#89292 - 03/16/11 10:29 AM
Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
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Hockeymom666
Junior Member
Registered: 03/11/11
Posts: 14
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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My husband and I (and another couple) are chartering a Catamaran this coming June out of Raiatea for 2 weeks. Although we are all experienced boaters, we are neophites when it comes to FP. The sample itinery has us going to Raiatea, Hauhine, Bora Bora, Ta'haa and Maupiti. I am looking for some answers and some advise...
1) Are we able to walk to grocery and/or liquor stores? What is the recommended good (cheap) alcohol of the country? And what should be bring via Duty Free?
2) Can you show up to the coral gardens and snorkel if you are not with a tour or a resort?
3) Does anyone in this forum have knowledge of the boating facilities (drinking water, buoys, fuel, etc) at the various islands?
4) Can we bring provisions with us on the plane from Canada to FP such as coffee, tea, spices, snacks, bacon, cereal, etc? Are there any restrictions or limitations?
5) Because we will not have a resort at our disposal, are there any staples that are difficult to get or find while in FP?
6) We will have an IPad with us so how is the wireless network? Or is there one when we are not staying in a resort?
7) Since we will be on a boat, what is the best method of transportation to see the islands?
8) Best cheap food and best restuarant on each island?
9) Can you give me a definite MUST SEE for each island?
10) Can you give me a definite DON'T BOTHER for each island?
Thanks for your help and I can't wait til June!!
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#89293 - 03/16/11 11:38 AM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Hockeymom666]
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hamara
Expert Advisor
Registered: 01/07/02
Posts: 2319
Loc: Washington/Moorea
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http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/tahiti/#tips
Read this.Then repost a new set of Questions
1. Buy your booze at Duty Free as it's very expensive in FP
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#89296 - 03/16/11 12:57 PM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Hockeymom666]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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1) I know you can dock on Moorea and Huahine and Bora Bora and walk to get supplies. You probably can on the other islands (hopefully, Hamara's link helps with that), but I haven't been to them. Make sure you try the beer called Hinano. It's my husband's favourite beer (I'm not really a beer-drinker, but I find it very smooth). Take any hard liquor you want to drink--I'd suggest you buy it at the duty-free at LAX if you're going through there because it's very cheap.
2) You can snorkel wherever you want.
3) Sorry, no idea
4) You can bring lots of things from Canada. Bacon's probably prohibited (I'm just guessing since it's meat), but they don't check your luggage if you have nothing to declare (if you aren't bringing stuff to leave behind for residents of FP). I'd suggest you bring peanut butter if you like it because Canadian PB is different from everywhere else (we have lots of sugar in it!). Coffee's a good idea, too, if you like ground (vs. instant). Just watch out for the inter-island weight restrictions on flights (20 kg, I think)
5) The stores in the main tourist areas have just about everything, but if there's something in particular that you like, ask us here. Pop's expensive so you might want to bring Crystal Light or something like that to mix with water. The juice there is incredible, though.
6) Internet is very slow in FP and there isn't a lot of wireless available. Others might be able to point you to some spots. I think one of the airports had it (Bora Bora?) but it's never free, as far as I've heard. There are internet cafes on the islands, too. Just watch the keyboard since it's French (the @ key is in a weird spot and a few of the letters are in different places, too).
7) There are tour companies that will take you to see each island. Albert's on Moorea is good. Huahine Explorer on Huahine is, too. I'm pretty sure they'll meet you wherever you need to be picked up.
8) Look for roulottes on each island. They're like a chip wagon, but they serve a variety of foods (many have Chinese food, but you'll see other foods, too). They're your least expensive option. There's a 'best of' list on this forum somewhere for Moorea (and maybe Bora Bora?) for restaurants, etc. Try doing a search. Baguettes are cheap and we found cheese like La Vache Qui Rit the same price as here in Canada. We ate a lot of baguettes and cheese! And try the chocolate waffles for breakfast.
9)Must sees: Bora Bora is all about the lagoon so do a shark & ray feeding and circle-island tour with a company. Moorea is a beautiful island with lots to see so I'd recommend a 4x4 tour. Huahine is a bit of both. We did a 4x4 on it and loved it. Make sure you get to the town of Fare in the north and the beach at the south end. I haven't been to the other islands you're visiting.
10) Don't bothers for Moorea? Some say skip the dinner at the Tiki Village (but see the show). We've never been to either. Bora Bora? Personally, I'd skip anything on the land, but that's me, LOL! I loved the lagoon. Huahine? Fare's a neat town (with groceries, internet, banks, roulottes, restaurants, shops, etc.) and the south end of the island has a beautiful beach. We did enjoy the 4x4 ride to see a pearl farm, vanilla plantation, etc. so I don't know what isn't a must-see there.
Have fun. Someone my husband sees through work rented a sailboat on Raiatea a few years ago and had a fantastic time!
