#90200 - 06/14/11 05:00 AM
Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
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AlexandSonia
Junior Member
Registered: 06/14/11
Posts: 2
Loc: Melbourne
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Hi all,
First of all congrats on the great forum.
We are arriving in Moorea (Hilton)next Friday for 7 nights to celebrate our 10 year anniversary and have picked up lots of great info from this site. Some posts with lots of great info were a few years old so we thought we ask if anything has changed. Here goes:
We have a credit card, but should we also bring some cash? If yes, bring AUD, USD or XPF?
3 best Restaurants to have dinner?
3 best tours or activities?
Any tips or hints?
Thank you!
Alex & Sonia
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#90201 - 06/14/11 06:07 AM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[Re: AlexandSonia]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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You'll probably need cash if you buy anything off your resort (lunches, souvenirs, etc.). Is your transportation from the airport to Moorea taken care of? If it is, you can wait until you get to Moorea to get cash, otherwise you'll need to get it in Tahiti. You can take travellers' cheques (in Australian dollars) and cash them at a bank (take your passport with you for ID). You won't find many places take AUD or USD. If you can get some XPF at home before you go, that would help (but you probably won't get a great rate so just take enough for incidentals until you can get there). Someone else will have to recommend restaurants. If you're only going to Moorea (not Bora Bora), do a stingray feeding/water tour and a 4x4 tour. Take plenty of sunscreen (the sun's rays are strong in FP) and some bug spray (for when you're off the resort--especially in the interior). And take water shoes (coral shoes) of some kind so you don't get cut on coral. Some people like sandals, but we prefer a totally-enclosed foot so we don't have to worry about our toes.
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#90203 - 06/14/11 10:14 AM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[Re: Old Wife]
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BarbiJKM
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 6150
Loc: Mesa, AZ
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You will be able to exchange AUD in FP, but it's gotten more inconvenient to do so since the airport currency exchange closed and the airport bank will no longer do exchanges. If you can aquire some Tahitian francs (XPF or CPF) before you leave home, you'll be assured of having ready local cash when you arrive. If not, ATMS are available at the airport, but don't always work, expecially on the weekends. The Hilton will probably allow you to do a small currency exchange at reception as well. There are also banks on Moorea, but they are located in Maharepa, and you would need a car from the Hilton.
For restaurants, I definitely recommend Le Mayflower. A lot of folks also enjoy Rudy's, and Le Mahogony. Also, there are various small "snacks" along the road -- small local restaurants often run in someone's home or yard -- and you should definitely give them a try, because they are often the BEST places to eat (and where the locals go)!
If you have not already arranged for your pickup from the Moorea airport (or ferry) and transport to the Hilton, you can book a transport with www.toreanui.com.
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#90204 - 06/14/11 10:28 AM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[Re: Old Wife]
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vaitape
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/09/02
Posts: 1387
Loc: socal
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We've spent alot of time at the Moorea Hilton and love it! The staff is very friendly and helpful, food is ok...nothing special but nothing bad either. Wine is expensive by the glass (approx $15 USD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)so be aware. Better to buy a bottle and save what you don't drink for the next day. The snorkeling there is wonderful and the beach is decent too.
There is no public telephone at the hotel and the overseas calling prices are very dear......I suppose in an emergency, you would use the hotel phone but otherwise, have the activities desk make your dinner reservations. Internet charges are approx $9 USD per hour and wi-fi is available in the bungalows.
RE Money. There are several ATMs at the airport in Papeete (Faa'a)so get some xpf there. There is no ATM at the hotel nor is there one within walking distance. Most restaurants take credit cards but the smaller snacks and pizza places take only cash. Same with grocery stores.......better to have local currency to make purchases.
Can't tell you about restaurants. Many people like the Mayflower, Te Honu Iti, and Le Mahogany. We eat at 'Allos Pizza and Daniel's and also at the Crepe Bar at the Hilton. Otherwise we just do ham, cheese, baguette, etc and wine on our deck.
How are you getting to Moorea: ferry or plane? and then how are you getting to the hotel?
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#90206 - 06/14/11 05:18 PM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[Re: vaitape]
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kk.melia
Member
Registered: 09/19/07
Posts: 87
Loc: Island of Hawaii, HI
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Definitely hit a bottle shop or duty free for wine and alcohol to bring with you before you leave Melbourne. The duty free at Sydney airport is huge. I believe you are allowed 2 litres per person. http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/planner/tahiticustoms.asp
Rent a car for at least one day and cruise around and explore the island and little shops and villages and beaches.
Snorkel/Stingray Feeding Tour is a must. I went with Moorea Deep Blue on my last visit and it was the best ocean tour I've ever done in my life and I live in Hawaii. http://www.moorea-deepblue.com/
In addition to the lovely recommendations from the seasoned travelers, try Coco D’Isle if it is still there, I had the most amazing local shrimp dish from them.
In addition to the fridge in your room, bring a soft sided cooler and you will have ample space to store perishable food and/or adult beverages. Great food selections at the Magasins and markets. Hot baguettes fresh every day, gourmet salami, prosciutto, ham, fresh fruit, and delightful cheeses. Bring a knife and a mini cutting board in your luggage if you can, very handy.
Happy Anniversary!
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#90213 - 06/14/11 09:00 PM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[Re: kk.melia]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Hi Alex and Sonia, you have probably left it a bit late to organise XPF now (we usually order ours from local Westpac branch approx one month prior to departure).
I would still check the rate at Sydney though (I think on Westpac yesterday it was 76 XPF). At the moment 1000 XPF is equivalent to approx $12AUD.
Try and charge as much as you can to your room at Hilton and then pay via credit card upon check-out.
Now regarding your duty-free, because you are transitting in Auckland, you can't buy duty-free at Sydney (but don't worry because it's cheaper in NZ anyway and you usually have at least an hour during your stop-over for shopping).
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#90224 - 06/15/11 12:01 PM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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kk.melia
Member
Registered: 09/19/07
Posts: 87
Loc: Island of Hawaii, HI
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Thanks Gary & Cath. /Facepalm on the Air New Zealand route. I know better....
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#90230 - 06/15/11 06:32 PM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[Re: kk.melia]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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No worries, but Alex and Sonia may have bigger problems now - the ATN codeshare flight from Sydney (being Qantas) may not fly if the volcano in South America doesn't stop erupting.
At the moment for this week all flights to/from NZ cancelled!!!
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#90232 - 06/16/11 05:15 AM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[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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Wow, memories of the Iceland volcano that stopped most of Europe's air travel. I hope the skies clear soon so everyone can get on their way.
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#90269 - 06/17/11 05:55 AM
Re: Arriving next week - Some advice on Moorea please
[Re: Old Wife]
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AlexandSonia
Junior Member
Registered: 06/14/11
Posts: 2
Loc: Melbourne
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Thank you for your great comments and ideas everyone :) Awesome stuff!
We are flying into Moorea and our travel agent has taken care of all pick ups to and from the hotel.
I ordered some XPF from my bank yesterday, they guaranteed me they will have it for us in 48 hours.
But this Volcano thing is worrying us a bit, we spoke to our travel agent today and also called Air NZ, both told us things are back to normal now and unless there are further eruptions we will be ok. We shall pray to the Volcano gods to chill, at least for the next few weeks lol :p
I would love to go fishing on a Charter boat in Moorea, heard there are lots of Tuna and Mahi Mahi. Does anyone know of any fishing charters there?
Sonia said she doesn't mind, IF she gets a 3 hour spa package treatment haha
Alex & Sonia
Edited by AlexandSonia (06/17/11 06:06 AM)
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