#91969 - 10/27/11 04:55 PM
My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
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JoBelle
Junior Member
Registered: 10/19/11
Posts: 21
Loc: Texas USA
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Hello all. This is such a great forum. I found it while researching travel to FP. So much great information!
I'm taking my first trip next month - flying ATN from LAX - and have a couple of questions:
-Is Tahiti/Bora Bora safe for single women? I don't do anything stupid, like walk alone at night. I don't drink or party. Just sightseeing and touring during the day, is there anything I should be careful of?
-Has anyone flown Air Tahiti from island to island? I'm concerned about the luggage allowance - "one 6-lb carryon (my laptop alone weighs 4 lbs!) and one free checked with dimension not exceeding 59 inches." I have a small rollaway I need to measure. My total luggage will be that rollaway and one carryon tote bag, which is sure to be more than 6 lbs. My rollaway will probably be from 18-25 pounds, not sure yet.
I would be flying only from Tahiti to Bora and Bora and back. I will be taking a boat from Tahiti to Moorea. Would you recommend getting baggage storage at Faaa? I can't find the fees for excess luggage on the Air Tahiti site.
Thank you for whatever information you can provide. I am excited about my trip but a little nervous about the strict baggage restrictions on AT. I pack pretty lightly but no matter how much I eliminate I will need my small rollaway and my tote bag. Can't get it down to any less than that.
Thank you!
Jo
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#91976 - 10/27/11 07:00 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: JoBelle]
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Justine2
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/12/07
Posts: 1911
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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99% of us have flown Air Tahiti. It's the only inter-island airline. They're not super careful about carry on bags, but the check in luggage is hit or miss if they ding you or not.
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#91977 - 10/27/11 07:01 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Justine2]
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Justine2
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/12/07
Posts: 1911
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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And everywhere is safe, as long as you don't leave your brain at home. I think the most unsafe thing you could do is either rent a scooter or ride a bike on the roads. They are seriously narrow.
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#91981 - 10/27/11 07:27 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Justine2]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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Listen to your inner voice. Stay where you see other people. Personally, I wouldn't walk on a beach alone as a single woman (even in the daytime). Walk confidently & give off "I can take care of myself vibes" (that's useful in any country). And enjoy!
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#91982 - 10/27/11 07:27 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Justine2]
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holte
Expert Advisor
Registered: 11/19/04
Posts: 2417
Loc: Duluth, Minnesota
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They have gotten very rigid about weighing all luggage. I tried to fake it last year by ignoring my carry one, but they asked to weigh it, even though I avoided looking at them.
But, the excess luggage fees are nothing to worry about. I had 100 extra pounds and it was not very much. I forget now. That's how little it was. I was going for a stay of a couple of months and my hubby had already been there for three months. That is why the weight.
Honestly, all you need are swimsuits and pareos and snorkeling gear. Of course sunscreen and medications which may add up.
The only thing is that you don't want to be alone somewhere remote by yourself, just as you would not do that in the US.
The fees for luggage storage are very cheap. I forget. something like 6 or so dollars per bag.
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#91984 - 10/27/11 08:09 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: holte]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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hi JoBelle, you should be fine, I would just advise not to sunbathe topless (public beaches) and not to take an excursion where you'd be the only tourist.
Depending on where you'll be staying, like if it is not a secure resort, I'd suggest you close the windows and doors at night. Reason I say this is that part of the culture still today is that Polynesian men believe that a woman should not be alone (this is absolutely NOT meant in the sense that you're looking for some action...lol but rather in their "sociable sense" that they'd want you to have company of some sort...)
Air Tahiti will allow you 20 kg (40 pounds) of checked luggage with an international ticket. Carry on really depends who's on duty, some weigh others just look... and a laptop is accepted seperately from the carry on.
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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#91988 - 10/28/11 07:04 AM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Poehere]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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Adding to my don't walk alone on the beach--I don't mean don't walk alone on a beach with other tourists, I mean don't walk alone on a completely empty beach.
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#91991 - 10/28/11 07:45 AM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Old Wife]
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BarbiJKM
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 6150
Loc: Mesa, AZ
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They have gotten more strict at the PPT airport about weighing luggage on Air Tahiti; however, your 6.6 pound carryon (3 kilos) can go up to 11 pounds (5 kilos) without a fee. Also, you are allowed a "purse," which they do not weigh unless it's super-huge.
You might want to bring a separate zippered bag that folds flat, which you can use to check additional things that don't fit into your 25-pound roller bag when you check into Air Tahiti, and thus use your 44 pound pound (20 kilo) checked allowance. The 44 pounds is NOT limited to one piece of luggage.
Hope this helps!
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#92016 - 10/29/11 06:57 AM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: BarbiJKM]
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JoBelle
Junior Member
Registered: 10/19/11
Posts: 21
Loc: Texas USA
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Thank you all so much! Very helpful. I won't worry about the extra fees then. It sounds like they are negligible. I was just worried about getting socked on the spot with some exorbitant fee. I will probably store my nonessentials and take what I need for Bora Bora.
Although if the 44 pound limit is not limited to one piece like BarbiJKM said, then an extra foldup bag is a great idea. I know I don't have 44 pounds of checked luggage. I may not even have 44 pounds total, cuz I try to never take more luggage than I can handle on my own.
I have several business meetings, so unfortunately I have to take a couple "work" clothes, but nothing major. I'll probably wear the same thing to every meeting since they will be on different islands.
Poehere, I always lock my doors at night of course, but didn't think about the windows. Will do! I'm trying to keep my sense of humor about the thought of "helpful" men climbing through my window at night to keep me company. Yikes! lol Thanks for that tip.
And no walking on an empty beach alone, no matter how enticing it might be.
Thanks again, you guys are great.
Jo
Edited by JoBelle (10/29/11 06:58 AM)
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#92019 - 10/29/11 01:30 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: JoBelle]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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LOL, it is called "motoro" = night crawling in Tahitian which is like a traditional practise characterized by a man sneeking into the house of a sleeping woman... it's from the old days when a man would want to have an adventure or marry a woman who declined and so by sort of "forcing" her to enjoy him they would have to get married if the parents found out... or when parents got desperate for not finding a suitable man for their daughter they would leave the windows open to allow someone to crawl in after which they would be forced to marry..
These days it has taken a slightly different turn but many missionaries and anthropologists have wondered and debated the practise LOL
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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