#87348 - 10/18/10 02:24 PM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: Old Wife]
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YosemiteGirl2
Member
Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 373
Loc: California
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I know I need to write Florian eventually, but I just had so many questions, I was afraid that they wouldn't even want our reservation! Especially since I'm going to have to propose bringing a cooler full of frozen chicken. It's good to know he's patient and has a sense of humor. He was super-nice to me a few years ago when I wrote to him about diving (before they offered diving). I promised him back then that I'd be back when we could dive the pass!
The pass is only really important to me, because it sounds like that is the only really good place to snorkel, and I don't want mom and dad stuck at the end of the world wondering why the heck I brought them out there, when I promised them fishies. I'd feel awful leaving them each day as we boated to the pass if I knew we were going to see all kinds of stuff, and they were just going to snorkel around looking at not much. If that's the case, we may need to go to Tikehau instead. :o(
I didn't realize there were options for staying right at the pass -- I thought it was uninhabited! (I know the other pass by the airport has that hotel that most folks on this board don't like -- the pass we're talking about is the one at the opposite end of the atoll from there, right?). I'll do some searching to find out what is out there.
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#87349 - 10/18/10 03:09 PM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: YosemiteGirl2]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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YG2, from what we've been told Kia Ora on Rangiroa is not scheduled to reopen until early 2012 (and that includes Sauvage as well:(
We really loved the Tikehau Pearl - and it has great snorkelling - with tons of fish around the bungalows at night to feed as well!!
I just had a quick look at Air Tahiti's schedule and I thought maybe you could use Rangiroa as a base out there to fly to/from Fakarava and Tikehau but because flights don't go every day I'm afraid that won't work either:(
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#87350 - 10/18/10 03:55 PM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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Yes, the south pass is at the opposite end from the airport. There's a 'resort' right there (far rougher-looking than Raimiti---someone has posted a photo slideshow somewhere on this site so you could check it out).
I loved drift-snorkelling the south pass, but I'm glad we had a variety of outings. From Irifa Beach (the pink beach) where you hike back a little and snorkel where the Christmas tree coral is to "the moon" where there's an amazing assortment of clams. Some people have gone to Bird Island (we didn't) and others have even swam on the ocean side (we didn't). I think the variety really added to the charm of the place.
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#87368 - 10/19/10 06:31 PM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: Old Wife]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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Yosemite , it is the -see link below - that is right on the pass
http://www.tetamanuvillage.pf/index.html
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* with sunshine *
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#87384 - 10/20/10 10:53 AM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: Poehere]
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YosemiteGirl2
Member
Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 373
Loc: California
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Thanks everyone! I feel so lucky to have this "problem" (trying to figure out which islands in Tahiti to visit). I also feel lucky to have you guys to turn to! I'll let you know what we end up deciding.
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#87385 - 10/20/10 11:35 AM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: YosemiteGirl2]
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Finnano
Member
Registered: 12/25/05
Posts: 188
Loc: Novato, CA
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Is it possible that nobody from the forum has stayed at Raimiti since they've expanded? We've been thinking about going back there, but I keep hearing/reading those complaints about them being too "big" now. I think we had an excursion every day, snorkeled at the pass 2 or 3 times.
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* Life is a beach *
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#87386 - 10/20/10 11:51 AM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: YosemiteGirl2]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Yosemite....I do not know your parents and what they like to do and don't like to do....BUT....I seriously would NOT worry about them being bored at Raimiti if you are gone diving for the afternoon. Seriously....they will still have a great time. Aside from the scheduled daily activities...the snorkeling is not bad right there at Raimiti, there are plenty of fish to see. Sure, not nearly as many as at the pass....but it's not a barren wasteland either. I sat on the edge of the dock and watched the octopus and the groupers that live under the docks for hours on end. Especially the octopus....he's pretty amazing to watch in action. If they are reasonably fit they can kayak themselves down to Hirifa beach....or the boat can them off down there and return a few hours later to pick them up. If they like to read, we sat for hours in the dining room area just reading....doing Sudoku puzzles, playing Yahtzee, cards. There's a great hammock to take an afternoon snooze in. If there are other guests, they will likely enjoy chatting them up. There are all kinds of assorted pets at Raimiti...dogs, pigs, rabbits, birds.....to watch/play with. They will probably want to spend some time ocean side building their own rock art masterpiece for the rock art garden. Seriously...they should not be bored...or rather....it's a good relaxing kind of bored....not a boring kind of bored. I loved the quiet. To just sit and listen to the palms rustling in the wind and the waves....it is so calming and relaxing. There are no sounds of modern life at all...it is truly peaceful to just listen to the quiet.
PLUS....it's also possible they might be able to accompany you on your dive....maybe the dive company will allow them to come along and they can snorkel in the area while you dive.
Lastly....this is only one island of your trip....it's not like you'll be deserting them the whole time you're in FP. And...if you plan to go diving every single day instead of doing some of the Raimiti planned excursions, you'll be missing out on some neat stuff!
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#87387 - 10/20/10 11:54 AM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: Patti.]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Finanno, I think it depends on what time of year you go as to how crowded it will be. June-Sept, I would imagine most weeks it would be rather crowded. But in the off season, not so much. I imagine you can still go in Feb or March and possibly be the only ones there like we were.
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#87479 - 11/03/10 04:02 PM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: Patti.]
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Justine2
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/12/07
Posts: 1911
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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There should be plenty of fishies by the dock, but is that pair of Napoleon groupers still hanging around? I would think a dopey 6' fish would make up for it.
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#87496 - 11/05/10 11:14 AM
Re: Advice on Raimiti, pls (looks like we're finally going!!!)
[Re: Finnano]
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carrieg
Member
Registered: 04/10/06
Posts: 153
Loc: Los Angeles
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Finnano, we were there right after they expanded. We stayed for 6 nights, and for 4 of those nights every bungalow was occupied, one by a couple with a very young child. You couldn't eat at a table by yourselves since there wasn't room (they grouped people according to language spoken, and we became fast friends with the other American couple, so it wasn't a problem, but meals were in no way romantic), and excursions were limited because Erik was always going to/from the airport picking up and dropping off people. There still was an excursion every day, but it mostly was just going to Hirafa, which while beautiful and relaxing did get a little boring around the 3rd or 4th time. We notice the selection of food at mealtime also suffered when they were full. The meals (especially lunch) were much better when there were fewer people to feed.
Even with this, we loved our time there and will be back. We'll just be hoping for at least a few days with under 10 people.
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