A bit of information about what to expect when flying to Tahiti

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

With around 20 trips over the last 20 years I know this stuff pretty well. Some things do change, carriers come and go but for the most part the process has remained the same.

 

The major carriers to French Polynesia are Air Tahiti Nui and Air France. ATN is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal and AF is located in Terminal Two. If you are arriving from a domestic airline into LAX there is a shuttle that will take you to the appropriate terminal. Go out to the far curb on the street and locate the 'green' sign for shuttle buses. If your domestic carrier has an agreed meant with ATN or AF your bags will be sent to your International flight, if no agreement you will need to grab your checked in bags and take then with you over to your International carrier. Both ATN and AF open 3 hours prior to flight time.

 

rhere is an exchange both once rhough security but you will receive a very poor rate, better to wait until your to Tahiti. If your wanting to take considerable cash better to do prior to arriving ar LAX. Wells Fargo offers a great rate but you will need to deal with them a few weeks prior to your trip. Next best rate will be from the Tahiti airport ATM machine. There have been a few occasions where the ATM was not working but no problem you can exchange at a Tahitian bank and get a fair rate. If that is not possible you can exchange smaller amounts at a hotel desk or once you get on board the PG. There is also an ATM across from the dock area, you can't miss it.

 

Most flights on ATN and AF are red eye flights. Once your on your flight and you are at cruise level you will will be given a large snack and beverages of choice. Both carriers offer alcohol drinks at no charge. About 90 minutes into the flight it will be lights out It's usually about 1:30am so I can usually fall asleep and catch a few hours. About 90 minutes prior to landing the lights will come on and they will serve you breakfast. 30 minutes before wheels down they will gather your trays and other trash.

 

Upon arriving ar Tahiti's International Airport, FAAA, you will proceed through customs. If your at the rear of the plane expect about 45 - 60 minutes to get though the airport, no worries, if you have a transfer scheduled they will wait for you. Once you clear customs you may wish to use the exchange ATM. When leaving customs/baggage go to your right. About 150 feet street side you will see the ATM. There are also some shops and a few eating places if your going to hang at the airport for awhile.

 

Car rentals are close by, the closes being Avis in the parking lot, you can easily spot it once out of customs/bagage. There is also a bagage storage place in th parking area. There is a charge.

 

Taxi rates to the docks or downtown are typically around $15 - $20 USD. If your heading to the IC Hotel figure $15 USD. The rates ar 50% higher between sunset and sunrise.

 

I'll write more tomorrow and discuss what is clues to downtown and th Dock area.

Edited October 24, 2015 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

The ship dock area is close to so many things. There are so many things to see and do within walking distance. One of the highlights for me is right outside the dock area. After 6pm the Roulettes open, 7 days a week. There are over a dozen food stands/trucks and the variety of food is incredible though much has Polynesian influence. Of course there are French places as well as Italian.

 

Usually there are local musicians playing Polynesian music, the whole thing is very family oriented and a load of fun. It's a great place to people watch or visit after you had dinner on board. Yummy crepes :)

 

Across the street you will find an ATM, you can't miss it.Also across the street there is a pharmacy, cafes, banks and shops for blocks. About 3 blocks away is the Le Marche which opens early for the food area. Many of the shops are closed on Sunday.

 

There are 2 car rentals places within walking distance. Several times we have rented a car on the last day and after coming off the ship used it to tour around the island, keep our bags safe and then drop it off at the airport for the red eye flight back to LAX.

 

On Sunday's you may want to go visit a church within walking distance. If not for the religious factor do it so you can hear the Polynesians sing in their native tongue, beautiful.

 

You can also walk about a mile to a major food store to grab a bit of French wine. There are closer stores but a large well stocked store is around a mile away.

 

If by chance your staying at the IC pre-cruise the largest market on the island is about 3/4 of a mile away. We love this market. When leaving the IC go to your right, follow the road down the hill. Once you come to the highway got to the right and you will come to the shopping center, again about 3/4 mile from the IC. Besides the large store there is a pharmacy, bank, cafes and some clothing stores.

 

Nothing better than a fresh baguette, French butter along with some marmalade, yummy! Behind the shopping center on the water front is a very nice marina where there a 2 nice restaurants with great views of the boats and a view of Moorea.

[cmac cruiser]

This is really helpful and informative! Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

Colleen

[Cruisedreamer1]

The large grocery store to the right of the IC is Carrefour. It is wonderful to wander around seeing what the locals are buying. We love the baguette sandwiches made at the back of the store. French wines are relatively well priced (subsidized?).

 

The marche is open early on Sundays and closes early with many shops not open. It's a good place to look for reasonable priced mementos to take home.

Some purchase floral arrangements to place in their cabins.

[twin123185]

50 cent baguette, a few dollars for cheese, butter, salami and fruit. Yet people still pluck down $100 for breakfast for two at the IC.....

[MotuIslander]

50 cent baguette, a few dollars for cheese, butter, salami and fruit. Yet people still pluck down $100 for breakfast for two at the IC.....

 

NOT US! I am with you Twin, the walk from the IC to the Carrefour is now part of our pre-cruise ritual.

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

Absolutely ......... We do it every time. Always a few fresh baguettes, a bit of cheese, French butter, French jam and dried salami ..... $20 and we are good for 24 hours

[twin123185]

Sometimes I go to the closer grocery store to the left when you leave the IC. Small, a bit pricier but some mornings I just want the shorter walk. Baguettes still 50 cents there!

Plus they have pretty good local pastries and - yes Chinese egg rolls that are great.