Edited by Old Wife (03/16/11 12:57 PM)
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#89312 - 03/18/11 10:38 AM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Old Wife]
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Hockeymom666
Junior Member
Registered: 03/11/11
Posts: 14
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hamara and Old Wife...you two are awesome! The link to the article is invaluable. I will print it off and take with us. Old Wife...your tips and hints are great, especially the Crystal Light and Baguettes. And I will most certainly try the Hinano. I can't wait....80 sleeps.
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#89313 - 03/18/11 01:47 PM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Hockeymom666]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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Also, if you want to buy baguettes, especially from smaller magasins, get there early in the day before they're sold out.
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#89314 - 03/18/11 06:08 PM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Old Wife]
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longstay
Member
Registered: 02/21/11
Posts: 119
Loc: Minnesota
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people in Huahine put their boat close to the town of Fare. There is a nice boating community there that will answer any questions that you have, including a movie star, if he's still there when you arrive.
They come in on their little Zodiacs or whatever they have.
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#89315 - 03/18/11 06:54 PM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Old Wife]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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1) Are we able to walk to grocery and/or liquor stores? What is the recommended good (cheap) alcohol of the country? And what should be bring via Duty Free?
In Raiatea when heading out of the Yachtclub (= in Apooiti) in Raiatea the best is to sail over to Uturoa and stock up at the Champion supermarket right in front of the little harbour (or get your stuff before going to pick up the boat) Stock up so you won’t need to do so in Taha’a where it is more expensive, less choice and hard to get to a decent little store.
In BB yachties tie up either at the BB Yacht club, right across from the pass when you arrive. Or at the Bloody Mary restaurant in the bay of Povai. Although at the BB Yachtclub restaurant and bar of the are closed since the cyclone hit last year, you can still anchor in front of the property where you can then go over in a dinghy to the pier. To the main village of Vaitape it is a short walk, where you have 2 pretty good supermarkets, Toa Amok and Shin Lee, banking facilities etc. At night you could go to the roulottes (diners) in the main centre which are the cheapest eating place around.
Bloody Mary restaurant is good too, further away from the main village but closer to Matira, nice beach area with snacks, small supermarket
In Huahine there are anchor buoys in Fare which also has banks, and a small but prtty good supermarket
2) Can you show up to the coral gardens and snorkel if you are not with a tour or a resort?
You can basically go snorkel anywhere you want just be aware of boat traffic.
In BB a nice place to anchor is between the Meridien and St Regis where you have a good snorkling or around the Motu Toopua (on which is the BB Hilton)
3) Does anyone in this forum have knowledge of the boating facilities (drinking water, buoys, fuel, etc) at the various islands?
The various yachtclubs have anchor buoys. Buy bottled water to drink and fuel can be get at the marina in Raiatea at the yachtclub in Taha'a and at the Shell station in BB which has a small dock and gas station in Huahine (Fare)
4) Can we bring provisions with us on the plane from Canada to FP such as coffee, tea, spices, snacks, bacon, cereal, etc? Are there any restrictions or limitations?
Yes you can bring certain things but don’t bring meat, cheese etc.
5) Because we will not have a resort at our disposal, are there any staples that are difficult to get or find while in FP?
In Raiatea and BB are good stores, should you go to Moorea as well there is a marina at Vaiare where there is a big supermarket just across from the road. Taha'a and Maupiti have tiny little stores... the one in Huahine is pretty good
6) We will have an IPad with us so how is the wireless network? Or is there one when we are not staying in a resort?
The wireless network is only available at the so called Mana spots, you need a card to buy time units or hook up on someone’s wifi connection but most are secured here.
www.manaspot.pf
7) Since we will be on a boat, what is the best method of transportation to see the islands?
Go ashore on the dinghy and rent a car for the day… or rent bikes…
8) Best cheap food and best restuarant on each island?
Roulottes (diners) is cheapest for eating out.
FYI check out navigation info for the pass in Maupiti, it is not an easy one...!
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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#89316 - 03/18/11 10:44 PM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Poehere]
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Suki (689)
Senior Advisor
Registered: 10/29/07
Posts: 920
Loc: ELA US of A
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Poehere knows as well as da regulars on this board as 4 us we only know 2 things Hinano and Tahiti Drink +++++++FP4LIFE++++++++
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#89318 - 03/19/11 07:05 AM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Suki (689)]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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Suki just reminded me about Tahiti Drink. I forgot to mention how delicious it is (as a non-beer-drinker, it was my main alcoholic beverage other than the coconut rum I brought and mixed with local juice). Just be aware it packs a punch (someone here didn't realize it was alcoholic until she stood up after drinking too much of it)!
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#89323 - 03/19/11 08:38 AM
Re: Looking for Advise - 10 Questions
[Re: Old Wife]
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hamara
Expert Advisor
Registered: 01/07/02
Posts: 2319
Loc: Washington/Moorea
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Buy your baguettes by 6:00am as many of the smaller stores have
most of the daily delivery spoken for. Use any left overs to feed the fish.
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