Dunner

Thanks for all of the info.

I was thinking that the smaller vendors wouldn't take CC, but I was concerned that US dollars might not be accepted either in some locations ,so I should have some XPF dollars. Now that I know you get more bang for your buck using local currency I will get more XPF dollars than I had originally thought.   

 My husband and I will be on a 10 day Paul Gauguin cruise with 2 days pre cruise at the I.C. Tahiti and 2 days post cruise at the Moorea Hilton. How much money would you suggest I exchange at the airport---or really is there any advantage to exchanging US currency to Tahitian money?

Thanks for your input.

After I finished typing my last post I was thinking the same thing. The longer lay overs will be much more relaxing. Plus, there is always a possibility of a flight being late which would throw all of my plans out the window.  In addition, with this Covid climate who knows if they might add something else that has to be done that would take extra time?? I have finally decided what to do!!! Good grief-- who knew it would take me this long for such a simple decision!

Oops- thanks  MrRandal for the website and Wendy for the pre clearance info.

I keep going back and forth on flight choice depending on what I read. It really shouldn't be that big of a choice!! I think we would probably be ok with arriving at noon LAX and catching the 4:30 flight to Tahiti, but in the back of my mind I keep wondering if our Delta flight leaves late for any reason(not weather because we are going in Sept.) then our 4 1/2 hour cushion would be compromised. 

On the return from to Tahiti to LAX 3 1/2 hours should work to get the noon flight to Detroit,. if the plane is on time, and Canadian citizens do indeed have a different line than the other non U.S. citizens. 

We will have a connecting flights from and to Detroit so luggage will be sent straight thru. On the return there is a flight two hours later in the event we miss the noon flight, but not sure if there would be room for the 6 of us?

Glad we are driving from and to Canada from Detroit and not flying. 

Ideally you don't want to be sitting longer in an airport than you have to, but then again you don't want to say--I wish we had given ourselves more time. I need to take a --decision pill!!!

Thanks to both of you for your insight.  Wendy, I read thru the Delta info, but I will read thru it again since it is quite detailed. 

Arriving from Tahiti 8:30ish am and need to get to terminal 2 to catch a Delta flight.

We have two options :

 a) take the noon Delta flight---gives us 3 1/2 hours---would prefer this flight, but not sure how much time it takes to get thru customs??

The last time we had Nexus cards, this time we don't. Last time the other line where Canadian citizens would have to go if they didn't have a nexus card looked like there were hundreds of people in it.  So we aren't sure how long it would have taken us??  

 b) take the 2pm flight------        gives us 5 1/2

Arriving from Tahiti 8:30ish am and need to get to terminal 2 to catch a Delta flight.

We have two options :

 a) take the noon Delta flight---gives us 3 1/2 hours---would prefer this flight ,but not sure how much time it takes to get thru customs??

The last time we had Nexus cards this time we don't. Last time other line where Canadian citizens would have to go if they didn't have a nexus card  looked like there were hundreds of people.  So we aren't sure how long it would have taken us??  

 b) take the 2pm flight------        gives us 5 1/2

Just wondering with Covid in the picture is taking longer these days to get to your next flight?

LAX:

Option # 1--- arrive 10:23  Delta terminal 2--flight to Tahiti (I think it is the Tom Brady terminal)is at 4:30----6  hours between flights

Option# 22  arrive  12:06  Delta terminal 2--flight to Tahiti is at 4:30---4 1/2 hours between flights

Return from Tahiti--8:20 am   Option #1---take the 12:00pm flight home--3 h and 40 min. between flights

                                                    Option#2--- take the 2:05pm  flight home--5 h and 40 min. between flights

                                       We are Canadian citizens so the customs line is much longer than the line for U.S. citizens.

Wendy from Toronto,

 As of right now renting the car is off the list. Yes,  I now realize Belvedere Point we will see on the ATV so I can scratch that off. 

I will try and incorporate Les Tipaniers after the cruise on our post stay in Moorea.

I think what I have narrowed it down to. 

First Day In: MOOREA  ATV in the am, then back to the ship for lunch and relax or whatever

Second Day in MOOREA--Golf 9 holes in the am then lunch at the golf course or back at the ship and then whatever.--(thanks for reminding me about the heat-- so morning golf will be better even though Sept. isn't too bad).

