help you split the pod in two.

10. Respect the environment

It sounds natural, but it's always good to have a few reminders to help preserve beautiful Polynesia.

Respect Polynesia's fragile environment by avoiding sunscreens that are harmful to coral reefs, and by opting for nature-friendly products.

Avoid littering and respect the natural environment.