9 Days on Moorea & Tahiti: A Complete Guide 

Where is Tahiti dutch

@@danicruz9354south pacific an untouched paradise

Who lives there?

@@saranshsharma2873Tahitians, I guess

He wouldn't shut up about his damn plan...

Kept talking about fairh

Love seening the RDR2 Community here!

Dude I swear if we end in Guarma again Im going to snap

Thanks for letting me know it is helpful. I found trip planning there to be confusing, so I wanted to do something that might help others.

@@newsocracyare there Pinkertons or o'driscolls?

we’re also going for nine days. would you have changed the ratio of Tahiti days to Mo’orea days?

Thanks very much. I wanted to do the kind of video I’d find helpful. Basic geography, a bit of info and some personal insight. I’ve done similar ones on Hawaii and Mallorca. About to tackle London. I’ve been there so many times, it feels a bit overwhelming at the moment. Thanks again. Greatly appreciated!

@@newsocracy Am about to head to Tahiti feb 4 on a Familiarization trip and to enjoy all these beautiful you video is amazing,! All i will say is thank you and you have a new follower, before that going to London so will check your other videos

@@zobe67 I’m finishing up a similar video on London. Hope to post in a couple of days. Thanks for your comments on Tahiti/Moorea. Greatly appreciated!

Thanks! I wanted to do something that answered some of the questions first timers like me might have.

Thanks very much. So glad you found it helpful.

Greatly appreciated, Tim! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you for taking the time to message me. This means a lot. I'm so glad you find the video helpful for clients. I have some others about Hawaii and I'm trying knock out some more about New Zealand. Encouragement like this fuels the work. Thanks again! Jim

Thanks David! Greatly appreciated.

Thanks! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

So glad it was helpful. Thanks for letting me know.

Thanks! It's a must-see destination for sure.

Glad it helped! Hope you have a great time.

Thanks. Glad it’s useful.

Thanks! Yeah, it is.

Thanks! Glad it’s helpful.

Great 👍 for you ; Safe travels 😀😀!!! I just need a few years of Savings; May 4 & we’ll be ready to roll . This video is great motivation to live within my means & save Up for trips of a lifetime 😍😍!!!

Thanks Ruth! Glad it was helpful.

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. The treehouse is a special place to stay. I hope you have a great time.

Glad you like it. I couldn't find a video that really showed and explained what I needed to know so I produced one. Thanks for your comment.

Thanks. Glad it's helpful.

So happy for you. You'll have a great time. Thanks for the kind words.

Merci

Thanks very much, Kim!

Great minds think alike. And thanks to the Delta SkyMiles deal, French Polynesia was possible for me. It wasn’t on my list. But so glad I got to go. The couple who own the over-the-water bungalow are really kind. You’ll have a good time there. Thanks for letting me know you like the video. Jim

Thanks so much! Love your channel, too. Watching your NZ and Australia videos now. Heading there next year.

@@newsocracy we’re ready to go back! NZ is high on our list of places to go live for a few months.

Yeah, the lagoon is hard to beat. It allows you to do so much more safely.

Thanks so much! So glad you like it.

DoEs ThIs TrOlLeY Go To TaHiTI???

I loved every moment on the water, in the water or by the water. Searching for food, I'd be better without that. Can't wait to go back, too.

@@newsocracy Really enjoyed your Moorea travel video ! I went there by chance in 2000 to put in time as I awaited arrival of my cruise ship in Papeete Have NEVER forgotten the beauty of this small island. Rented a scooter and drove around the island. The view around each bend was breathtaking. And you’ve confirmed it still exists. Back then VERY FEW resorts. Fewer restaurants and shops I really would appreciate names of the air bnb’s you stayed at Also the name of place you booked your afternoon of swimming and water activities with the small group Have dreamt about getting back for SO long, your travelogue tells me why Am now in my early 80s and may not get back again Do hope you’ll respond Sincerely Mary Lou Baldwin

I'm so happy it was useful. I had so many questions before I went, but couldn't find anything that that gave me an idea where things were, how to get to them and what to expect. So I produced one. At the Airbnb, use the kayaks, take the tour if you have time and spend nights on the deck with the water lights on. I was there in February and it was hot and humid. AC is in short supply on the island other than at large resorts. The ocean roar will lull you to sleep. And the hosts are wonderful. Thanks for the kind words. I hope y'all have the best time.