Breakfast and lunch for 5 days my last trip in July maybe cost us a TOTAL of $100 WITH wine and beer!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I'm almost certain we flew AF out of Tom Bradley last fall.

 

And it's "Roulottes", not " Roulettes".

 

Otherwise great Info.

[Emdee]

Wendy,

 

You are correct. They moved to Tom Bradley after they started flying the 380 to lax.

 

We are sad to see them leave terminal 2- due to their lounge closure. A nice place before air canada flights(priority pass) for French cheese and wines.

 

 

Miriam

Edited October 27, 2015 by Emdee

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

You are correct, hadn't updated that since the last time I compiled information. As we are flying AF this year to FP I'm glad to caught that. Sad though, terminal 2 is much easier than TBIT. .......

 

Interestingly different sites have AF flying out of T2 but the official LAX site has it as TBIT

 

I don't get caught up in typos, I think everyone knew what I meant

Edited October 27, 2015 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[yvonneh]

Thank you so much for posting this Tahitianbigkahuna. Such helpful information for first timers like me!

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[Tahitianbigkahuna]

Thank you so much for posting this Tahitianbigkahuna. Such helpful information for first timers like me!

[emoji4][emoji574]️[emoji267]

 

Your welcome, feel free to ask me anything. There are a few on here that know the PG a bit better than myself though this will be my 5th trip on the PG. however, I've been to French Polynesia 20 times so I know many of the islands well

[Wendy The Wanderer]

...

 

I don't get caught up in typos, I think everyone knew what I meant

 

Yeah I know, it's just that everybody seems to be misspell Roulottes.

[roothy123]

Thanks for the great info. I'll be coming into Papeete at the end of a cruise (but not on PG) and wondered about the taxi situation from the dock to the airport. We have been given an 11:05 AM ATN flight. We can disembark after 8 AM. Do you think it would be reasonable to assume that taxis will be available between 8 and 9? Would the charge (with luggage, if that matters) be the $15-20 you mentioned for airport to port? About what time should I leave the ship to be able to get a taxi, get to the airport, and check in? Do you think there will be taxi drivers willing to take us to the airport, or will they be looking for all day tours? Do they take USD? Do we tip? With us leaving on an 11 AM flight, there is no time for sightseeing. I'm thinking that since the flight is probably a charter, taxi drivers may not know there will be people going that way in the morning. Should I pre-book something? What's the Papeete airport like in the morning - crowded? civilized?

 

Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

Edited November 8, 2015 by roothy123

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

I would go down to the reception desk early morning, like 6am. Have the desk pre-arrange your taxi. If you wait until 8am it could be busy for taxi service and you might be left with no ride.

 

The airport will be very busy. At that grime of day it can be busy so give yourself a bit more time.

 

Your cost figure is about right for 2 people with bags.

 

You can tip if you want, I don't while I'm in FP unless it's a tour guide working for a small family business.

Edited November 8, 2015 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[Abpatric]

Hi. We are flying air Tahiti. Is checked bag limits 50lbs?? I have seen everything from 40lbs to 50lbs. Thanks!

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

Please clarify question

 

Air Tahiti or Air Tahiti Nui?

[Abpatric]

Hi. Air ahiti nui

 

 

Thanks!!

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

50lbs in economy for checked bag

 

22lbs for carry on plus up to 6 lbs for a personal item such as a computer case, camera case, purse

Edited December 11, 2015 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[yvonneh]

Yeah I know, it's just that everybody seems to be misspell Roulottes.

 

I have tried to google and search for what Roulottes are (an amazing food, I am assuming) and I cannot find anything besides a casino reference.

Would you please tell me what this is?? I cannot wait to have one!?! I think.:D

[Silver Sweethearts]

I have tried to google and search for what Roulottes are (an amazing food, I am assuming) and I cannot find anything besides a casino reference.

Would you please tell me what this is?? I cannot wait to have one!?! I think.:D

 

Wendy, Emdee and others can do the explanation much more justice, but they are food trucks that come out at night in Papeete. Casual, local and relatively inexpensive considering where you are, they are quite popular.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Wendy, Emdee and others can do the explanation much more justice, but they are food trucks that come out at night in Papeete. Casual, local and relatively inexpensive considering where you are, they are quite popular.

 

Nothing more to say that that, they are food trucks. There's a kind of square within sight of the ship at the port where there are a group of perhaps twenty of them--everything from French crepes to Chinese food, as well as things like poisson cru, a Polynesian delicacy. It's quite a party atmosphere. I must admit I've never eaten there. I've looked and my mouth has watered, but we're so well fed on the ship...

[Emdee]

I think we've had the crepes. Last year DD had dinner there pre cruise and met a former Gauguinne who is married to one of the PG staff who very kindly dropped her back to the IC. We were supposed to join her but we're totally soaked on our return from Tetiaroa.

 

I have also seen a full pig roasting over coals.

 

Tahitian families gather around eating and enjoying the evening. It is full of local flavour.

 

If you are interested in local flavour I always enjoy the market. Sometimes there are older men sitting outside playing the ukulele and singing. The mamas sell lovely flowers. There are shops selling textiles with Polynesian designs. I could go on and on.

[yvonneh]

Thank you everyone. I have heard of the food trucks, and really hope to visit them…just never heard them called Roulottes. Thank goodness for you all! I thought it was some sort of French food. :D

I remember seeing an Anthony Bourdain episode a very long time ago that showed this area and thought it looked amazing and fun!

I appreciate the responses!:)

Edited January 8, 2016 by yvonneh