Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

Found this great post on tahiti-explorer.com forums!!! Here it is:

The official Tahiti Information List:


Tahiti

Restaurants:

Le Belvedere - fantastic view from the top of the mountain, very bumpy ride up the hill, will send a bus for pickup at your hotel, good food that’s over priced as usual.
Le Lotus - located at the IC Beachcomber Hotel, average food, very expensive.
Le Coco’s - excellent food, down the road from the IC Beachcomber
Dragon D’or – great Chinese food, open Sunday, closed Monday.
Lou Pescadou's – located in PPT city, great pasta and pizzas, nice relaxed atmosphere. In-expensive and credit cards are accepted. Less than two blocks from the Cathedral.

Shopping:

Papeete Down town Market Place (2 levels) - best priced souvenirs in French Polynesia, including Black Pearls; if you can’t find it there it’s not in F.P.
Sabani Pearls - Papeete
Tahiti Pearl Market - Papeete
Tahiti T-Shirts near Magic Pearl, great selection of T-shirts, and some are made in Tahiti.


Moorea

Restaurants:

Aito - good fish house
Le Plantation - very nice, tropical plantation type ambiance.
Te Honu Iti - up scale, expensive, romantic, one of the nicest places on Moorea. Ask for a table by the railing so you can watch and feed the fish.
Alfredo’s - nice ambiance, good food, better than most in service.
Le Bateau (the Floating Boat) – located in front of the Linareva Hotel in Haapiti, nice ambiance, small and quaint, good food, expensive, look out for the killer drinks, two rounds and you’re three sheets into the wind!
Le Nouveau Monde - at Cook’s Bay, new management, rated highly by the locals.
Le Mahogany - nice ambiance, very good French, Tahitian and Chinese food.
Chez Michelle - at Cook’s Bay, next to the bridge, small place, Internet access available, good food with reasonable prices.
Chez Capo - located in Moorea Airport, nice place, very good Polynesian specialty food.
Mayflower – Very good French Food, friendly staff, try the Curry Shrimp
Le Cocotier - excellent French Food.
Le Sud - no details
Le Pecheur - on Cooks Bay, no other details
Les Tipaniers - nice place, good food.
Sheraton Moorea BBQ - excellent food, very nice time.
Tortuga’s – a good Pizza and Itallian seafood place, located n Haapiti between the Hibiscus and Moorea Village hotels.
Le Motu Pizza - across from Club Med, excellent sandwiches and burgers.
Allo’s Pizza - near Club Bali Hai, will deliver to most hotels.
Blue Pineapple (L’ananas bleu) - located at the Club Bali Hai on Cook’s Bay, serves breakfast and lunch, great hamburgers and fresh seafood.
Royal Chicken - roulotte on the road between the Hibiscus and Moorea Village for some of the best rotisserie chicken ever, call for take out/pickup.
Miss Pizza – great hamburgers, as well as pizza, inexpensive, across from ICB
La Licorne d'Or (Gold Unicorn) - Might be the finest on Moorea and certainly the prettiest. A ways south of the Sheraton, but they pick up and deliver (in an ancient Fiat).
Roulotte Chez Mariana - in Maharepa. It's in the magasin parking lot right next to Le Mahogany. She's not there Mondays and Tuesdays. Best Chao men, poisson cru, and boeuf au legumes anywhere on the island.
Roulotte Tavairai - in Maharepa. Look for the christmas lights and it has a semi permanent hut where you eat. Excellent chao men and poisson cru.
Roulotte in Pao Pao - at the mouth of Opunohu bay as you are coming from CBH. It's between the Sheraton and the sailing school. It's also semi permanent, with a very small trailer and a separate cooking area. It has separate toilettes too. It's easiest to find if you look for the two 10x20 portable tents (car type) set up to shelter you as you eat. Excellent food.
Jules and Claudine Roulotte - at the wharf in Pao Pao. This is in walking distance from Club Bali Hai, before the supermarche. It has lots of bright yellow tables and chairs to eat at.
Roulotte Papetoai - near the magasin in the main part of the village.
Pizza Daniel - near marker 34, close to Haapiti, very unique setting and great pizza.

