What budget to travel French Polynesia? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings French Polynesia?

It would be a shame to arrive in Polynesia without having anticipated the budget, however substantial, of the activities on the spot. Hiking, canyoning, parachuting, parasailing, quad biking, helicopter, diving, kayaking, paddle, surfing, kite-skiing, jet-skiing, water jet, dolphin and whale watching, not to mention the innumerable excursions to the four corners of the archipelago: all outdoor activities, or almost, are possible in Fenua!

Among the most practiced sports, diving is at the top of the list. And if you are used to the metropolitan rates, expect to put more money in your wallet. Depending on the island and the diving center, a single dive varies from 6,500 to nearly 10,000 CFP (from 55 to 84 €); the cheapest islands are Tahiti, Moorea and Huahine; the most expensive, as you might expect, is Bora Bora.

Most clubs offer 6, 10 or 20 dives packages, with or without names. The big brands that have centers on several islands are often the most expensive, but they also offer packages that can be interesting. This is the case with Top Dive, which offers additional discounts if you pay two weeks before your first dive.

If you prefer more intimate structures, the Te Moana pass (www.temoanadiving.com) will allow you to dive at an attractive price in 14 independent diving centers spread over 10 islands and atolls of the Society (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea and Tahaa), the Tuamotus (Fakarava, Rangiroa and Tikehau) and the Austral Islands (Tubuai). This pass is on sale in each of the member centers at the price of 82 000 CFP for 10 dives (2023 prices).

The E-Diving Pass (www.edivingpass.com) groups together 40 diving centers on 16 islands. It allows you to book in advance on a single platform: 8,800 CFP single price per dive, minimum 6 dives, 6 dives of the pass 52,800 CFP (2023 prices).

Good news for your shopping budget: tax-free! In French Polynesia, any shopkeeper whose retail sales in the store are subject to VAT can grant his customers the benefit of the tax-free sales regime, under cover of an export sales slip. To benefit from it, you must be at least 15 years old, reside permanently outside French Polynesia, and have been living on Polynesian territory for less than 6 months. This regime concerns all goods with a minimum value of 5,000 CFP per slip, except: goods whose sale has, by their nature or quantity, the character of a commercial supply for the buyer; consumable products (food and beverages, tobacco); goods subject to certain special formalities (including pearls and unmounted precious stones or cultural goods)

You can therefore buy your beads mounted on jewellery, as well as pieces of art handicrafts found at a gallery such as the Ganesha for example, in Papeete.

Another good plan for your pearls: some pearl farms, such as the Havaiki farm in Fakarava, offer pearl lotteries. The concept? You pay a fixed price and "bet" on a closed oyster; the oyster is then opened in front of your eyes, and whatever the value of the pearl it contains, the treasure is yours! Of course, not everyone is lucky, but even if you don't get a beautiful pearl, you will keep a good memory of it.

Also note that since your final destination is outside the European Union, you can benefit from Duty Free (tax-free purchases). Please note that if you are stopping over within the European Union, you will benefit from this at all airports on your outbound trip, but not on your return. For example, for a Paris-London-Papeete flight, you will be able to shop in Duty Free at all three airports on the outbound journey, but only at the Papeete airport on the return journey.

Finally, despite these few good deals, you should know that haggling is not a common practice in French Polynesia, any more than in mainland France. While it is of course possible to ask for a small courtesy discount, prices in the shops are displayed and are paid cash.

The entrance to the nightclubs of Papeete is free, but a selection is made at the entrance. The price of drinks on the spot remains reasonable.

What budget to eat French Polynesia?

Food will represent an important item in your budget, but fortunately it is almost certain that you will eat fresh, good, and always in quantity! The small budgets will find without evil to be restored in the caravans between 800 and 1 400 CFP (7 to 12 € approximately) with the menu of good Polynesian or Chinese dishes. For 1,400 to 2,500 CFP (about 12 to 21 €), brasseries, snack bars and small restaurants offer more refined dishes, most often fish-based. Luxury hotels and fine restaurants in the area offer delicious dishes, but often for more than 3,000 CFP (25 €). Contrary to some other dream destinations where you can enjoy feasts for a bite of bread, certain products such as red meat and lobster in particular, remain luxury dishes in French Polynesia.

The price of gourmet breaks and alcoholic drinks is relatively similar to those found in large metropolitan cities. Count on average from 800 to 1,400 CFP for a cocktail (about 7 to 12 €), from 300 to 800 CFP for a draught (about 2.50 to 7 €), from 500 to 800 CFP for a fresh fruit juice (about 4 to 7 €), and from 150 to 400 CFP for a coffee (about 1.25 to 3.35 €). In Tahiti, most beer and cocktail bars offer happy hours at the end of the day, usually between 5pm and 7pm.

What is the budget for accommodation French Polynesia?

French Polynesia is an expensive destination, but this does not mean that the stay is reserved for the wealthy; it is neither Saint Martin nor the Maldives, and you will find the whole range of prices and comfort.

The very small budgets will find enough accommodation between 1 500 CFP and 4 000 CFP per night per person (about 13 to 34 €), most often in dormitories or camping. In the remote islands, services are limited and the water is usually warm, but this is not a problem. Cleanliness is sometimes to be checked, but most of the time it is beyond reproach. Be careful, places are very limited in this range, so be sure to book in advance or else you will have to pay the full price.

