#82432 - 09/23/09 08:25 AM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: BarbiJKM]
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Anastaplo
Junior Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 25
Loc: Chicago, IL, USA
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This is SOO great! I am very grateful to all of you. The revised trip is looking like this, right now (but comments are still welcome!!):
Tahiti - 2 nights at Taaroa Lodge, if possible (breakfast included)
(alternatives: Ahitea Lodge, or Fare Suisse)
[HOWEVER, we do love the hotel school hotel in Montreal, so I am also wondering about the hotel school hotel near the airport that I saw on another thread. Probably not so great to be near the airport?]
Ferry to Mo'orea
4 nights on Mo'orea - probably Club Bali Hai, but possibly still Pension Motu Iti (bungalow) or Les Tipaniers Hotel
[Does anyone have any comments about Fare Miti, though? It also looked good on a trip report that I saw.]
Fly to Bora Bora
4 nights at Novotel Bora Bora Beach Resort
(alternatives: Village Temanuata, or Blue Island Heaven)
SKIP MAUPITI
Travel to Huahine
3 nights in Huahine - probably Villas Bougainville
Back to Pape'ete; back to LAX
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#82434 - 09/23/09 08:53 AM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: Anastaplo]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1849
Loc: Denver, Co.
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Anastaplo, the poster above your response is BarbiJKM. She is the Queen of Fare Miti. It was probably her trip report you read. It is a nice place. It's the north part of what used to be Moorea Village. Beautiful beach and great sunsets. I'm sure she will chime in on Fare Miti now that you have asked.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#82436 - 09/23/09 09:24 AM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: DenverJoe]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2376
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Am I the only one who thought this persons name was Antipasto???
I'd say I gotta get new glasses...but I just did! Man, I STILL can't see! :-(
BTW...welcome to the forum. You have certainly come to the best place possible for advice.
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#82437 - 09/23/09 09:37 AM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: Patti.]
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Anastaplo
Junior Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 25
Loc: Chicago, IL, USA
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Maybe I should change my name to Antipasto!!
I can tell I've come to the best possible place for advice! I can't tell you how relieved I have been to read everyone's feedback.
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#82439 - 09/23/09 12:10 PM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: Anastaplo]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2302
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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On Bora Bora, I haven't stayed at the Novotel (we stayed at the Sofitel Motu), but it's in a good area for shopping, restaurants, etc.
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#82440 - 09/23/09 04:24 PM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: Anastaplo]
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dreamer
Member
Registered: 12/30/06
Posts: 102
Loc: OHIO
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hi,
my parents, at ages 77/78 traveled to fp in 2007...they reminisce about the many people and their adventure often.
does your mom enjoy...
seeing beautiful sights?
people-watching/culture?
shopping?
museums?
adventure?
my suggestion is to figure out her interests and plan accordingly to make the most of her time and energy.
my folks thoroughly enjoyed their 4 nights on moorea at a private gated community where you can rent a fully furnished and equipped bungalow from a private resident. it was close to shops but quiet [except for roosters]. there's not a lot of people/tourists in that area. next time, my mom says she would rent a car on moorea.
my mom loved papeete...she couldn't get enough of it's waterfront and watching the people. she would prefer a hotel near downtown to the tahiti intercontinental where they stayed for 3 nights [2+1]...although my dad loved snorkeling from the owb and watching the weather change over moorea.
on tahiti, they got a kick riding "le truck" and feasting at "les roulottes" at "place toata" at papeete's waterfront. unfortunately, time/energy didn't allow for them to attend paofai temple/church or "le marche" on sunday from 5am to 9am, when all the food vendors and locals gather.
traveling in early to late october, they found comfortable temperatures and no bugs. they got warm but were never "miserably" hot. i did supply them with plenty of buggspray and lots of cooling bandanas, just in case.
my folks enjoyed learning a few tahitian phrases to express themselves along the way.
what an exciting time awaits you and your mom...enjoy!
cheryl
p.s. the bungalow on moorea was close to the beach and lagoon.
