INFORMATION ON TAHITI AND HER ISLANDS
   

Clothing:
The attire is island casual for tropical weather year round. Natural fabrics, such as cotton, are typical for day wear. Pareos are the brightly colored and versatile hand blocked or painted fabrics that are worn by both men and women. However, in Papeete, the city is rather cosmopolitan in dress code.

Customs:
In addition to personal effects, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 50 grams of perfume, 55 grams of coffee, and 2 liters of liquor are allowed into Tahiti duty free. Visitors under 17 years old are not allowed to import tobacco products and liquor. Prohibited items include narcotics, copyright infringements, and weapons and ammunition

Electricity:
Most hotels use 110 (same as U.S.) or 220 volts (converter/adapter is recommended).  The Beachcomber has hair dryers in the room.and an 110 outlet for a shaver.   All other electric items will require a converter.

Entry Requirements:
Visitors from the U.S. must have a valid passport and possess a return airline ticket to their resident country. U.S. visitors are not required to possess a visa if their stay is less than one month. Visitors from any other country must contact the French Consulate office for current entry documents, including visa and health certificates requirements.

Exchange and Banking:
The local currency is the French Pacific Franc (CFP or XFP). The exchange rate fluctuates daily. Currency denominations come in 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 and 500 francs. Coin denominations are 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 francs. There are international banks in Tahiti, including a bank in the Faaa International Airport. Hotels will also offer exchange services. Most credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist establishments.  Your Travel Source also sells foreign currency.

Geography:
Tahiti and Her Islands is spread across 1.16 million square miles of the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The total land area of all the 118 islands and atolls add up to only 1,544 square miles. These islands consist of five archipelagoes: the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea/Taha'a, Huahine), the Tuamotu Islands (Rangiroa, Manihi, Tikehau), Marquesas (Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva), Austral Islands, and the Gambiers Islands.

Language:
French and Tahitian are the official languages, however, English is widely spoken in the hotels and tourist areas.

Marriage:
Marriage between two U.S. citizens in Tahiti is not legally recognized in the U.S.  However, you can be married in Tahiti.

Medical Care:
Tahiti and her Islands has a high standard of health and offers modern medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services. The islands maintain hygienic controls to prevent many tropical epidemics, including malaria. Therefore, there are no shots that are required for arrival unless visitors have recently visited or are coming from infected areas as defined by the World Health Organization. Most hotels are equipped with first aid supplies to treat coral cuts, sunburn, and extremely rare cases of poisoning when swimmers step on toxic spines of stonefish.  When off your resort, it is a good idea to protect yourself with mosquito repellent.

Season Travel:
June to September is considered high season due to the demand in rooms by visitors from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the U.S. Low season is January through May and from October to early December. Rainy season extends from January through May.

Snorkeling:

Tahiti and her Islands offers fantastic opportunities to discover the underwater world with clear visibility and a vast array of marine life. Most hotels can provide equipment for their guests. As in any destination, please observe these environmental guidelines:
- Do not touch or move the coral life. Some are toxic.
- Be mindful of your fins. Do not stand on the coral as it may damage or kill it.
- Do not collect marine life.
- Do not feed the turtles. They are protected marine life, guarded by the ministry of environmental control.

Taxes:
There is no international departure tax.  The current hotel rate is 11% in Tahiti and this is included in your tour price.

Tipping:
Tipping is not expected in French Polynesia, however it is at your discretion.

Time Zone:  Tahiti and her Islands are 10 hours behind GMT. That is two hours behind U.S. Pacific Standard Time. The Marquesas Islands are a half hour ahead of the rest of the islands, so when it is noon in Papeete, it is 12:30 p.m. in the Marquesas.

Transportation:  Visitors to Tahiti and her Islands first arrive into Faaa InternationalAirport at Papeete, Tahiti on Air Tahiti Nui, Air New Zealand, or Hawaiian Airlines (originating from Honolulu, Hawai'i). Flying time from Los Angeles is approximately 8 hours nonstop; from Hawai'i it is approximately 5 hours.

Water:  Tap water in the hotels and restaurants is safe to drink.  Bottled water and imported French mineral water is also available at hotels and restaurants and shops.   It is recommended that you drink a lot of water while there since the weather is warm and you do not want to become dehydrated. 

Weather:  Temperatures average 79°F (26°C) during Tahiti's summer season from November through May. The climate during these months is warm and humid. Most of the rain falls during this time. The second season for these islands is from June through October, when the weather is cooler and drier, with average temperatures in the lower 70's. During either season, the island benefits from the gentle Pacific trade winds.