| Since the age of explorers Wallis, Bougainville, and | | | | want to experience the boat trip one way, you're |
| Cook, legendary Tahiti has tickled imaginations | | | | better off flying from Tahiti to Bora Bora and |
| worldwide. More recently, Tahiti became the most | | | | then returning to Tahiti by boat. I explain why in |
| famous Polynesian island of all when Clark Gable | | | | my guidebook, Moon Tahiti. |
| (1935), Marlon Brando (1962), and Mel Gibson | | | | Car rentals in French Polynesia average US$100 a |
| (1984) played the role of Fletcher Christian in | | | | day - expensive! Options include renting a bicycle |
| three blockbuster Mutiny on the Bounty films. | | | | instead of a car (on Moorea and Bora Bora) or |
| Even the horrendous French nuclear testing | | | | traveling by le truck or public bus (on Tahiti). |
| program from 1966-1996 did little to dampen this | | | | Four-wheel-drive safari tours are offered on all |
| image. | | | | the main islands and these are also cheaper than |
| For the modern traveler, there's no getting | | | | renting a car. On Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, and |
| around the fact that French Polynesia is | | | | Bora Bora, there are sightseeing tours by |
| expensive. Bora Bora is easily the most upscale | | | | outrigger canoe. |
| tourist destination in the South Pacific with 17 | | | | When to go? May to October is the cooler, less |
| resorts charging over US$250 double a night | | | | humid time, although prolonged rainfall is possible |
| without meals. Yet it's also true that you can | | | | yearround. An optimum time to be there is for |
| greatly reduce your costs if you book your top | | | | the Heiva festival on Tahiti, Huahine, and Bora |
| end hotel rooms as part of a package tour. | | | | Bora in early July. Whatever, don't miss attending |
| Another option is to stay in small locally-operated | | | | at least one Island Night at a fancy resort for the |
| pensions. Bora Bora has seven hostels and | | | | wild tamure dancing and drumming. These happen |
| pensions in the US$50-100 range and Moorea has | | | | several times a week. You can often avoid the |
| 11. On Moorea you can also camp. | | | | high cost of the buffet by settling for a drink at |
| Most visitors get around the islands by air, and Air | | | | the bar. |
| Tahiti operates efficient services to 46 islands and | | | | One thing you won't encounter in French Polynesia |
| atolls in French Polynesia. Here again, you can | | | | - unless you spend most of your time at a large |
| save money by purchasing one of Air Tahiti's | | | | resort - is a tourist glut. French Polynesia gets |
| 28-day air passes. A Society Islands air pass will | | | | only 200,000 tourists a year compared to the six |
| cost around US$400, or US$550 if you add on | | | | million who visit Hawaii. Geographically, Tahiti is |
| the Tuamotu Islands. The only interisland boat trip | | | | actually east of Hawaii, and the flight from Los |
| which is easy to do is Tahiti to Moorea which | | | | Angeles to Tahiti takes only 7.5 hours, just 2.5 |
| operates every two hours and costs US$10. | | | | hours more than it takes to fly to Hawaii. My |
| Passenger-carrying cargo boats do ply from Tahiti | | | | most memorable experience in French Polynesia? |
| to Bora Bora several times a week, but they're | | | | The cruise to the Marquesas Islands on the |
| basic and the overnight trip can be rough. If you | | | | Aranui, something I hope to do again very soon. |