Ins and Outs of Traveling to French Polynesia

This beautiful country found in the South Pacific comprises 118 islands, and 67 of them are inhabited.

The most populous island is Tahiti, and often people refer to the country of French Polynesia as Tahiti, but there is SO MUCH more than just the island of Tahiti.

Getting There

We traveled here from November 13-22, 2020. These dates meant following COVID-19 rules. We had to have a negative test dated no more than three days before our departure. Then once in French Polynesia, we had to self-test on day 4. When we entered the country, they gave us everything we needed and instructions on where to turn the test back in. We could just give our samples to the hotel front desk (I think that is the case for most hotels). The test was straightforward and took only a few minutes (I am sorry I didn’t get a photo!)

Here in Utah, we did a spit test with the largest Healthcare Company, IHC. We got our results back 48 hours later. Do your research for your area, ask questions. You need to get this part correctly, or all your planning and dreaming of overwater bungalows and crystal clear water will be wasted.

Island of Tahiti from Above

Initially, our flights were on Air France/Delta to Papeete, but due to COVID, they canceled the flight. We ended up on United flying from SLC-SFO-PPT, which worked better for us, so not a problem. You can fly to Papeete airport, the biggest airport in French Polynesia, which is usually the least expensive. There are also airports on Moorea, Bora Bora, and lots of other islands.

Enjoying the Country

Once you arrive, you can be busy every day with things to do and places to see, or you can sit peacefully on the beach. Whatever you want!! Most people speak either French or Tahitian or a combination of both :) We rarely went anywhere where someone didn’t speak at least some English. And if they didn’t speak English, they are great at playing charades!

We tried to balance exploring and checking it all out with just enough relaxation to make sure we didn’t need a vacation from our vacation during our stay.

Here are the tours/excursions/activities we did while on our trip. (Click each one for more details)

Moorea Moana Tours - Snorkeling and Whale Watching

ATV Tour of Moorea

A trip around the island of Tahiti

What to Eat

Just eat all of it :)

Of course, seafood is king in French Polynesia, but there is so much more! The beef is all from New Zealand, and naturally, the french food is fantastic.

Tuna Sashimi at Snack Coco D'isle

I tried my first tuna sashimi on this trip, and it was amazing! There are pacific lobsters that are delicious, the crepes are incredible, and if you are a less than adventurous eater, there are several McDonalds on Tahiti (yes, we did eat there more than once. Sometimes a girl just needs some chicken nuggs)

Specific restaurants;

Snack Coco D'isle - A tiny place with sand floors and delicous french cuisine.

Rudy’s - We didn’t get a chance to eat here, but everyone said it was amazing!!

Toatea Creperie & Bar - The crepery in the Hilton Resort but open to everyone, not just guests of the hotel.

Holy Steak House - A beautiful restuarent with stunning sunset views. Steak and seafood. Dont forget the profiterals for dessert

Parc Vaipoopoo - On Tahiti, this is a park with food trucks and a boardwalk to watch the sunset. A very fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Where to Stay

Depending on which islands you visit and the size of your budget will determine exactly where you stay. We are Diamond Hilton people, so if there is a Hilton, you can guess we will be staying there.

While on Moorea, we stayed at Hilton Moorea Lagoon and Spa. I cannot say enough good things about this place. Everyone we encountered was pleasant, helpful, and so grateful we were there. We booked a King premium panoramic overwater bungalow. It was expensive, but to us, it was completely worth it. With that said, I don’t think there is a bad room here. So if that is not in your budget, don’t stress; you will have a beautiful place to rest your head.

There are other places to stay on Moorea, but while researching, I found the Hilton is the highest-ranked, and we loved our stay. When we were leaving our bungalow, I told my husband I was going under protest. It truly was a small slice of heaven.

Stunning Sunset from the Lobby of Intercontinental Tahiti

In Tahiti, we stayed at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort and Spa. Since airports are not usually the most scenic part of town, I was a little nervous when google maps said it was only 2km from the airport. Fear not, though! Once you turn into the resort, you are taken aback by the unbelievable view from the lobby. It was shockingly beautiful. We were booked into a panoramic view room but upgraded to a junior suite lagoon overwater bungalow during check-in. Well worth the increase in cost, but I could see the panoramic room was beautiful with a large balcony and a stunning view.

Sunset on Tahiti

Intercontinental is a huge resort! It was a quarter-mile walk from the lobby to our bungalow, so we for sure got our steps in each day and worked off the chocolate croissants.

Getting Around

Ferry Ride!

Taxis are easy to come by, and that is all we used while on Moorea. Several restaurants even have pick-up and drop-off shuttles. Just ask the front desk of your hotel.

While on Tahiti, we rented a car (a 3-cylinder 75 horsepower beast!!). I am glad we had a car here. The island is bigger and more populated and lots of things to see. There is a link above to the fun stops we did on our trip around the island.

The ferry between Tahiti and Moorea is so great! The ferries are huge and clean, and it is simple to navigate getting the correct tickets.

French Polynesia is an incredibly beautiful country full of stunning views, good food, and most importantly, kind and generous people. Comment below for any questions you may have!!