Edited by dreamer (09/23/09 04:30 PM)
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#82444 - 09/23/09 05:15 PM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: Anastaplo]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2340
Loc: FP
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My 2 cents: Taaroa lodge is nice, beachfront and set in a lush tropical garden. Just so you know it is way away from everywhere, PK 18 (although there are a couple of small stores around in that area)
Ahitea lodge is off in a side street away from the Papeete centre and not a good area to walk at night...
Fare Suisse is up in St Amelie, a little away from centre as well
HOtel School is in Outumaoro, they offer no transportation service etc... hmmmm you'd have to walk down the hill to get a bus/le truck
Have a look at: Royal Tahitien (black sand beach but great outdoor bar and resto) it is just outside of Papeete on the NE coast, not a pension but small hotel... reasonable rates and not far at all from la place Vaiete (roulottes at night) market etc.
(That's if you'd wish to be close to the centre?)
There is also the new Manava Suite hotel (small studios with kitchenette) it is on the waterfront, West coast as well, but closer to other facilities, very competitive prices, not a pension either
Fare Miti is great it is part of the former hotel Moorea Village, right on the white sand beach facing sunset and not too far from Le Petit Village (supermarket etc) only 8 bungalows, you can prepare your own stuff, no services
Alternative: Hibiscus, same area, but les Tipaniers is nicer...
Village Faimano (next to Hilton) same area as Pension Motu Iti
Huahine: have a look at pension Mauarii, it is on the same (beautiful) beach in Parea as the Relais Mahana but cheaper. The Maeva is an ok place but cramped...
BB, Blue Heaven is on a motu, motu's get very hot as it is just coral and sand picking up the sunrays like a mirror, it is a very nice place but you'd need boat transfer to get into town
Novotel is ok but you may want to check le Maitai's rates as they could very well be competitive these days
Temanuata has 2 locations, 1 mountain side and one on the pointe Matira beach side...
Check also Hotel Matira, no restaurant but you're in walking distance of a lot of things, the bungalows are pretty cool (Balinese), very reasonable in price and right off the the beautiful beach Matira...
Enfin, it all depends if you'd like to be near the action or just away in some place quiet...
Make sure Mom drinks at least 2 ltr of water a day (pref bottled to avoid any probs although the water is drinkable and inspected) and bring good repellant and sunscreen (anything under 20 don't work here) and bring hat!
FYI the Polynesians are VERY respectful of elderly people so they'll go out of their way to make sure she's comfy
BTW a license was issued last week to a company wanting to serve all of the Society islands with a fast car ferry, the King Tamatoa. ALthough it has created a lot of political "damage" if all goes according to plan to ship will arrive early 2010 and start servicing the islands at VERY competitive prices... might be another (VERY comfortable) way for you to get around
Don't want to confuse you just give couple of extra options...
Attachments
![399-ferry3[1].jpg](http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/ubb-attachments/399-ferry3[1].jpg "399-ferry3[1].jpg")
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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#82448 - 09/23/09 08:27 PM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: Poehere]
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Anastaplo
Junior Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 25
Loc: Chicago, IL, USA
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Thank you again! Cheryl, your mother and mine sound similar in their interests and in what they enjoy. And Poehere, it's very helpful (not confusing) to have all of your details. Thank you very much!
Here are my last couple of questions...for now:
(1) the more I read about Bora Bora prices and what to do there, the more I think we might be just as happy skipping it, and spending 5 nights on Mo'orea and 5 on Huahine (and probably 3 on Tahiti, since I do think my mother will like the people-watching and sightseeing there). If we decide to skip Bora Bora, will I be kicking myself the entire trip? Or do you think a longer stay on Mo'orea and Huahine will make up for it? I don't really think we are resort types - that is, we aren't at this point, and I'm afraid we probably can't afford the resorts that would convert us! So, any thoughts on this?
(2) The flights from Pape'ete to LAX are late at night, as you know. Is it advisable to return from Huahine the day before your departing flight from Pape'ete? Or is it safe to count on the connections working out from Huahine to Pape'ete?
Again (and again and again), I am so grateful for everyone's input.