@@newsocracy Thank you so much for the info! We will be heading there in early November. Your videos totally remind me of Rick Steves... They reeled us in! Amazing attention to detail. Thanks again.

thanks!

Glad you like it! Not sure when I’ll get back. Heading to New Zealand next. But would like to return to FP.

Thanks! Let them know I love it. It kept my iPhone dry. And that was one of my only worries there.

Thanks for the kind words. I haven't been to BB. Hope to get back and experience it. I envy your April trip. Enjoy.

No I didn't. I used stock footage from Storyblocks for the few aerial shots I included. I think some people do fly them, but drones don't seem to be welcome there. Thanks for kind words.

Thanks for letting me know you found the video helpful. I love Kauai, too. I didn't meet Franck, but you'll love Kathy. She's a force. She wants happy and returning guests. I was there in February. It was hot, but off all the airbnbs I stayed in, Kathy's place had the best fans: a ceiling fan and a small portable fan. Nights inside were ok. Mosquitoes don't bother me much, but I do my best to stay away from them. So I didn't keep the sliding doors open much at night. The two sunsets I saw there were spectacular. There are multiple kayaks you can use. Lots of surfers stay there. They paddle or boat out to the reef wall and surf the wave there. I went out and loved watching. Kathy brings a great breakfast tray early around 3 a.m. and leaves on the counter of your outside kitchen. She does it so early for surfers who head out before dawn. I struggled to find food to eat on Moorea, so it is a real treat. I'll go to Coco Beach every day to eat when I go back. There are lots of dogs on the island. There are at least four at the Kathy's compound. A barking dog next door (I was on the north end next to the fence) was a bit of a bother, but no problems with her dogs. They put on a show at sunset. Be friendly with them and pet them. Are you staying at other airbnb's or just Kathy's place?

@@newsocracy, thanks so much for your reply. Seeing that the island is small enough & without traffic, we decided to stay there for 7 full days/nights and finish off the last 2 nights @ the Hilton on Tahiti. Good to know about all the fans at Kathy's place. We're not really AC people being from the west coast and we rarely need it on Kauai but we do appreciate fans. We didn't have issues with mozzies in September but between the cruise & resort stays, there were no concerns. I'm slightly concerned about the wet season though. The dogs are fine as long as they're not aggressive. We had 2 dogs that stayed with us @ an airbnb on Tahiti for 2 nights. The hosts adopted 2 dogs in a gated house with a pool and basically thought they owned our rental. They were super sweet and eagerly waited for our return from day of sight seeing, haha. We loved Coco Beach too and have a reservation already but maybe we need to go more than once. And, thanks to you, we also made a reservation with Miti Tours. That is an amazing deal! We did the jet ski tour on Bora Bora and like you, as fun as it was, we thought once was enough. However, you do need to go to BB...the water there is amazing...fifty shades of blue! Some of the best snorkeling and most colorful corals but you have to go on a tour to reach those spectacular places. As wonderful as BB is, Moorea has the mountains and for us, more to do. Anyway, again, thanks so much; you're insight have been a tremendous help.

I don’t think there was much of a difference in price, but probably fewer cars on Moorea. So book as early as possible. I thought about renting a car on each island, but I still needed one on Tahiti my last day since my flight departed at 8 pm. Glad you found the video helpful.

I didn’t see anyone fishing other than a couple of boys in a kayak, but I doubt there are any restrictions. I never saw a coastal patrol or coast guard like operation there. Surely there’s something, but I never saw anything like that.

I'd love to see Moorea again. I had a good bit of time there, but it would be nice to just enjoy without feeling compelled to explore.