Activities:

Shark and Ray Feeding – Moorea Campground Shark and Ray Feeding Tour (Location on map: PK 27.5, Phone: 56 14 42) which you can book directly. The morning tour runs from 10:00 – 1:00pm, and the afternoon runs from 2:00 – 5:00pm. Visitors are charged 2000 CFP or about $20.00. The Campground is about 50 yards from Moorea Village. Bring your own mask and snorkel, and beer or soft drinks. Great value for the money.
4x4 Island Tour- Albert Tours among others.
The Dolphin Experience - at the IC Beachcomber, three levels of price. Be sure and make a reservation in advance.
Boat rentals – Moorea Loca Boat, no permit required, located at the 'Les Tipaniers' hotel ( http://www.gomoorea.com/sea_activities ). Phone 78 13 39
Whale & Dolphin viewing – Dr. Poole’s Whale & Dolphin Watch
Hard Hat Diving - Aqua Blue excursion. If you don't scuba dive but would like a similar experience this excursion is great. Put on a hard hat helmet and walk on the lagoon floor, lots of fun, easy, and no risk.

Shopping:

Black Pearls - Black Pearl Gem Co (free beer), Sibani Pearls, Herman’s Pearls, Pai Moana, and Eva’s (nice lady, well educated) to name a few. Most of these shops will pick you up from your hotel.
Belevedere Lookout - general store within walking distance.
Pineapple Distillery - watch your drinking, particularly in the afternoon as they have sobriety stops around the Island.
Le Petit Village - near IC Beachcomber, small shopping center with a Grocery Store, Souvenir Shops, Bank and Internet access.
Magasin Vaiterua Market - take a right out of the Sheraton and walk about 15 mins., small store with breads, juices and beer. Also another store about 15 mins. walk to the right out of the Sheraton, good meat and cheese selection.
Socredo Shopping Center - located in Maharepa, many shops, restaurants, etc.
Raehau Shopping Center - located in Maharepa as well.
Mereat' Art - Little roadside boutique at PK 13.9, to the left about 200m when exiting the Sheraton grounds

Rent a car and take a cruise around the Island, many shops and places to stop, great views around every corner. Also, lots of beaches to stop at and take a snorkel or a dip.

Bora Bora

Restaurants:

Top Dive - most up scale/fancy restaurant on the island, very romantic ambiance, excellent food, very expensive.
Bloody Mary’s - great ambiance, Ok food and service, very touristy, and expensive.
La Bounty - casual outdoor dining, rated very well on most forums.
Bamboo House - nice relaxed ambiance, mixed reviews.
Fare Manuia – 5 min. walk from the IC Beachcomber, nice place, intimate, top rate food with reasonable prices.
Hotel Bora Bora BBQ - dynamite food, great show, and killer ambiance.
Snack Matira - sandwiches, burgers, fries, etc.
Ben’s Pizza - pizza, burgers, fries, etc. Open until 5:00 pm.
Restaurant Patoti - snacks, burgers, fries, and also serves a variety of fish, steak, duck, and desserts.
Villa Mahana - fairly new - arguably the best food on the Island. The ambiance is beautiful and romantic. There are five tables on the main level, and two tables up a few stairs that get reserved early. If you can, try to get the table at the very top, but if you can't, don't worry, there isn't a bad table there. http://www.villamahana.com
Kaina Hut : http://www.kainahut.com/menu.html
The Snack Matira Beach - Close to the Hotel Matira. Can be accessed from the road or from the beach. Good breakfasts for reasonable prices. Decent Ham and Cheese omelets for less than 1000cfp. They also serve lunch and dinner. Cheeseburger and fries is 1300cfp.
Pirate Bar – on the water, occasional Manta Ray viewing, nice atmosphere, reasonable prices.
L'Appetisserie: In the back of a strip mall; cheap little sandwich shop; also has other snacks, croissants, ice cream, and a few computers to check your E-Mail.
Snack Bora Burgers - Next to post office; small fast food place; has good burgers and fries as well as croque monsieur

Activities:

