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LOCATION: Tahiti is situated half way between California and Australia in the same time zone as Hawaii; Pacific Time minus 2 hours. It is approximately 7 ½ hours flying time from Los Angeles.
 
LANGUAGE: Both French and Tahitian are taught in schools, but English is used almost everywhere a visitor would go.
 
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: A visa is not required for U.S. and Canadian citizens for stays up to one month, however they must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of return. Citizens of other countries should consult the French Consulate. It is solely the passenger's responsibility to ensure that all documents needed are complete and current.
 
TAXES AND TIPS: Room tax is included in our package pricing, however, on most islands there is a "bed tax" of approximately $2.00 per person per night. The hotels upon checkout collect this tax direct from you. Tipping is not part of Polynesian culture
 
CURRENCY EXCHANGE: At Tahiti's international airport, the bank is open for all international arrivals and departures. A better rate is usually found at the banks than hotels. There are banks and ATM's generally located throughout the islands.
 
CREDIT CARDS: Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted at most hotels and restaurants throughout the islands. Please check with shops and restaurants before you buy.
 
CLOTHING: Tahiti averages a comfortable 80 degrees throughout the year so dress requirements are understandably casual. During the day on the outer islands, shorts, bathing suits or the local pareu (2 yards of cloth worn wrapped around the body in any of several ways) are acceptable. An old pair of tennis shoes or plastic sandals (available locally) is good to have for walking on the reef. In the evenings, many hotels ask the men to wear long pants and a shirt and not be barefooted. Casual shoes, thongs, jeans or slacks and a Polynesian shirt are quite acceptable for the men and a light sun dress, slacks or shorts for the ladies. Between June and September, evenings may occasionally be cool enough to warrant a light sweater. And even though tropical rain showers are refreshing rather than chilling, a light weight rain coat that folds to fit into a pocket or purse may also come in handy.
 
HOTEL ROOM AVAILABILITY: Most hotels have noon check-in and checkout. If you arrive before that time, you may have to wait until the room has been vacated and made ready for you. We recommend a relaxing drink by the pool, knowing that the hotels do everything possible to accommodate guests. Pre-registration (paying) for the previous night is the only way to guarantee the room will be available immediately upon an early morning arrival.
 
MEALS: Most hotels and restaurants have a la carte menus. Meal plans are available at the time of booking and generally represent a cost savings. Please note that several hotels have a substantial surcharge for their required Christmas and New Years dinners.
 
TRAVEL INSURANCE: We do urge you to consider the optional travel insurance provided by Insure America (Travel Guard International). Complete coverage and exclusions are contained in their insurance booklet, which will be sent with your confirmed itinerary and invoice. If you decide not to purchase this insurance protection, please ask your Travel Agent to advise us at the time your tour deposit is made.
 
ACTIVITIES: Play a round of golf on Tahiti or Moorea. Horseback ride along the beach, play tennis, hike or bike ride. Sail, go water skiing, jet skiing, para-sailing or deep sea fishing. Experience the under sea world by snorkeling, scuba diving or even on a shallow water hard hat dive. Catch an island tour or helicopter ride around the island. Enjoy a Tahitian feast.... or just relax in a hammock and listen to the sound of the sea breaking on the distant reef. It's all available for your pleasure. And as a special feature, most resorts on the outer islands provide complimentary use of snorkeling equipment and outrigger canoes.
 
SCUBA DIVING: Play a round of golf on Tahiti or Moorea. Horseback ride along the beach, play tennis, hike or bike ride. Sail, go water skiing, jet skiing, para-sailing or deep sea fishing. Experience the under sea world by snorkeling, scuba diving or even on a shallow water hard hat dive. Catch an island tour or helicopter ride around the island. Enjoy a Tahitian feast.... or just relax in a hammock and listen to the sound of the sea breaking on the distant reef. It's all available for your pleasure. And as a special feature, most resorts on the outer islands provide complimentary use of snorkeling equipment and outrigger canoes.