@@newsocracy thanks for your response. For us it's the similar feeling. We liked the Moorea the most. It's a good mix between remoteness and tourism that can be enjoyed many ways (and multiple times ;)

So glad you like the video. I really struggled to find food. I talked to other travelers on excursions and at the airport and they had the same issue. That's why in the video I say, "large resorts appeal to me here." I never stay at resorts, but an onsite restaurant that can be relied on would be a big plus there. I was too vague about that in the video. Coco Beach was wonderful both times I ate there. The food and service are good and the setting is spectacular. I'd do that every day it is open. But I really did struggle to find good food. There are two McDonald's on Tahiti and they were both packed. I won't turn up my nose at them next time I'm there. On the plus side, it was sort of a fat farm in paradise for me. I lost a good bit of weight. Eating at Coco Beach (just open for lunch), at the Hilton and Sofitel hotels (something I didn't do) and Snack Mahana (just open for lunch) will probably give you what you want. Just plan where you're going to eat before you get there. Make sure you know when they'll be open. I think you can eat well there, you just have to work at it more than at other places like Hawaii. Hope you have the best trip.

There are many places to eat and the cuisine is excellent. Go to Moorea and go to Coco Beach. It is a small Motu or island that you get to by boat. You make a reservation to go any day except Monday.

@@newsocracy Hi and thank you for the great video. I did not find your link or info on the exact airbnb’s that you used. I would love to also stay at a couple of those. Thanks again for the great video.

I think it was under $500 for an automatic car. If an automatic is something you want, reserve early. There’s not a lot of those there. I booked mine through Delta, so I got a discount. Try your airline first. I went with Hertz because I have status with them and they turned out to be one of the cheapest companies. Thanks for letting me know you like the video.

I wouldn't worry about rental location in regard to grocery stores. You can circle the island in about an hour so the journey to any of them won't take much time. The largest one that's sort of like a smaller version of Target is just south of the ferry port. There's a place called Super U at the bottom of Cook's Bay on the north shore and a Super U Express just up from it to the east between Cook's Bay and the airport and ferry port. Food was a real struggle for me there. I walked around all three of these stores endlessly looking for something I wanted to buy. Moorea and Tahiti should be marketed and a weight loss destination. The scenery and activities offered make up for that. Coco Beach was good every time and the view is spectacular. I'd stick to somewhere along the north shore. Most of the things you'll want to do are in that area. If you going the rental route, just find the most appealing place with best reviews. But again, distance won't much of an issue. You'll have a great time.

@@newsocracy Thank you! My son has food allergies and this is the first time we'll be traveling internationally. So I'm just a bit worried as to where we can easily purchase groceries to cook for him. I know Moorea is not that big, but just wondering if there is an area we should avoid staying.

@@alohanyc77 I don’t think so. I never felt afraid anywhere there. I’d just read most of the rental reviews of any place of interest. You might also see if Champion or Super U list foods offered on their websites. There’s a small hospital/clinic just south of the Champion store.

All video was shot with a iPhone 12 Pro Max. The stabilization is fantastic. Some of the stills were shot with a Canon 90D. I have too many cameras, but for ease of use, stabilization, consistent video quality and portability, that iPhone beats all of them. And you always have it with you, so you can capture all the details of a trip that you wouldn’t bother with if you had a bulky camera that needs a tripod or monopod. Thanks for letting me know you like the video. That means a lot to me.

My intention was to pick up something for my mom, but finding something I liked amongst the large selection with slight or large imperfections, was more time-consuming than I thought it would be. I think the prices for those outside sellers are probably reasonable. There are standing shops that offer perfect pearls, but those prices are much higher. I’m sure you can find something you like that fits your budget. I just didn’t set aside enough time given my indecisiveness.

We landed in the late afternoon and by the time I got the car and got on the road it was already dark. Once I found my way to the Airbnb, I was asleep. I didn’t really feel jetlagged at all. So glad the video is helpful. I hope your family has a great super dad led trip.

Hope you have a great time. If you want to see Moorea, you could ferry over and back in one day and rent a car at the Moorea port. Or take the one you rent on Tahiti (if you rent one). I was apprehensive, but the ferry was fairly easy to do. I also like stress free vacations, so just spending time on one island has appeal too. Have fun

The Airbnb links are in the video description.