Shark and Ray Feeding - Tevia Tours, Taremoana Tours, and Patrick’s among others, any hotel or travel agent can book them.
4x4 Island Tour- Patrick’s among others.
Private Picnic - Etienne’s Tour, Patrick’s, or Keishi Tour will arrange these outings. I highly recommend Keishi (ask for Pierrot, Phone 79 26 56). He sets up a table in the lagoon water next to a private Motu. Lunch features Lobster, Crab, Steak, Chicken, Fruit and Champagne. Snorkeling around the Island, Shark and Ray Feeding, Manta Ray viewing and whatever else your heart desires. These run around $500.00 for two, plus $100.00 for each additional person. The operator will usually pick you up at your hotel around 9:30am and drop you off at 3:00pm.
Patrick’s tour is also very nice. He serves a traditional Tahitian feast of foods cooked in an ahima'a (underground oven). Meals consist of roast pig, breadfruit, plantains, taro leaves, and the ever present poisson cru. Patrick is from Bora Bora and is a gracious host.
Horse Back Riding - Ranch Reva Reva, on private Motu for Beach and interior ride.
Bora Bora Lagoonarium - across from Le Meridian, swim with the sharks and many other sea creatures, can also purchase a movie of you swimming with the Sharks.
Sunset Cocktail Cruise - aboard the “Taravana” with Captain Richard, sails from many of the hotels, can be booked through your hotel or travel agent.
Boat rentals – based at Matira Beach, small boats, no permit required, larger boat requires a license, also a taxi service to and/or from any place on the Island (Phone (689) 67.60.61 ). Ask for Rene or Maguy.
( www.boraboraisland.com/todo/maevas/taxi.html )
Parasailing – Bora Bora Parasailing, offers single and double person rides, no age limit. Contact B.P. 567 - Vaitape, Bora Bora Tel/ Fax: (689) 67 70 34 , GSM: 78 27 10 http://www.tahiticoupons.com/English/dream_idp.php?cat=19&name=Parasailing.

Shopping:

Black Pearls - several places around the Island, rent a Le Car and have fun.
Souvenirs and Shops - the Flea Market Building near the wharf in Vaitape. Tiare Market, turn left out of the Sofitel Marara, it’s about a five-minute walk. China Lee Market in Viatape. O.P.E.C., on the road from Viatape to Matira Point. Boutique Fareani north of the ICB, it sells ice cream bars and nick knacks.

Huahine

Restaurants:

Poetaina – Located in Fare. They serve fresh fish with terrific sauces. Very friendly and affordable.
Te Marara – Located at the edge of the main street. The Vanilla Mahi Mahi is a must.
La Bousole – Located next to the Te Tiare transfer base.
Chez Guynette - Nice place for lunch or an inexpensive breakfast, small menu but good food and people watching.
Te Tiare Hotel - has an excellent restaurant.
Pension Mauarii – Lunch and dinner.
Relais Mahana Hotel - Nice for lunch and dinner. Great seafood and good prices.
Patisserie Fare – Located across the street from the post office, about a 5-10 min walk towards the airport.
Temarara - A true South Pacific Bar, and be sure to try a maitai.
Chez Tara's – Just up the beach from Pension Mauarii. Large portions of great food and very reasonable prices.

Activities:

Maraamu kite surfing - They also have Hobie Cats, Wind Suring, and many other activities/rentals. Website: http://www.tahitikite.com/2004/kitesurfA.htm
Huahine Natique - They provide Shark Feeding, Picnic, and Jet Skiing tours.
Website: http://www.huahine-nautique.com/accueilpicnicA.htm
Island Eco Tours - run by Mr. Paul Atallah, his morning tour is highly recommended. Telephone Paul at (689) 68.79.67 or book through your hotel.
Huahine Explorer – 4x4 trips and Island tours. Website: http://www.iaorana-huahine.com/en/explorer.html
Eurocar – Located in Fare, rental cars and bikes.
Boat Rentals - Downtown, small gas powered boats can be rented to tour the lagoon.

Shopping:

Magasin – A very small market located about 2 km south of the Relais Mahana hotel - around the point and just past Flosse's estate on the left side of the road.
Huahine Pearl Farm - Owned by an American and his Tahitian wife. They also feature pottery and very nice carved coral sculptures.
Melanie Dupres art work, her store is located right after the bridge on the road to the Sofitel. Has posters, lithographs, oil paintings, etc.
Super Fare Nui-the grocery store downtown has notices on what is going on in Huahine; but bring a French dictionary to read the notices.
Downtown Fare – has several road side vendors, markets, roulettes, and small shops as well.

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

Whooooo! I'm booked!
9 days! 1 sheraton papeete, 4 moorea pearl garden bungalow w/pool, 4 at the new Intercontinental!!!!!!!
Yeah!
Thanks for that list!!!!!!!!

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

Bump for Dancemachine & Angnick

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

thanks camacho...appreciate it

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

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Posted by JimmysBride

I stayed at the Pearl Beach Resort in Bora Bora.