HARD HAT DIVE: Not comfortable swimming but still want to experience the underwater world? Or maybe you are a fully certified SCUBA diver that wants to try something different. Aqua Blue offers a chance to do just that. They provide air delivered from the surface to a hard hat resting over your head and on your shoulders. Unless you want to lift the hat off under water, your face won't even get wet. You will be in a safe lagoon area and can walk around on the sand bottom and enjoy the sea life around you.
 
GOLF: Tahiti's International Golf Course is located approximately 25 miles from Papeete and is accessible by rental car or pre-arranged tour. The 6,950-yard championship course was designed by architect Bob Baldock from California. He has designed over 350 golf courses throughout the United States and Mexico. Full day outings including equipment rental, green fees and transfers from your hotel can be arranged.

The Jack Nicklaus Design "Moorea Green Pearl Golf Club" is the first golf course opened on the outer islands. Located near the Moorea airport, the 6,596 yard, par 70 championship "Green Pearl" is aptly named as the emerald green fairways and greens are in full bloom with special salt tolerant turf seeds grown in the lush valleys of Moorea.
 
TAHITIAN WEDDING CEREMONY: Everyone asks about getting married on Tahiti. Although this ceremony does not make U.S. citizens legally married, it can be done to renew vows or just to experience the traditional Tahitian wedding. The Tiki Village on Moorea replicates an ancient Tahitian village and their village chief and high priest perform the ceremonies which include music, floral crowns and traditional Tahitian dress. The couple will also receive photographs of the ceremony and a certificate.
 
SHOPPING: We are often asked "what to buy" in the islands. The beautiful black pearls, the local pareu, T-shirts, shell leis, vanilla beans, scented monoi coconut oil, mother of pearl jewelry and wood carvings (particularly good samples are those from the Marquesas) all make good collectibles or gifts to take back. In addition, be sure to take a look at the paintings of some of the local artists. We particularly like the watercolors of Titi Becaud. She and her family live on their sailboat anchored in the Bora Bora lagoon. Many of the better boutiques offer samples of her work.
 
BLACK PEARLS The Black Pearl was once to be found only in royal jewelry sets. Its marvelous colors range from silver gray through deep greens iridescent with pink, gold and blue to the darkest black. Some pearls reflect light with a rainbow-like effect, but all have their own luster and magic. The infinite ranges of shades are natural and are produced by the black lipped oysters which live in the pure lagoon waters of Polynesia.

There are many shops throughout the islands that offer Tahiti's pearls for sale, and we encourage you to visit as many of these pearl shops as you like before deciding where to buy. We recommend that one of your stops be at RON HALL'S ISLAND FASHION BLACK PEARLS on Moorea. Ron first sailed to Tahiti from Hawaii in 1974 and now makes Moorea his home. His short and educational "pearl school" will give you all the knowledge you will need to make an educated choice in purchasing a truly lovely gem and an everlasting souvenir of your visit to French Polynesia.
 
MOOREA DOLPHIN CENTER: Located at the Moorea Intercontinental where several of the overwater bungalows directly overlook the dolphins "home", the former Dolphin Quest offers an unique opportunity to swim and interact with these marine mammals.

DOLPHIN WATCH: Dr. Michael Poole, an American marine biologist, has lived on Moorea since 1980 conducting scientific research on whales and dolphins. In his "spare" time, he offers informative and exciting boat tours where you can see and learn about wild, acrobatic spinner dolphins, and in some seasons, humpback whales.
 
MISCELLANEOUS: Tahiti has a warm climate and gentle ocean breezes coming off the lagoon. Because of this, many hotels on the outer islands do not use air conditioning, but do have ceiling fans. If you must have air conditioning, please let us know when booking your trip so that we can try to accommodate you. Colors in the tropics seem brighter than at home and the nights seem darker, therefore, a good pair of dark glasses and a small pocket flashlight for everyone in your party are suggested.