Seven Reasons to Choose the Islands of Tahiti
Ia orana, everyone! I’ve just returned from 8 days in paradise in the islands of Tahiti. While December is considered to be low season and rainy season, the weather was fabulous. It was quite hot during the day, but you can just jump in the beautiful blue water to cool off. At night it cools down, so you can sip a cocktail and watch the sunset. Many of our clients feel that the islands of Tahiti are too expensive and too far for a 7-10 day vacation. Here are 7 reasons I think you should reconsider:
- The islands of Tahiti are only an 8-hour flight from LAX, and they’re only 4 hours behind CST. It’s easy to get there with daily flights on Air Tahiti Nui.
- You will never see water more blue and beautiful than you see in Bora Bora. I have seen the water in the Maldives and Fiji and while those are very beautiful, Bora Bora is just on another level.
- The islands of Tahiti are the original location of the overwater bungalows. I know that this is on a lot of bucket lists. And yes, they can be pricey in Bora Bora, but you can consider doing an overwater bungalow on the islands of Raiatea, Huahine, or Moorea, where they are a bit less expensive. Alternatively, you could stay in Bora Bora in a garden or beach bungalow and then move to an overwater bungalow for the last 2 nights.
- The islands of Huahine and Raiatea only have a handful of 3-star properties and family-run houses, which are less expensive than a luxury property. But the charm of these islands are the people, who have a deep sense of culture and family. I would highly recommend a few nights on one of these islands and an excursion with a local guide (motu picnics are fun).
- Don’t want to lie on a beach for a week? No worries! There’s no reason to be bored in Tahiti. Consider all of the activities available to you: ziplining, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, biking, liquor tasting, cooking instruction, quad bike touring, and much more. I recommend 4-5 excursions or activities during a week-long stay, which still gives you plenty of time to relax.
- What about the food? There are many things that you can eat in the islands of Tahiti that you cannot get anywhere else in the world: poisson cru, uru, taro, fei, and much more. All of the food is prepared fresh and is very healthy. I would highly recommend trying some local restaurants and the roulottes to get a local flavor. Oh, and they have a wonderful selection of French wine (it is French Polynesia, after all).
- Lastly, and probably most importantly, the people of islands of Tahiti are kind and warm. They are also very proud of their heritage and culture. On one excursion, our group was on a boat while a local woman told us of the history of her island while the captain of the boat played the spoons and another man played the ukulele and sang. The staff at many of the hotels are wonderful and helpful, however, I would urge you to get outside of the resort and interact with the locals. It is there where you will find the true charm and beauty of these gorgeous islands.
Ready to plan your own adventure to Tahiti? Browse our Tahiti vacation packages, or email me at sbradley@downunderendeavours.com to start your trip of a lifetime!