#84705 - 03/04/10 07:22 PM
Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
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jplee3
Junior Member
Registered: 03/04/10
Posts: 22
Loc: CA, USA
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Hi all!
I'll be heading to FP for my honeymoon later this month. Just wanted to get your advice on whether or not to schedule activities in advance or if we should reserve certain ones ahead of time or just do it all there.
List of things we would love to [but not necessarily will!] do in no particular order:
1) Swim w/ dolphins in Moorea (i think we'd want to reserve this!)
2) Rent a bugster/go-kart thing in Moorea (http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/chris_and_kelly/rtw-2005/1126322340/the_bugster.jpg/tpod.html)
3) Fishing in Moorea
4) Private boat tour/picnic (possibly including fishing) in Bora Bora - I'm thinking an adv res would be good. I hear Pierrot is the best?! :)
5) Fishing in Bora Bora
6) Jet ski in Bora Bora
(http://www.boraboraisland.com/jetboat/jetski.html)
7) Sunset cruise in Bora Bora
8) Scuba in Bora Bora
9) Massage/spa (should we just do this at Thalasso on Bora Bora? Are there better/cheaper options?)
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated. We're really looking forward to the time there!
Edited by jplee3 (03/04/10 08:34 PM)
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#84720 - 03/05/10 07:35 AM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: jplee3]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1849
Loc: Denver, Co.
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Do it all once you arrive. You never know about the weather and don't want to, say rent a bugster and drive around in the pouring rain. The front desk at your hotel can take care of all your activity needs once you arrive.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#84730 - 03/05/10 10:58 AM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: DenverJoe]
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BarbiJKM
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 6042
Loc: Mesa, AZ
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I agree with Joe -- do it once you get here. It's slow tourist season and you should not have difficulty with availability. It also might be cheaper; there are some unpublished bargains here on Moorea.
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#84742 - 03/05/10 05:13 PM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: DenverJoe]
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jplee3
Junior Member
Registered: 03/04/10
Posts: 22
Loc: CA, USA
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[quote=DenverJoe]Do it all once you arrive. You never know about the weather and don't want to, say rent a bugster and drive around in the pouring rain. The front desk at your hotel can take care of all your activity needs once you arrive. [/quote]
Hmmm... for certain things like the private boat tour and swimming with Dolphins though, isn't it a good idea to reserve ahead of time? And don't they have pretty insane markups for when you book at the hotel? That's what everyone tells me who has gone. I've been going back and forth with several private boat tour guides and one told me I should let him know asap so he can make sure to plan ahead regarding food etc. Hmm.. I'm likely going to go with Keishi Tours (Pierrot).
Edited by jplee3 (03/05/10 05:19 PM)
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#84750 - 03/05/10 07:54 PM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: jplee3]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1243
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Definitely agree with Barbi and Joe - you really don't want to book all these activities and feel like you are rushing around. We usually wait until we get there and see what we feel like doing for the day, depending upon the weather etc.
Some friends of ours just returned from their honeymoon in FP. Before they left they had all these brochures and all this stuff they were going to do. We told them just to relax and enjoy the beautiful BB lagoon and take it one day at a time (we also told them about Tahiti Drink!!). Upon their return they were nice and relaxed and really happy that they didn't "schedule" any activites - they just went with the flow.
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#84752 - 03/05/10 08:11 PM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2376
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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The private tour with Keishi should probably be booked ahead of time so he has time to prepare it for you. But everything else can wait until you get there.
If you have phone numbers for the activites companies you want to use, you can call them when you get there to set up a tour so you don't have to go through your hotel...it would likely be cheaper that way. Or you can look though the local guide books when you get there and call them direct...and you may very likely get some unavertised discounts.
It is not only the slow season right now...it is EXCEPTIONALLY slow because of the economy. You really won't need to book ahead for most things. And like the others have said...it's really better to wait until you're there to see what the weather is going to be on a particular day before you make plans for that day.
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#84753 - 03/05/10 10:58 PM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: Patti.]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1243
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Yes, sorry, Patti is right - you should book the private tours like Keishi and/or Patrick for private tours on BB :)
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#84756 - 03/06/10 10:47 AM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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jplee3
Junior Member
Registered: 03/04/10
Posts: 22
Loc: CA, USA
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[quote=Gary & Cath]Yes, sorry, Patti is right - you should book the private tours like Keishi and/or Patrick for private tours on BB :) [/quote]
Awesome. Will do... if they ever respond to my emails! I guess I could call - ugh.
Any of you heard of Phillipe (Hatton)? I've been in contact with him as well on doing a tour. I'm still leaning towards Keishi though.
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#84757 - 03/06/10 10:52 AM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: jplee3]
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jplee3
Junior Member
Registered: 03/04/10
Posts: 22
Loc: CA, USA
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Also, does anyone have any info on which places to rent the bugsters from to get around on Moorea? I've looked all over the place but can't seem to find any sites detailing where to rent as well as the rates. Anyone know how much these bugsters cost to rent for half a day or full day?
Thanks!
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#84763 - 03/06/10 12:26 PM
Re: Reservations via Travel Agency vs doing it there?
[Re: jplee3]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1243
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Hi jplee3. You could try a search on this forum for whatever specific activities/tours/food/hotels, etc and find just about everything you need to know, or you could check out this thread
http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/18603/page/1#Post18603
Pretty much covers everything. Also, once you get back, it would be helpful to add to this thread with up to date info, so newcomers to FP can have access to it and better plan their vacations/honeymoons. No such thing as too much info when you're planning a dream vacation, we say!
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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