RZ3

Yeah, I will be on island for my birthday next year and was hoping to go. I emailed and they said they are going to try to have the bar open earlier so check in as the time comes.

Just call it vanilla. Do not declare seeds. Calling it seeds will delay you as you try to explain what vanilla seeds are to the customs agent.

Keep checking back often when you have time. Appointments open up all the time. When my family got GE, their appointments were months out, but I looked every few hours and ended up getting us all done in just a few days after receiving the initial approval.

The only time I put on long pants was for dinner. I had one pair that were only for that purpose. Otherwise it was shorts or a swimsuit. It's much too warm for jeans.

The sunset view from the tender dock in Vaitape is specatular, too.

I thought my Air France experience with their antiquated booking system was bad, but it was nothing compared to that! We were delayed due to a rollover past midnight that somehow caused all passengers who checked in online to lose their seat and reservation. It took over an hour to figure it out and we were the first in line. Then we were delayed at the gate.

Still, I would deal with the problems in a second just to get back to paradise.

On Moorea, the wife and I walked from the IC to Les Tipaniers. It's about a 20 minute walk. We didn't feel unsafe, just nervous about the cars going by. We walked off to the side of the road and were just fine. We also walked from the tender dock in Cooks Bay to Allo Pizza, which is roughly 5 minutes. I recall that was a bit of an easier walk, but don't recall if there was a sidewalk or just a better runoff area to the side.

You should put chickens on your airport map. For me, it was one of those moments that just seem odd when there are chickens wandering freely in the parking lot of an international airport.

I went to a Hawaiian luau last year after experiencing the Tahitian events. The Hawaiian one was supposed to be the "must see" luau on Maui. After experiencing the Tahitian one it was quite disappointing. It wasn't bad, but like TBK says, it's a world of difference. Tiki villiage was much more engaged with the audience and much more thrilling. The Hawaiian luau felt more commercial.

The show at Tiki village was pretty good, but the food was just OK. Unlike other tours we were on where your food is prepared in front of you, the food at Tiki is premade. The pigs they pull out of the ground aren't the ones served that night.

You don't mention how long you will have been on the island before Sunday nor what time zone you're coming from. I only bring that up because the Tiki event is later in the evening. My wife and I were struggling to stay awake during it, despite it being very entertaining, because we were still adjusting to the time zone.

We took a 3pm ferry from Moorea the day of our cruise. It's a short walk to the cruise pier. When we boarded the PG, there was no line and no wait.

I know where it is. It's not the Thalasso.

I'd do the first one rather than the second one due to the extra day in Bora Bora. I wouldn't do the third one. While researching the Cook islands as an alternative to FP with our kids due to some very good Air New Zealand fares, I discovered that the water temperatures there are considerably cooler than French Polynesia in July and August. It's not cold, but definitely cooler with water temps in the high 70's, which can be too cold for some.

I've sat at tat middle table while watching them open a coconut and feed it to the chickens.

Easy one. :-)

Hope everyone is having a happy holiday. I'm baking up a vanilla bean cake with some Tahitian beans.

The clouds obscure a lot, but I think it's looking at Moorea as the MS Paul Gauguin leavesTahiti.

Answering because I am not quite sure. This is my shot of Moorea from Tahiti.

Have to agree... cruising is the most cost effective way to see the region and figure out what you want to see again. It's also the most cost effective way in general due to the cost of food and alcohol.

My wife and I got into the pool at the IC Moorea where we stayed prior to our cruise. We got a couple of fruity alcoholic beverages to start enjoying our time in paradise. Let's just say we savored that $40 we spent for a very long time. Thank goodness there's a store nearby or we would have been broke before setting foot on the ship! :eek:

Curious as to what you're using to take the pictures and if there's any post shot editing. The colors are really popping compared to some of mine.

That's a PG tender in the frame, but I don't think the picture was taken from one. I'd be willing to bet my pictures are taken from the same place. :D

Appreciate it :)

 

Your due for another Paul Gauguin cruise ...

Working on it!

I know exactly where this one is, too, since I have a similar shot minus the tender, but I'll give someone else a chance. :-)

IC Le Moana Bora Bora from the dock just north of the bungalows?

https://goo.gl/maps/8Hpp8udWxjm

I'd try to sit toward the front to shorten immigration time at PPT. My wife and I were roughly in the middle of our plane and it took an hour for us to get through.

They have kayaks and paddle boats at the hotel. Maybe you could do one of those with her. Otherwise the pool is nice and the beach is decent enough for kids.

Consider an IHG Ambassador membership. It comes with complimentary room upgrades (if available) and late check out. We stayed in our room as late as possible before heading over to Tahiti.

I don't know what time your cruise leaves, but if it's in the evening, staying later on Moorea may be worth it. There's no need to get in line and wait with everyone else as soon as embarkation starts.