Tahiti – Guidebook

Tahiti is one of the most beautiful and exotic places in the Pacific. Extraordinary geography cannot help but impress visitors, making it an obvious romance destination. A French influence blended with Tahitian culture makes Tahiti both sophisticated and laid back.

Airport
Tahiti's Airport is known as Faa'a International Airport which also serves as the Domestic Airport and is located 6 km from central Papeete.

Business Hours
Shops are usually open 8am-5.30pm but there is a long lunch hour observed in Tahiti - at its most extreme this could be from 11am-1.30pm. Saturday shopping is generally 8am-12 noon.
top

Climate
Tahiti enjoys a fairly even year round climate with daytime temperatures usually around 28-33 degrees Celsius. This drops slightly at night. From November through to May the weather is warmer with higher levels of humidity, from June to October the weather is cooler and drier. Rainfall is heaviest in the warmer season. Average maximum temperature in Papeete is 33°C in January, 30°C in July.

Currency & Banking
The local currency is the Pacific French Franc and is available for purchase at banks throughout New Zealand and Australia and at the international airports. Notes are in denominations of 10.000, 5.000, 1.000 and 500 Francs (XPF) and the coins are 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 franc. There are a variety of banks in Papeete and at the Faaa International Airport - Westpac, Banque Paribas PolynEsie, Banque Socredo, Banque de Tahiti. Banking hours are generally 8am-3.30pm Monday to Friday, while some banks are open 7.45am-11.30am Saturday. Widely accepted credit cards are American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard, JCB and Visa. Please note: some atolls and islands in the Austral and Gambier group have no banking facilities.

Customs & Dress
Tahitian culture is harder to access than many other Pacific countries, however in rural and outer island areas the local way of life incorporates traditional customs.
top

Departure Tax
International departure tax payable at time of ticketing 1200 xpf per person.

Drinking Water
Tap water is considered safe for drinking, however bottled water is widely used.

Duty Free
The following purchase allowance applies per person over the age of 18 years. Please note these allowances are provided as a guide only. They may be subject to change by the governing bodies without prior notice.

Restricted Item	Allowable Quota
Cigarettes	200
Cigars	50
Alcohol/Wine	2 Litres

top

Electricity
Generally speaking New Zealand and Australian appliances should run without a problem in Tahiti, however the European twin pin plug is used so you will need an adaptor. These are readily available in appliance shops at home or in hotel boutiques. We do recommend that you check with the hotel before 'plugging in'. 110 or 220 voltage (60 cycles).

Languages
French is the official language however Tahitian is also spoken by the local population. English is widely spoken in tourist areas and the locals generally have a fairly good understanding of it, however they do appreciate attempts to speak French and Tahitian. If you are able to speak Maori, you'll find that Tahitian Maohi is very similar.

Location
The Tahitian Islands are officially known as French Polynesia, with 118 islands, spread over 4 million square kms, and consists of the Society Islands, Astral Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Atolls and the Gambier Islands. Papeete is the capital of Tahiti , the largest island. Total land area is approximately 1550 square miles.The islands are covered in tropical rainforest and their steep, hilly slopes are interspersed with swift flowing creeks, waterfalls and peaceful lagoons.
top

Population
The population in Tahiti is approximately 250,000, of which the majority live on Tahiti, 16% of the total population living in Papeete. This population is made up of approximately 83% Tahitian, 5% Asians, Europeans.

Shopping
With several international retail outlets in Papeete, shopping especially for European labels is interesting. The Papeete Public Market is open daily and is a wonderful way to experience the authenticity of the local Tahitians. There are flower, fruit and vegetable, clothing, fresh seafood, art and craft markets, all colourful and interesting for visitors. The local black pearl jewellery is another drawcard for many serious shoppers.

Tipping
Tipping is not accepted practice in Tahiti.
top

Vaccinations & Health
If visitors are arriving from an area that is infected with Yellow fever or Cholera then a certificate of health is required.