Money for Tahiti?

[RMS Olympic]

For those that have recently traveled on the Paul Gauguin....do you recommend exchanging currency at the LAX airport or do it when you arrive in Papeete? Are the hotels the place to exchange or at a bank?
I am guessing most out of pocket expenses can be handled with a credit card...but I have no idea how much cash to bring. I am staying at the new Radisson hotel for the 4 night precuise package,,so that will present additional charges...but again, that should be doable with a credit card.
How much cash is appropriate?
Thanks....September can't get here fast enough.

[ITravelNow]

Tom:
The last few times we've been in Papette I've gotten local currency from ATM machines. I don't think you really need to worry, as I recall many places also take american dollars.

[Cerinda]

Tom:

The best rate we found was at the change at Faaa; it was open even as late as we arrived, and there was no line, no hassle at all. We also discovered that the ATMs took our Visa with its PIN, but not our regular ATM/debit card. We used nothing but Polynesian francs and our regular charge cards (and when we got the bills, the rate on them was better than I feared).

Enjoy yourself! It's a dream.

Cerinca

[Ngaire]

I have been to Tahiti a few times and I have never changed any money. Everyone accepts American dollars.

[clint]

Everyone has been talking about using regular credit cards in tahiti, but does that include american express as well and not just visa or mastercard? thanks.

[Cerinda]

Clint: I used AmEx for hotels; I did not try it for anything else. Cerinda