You'll have a great time!

Looks like you had enough money and faith to get there

I don’t, but you might check rome2rio.com for travel options between the two. Thanks for watching my video and good luck with your travels.

@@newsocracy ok thanks, Me Bill, Dutch, Javier, And Micah will greatly enjoy Tahiti when we start our mango Farm!

Taking a vehicle to Moorea. Should I need to make a reservation with the Aremiti2 Ferry to Moorea?

I was there mid February. The hot and sweaty season. I didn't make a reservation. I wasn't sure of my schedule that day. You probably should reserve space. If you don't, try to show up by at least mid afternoon so there are more opportunities to be worked in.

When on februaty, you got almost sunshine weather 🍀 My plan to go january 2024, What you think about weather?

It was February of this year.

@@zlatko557 I worried about rain before my arrival. I was lucky, but there’s no way to tell what it will be like. Don’t worry, just plan and hope for the best. It’s all you can do. So glad you found the video helpful.

@@newsocracy "I appreciate your response and I agree with you." Thank you very much!

I was there in February, summertime. Mosquitoes don't bother me like they do others. But when out at night, I stayed near the shore, hoping the breeze would keep them at bay. I'm from the US south. If I'm ever back in FP in summertime, I'll have AC. You'll be miserable without it.

@@newsocracy Thanks, appreciate it, and your excellent review. We re in Vegas, so used to the heat, but I think we'll take your advice, and fork out the extra for AC. Thx again

Love love love your video! Thank you. We are going on a Paul Gauguin cruise in May 2024. Our second time with them. I’m trying to plan out pre and post cruise lodging/car, adventure etc & your video just got me pumped up! Would May without AC be an issue? Oh and I’m a huge dog fan so that part really made me smile. 😊

@@kellylee514 so glad you find the video helpful. I’d think May would be much better than February when I was there. The summer (February) humidity is awful. So many different kinds of dogs. You’ll be amazed. Thanks again for the kind words. Hope you have a great time.

Information: Bora Bora doesn't have an international airport. You have to fly domestic either from Tahiti airport or Moorea airport - check out with airlines. Note: There are special luggage weight conditions/terms because of smaller planes within the French-Polynesian islands.

Yes, it's Tahiti Iti Tour & Surf | www.tahitiititourandsurf.pf/i...

Thank you! Your video was amazing and full of very useful information!

@@pennywills9104 Thanks so much, Penny! I had so many questions before I went. I wanted to do something that'd be helpful to people like us.

Automatic cars dominate the world now, but once most cars were manual or stick shift. Hence they were called standard transmissions because it was pretty essential that you knew how to operate one. I should’ve said manual instead for people younger than me or in other countries.

It was February. I didn't rain at all during the day except for a quick shower my last day. There were a couple of nightime storms. I had great weather. All sunny days. But I think it's just the luck of the draw. Good luck with your trip.,

Thank you very much!

Links to them are in the video description.

I hate you had that experience. What I saw after Katrina has yet to dim. I now constantly compare Hawaii and Tahiti/Moorea. Lots of similarities. The lagoons that that surround the two islands and most of the islands of French Polynesia are hard to beat. Sitting in the water on the Cocoa Beach restaurant islet as harmless black tip sharks and stingrays swim by just feet away while I look out at the most incredible water colors I've ever seen make the long journey worthwhile for me. But FP is no where near as developed as Hawaii. I suspected that was the case but wasn't prepared for the inconveniences. The lack of AC, heat and humidity in summer and difficulty finding food were daily issues. I'm from the south and i'm used to that climate, but we have AC. That, and the real struggle for food are why I suggested consideration of a resort stay. I'm an Airbnb guy and loved the places I stayed, but the lack of easily accessible food and AC would have me at a resort next time. As someone who knows and loves Hawaii, I think you should see FP. About the same location in both hemispheres, common history and similar culture. Look at it as part of your Hawaiian education. If you do go, I'd love to hear what you think of the place. Ask me any questions that come up. Thanks for watching the video. Jim

