What budget to travel French Polynesia? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings French Polynesia?

It would be regrettable to arrive in Polynesia without having anticipated the sizeable budget for local activities. Hiking, canyoning, parachuting, parasailing, quad biking, helicopter, scuba diving, kayaking, paddling, surfing, kite-surfing, jet-skiing, water jet, dolphin and whale watching, not to mention countless excursions to the four corners of the archipelago: almost any outdoor activity is possible in Fenua!

Among the most popular sports, diving is definitely at the top of the list. If you're used to the prices in mainland France, be prepared to open your wallet a little wider. Depending on the island and the center, an exploration dive can cost between 6,500 and almost 10,000 XPF (€55 to €84). Tahiti, Moorea and Huahine are the most economical options, while Bora Bora, as you can imagine, ranks right at the top of the price scale. So, to your fins and your finances!

The majority of dive clubs offer packages for 6, 10 or 20 dives, with or without a name, depending on your desire for bubbles. The big names with centers on several islands are often the most expensive, but they also have packages that can be a good deal. For example, Top Dive offers discounts if you pay two weeks before diving. So, if you've got a nose for bargains, plan your dive in advance to save money!

If you prefer more intimate structures, the Te Moana pass (www.temoanadiving.com) allows you to dive at an attractive price in 14 independent dive centers spread over 10 islands and atolls in the Society (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea and Tahaa), Tuamotu (Fakarava, Rangiroa and Tikehau) and Austral (Tubuai). This pass is on sale at each member center for 82,000 XPF for 10 dives (2024 prices).

The E-Diving Pass (www.edivingpass.com) brings together 40 dive centers on 16 islands, and enables you to book in advance on a single platform: 8,800 XPF single price per dive, minimum 6 dives, 6 dive pass 52,800 XPF (2024 prices).

Good news for your shopping budget: tax-free sales! In French Polynesia, any retailer whose sales in the store are subject to VAT can grant his customers the benefit of tax-free sales, under cover of an export sales note. To qualify, you must be at least 15 years old, permanently resident outside French Polynesia, and have been on Polynesian territory for less than 6 months. This system applies to all goods with a minimum value of 5,000 XPF per consignment note, except: goods whose sale, by their nature or quantity, constitutes a commercial supply for the buyer; consumables (food and beverages, tobacco); goods subject to certain special formalities (notably unmounted pearls and precious stones, and cultural goods).

This means you can buy tax-free pearls mounted on jewelry, as well as handcrafted art pieces from a gallery such as La Ganesha in Papeete.

Another good deal for your pearls: some pearl farms, such as Havaiki in Fakarava, offer pearl lotteries. The concept? You pay a fixed price and "bet" on a closed oyster, which is then opened in front of your eyes, and whatever the value of the pearl inside, the treasure is yours! Not everyone is lucky, of course, but even if you don't get a beautiful pearl, you'll remember it fondly.

Note also that since your final destination is outside the European Union, you can benefit from Duty Free (tax-free purchases). Note, however, that if you have a stopover within the European Union, you will benefit from Duty Free at all airports on the outbound journey, but not on the return. For example, on a Paris-London-Papeete flight, you'll be able to do Duty Free shopping in all three airports on the outbound leg, but only in Papeete on the return.

Finally, despite these good deals, haggling is not a widespread practice in French Polynesia, any more than in mainland France. While it is of course possible to ask for a small courtesy discount, prices in stores are displayed and must be paid in cash.

Admission to Papeete's nightclubs is free, although a selection is made at the door. On-site consumption is reasonably priced.

What budget to eat French Polynesia?

Food will be a major item on your budget, but fortunately with the near-certainty of eating fresh, good food, and always in quantity! For those on a budget, you'll find it easy to eat in the caravans for between 1,400 and 3,000 XPF (approx. €12 to €25), with good Polynesian or Chinese dishes on the menu. For 2,200 to 5,000 XPF (approx. €18 to €41), brasseries, snack bars and small restaurants offer more refined dishes, perhaps, most often based on fish. Luxury hotels and the best restaurants in the area offer delicious dishes, but these often exceed XPF 5,000 (€41). Unlike some other dream destinations, where you can enjoy a feast for a pittance, certain products, such as red meat and lobster in particular, remain luxury dishes in French Polynesia.

For gourmet breaks and alcoholic beverages, expect to pay an average of 1,000 to 2,000 XPF for a cocktail (approx. €8 to €17), 400 to 900 XPF for a draught (approx. €2.50 to €7.50), 500 to 900 XPF for a fresh fruit juice (approx. €4 to €7.50), and 350 to 500 XPF for a coffee (approx. €2.90 to €4.20). In Tahiti, most beer and cocktail bars offer happy hours at the end of the day, usually between 5 and 7 pm.

What is the budget for accommodation French Polynesia?

French Polynesia may seem a little expensive, but you don't need a fortune to enjoy it! It's neither Saint-Martin nor the Maldives, so there's something for every budget and comfort level.

For adventurers on a budget, accommodation between 1,700 XPF and 4,000 XPF per night per person (around €14 to €34) is often available in dormitories or camping sites. More remote islands offer basic facilities, with lukewarm water to remind you that you're in the Pacific. Cleanliness can be a little tricky, but is usually beyond reproach. Beware of limited space in this range. Book well in advance, or you may be in for a little unexpected luxury!

