Climate Cooled by the trade
winds of the Pacific, the climate in French Polynesia is sunny and pleasant. Although Tahiti is a
tropical environment, the rainfalls do not follow the "monsoon" type
of weather. This means that there is no real pattern of rainfalls and that it
can be sunny for many days in a row, or has intermittent showers any time of
the year. But there is usually far more sunshine than rain in any period. There
are no real seasons in Tahiti, although there
is supposedly a "rainier" and "drier" season. So, the
weather is not that relevant when deciding your vacation date. There is no
"hurricane season" as these islands are outside the hurricane zones
of the Pacific.
What to pack Bring summer clothes, beachwear, sports wear and boat wear, all preferably in cotton. Have something warm available for the evenings which are sometimes cooler (lagoon side, boat trips and in the mountains). Footwear: sandals, sneakers, boat shoes. Essential: swimming costumes, sunglasses, hat, sunblock creams and a powerful anti-mosquito lotion. Visitors are advised to
remember that the sun is extremely strong in this part of the world. They
should always protect themselves properly and frequently with a suntan lotion
and wear appropriate clothing, even when going swimming.
Entry requirements All visitors entering French Polynesia must have a valid return airline ticket
and a passport that is valid for a period of six months after the date of their
return. The nationals from European Union are entitled to a
three-month stay without visa, the
nationals from North, South and Central America,
Asia-Pacific are entitled to a one-month
stay without visa.
Time difference Tahiti is 10 hours behind from GMT. This is 12 hours behind during Daylight Saving Time or 11 hours behind in wintertime difference from Paris; 3 hours DST behind from the US West Coast; 6 hours DST behind from the US East Coast; 19 hours behind Tokyo and Sydney.
Currency & Credit Cards The official local
currency is the French Pacific Franc (XPF) which has a fixed exchange rate
with the Euro (1 Euro = 119.33 XPF). Bank exchange rates for all other
currencies fluctuate daily. It is easy to exchange
your currency in French Polynesia.
ATM Automatic Currency Exchange has a machine at the Tahiti-Faa'a International
Airport where visitors may exchange money upon arrival or before leaving Tahiti. Hotels and some stores will accept foreign
currency, but not always at the official exchange rate. Most international
credit cards are accepted by tourist industry business as well as traveller’s
checks in US dollars or Euro. Many bank exchange offices are also available in Tahiti and Moorea.
Water & electricity On our Motu the water is filtered and desalinated. That freshwater can be used for cooking and all external use, however we recommend using
bottled water for drinking.
ELECTRICITY. Villa Corallina operates on 220-volt alternating current. Electrical sockets are the same as in
France, american appliances need an adapter.
Health No vaccines are required except for passengers from
high-risk countries. French
Polynesia enjoys a high standard of health and has an excellent sanitary and
medical system, with excellent medical and dental services, pharmacies, private
clinics, and a large public hospital in Tahiti,
which is open 24 hours. Moorea has a first-aid hospital and a
few private practitioners and dentists and 2 pharmacies. INSECTS & ANIMALS. Flies, mosquitoes, geckos and some cockroach are the most common insects in French Polynesia. Insecticides and skin sprays offer the
best protection. There are no snakes, poisonous spiders or dangerous
animals living in Tahiti and Her Islands.
There are a variety of sharks in the lagoons, usually no larger than a big fish and very often
timid.
Postal & telecommunication services There are 2 post offices in Moorea, open weekdays from 7am to 4:30pm. TELEPHONE. When calling overseas,
dial 00+ the country and area code + the telephone number. Calling towards French Polynesia: dial 689 (which is Tahiti's
country code) and then the six figures of the local number. French
Polynesia has two cell (mobile) telephone network VINI and VODAFONE that covers Tahiti,
Moorea, Bora Bora and many other islands. Most
overseas cell phones may be used here. The 2 network are available on our motu for standard calls and for Internet connection 4G.
Which language French is the official language in French
Polynesia, English is also widely spoken in tourist areas (at Villa Corallina, Italian is also spoken)
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