#67893 - 11/04/07 04:25 PM
Tahiti, Papeete - Stopover. Car Hire for a day?
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Daryl
Junior Member
Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 3
Loc: Australia
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Hello,
What a great forum!
I have a few questions about a planned trip in Tahiti.
My girlfriend and are have two stopovers in Tahiti. We're wondering where to stay and what to do for the short time we're there. We're low budget travellers. We thought we'd work out Stopover 1 first, and then use this first experience to guide our planning of the 2nd Stopover.
Stopover 1.
We arrive at the airport in Papeete at 0130 (am). Our flight out the next day is at 2030 (pm). That's why the ticket is cheap!
One plan is stay at the Tahiti Airport Hotel. Check out at about 10 in the morning, hire a car, and find a beach for a swim and to relax. We could check the luggage in the airport or take it with us and lock it in the car. We're wondering about travelling as far as Matalea or even Teahupoo, and then returning for the flight out. Dropping off the car, check in etc.
The other plan is the same but to stay at the Sofitel, where we might experience a touch of the luxury resorts, for a reasonable price, and then hire a car and travel around as above. The upside is it seems to be nicer than the Airport Motel, then downside is we'll hardly be there before we leave and have to pay taxi fares to get there.
Is there car hire at the airport? Is it expensive? What's it like driving around the island? Does it take long to drive from one end to the other?
Do hotels have car hire? Prices?
If the car hire is not a good idea, what other recommendations are there. My GF would like to see a volcano or travel by ferry as well. Is this option more viable than the idea of driving and hiring a car?
We don't want to spend all the time on a car, but we'd like to get a feel for Tahiti in the brief time we're there, and maybe hone in one place for a more indepth experience on the return stopover.
Any thoughts are most appreciated.
Cheerio,
Daryl
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#67903 - 11/04/07 06:14 PM
Re: Tahiti, Papeete - Stopover. Car Hire for a day?
[Re: Daryl]
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butler
Member
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 61
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La Orana Greetings and g'day dude, are you flying from Sydney with Tahiti Nui? just curious about your arrival time is all, anyway, there is plenty of cheap alternitives in Tahiti without going to a resort maybe someone who knows Tahiti well can suggest a good Pension near Papeete, as for car hire Avis and Europcar operate out of Papeete, car hire for the day will probably cost around $170 AUS (I would try for a two door it will be cheaper) and you can drive the whole island in a day no problem there are plenty of sites to see waterfalls grotos beaches museum's, Teahupoo should be breaking if you are going in the next month or so but you need to get a boat out to see it, the beach is easy to find just drive till you see the Teahupoo turn off theres only one main road, it's all very easy also they drive on the rite hand side (like America) just thought I'd mention that, the tourist info centre is rite on the harbour you can find it easy, anyway I could suggest maybe checking out the market in Papeete and having lunch there then go for a drive in the afternoon the Black sand beach at the Raddison is pretty cool to hang out for a while, as for ferry you can also take a ferry to Moorea that would be a day trip in itself and is very worth while, if you like you can e-mail me at brbutler@bigpond.com.au I have some maps and brouchers left over from our trip I can forward them onto you no problem if you like I'm in Victoria anyway hope the weather is good and good luck P.S check your bags don't leave them in your car, and get your Pacific Francs at the Airport in Papeete don't change your money here ;-) cheerio
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#67904 - 11/04/07 06:58 PM
Re: Tahiti, Papeete - Stopover. Car Hire for a day?
[Re: butler]
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hamara
Expert Advisor
Registered: 01/07/02
Posts: 2319
Loc: Washington/Moorea
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Check out Fare Suisse in Papeete. Great place to stay and they pick you up at the airport on arrival and take you back to the airport. Check your bags into the storage locker and then rent a car to drive around the island. Have a great time in Tahiti.
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#67948 - 11/07/07 03:33 PM
Re: Tahiti, Papeete - Stopover. Car Hire for a day?
[Re: hamara]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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There is a car hire agency called "Daniel" right at the airport (next to all the others - Avis, Hertz, Europcar) they have a daily rate with unlimited mileage for 8.467 cfp, not bad and the cars are as good as from the other ones. If you decide to stay at the Sofitel, you'll find they have a rental car agency as well right at the hotel. Try call them from the airport when you get in (if you get in during low season) as the published rate is 32.000 cfp a night for the mountain view and the unpublished rate is appr. 15.000 cfp. Who knows might work. Sofitel has been refurbished and although you can not compare it to the Intercontinental or so, it is ok and has a nice beach front looking out to Moorea. To drive around Tahiti is appr. 125 km, so even if you'd stop here and there you'd have ample time. One piece of advice, check when you'll leave for the island tour, during weekdays traffic is very very congested aruond Papeete and it would then be better to drive anti clockwise when leaving from the Sofitel or Airport motel early morning.
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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#71037 - 03/11/08 04:22 PM
Re: Tahiti, Papeete - Stopover. Car Hire for a day?
[Re: Poehere]
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Daryl
Junior Member
Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 3
Loc: Australia
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Thanks for the advice. We had a great time. A day spent on Tahiti on the way over to the US. We juggled out flight and spent 3 days on Moorea on the way back. Snorkelling, kayaking, swimming in waterfalls, good food, cocktails - all on the cheap - we kayaked up to the Intercontinental Beach but didn't like the look of it. Too much of an enclave. So we just paddled right along!
Thanks again,
D
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