With a little more money - between 7,000 and 10,000 XPF per night per person (approx. €58 to €84) - you'll be able to afford a small air-conditioned room in a modest guesthouse, especially on the less touristy islands. From 9,000 XPF per night per person (€75), you have a little more room to move up to a more elegant guesthouse; at this price, half-board may even be included. Children benefit from special rates.

For a more autonomous option, think of chambres d'hôtes and fares , with private bathroom and kitchen: a temporary home to rent by the night, week or month. And there's no need to share the family life, unless you want to. Be prepared to pay between 13,000 and 30,000 XPF for two, with or without half-board!

In Polynesia, a smallbudget of 20,000 to 30,000 XPF per night and per person (around €250 to €500)is called a "big" budget. This price range gives you access to hotels and residences with air-conditioned bungalows, set in large tropical gardens or right on the water. These establishments offer the full package : restaurant, room service, activity desk. The welcome is usually professional and relaxed. A far cry from the uniform motel chains of Europe, here it's more authentic.
On almost the same budget, some may prefer to play the Robinsons with a little more privacy. Well, that's also possible in Fenua! If you're dreaming of getting together as a couple, with friends or family, the vacation rental option may be a good idea (especially if there are a lot of you). Renting a luxury villa is the perfect option - especially for groups! A wide range of luxury villas are now available for holiday rental, particularly in Tahiti, Moorea and the Leeward Islands, so much so that specialized agencies have proliferated in recent years. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it's best to use their services rather than going direct; Stayinn' Travel and Enjoy Villas, in particular, are among the most reliable. Their websites are comprehensive and well illustrated, so you'll find the house of your dreams in just a few clicks.

Over 50,000 XPF per night per person (€419), you enter the realm of luxury. Here, we're not just talking about a bed and a roof, but bungalows on stilts with breathtaking views over the lagoon. Suites, meanwhile, can flirt with astronomical prices, happily exceeding thousands of euros a night. In short, at these prices, it's almost as if the sea curtsies to you every morning!

With the opening of the skies to new airlines, tourism in Polynesia has taken off, and with it, "Airbnb"-style rentals have multiplied. Admittedly, this may seem an attractive option, but let's not forget that it competes unfairly with local guesthouses, which are burdened with taxes and charges. What's more, with the explosion in private rentals, Polynesians are struggling to find affordable accommodation. In short, it's not always the smartest idea for everyone!

Please note that prices do not always include all taxes, so it's best to ask before you book, to avoid wincing when you pay! VAT on accommodation is 5%, whether you're staying in a hotel or a guesthouse. For classified hotels, a little cherry is added to the bill: 5% government tax for tourism promotion, plus 6% service tax. Some communes even add a tourist tax, ranging from 50 XPF (guesthouses) to 150 XPF (hotels) per night and per person. And for cruise passengers, it's 500 XPF per day.

Travel budget French Polynesia and cost of living

In French Polynesia, life isn't all about low prices... Between import duties, taxes and transport costs, bills quickly climb.

Here'sa rough guide (they do, of course, tend to vary between supermarkets, restaurants and hotels): a baguette costs around 190 XPF in Tahiti (more expensive in the outlying islands), a viennoiserie 240 XPF, and a cocktail between 800 and 1,400 XPF. How about a sandwich? Between 250 and 1,000 XPF, and the famous raw fish between 1,000 and 1,800 XPF. For a dish of the day, count 1,000 XPF in a snack bar, and from 1,500 in a restaurant. Feeling a little thirsty? Bottled water costs between 280 and 450 XPF, coffee between 200 and 450 XPF, and draught beer between 400 and 800 XPF. Oh, and don't forget: in Bora Bora, the price goes even higher!

To get the most out of Tahiti and its islands, plan on spending a minimum of €3,000 to €3,900 per person for a 10-day stay (the minimum to soak up the Polynesian atmosphere), including airfare from Paris and some of the islands, in a comfortable setting close to the locals, with guesthouse-style accommodation. Add around €50 to €130 per person per day for a "classic" stay with accommodation in a classified hotel and half-board at the hotel. Add another €150 to €400 per person per day for a stay in a luxury bungalow-style hotel on stilts, with organized excursions and sports activities. These tips are based on double-occupancy rates, because if you go it alone, everything costs more.

Ten days is indeed the minimum to hope to catch a glimpse of the immense Polynesia, but it's still not enough to soak up its gentle way of life. It's barely enough to discover two or three of the most touristy islands, and there are five archipelagos to visit! Depending on your budget, you can reasonably expect to spend between two and three weeks in such a remote destination, to get a good feel for the country (i.e. between €3,500 and €6,500).

All stores, restaurants and cafés display their prices inclusive of all taxes, but this is not always the case with accommodation, especially family-run guesthouses, where prices are sometimes quoted exclusive of tax and sometimes inclusive of tax: check before you book!

On the spot, you'll find it easy to withdraw cash on the major islands and tourist attractions. Beware, however, that this will not be the case everywhere: some small islands, such as Maupiti, are not equipped with ATMs! So take the precaution of withdrawing enough money on arrival, especially as small establishments generally don't accept credit cards.