After our post stay in Moorea do the catajets in the am, then maybe Snack Mahana, then take the ferry back to Tahiti, then??,  then on to our late evening flight home.  Thanks, Mitch (Melaney) from Windsor.

Limited automatics is a very important piece of info. I wouldn't even have thought about that. Both my husband and I can drive a standard, but I know there are lots of people that can't. Your post should be beneficial to many--THANKS

???’s Moorea rent a car---ATA---Golf---Catajets

We will be on Moorea or 2 days, but there are 4 things I want to do. Probably could squeeze it all in, but if we had to scrap one thing which one would be the least exciting? Or which things on the rent a car day are not big deal?

I have pieced together suggestions from a few posters.

Option #1-rent a car on Moorea

1. Belvedere 

2. A.G. school--ice cream at school --pinapple flavoured

3. Carneline main shopping area

4. pearl/jewellery stores---Eva Pearls

5. Eimeo??

6. Juice Factory

7. IC Hotel Dolphin watch/turtle reserve, but I think I read the I.C. was closed???

8.Beach Café at Les Tipaniers/drink/view

9.Tahiti Aromes, small vanilla

10. Public Beach-Temae Beach/stroll/view

Other assorted tips:

-Stop at any other hotels and take a look at their facilities

-Have also read public beach beside Sofitel then can walk to resort/drinks.

-Heard Snack Mahana was good -never been or could go back to the ship for lunch

-end of Cook Bay more markets

-Snack Rotui-locals in Pao Pao hang out there and views  of Cook Bay and mountain peaks

-St. Jo's church -singing--Time??

-LILIKOI-FOOD TRUCK ACROSS STREET FROM HILTON

-Toatea Lookout view Sofitel

-counter CLOCKWISE TOP HALF of island more to see--bottom half nothing to see

Option #2 Golf 9 holes (back 9 heard it was more scenic/interesting),

Option#3.  ATV Moorea Tours Twin  or -ATV with Moorea Act or... Which company would you recommend?

Option #4. Catajets by Moorea Mahana on catajet -representative said about 1 1/2 hours out of 2 hours

-looked into the catajets thru P.G. but one review stated that you are only on the catajets for about 10 min one way and then 10 min back with snorkel things inbetween--more interested in being --on-- the catjet. We will have snorkelled a lot and are looking for something different to do.   Your thoughts on any of the above info is greatly appreciated?

???’s Moorea rent a car---ATA---Golf---Catajets

We will be on Moorea or 2 days, but there are 4 things I want to do. Probably could squeeze it all in, but if we had to scrap one thing which one would be the least exciting? Or which things on the rent a car day are not big deal?

I have pieced together suggestions from a few posters.

Option #1-rent a car on Moorea

1. Belvedere 

2. A.G. school--ice cream at school --pinapple flavoured

3. Carneline main shopping area

4. pearl/jewellery stores---Eva Pearls

5. Eimeo??

6. Juice Factory

7. IC Hotel Dolphin watch/turtle reserve, but I think I read the I.C. was closed???

8.Beach Café at Les Tipaniers/drink/view

9.Tahiti Aromes, small vanilla

10. Public Beach-Temae Beach/stroll/view

Other assorted tips:

-Stop at any other hotels and take a look at their facilities

-Have also read public beach beside Sofitel then can walk to resort/drinks.

-Heard Snack Mahana was good -never been or could go back to the ship for lunch

-end of Cook Bay more markets

-Snack Rotui-locals in Pao Pao hang out there and views  of Cook Bay and mountain peaks

-St. Jo's church -singing--Time??

-LILIKOI-FOOD TRUCK ACROSS STREET FROM HILTON

-Toatea Lookout view Sofitel

-counter CLOCKWISE TOP HALF of island more to see--bottom half nothing to see

Option #2 Golf 9 holes (back 9 heard it was more scenic/interesting),

Option#3.  ATV ----Moorea Tours Twin (do they go to Magic Mountain doesn't mention it in description but in a review it mentioned it)??  OR    -AtV with Moorea Act   OR    Albert's ATV... Which company would you recommend?

