#75856 - 08/24/08 03:35 PM
Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
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Wannago
Member
Registered: 08/21/08
Posts: 70
Loc: California
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Greetings; I am planning our 3rd trip to FP for mid Oct or early Nov. Our last trip 8 days on Rangiroa, KOV and KOS, and we wish to return to the Tuamotos. Thought about returning to KOS, as it was special for us, but maybe want to see other atolls.
We are reasonably healthy mid sixties, non-divers but avid snorklers. We like beaches and peaceful atolls and don't want lots of activities. We want this trip to be peaceful, no stress, tropical breezes, no phone or a/c, no electricity would be better, but private bath and showers are important (cold water is fine).
I have tentative schedule of 4 nights in Tikehau at the Tikehau Village, a family hotel according to the Prince guide. I have not read many reviews of this hotel. Any opinions?
Then 6 nights on Fakarava, 3 nights each at the Havaiki at the north end, and splurging to the Raimiti at the south end.
Couple of questions:
1.The Motu Aito Paradise seems to be in the same "sauvage" genre as Raimiti and KOS, but the price difference is immence. Is there really that much difference? I have read several glowing reviews on Raimiti, here and elsewhere, but little on Motu Aito.
2. Air travel Tikehau to Fakarava seems difficult. Looks like a Friday connection is available with a 4 hour layover at Rangi. Can anyone suggest another alternative other than flying all the way back to PPT and then back to Fakarava?
Thanks for any assistance. Our last trip was in 2002, so it's been too long. Got to get back to FP.
Bill from California (Wannago)
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#75857 - 08/24/08 04:12 PM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: Wannago]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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I just looked at the rates for Motu Aito Paradise and I don't think it's really much less money than we paid for Raimiti (mind you, we stayed at Raimiti for 6 nights...the rates go down as you stay longer). OK, I just looked up both. 6 nights for 2 at Raimiti is 184 000 XPF in a Fare Robinson (that has private bath with cold water) and 6 nights for 2 at MAP is 178 560 XPF so there's not a huge difference. Maybe there is for shorter stays. Why not skip the Havaiki and do all 6 nights at Raimiti? The beds are queen-sized at Raimiti vs double at MAP, by the way. And I've no idea about the food at MAP, but it's divine at Raimiti!
Sorry, no idea about your flight connections. We flew from Huahine to PPT (through Bora Bora) and then out to Fakarava.
Edited by Old Wife (08/24/08 04:12 PM)
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#75860 - 08/24/08 07:39 PM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: Old Wife]
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Suki (689)
Senior Advisor
Registered: 10/29/07
Posts: 920
Loc: ELA US of A
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Old Wife iz right Raimiti iz da place for us waiting for da 1st time in 2009 our 4th trip ((((((((((((((((((FP4LIFE))))))))))))
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#75862 - 08/24/08 08:11 PM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: Suki (689)]
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Wannago
Member
Registered: 08/21/08
Posts: 70
Loc: California
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OK, so now I'm thinkin ok, Raimiti, forget the north end of Fakarava. Will I miss something up there?
And, after reading some more, what if I add Manihi;
3 nights Tikehau Village
3 nights Manihi Pearl
4 or 5 nights Raimiti
Why 3 islands? Cause I want to see them. But as some others have said, do they all start to look the same?
So much to see, sigh!
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#75884 - 08/25/08 08:50 PM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: Wannago]
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trip1
Member
Registered: 08/05/07
Posts: 94
Loc: Alexandria, VA, 22304
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I have never been to Raimiti but we love Motu Aito.
We will be there again at the end of September for 6 nights. The food is outstanding, the bungalows lovely and there are NO insects. This is a big plus. The snorkelig close the pass is the BEST ever.
Tila and Manihi are wonderful hosts.
This will be our third trip to Motu Aito
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#75889 - 08/25/08 11:31 PM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: trip1]
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rodjune
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 1726
Loc: Kalama Valley, HI
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We've been to Fakarava and Rangiroa. I talk a lot about west Fakarava as something that can't be missed. What's so unique about it is the long expanse of reef and only a few little motu that you'll find every several miles. I think Rangiroa, on the south side between the Blue Lagoon and the KOS has some large expanses of reef with a few motu sprinkled in. While I haven't seen this on Rangiroa, a trip to Raimiti will include one of the excursions out to west Fakarava. Their website has some pictures of this area, which were taken while we were out on an excursion one day. I still believe that this area is breathtaking, considering there is very little actual land (motu) and almost all water on the ocean side and immense lagoon side in many shades of blue and green with pink sand spits as a backdrop. I think this place is heaven on earth. (The Blue Lagoon on Rangiroa is my second favorite place.) I'd do Raimiti for six nights but I am very biased as my son's Tahitian name is Raimiti.
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#75932 - 08/27/08 07:56 PM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: rodjune]
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Wannago
Member
Registered: 08/21/08
Posts: 70
Loc: California
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Thanks to you folks for the input, not only on this thread, but on several others.
I have decided on
Tikehau Village, 3 nights
Manihi Pearl, 3 nights
Raimiti Lagoon side, 4 nights
Using TahitiTravel at this very moment to get quotes and exact dates for (hopefully) sometime in October.
As we are avid snorklers, and my wife especially, loves drifting the passes since our first pass in Rangi years ago. I have read that there are passes to drift on each of these islands.
Regarding Raimiti v. Motu Aito, will there be more than one opportunity to drift Tomakohua Pass from Raimiti? I take it the close proximity to Motu Aito gives more opportunity. So the last minute planning jitters have me wondering if we would be better off at Motu Aito. But perhaps the other excursions will fill up the days, though we don't want to bee too active.
I did notice on another post that the proprietors are "hesitant" to take people to the pink sand beach? Did I read that right? I can't find it now.
Thanks again for info received and whatever still to come.
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#75935 - 08/28/08 05:31 AM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: Wannago]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
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We went to the pass every day but one when we were at Raimiti. You'll love it. We also went to the pink sand beach(Hirifa) a couple of times. They wern't hesitant to take us anywhere.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#75936 - 08/28/08 06:26 AM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: DenverJoe]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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We went to the pass twice and the pink beach twice in 6 days. Our first day was excursion-less as their boat was getting repaired. The excursions are varied and I'm glad I got to have so many varied experiences!
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#75955 - 08/29/08 10:05 AM
Re: Any advice or info on Tikehau and Fakarava trip?
[Re: Old Wife]
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ryo-oh-ki
Member
Registered: 01/27/08
Posts: 109
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Manihi Pearl appears to be the luxury part of your itinerary. Aside from lodging cost. Manihi is pretty cheap location on account there's not much you can spend your money (excursion and activities) on.
Pacing yourself, you can pretty much "see" everything in Manihi within three days.
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