Older people will find no problems travelling to The Islands of Tahiti, as there are excellent medical facilities available.
You are recommended to bring with you your medical records including your medical history and current state of health. If you have a regular doctor you should also have his full contact details.
Finally, before you leave for The Islands of Tahiti, check that you have adequate insurance cover for your holiday.
Tipping is not expected by hotel and restaurant staff, but it is still a way for the visitor to reward good service and show appreciation. There are no rules or customs as to the amount of the tip.
In The Islands of Tahiti, a service charge has been included on the bill for accommodation and dining in large hotels since 2007. At the end of the year, the collected charges are divided up and distributed to the staff, giving incentive to employees to provide top-notch service.
Most souvenir shops sell postcards of our islands.
For stamps, the central Post Office of Papeete, situated near the yacht quay and the Parc Bougainville, is open from 7 am to 6 pm during the week and from 8 am to 11 am on Saturdays. It also has a philatelic centre.
The following documents must be supplied to the local town hall where the marriage is to be conducted:
At Polynesian latitudes, it is summer all year round!
The temperature may appear high, but the trade winds from the Pacific blow all the time and refresh the air of the islands beautifully.
Being much further from the Equator, the islands furthest to the south, the Austral and Gambier Islands, have cooler temperatures than the Society and Marquesas Islands. As for the Tuamotu Islands, it enjoys record-breaking sunshine, reaching nearly 3,000 hours of sun per year.
The vegetation is particularly luxuriant during the summer, the wetter season also called the season of plenty, between the months of November and March. This is also the best time for those who love to sample new tastes as all the tropical fruit are ripe.
For the past few years The Islands of Tahiti have been enjoying unlimited high-speed Internet service, widely distributed throughout the islands, thanks to the Honotua fibre optic submarine communications cable system that connects the islands to Hawaii, USA, replacing satellite connections.
There are two Internet service providers in The Islands of Tahiti, which offer various service plans to keep you connected during your stay :
Internet cafés exist on the most frequently visited islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, etc.). Most hotels now have Internet centres or offer Wi-Fi connections, sometimes at no charge.
Making phone calls in Tahiti
You can purchase pre-paid OPT cards to make a call from any landline telephone, mobile phone or phone booth.
Most of the inhabited islands still have phone booths that use cards.
The prepaid “OPT Card” is sold at the Tahiti Philately website (www.tahitiphilatelie.com), in all 80 Post Office branches and by licensed retailers.
Mobile phones
For the last few years, mobile phone network coverage has been expanding by leaps and bounds throughout The Islands of Tahiti, rates have been falling and there is a wide variety of service plans on offer.
You can bring your own mobile phone and use it in The Islands of Tahiti by arranging for international roaming before you leave. You can also buy a rechargeable prepaid card from our 2 mobile phone network providers :
Some hotels offer either 110 or 220 volts (alternating current) but we strongly recommend the use of an adaptor for any equipment you bring, including computers.
The official language is French, but the indigenous languages, including Tahitian, are still widely spoken in each archipelago. English is also widely spoken, especially in tourist areas.
Would you like to learn some Tahitian?
All goods must be declared and applicable taxes must be paid at the customs point. Note that on entering or leaving The Islands of Tahiti, certain goods are subject to specific regulations. To see a list of these goods visit: www.tahiti-aeroport.pf The General Management of customs and indirect taxes also has information on the website of the Ministry of the Economy, Finances and Industry: www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/
You can drink the tap water in Papeete and throughout the island of Bora Bora. In the other islands, ask if you can drink it or not. If in doubt, use mineral water from sealed bottles.
Tahiti Tourisme reminds travelers that vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory for anyone who has stayed in a endemic country and wishing to visit The Islands of Tahiti. Vaccinations are also required for travellers from countries where there are risks. On the Island of Tahiti, health services and facilities are available. Papeete, Taravao (Tahiti peninsula) and Uturoa (Raiatea) have full hospital facilities (hospitals and clinics). The other islands visited by tourists have at least an infirmary or medical dispensary.
-List of countries, territories and areas – Vaccination requirements and recommandations for international travellers, including yellow fever and malaria here
-List of countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring yellow fever vaccination here
-For more information see the World Health Organization website
📞15 : Urgent Medical Assistance Service (SAMU)
📞18 : Fire department
📞17 : Police
📞16 : Rescue at sea