Teddy
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#82450 - 09/23/09 09:04 PM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: Anastaplo]
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holte
Expert Advisor
Registered: 11/19/04
Posts: 2365
Loc: Duluth, Minnesota
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I think that one must see Bora Bora as it is the legend. You can get a flight that will stop in Bora Bora as it leaves Huahine. I'm not sure about a flight going to Huahine-if it stops on Bora Bora. There may be a flight that stops there on the way-I don't know. You can look on the Air Tahiti (not Air Tahiti Nui) site and check out the schedule. We have not had problems leaving on the last flight from Huahine to Papeete, but if you are concerned, you certainly can take an earlier flight from Huahine to Papeete. I don't see the need for taking a flight the day before. I believe there are several flights a day from Huahine to Papeete. There have been occasions when people have not been able to leave an island because of weather, but not that many. Other people will chime in I'm sure on the merits of staying on Bora Bora. There have been less expensive places to stay on Bora Bora listed by posters.You don't have to stay in a fancy resort to experience the beauty of Bora Bora. Matira is the most beautiful and Poehere mentioned a place to stay there. Air Tahiti doesn't seem that particular about one switching a flight if there is room on it. They have not charged in the past for a flight switch if you decide to stay later or leave earlier.
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#82451 - 09/23/09 09:28 PM
Re: Help for first-timer traveling with elderly person?
[Re: Anastaplo]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2340
Loc: FP
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1) just so you know prices all around FP are pretty high... so when drinking a Hinano (local beer lol) in BB versus Tahiti their is only a small difference due to freight costs (a can in Tahiti shop costs 2 us$ in BB 2,25) eating at a snack, roulotte (diner) or resto is virtually the same in price. Accomm can be different of course depending on choice and classification but that's all over the same as well...
Skipping BB... don't know what to say other than that especially its lagoon colours are amazing, meaning it is awesome and remains that way whether you see it every day or once in a lifetime. What is the reason you put it in your itinerary in the first place?
The Novotel and Maitai are kind of basic hotels, nothing fancy and not comparable to the resorts, the hotel Matira is just a step up from a good pension... they're all in an area where you have a small supermarket and couple of resto's and snacks to pick from. At night the temp is nice enough to walk
Huahine is beautiful, very lush and green island, hardly any beach and very quiet tourisme wise. People watching would be difficult as Fare, the main town, is very small. The beach in Parea is beautiful with a nice lagoon in front of it. Pension Mauarii is small but an affordable great place, whereas the Bougainville villa's are more set in a large garden in a part of the bay like area where you don't see the lagoon colors and no beach and you'd need a car to get your shopping.
Moorea, quite honestly is cleaner than BB and also lush and green island with amazing dramatic peaks very different from BB.
Club Bali Hai has a splendid view over the Bali Hai mountain and their resto attracts local people as well so you'd have people watching there, in the Haapiti area (Les Tipanniers, Fare Miti etc) there is a small commercial centre "Le Petit village" with a good filled supermarket for daily needs...
2) If Huahine is your last island prior to flying back to LAX normally you don't need to get back to Tahiti the day before. Presently Air Tahiti has cut quite a number of flights due to slow tourism and most flights to/from BB to PPT are now combined flights (Raiatea / Huahine / some Moorea as well) so you would just need to double check. If you're taking ATN flight it is advisable to reserve your seats prior to flying! No choice at the airport check-in desk (in Papeete) and be there 4 hours before dep, as lines are then already starting to form and they get very long! The counter opens 3 hours prior to dep.
In Tahiti a perfect people watching place is Le Retro in the centre Vaima downtown Papeete, it is a restaurant with a large waterfront terrace and pretty good food too! It is nice to drive around the island and visit the waterfalls in Papenoo, the botanical gardens etc.
The Sofitel is not too far from the centre, there is a truck stop right in front (about 20 min to town and runs until appr. 9 pm), it is not a fancy hotel but has very reasonable rates these days... (aclub.com) or there is the new TahitiNui on the Avenue Prince Hinoi in town (modern hotel but right in town) or the hotel Tiare on the waterfront...
Hope this helps
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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