French Polynesia and Tahiti do not rhyme with budget. Far from it. It’s one of the hardest tourist destinations to reach if you live in Europe. And one of the most expensive. I used to believe that you’d need several thousand euros for accommodation, activities and food to explore even a small part of Polynesia. After all, French Polynesia comprises 118 islands spread across 5 archipelagos
But that was before I went there in 2023 and planned several weeks on a shoestring budget. I found & learned some tricks to get the best deals. In this article, I will share those tips with you !
BOOKING THE FLIGHT
It’s often assumed that flying to Tahiti is the priciest part of the trip, but airfares have become more affordable in the recent years. You can now fly from Paris Orly and San Francisco with Frenchbee, which offers one-way tickets starting at €700 (Paris). During the 2022 Black Friday sales, I took advantage of a fantastic deal and flew to Tahiti with a 20kg luggage allowance for just €550 one-way. If you’re planning a round-trip Europe-Tahiti-Europe, it will be cheaper with flights available for as low as €1050 (depending on your dates). While €1000 might still be considered a significant expense, it’s much more affordable compared to traditional airlines like Air Tahiti Nui. If you’re traveling from New Zealand, one-way flights with Air New Zealand start at around €250 and from Australia you’ll need to do a stopover in Auckland.
BOOKING THE ACCOMODATION
“There are three types of accommodation in Tahiti and the Society Islands:
- Hostels / Camping : expect to pay around €30 to €50 per night for a dormitory or simple camping. Prices can vary depending on the season and location.
- Guesthouses : prices generally range between €60 and €120 per night, depending on the comfort and location.
- Hotels and luxury establishments : if you would like to have a sea-view suit, expect to pay more than €500 per night, or even more for high-end establishments.
It’s up to you to choose the accomodation type that suits you !
EATING & ENJOYING LOCAL FOOD
In Tahiti, choose local products (fruit, vegetables, rice, etc.) rather than products exported from France and around the world (expect to pay 400XPF (Pacific francs) or over €3 for first-price cottage cheese yahours, compared with €1 in mainland France). If you want to eat outside, the Roulottes are a good local alternative. Tahiti’s central market, on Sunday mornings from 6am, offers the widest choice of fruit (the orange mangoes are incredible!), vegetables, fish and pastries (try the firifiri) on the island. A must if you’re in Tahiti at the weekend!
ISLAND HOPPING IN FRENCH POLYNESIA
The cheapest way is the boat. The rail companies Apetahi express and Vaeara’i offer 2 to 3 round trips a week to the islands of the Society archipelago (Tahiti-Huahine-Raiatea-Taha’a-Bora Bora-Maupiti). With Vaera’i company, count 5500XPF or 45€ for a one-way ticket to Huahine (and discover Huahine by bike) or 17500XPF/145€ for a round trip to Bora Bora (6h by boat) with Apetahi express.
Alternatively, you can opt for a slightly more expensive but faster option: flying. Expect to pay €180 one-way to Bora Bora with Air Tahiti or around €230 round-trip from Raiatea to Tahiti with Air Moana.
However, if you don’t want to spend €200 on transport, you can go to Moorea. Count 1300XPF/11€ for a 30-minute trip to one of the archipelago’s most varied islands. There’s hiking, diving and the Rotui fruit juice factory to visit!
GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND BY HITCHIKING
This is for sure the easiest and cheapest way travel. And it’s very common over there, for a good reason: public transport, even in Tahiti, is rather limited (count 1 bus leaving for the south of the island per day…). The locals are adorable and won’t hesitate to go a few extra kilometers to put you down in a place where you’ll have a better chance to catch another ride. I’ve also hitchhiked and been picked up by school buses full of children. So you have a good chance of getting to your destination by any means! And it’s cheaper than renting a car.
BUYING SOUVENIRS
Last budget travel hack, if you want to buy souvenirs such as pins, small objects, etc. at the best price in Tahiti, I highly recommend the SOUVENIRS Distribution store “Le Curios” (not sponsored) in the center of Papeete. This is the store that resells some souvenirs you’re going to buy to the various shops in the town center, at a higher price. However, for pearls and jewelry, it’s best compare the differents stores or opt for the airport duty free shop.
MY ULTIMATE TIP : Twice a year for 3 days, the Salon du Tourisme organizes a tourism fair aimed to locals. However, as a tourist you’ll also be able to find some great deals. I got a big discount on diving courses to get my PADI. You’ll also find great deals on accommodation on all the Polynesian islands, and it’s also a great opportunity to discover local crafts!
What is your hack to travel on a budget in expensive places ?