@@newsocracy wow, thanks for your detailed reply! It seems like people who saw Katrina happen or 911 for the matter feel the same was as people who saw what was done to Maui. 🦋So as for FP, you are saying the snorkeling is much better then? Bc that’s one of the main draws for me. Love Cozumel for that reason. Not sure I want to go IN w the harmless sharks…hahaha…maybe? Is there any place in the Caribbean that you like a lot? What’s your opinion on seasons to visit Tahiti? Went to Koh Samui in a semi off season and it was overcast, so missed the bright sunshine. Still was nice of course. Delta has another sale with miles for Tahiti, that’s why I ask 🙌🏽😀🌈🏝️

The reef walls that create the lagoons around the FP islands make so much possible, including over-the-water bungalows. The shark/stingray swim, really walk as you can easily touch bottom, is a highlight. The guides are in the water with you and if the sharks turn hostile, they'll be bloated long before they get to you. Lots of people in the water. I live near New Orleans and oddly have yet to go to the Caribbean. I have been to Cozumel. I was just in Mallorca in the Med in April and loved every moment of it. Can't wait to get back there. I've only been to FP in summer, so I don't know about the other seasons. I got no rain in 9 days. Beautiful everywhere, crystal clear water, but no AC outside of my car. AC will top my must have list if I return. Look at the water in the video. I don't see how it could be any clearer. Amazing water to explore, protected by the reef wall. @@HotelSnob

Yeah. I didn’t pay much to stay on either island. They were all airbnb rentals. I considered an over-the-water bungalow, but didn’t want to pay 1K a night.

I think like most isolated islands, there aren’t poisonous snakes. I’m from a mosquito filled place, so constantly avoiding them is second nature to me. But yeah, if you’re out at night, they will be too. None of the rentals I stayed in had air-conditioning, so screen doors and fans were a must. Particularly in the treehouse, it would’ve been nice to just leave the window covers open, but I would’ve been alive.

@@newsocracy Poisonous critters of all sorts aren't the problem, as you would have to eat one to be poisoned. Doh! It's the venomous ones that can bite you and inject venom that you need to worry about. There you go, the difference between poisonous and venomous critters. May I suggest you never go to Australia as you would be a dead man walking to the snakes, spiders, octopus, jelly fish and duckbilled platypus. And those are just the ones that I know that are venous. I'm sure there are others. And of course there are the ones that want to eat you such as sharks, crocodiles and giant lizards. And don't forget the giant kangaroos and emus that can kick you to death.

They resided at the west coast airbnb compound on Moorea. They put on a good sunset fishing show and didn't bark much. I was warned they tend to steal shoes left out. I enjoyed them but not a place for anyone who dislikes or is afraid of dogs.

But there are dogs all over the island. And I've never seen such a wide variety of dogs in one place. Any kind you could want is on that island.

Sure. Glad to help.

We are 4 50+ adults headed to Tahiti/ Moorea in August. Booked Hilton overwater bungalows first 2 nights, Lagoon Dream by Coco Beach for next 2 nights, what do you recommend for nights 5 and 6? South side of Moorea? Any recommendations for Tahiti?

@@kevincopley914 so I probably should’ve included this in the video. The area between those two islets, and the North Shore, where the channel is, is just spectacularly beautiful. Sitting in the shallow water by the islet by the restaurant and looking across the channel is perhaps the most spectacular visual I’ve ever seen. The channel current is strong, but you can rent motorboats and kayaks, and explore the shores of the two islets or just sit in the shallow water by them, and watch the sort of friendly sharks and stingrays go by at lunchtime. if you wanna move from Ocean dream, I’d move closer to the two islets. It takes no time to circle the island. I didn’t see anything of interest to me on the southside. I don’t think you’ll get much better than that area on the North Shore. whether it’s a hotel or an Airbnb, that’s where I’ll spend my time next time. The small motorboat rentals can’t be expensive. There are lots of them. And east of the two islets is where all the tour companies take tourist to see the sharks and stingrays at lunchtime. Wherever you stay, it won’t be a long drive. But I’d love to have close access to my own boat or kayak in that area.

@@newsocracy Thank you so much! We will investigate another location between the islets!