Option #4. Catajets by Moorea Mahana on catajet -representative said about 1 1/2 hours out of 2 hours

-looked into the catajets thru P.G. but one review stated that you are only on the catajets for about 10 min one way and then 10 min back with snorkel things inbetween--more interested in being --on-- the catjet. We will have snorkelled a lot and are looking for something different to do.   Your thoughts on any of the above info is greatly appreciated?

More tips--thanks

Knowing the day is very helpful.  I am trying to plan my day's activities --do you remember the--- time frame---- for when all of the flowers are laid out in the hall to make your head pieces? Now that I know which day I want to make sure I don't miss that part of it.🌺🌼

Wow!!  Wow!! Wow!!  All I can say is I am sooo lucky! I asked all those questions and within a couple hours I have them answered---thanks soo much!

1. On the P.G. site it says you can't book shore excursions until 30 days before departure. Can i use my OBC at that time or-- if not--- could I pay then cancel on board and rebook with the credits? 

2. a) Cost of cab in total (return) to go from the IC Tahiti to the food trucks at the dock? 6 people

    b) Approx. Cost of cab to go from the Fare Suisse hotel to the IC Tahiti? Can you fit 6 people/luggage?

    c) Cost of cab to go from the I.C. Tahiti to the airport? Can you fit 6 people/luggage?

3. On the 10 day Society/Tuamotus sailing what night/time is the Polynesian Night Activities? Are there any other special/theme nights?

4. On Moorea and Bora Bora I would love to rent a car and stop by the hotels and take a quick look at the grounds/beach area --would that be allowed? Don't want a day pass--just about 10 minutes. 

5. Huahine- read a post about Children from the island putting on a show at 4pm???  Is this something not to be missed ---or is it ---well---cute but if you see it you see it don't kill yourself to get back for it??

6. Where can I find a list of the daily activities on the 10 day Soc/Tuo sailing? i never get a chance to look when I am on the ship, but I would look ahead of time.

8. On cruise critic I can't seem to find where I would type in a topic question --that may have been asked in the past on the forum-- to see other people's responses instead of starting a new topic or spending so much time looking back through all the pages of posts  ex. your must do excursions in Bora bora?

Tiki--thanks for clearing up some things. the outer lagoon is what I remember.

Option #1---P.G. has a half day tour to Teahatea Beach 

-it goes to Teahatea beach just after the Garuaa Pass-

Option#2 ---P.G's Full day To South Pass-

--it goes to the South pass and Tetamana and Pink Sands

Option #3--I went in Sept. 2014 with the reunion cruise group and we went with Ato to the Blue Lagoon . The description says we go to the North Channel to snorkel on some coral rocks and then to Teahatea lagoon inside a lagoon-- full day

So Teahatea Beach is another name for the Blue Lagoon? If so, in option #2 you wouldn't go to the Blue Lagoon???Just verifying. Any trip comparisons welcomed. I am aware that price point varies and in option# 1 you wouldn't get lunch.   Is one of these trips more of an OMG than other??

Thanks for the feedback!  I am trying to get as much feedback as possible so then I can tell my friend ---well, it seems like most people---...

For those that have travelled on the new Air Tahiti Nui Dreamliner I  was wondering about seat comfort in economy(for me-just curious)and premium economy for my friend who has a bad back?

He has enough points to go business on United but his points don't cover Air Tahiti Nui. So I thought if premium economy was really comfy maybe he could just pay the difference from the flight credit from Paul Gauguin for not taking the flight through them. I really want us both to take Air Tahiti Nui so we can share the excitement of the beginning of the trip together.

I even thought that he could do economy premium on ATN on the way there and take business on United on the way back, but it is sooo expensive that way.

SWFLAOK---interested in hearing what your weather is like in-- the Cook Islands on your Sept trip. Our one and only time to F.P. was in Sept. 2014 to The Society and Tuamotus islands and the seas were calm. We are booked to go to the Cook and Society islands in the beginning of Oct.2020, so hoping for the same experience as last time.

Emdee---oops---Jan. reunion cruise

Thanks everyone for all the info!

Emdee--when is the reunion cruise again?  I remember reading about it, but I didn't commit the date to memory.

Swflaok and Wendy--you were mentioning that the water was so rough----just curious---- which month did you go?