My HM Review and Pics

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Your review was great and you and FH had the right idea not to island hop!! Was there much to tour on the mainland or is it like Hawaii where anything outside of the tourist areas isn't very nice....Also, I know it was a while ago but do you have a ballpark on the $$. Thanks for sharing!!

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

It's soooooo expensive It's a dream of mines but I don't want to get into debt especially after the wedding. The cheapest I've gotten a quote for was 6800.00 and that's if we only stay in an overwater bungalow for one night. I refuse to go to Tahiti and not stay in an overwater bungalow.

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

I edited my itinerary in the first post b/c we had to add a night in tahiti. Our return flight was cancelled so we were forced to add an extra night!

Did anyone have an itinerary change b/c of the flight changes?

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

I have a question for all you girls who went to Tahitii - did you wait until you got there to book activities, or did you book them before hand?? Thanks!!

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

I was told it's ok to make dinner reservations in advance, but to hold off on booking the activites until you get there. The reason being that say you book a 4x4 tour and it rains, you may just be out of your money, and it isn't any cheaper to reserve.

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

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Posted by CaMacho

I edited my itinerary in the first post b/c we had to add a night in tahiti. Our return flight was cancelled so we were forced to add an extra night!

Did anyone have an itinerary change b/c of the flight changes?

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I contacted my TA today and my Itinerary changed due to the flight schedule. We added and extra day and changed our hotel in Bora Bora. We were originally doing 4 in BB Pearl, now we are doing 5 in BB Intercontinental - Im even more excited.

2 Nts Intercont Papeete (Panoramic RM)
3 Nts Moorea Pearl (Gard Bungalow w. Pool)
5 nts Intecont BB (Overwater Bungalow -Meals included)

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

Because of this thread, I contacted my TA, who contacted the travel company. They didnt even notify her! I have my return flight cancelled. It was on a Wed. When are they coming back now? ON the website it says its still running!???????? I dont want to come back any sooner than we are!

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

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Posted by denise2006

Because of this thread, I contacted my TA, who contacted the travel company. They didnt even notify her! I have my return flight cancelled. It was on a Wed. When are they coming back now? ON the website it says its still running!???????? I dont want to come back any sooner than we are!

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For Tahiti Air Nui.. the retunr flights for Sept. are Tues - Thurs - Sat. I added an extra day also, I refused to leave a day earlier. However, you can still take the flight that connects in LAX if you dont want to add an extra day.

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

Ok...I actually called and found out. I cant believe the tour company didnt call my agent! Anyway, I think we will come back a day later now. Thats kind of good, b/c that is the day i wanted to come back originally. I dont think we could afford Bora Bora another night at the I.C., so maybe we'll stay another night in Moorea.

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

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Posted by denise2006

Ok...I actually called and found out. I cant believe the tour company didnt call my agent! Anyway, I think we will come back a day later now. Thats kind of good, b/c that is the day i wanted to come back originally. I dont think we could afford Bora Bora another night at the I.C., so maybe we'll stay another night in Moorea.

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We couldn't afford to stay another night in Bora Bora so we just kept everything the same (all interisland flights too) and just added the extra night on tahiti, this way we can do some shopping and enjoy the pool at the IC!

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

Yikes!! I just saw all of your posts and contacted my TA. I wonder what the outcome will be...

So...are any of you making dinner reservations in advance? If so...when do you think we should? Thanks!!

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

I am a little nervous. My travel agent is not aware of the flight changes. She told me my itienary stays as is from when I orignally booked it in September.

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

Ok- so my TA said that there were no changes, and she scheduled my interisland flights! Yay!!

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

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Posted by KvsGrl

Ok- so my TA said that there were no changes, and she scheduled my interisland flights! Yay!!

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What date are you returning? I was just curious, cause I had to add an extra date - my flight was cancelled. Are you returnign in Sept?

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

Just for kicks, I would go on the Air Tahiti Nui website and check your flight dates! My TA didn't even realize the flights were changed at first, only the time!! It looks like instead of mon & wed returns they changed it to tues and thurs.

Re: French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.) Honeymoons!!!!!!

OMG!!!! Can I give you all a huge ?

I can not believe my TA!! I checked the Air Tahiti website, and as you said, my flight did not exist!! I called my TA and she told me that someone swithced my flight from Aug 30th to Aug 29th...but no one informed me!! I mean, didn;t they see that I have a reservation for the evening of the 29th in Bora Bora?? Grrr!! So...I also booked an extra night at the Intercontinental in Tahiti, but I am starting to get really worried. I just feel like it is so expensive