With a little more money - between 4,000 and 9,000 CFP per night per person (about 35 to 75 €) - you can afford a small room with an air blower in a modest guesthouse, especially on the less touristy islands. From 9,000 CFP per night per person (75 €), you already have a little more room for a slightly more attractive boarding house; at this price, half board can even be included. In principle, children benefit from special rates. Another option is the bed and breakfast and the guest house, bungalows or furnished houses, which must have their own bathroom and kitchen. They can be rented by the night, week or month, and do not necessarily share (or not at all) family life. Usually between 15,000 and 22,000 PSCs for two, sometimes on half board, sometimes not.

In Polynesia, a budget of 20,000 to 30,000 CFP per night per person (about 170 to 250 €) is considered "big". This price range will open the doors of hotels and classified residences composed of air-conditioned bungalows, independent or grouped in a vast garden or on the water. These establishments include a restaurant, reception, daily room service and a business office; the reception is usually professional and relaxed. Few of them belong to large groups, and there is no chain of standardised motels in Polynesia as there is in Europe. For an equivalent budget or almost, some will prefer the intimacy of their own "home". Well, you should know that this is also possible at Fenua! If you dream of being a couple, with friends or family, the vacation rental option can be a real good plan (especially if you are numerous). A beautiful panel of luxury villas are today proposed for seasonal rentals, particularly in Tahiti, Moorea and the Leeward Islands, so much so that specialized agencies have multiplied these last years. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is better to use their services rather than to go directly to them; Tahiti Homes and Enjoy Villas in particular, are among the most serious. Their websites being complete and well supplied with photos, you will easily find the house of your dreams in just a few clicks.

Above 30 000 CFP per night per person (250 €), you can comfortably stay in a luxury hotel with bungalows on stilts; the suites of these establishments can exceed thousands of euros per night.

Since 2018 and the opening of the skies to new airlines, tourism is starting up again and is accompanied by the boom in "Air BnB" type rentals. While this option may be interesting, keep in mind that it acts as unfair competition to official pensions, which are subject to numerous taxes and fixed charges. On the other hand, as the slightest accommodation available on the territory is more and more dedicated to these seasonal rentals between private individuals, it becomes very difficult and very expensive for the Polynesians themselves to find a roof over their heads under reasonable conditions. Not always so clever in short.

Please note that the prices indicated do not always include all taxes: so remember to ask before booking, otherwise you may be in for an unpleasant surprise when you pay. VAT on accommodation is 5%, whatever it is. Classified hotels add a 5% government tax, known as the tourist promotion tax. To this must be added a 4% service tax. Some municipalities on the most touristic islands add a tourist tax of 50 CFP (pensions) to 150 CFP (hotels) per night per person over 12 years old. As for cruise passengers, they will be charged a tax on the cruise activity of 500 CFP per day and per person.

Travel budget French Polynesia and cost of living

Due to the importation of many products, transportation costs and taxes, life is very expensive in French Polynesia. The prices below are given as an indication - they tend to vary between a supermarket, a restaurant or a hotel -, but here is an idea. A baguette costs between 50 and 55 CFP in Tahiti (up to 70 CFP on the remote islands), a pastry about 200 CFP, a cocktail 800 to 1 400 CFP, a sandwich 250 to 1 000 CFP, a raw fish 1 000 to 1 800 CFP, a dish of the day around 1,000 CFP in a snack bar and from 1,500 CFP in a restaurant, a bottle of water from 100 to 450 CFP, a coffee from 150 to 400 CFP, a draught from 300 to 800 CFP, a fresh fruit juice on the terrace of a café from 500 to 800 CFP. Of course, the prices of tourist and hotel services in Bora Bora are very different from those in the Australs or the Gambiers, which are less frequented.
To enjoy Tahiti and its islands without excess, plan on a minimum of 3,000 to 3,500 € per person for a 10-day stay (the minimum to soak up the Polynesian atmosphere), including airfare from Paris and a few of the islands, in a comfortable setting close to the population, with boarding house type accommodation. Add about 50 to 125 € per person per day for a "classic" stay with accommodation in a classified hotel and half-board at the hotel. Add another 100 to 300 € per person per day for a stay in a luxury bungalow type hotel on stilts, with organized excursions and sports activities. These tips are based on double occupancy, because going alone costs more. Ten days are indeed the minimum to hope to see the immense Polynesia, but they remain insufficient to be able to soak up its sweetness of life. It is barely enough to discover two or three of the most touristic islands, and there are five archipelagos to visit! Nevertheless, we offer you some suggestions in the section "Inspire" - Ideas for trips. Depending on your budget, you can expect to spend between two and three weeks in such a remote destination and to discover the country honestly (that is to say, between 3,000 and 5,500 €).
All stores, restaurants and cafés display their prices including all taxes, but this is not always the case for accommodations/boarding houses, in particular, for which it is sometimes exclusive of tax, sometimes including it: check carefully before booking!
On the spot, you will find it easy to withdraw money from the big islands and major tourist centers. Be careful, however, this will not be the case everywhere: some small islands, such as Maupiti, are not equipped with ATMs! Therefore, take precautions by withdrawing enough money upon arrival, especially since the small structures do not generally accept credit cards.