A vacation to Tahiti, for many, is a lifelong vision of luxury, relaxation, and leisure. The paradisial climate and natural splendor make the island of Tahiti a popular destination for tourists around the world. The downside of a vacation to paradise is that trips to Tahiti, if not planned carefully, can be tremendously expensive. Here are some tips to help you visit Tahiti on a budget:
- Visit Tahiti during the tourism off-season
- Stay in an Airbnb
- Travel to less frequented islands
- Budget your dining expenses
- Know the local currency
- Find travel package deals
- Plan and book your trip well ahead of time
- Pack light to avoid baggage fees
- Book a cruise
If you’re going on vacation, there are times where a little splurging is essential in order to fully experience the wonders around you. By following these tips while planning your trip, you can allow enough money in the budget to splurge on the Can’t-Miss moments of your Tahitian vacation.
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When is the Best Time to Visit Tahiti?
The climate in Tahiti is warm and balmy all year long, with temperatures averaging in the eighties Fahrenheit, according to Islands. The humidity is at its highest during the summer season, making the dryer winter months more preferable for many travelers.
The dry months of May through October is the best time to visit Tahiti due to the lower levels of humidity. Travelers can expect to pay high hotel fees no matter what time of year they choose to visit the island according to the U.S. News Travel Guide.
November through March is considered the “winter season” in Tahiti, which brings with it the possibility of brief showers and lower humidity.
The months of December through April, according to Les Deux Pieds Dehors, are also the height of hurricane season for the entire French Polynesian area. Traveling in tropical areas during hurricane season is not advisable.
What is the Difference Between Tahiti and French Polynesia
If you’ve never visited the South Pacific, the multitude of islands and groupings can be confusing. French Polynesia can be thought of as an umbrella territory,
According to the BBC, French Polynesia is a large, French-owned territory in the Pacific, consisting of 118 islands. Tahiti is a single inland in the larger grouping of the Society Islands.
The Austral Islands, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago are also French-possessed territories in French Polynesia.
Nine Tips to Help You Visit Tahiti on a Budget
Tahiti is one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the world, but that doesn’t mean it can be done on a budget. Travelers looking to save money can plan their trips in accordance with these tips, making sure they have enough money for airfare, hotel stays, and experiencing the local points of interest.
Visit During the Tourism Off-Season
Visiting Tahiti during the off-season is one way to save money on your trip. Travelers seeking to save by visiting between the months of November and April may have to endure higher levels of humidity, as well as increased risk of hurricane or storm threats.
However, lower amounts of tourists will present lower traveling fees. According to Islands, hotel prices experience a reduction of roughly 25%-40% between December and February.
Stay in an Airbnb
If you’re looking for ways to visit Tahiti without spending your bank account down to zero, booking an Airbnb rather than one of the iconic over-the-water bungalows is a place to start. Overwater bungalows are expensive, with prices starting at $799 per night, according to Venture Tahiti.
Airbnb is a more affordable way to travel, although you may miss out on some of the luxurious features available in the resorts and bungalows. Nightly fare for an Airbnb in Tahiti can be as little as $60-$150, which frees up a lot of extra money in the travel budget for activities, food, and trip duration.
Travel to Less Frequented Islands
The name “Tahiti” has become almost synonymous with white sand beaches and tropical paradise. The result of this accurate depiction of the island in the public’s mind, however, is that tourists crowd a few islands, driving the price of tourism and accommodations through the roof.
While there’s no escaping the high prices of traveling to Tahiti, travelers may be able to experience the natural glory of French Polynesia by visiting less popular islands. Here are a few, less-traveled islands that make excellent, more affordable destinations:
- Huahine – Known as the Garden Island, Huahine is lush with vegetative life. This island is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life and is also a preservation sanctuary for certain sacred tombs which have survived, buried in the jungle.
- Raiatea – This name translates as “faraway heaven”, which is in keeping with the sacred cultural and historical significance of the island. Raiatea, nautically speaking, is the center of French Polynesia.
- Rangiroa – This island is known as the “Endless Lagoon”, and is one of the largest natural aquariums in the world. This makes it a popular destination for scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts.
- Tikehau – This island is famous for its pink sand beaches. Aside from tranquility and coconut trees, there is not much else on this island. The name “Tikehau” translates as “peaceful landing”, which makes it a desirable destination for travelers seeking serenity.
- Fakarava – This coral atoll is known as the “Island of Dreams”, and is a natural reserve for many variations of plant and animal life. This island also provides world-class diving, with an underwater valley known as “Shark’s Hole”, where divers are likely to see a high population of whitecap, lemon, and hammerhead sharks.
Details and features of these islands are sourced from Tahiti.com.
Budget Your Dining Expenses
Whenever you’re traveling, food expenses tend to add up. The temptation to get all your meals from restaurants is common, as the new area is rich with options and culinary adventures.
If you’re traveling on a budget, however, planning your food expenses carefully is crucial to the overall economic feasibility of the trip.
According to data from Budget Your Trip, the average cost of food in Tahiti is 4,592 Francs–roughly $45 USD–per day. For context, the average amount for travelers to spend on taxis and public transportation per day is 1,918 Francs.
If you’re renting an Airbnb or have access to a kitchenette during your stay, you can save money by purchasing from local grocery stores and cooking your own meals a few times per day. Money saved in the food column of your budget is money that can be spent on other activities, or put towards an extra night in an overwater bungalow.
Know the Local Currency
Whenever you’re traveling to a new country, it’s important to get a sense of the economic landscape you’re stepping into. Prices, in relation to the US Dollar or other foreign currencies, have the possibility of changing, so check the exchange rates throughout the planning of your trip.
Tahiti, along with the rest of French Polynesia, uses the French Franc as its main currency. The current exchange rate (as of September 19, 2021) is 0.0098:1 USD.
Find Package Travel Deals
Due to the popularity of Tahiti as a travel destination, most travel agencies have some kind of package deal around it.
A travel package is a term that applies whenever a traveler purchases two or more of the following services from a travel agency:
- Initial Transportation
- Hotel rooms or accommodations
- Car or vehicle rental
- Any other service considered to be of significant value to the trip. This can include services and items such as event tickets, guided tours, recreational equipment, etc.
Travel packages are often a way for travelers to stretch their money by paying a one-time fee upfront, allowing for more financial freedom once the trip is underway.
Plan and Book Your Trip Well Ahead of Time
If you’re looking for ways to save money on your trip to Tahiti, making your reservations as far ahead of the trip date as possible will lower your prices. As a general rule, the earlier your schedule and purchase your flight tickets, the cheaper your pricing option will be. Hotels, rental cars, and recreational equipment are also cheaper when booked ahead of time.
According to Travel+Leisure, the “Prime Booking Window” for air travel is 1-4 months ahead of your departure. Flights to Tahiti from LAX, when booked ahead of time, can be as low as $793, according to Air Tahiti Nui.
When it comes to hotels, it’s not advisable to book your room any more than three weeks in advance, according to USA Today. To get the best deal on hotels, keep an eye on the price trends for 40 days so that you know to book at the cheapest moment.
Pack Light to Avoid Baggage Fees
Many travelers have experienced the gouging prices that can arise when they have too much or too heavy of luggage. Some airlines, such as Southwest as Delta, offer specialized travel deals for international flights, allowing for luggage to be checked for free.
Most airlines charge high fees to check bags, according to Forbes Advisor, although most will permit a small carry-on bag to be brought along free. Packing light and making sure your suitcase is organized to be space efficient will help reduce the number of bags that need to be checked, saving the traveler money on flight expenses.
Rolling clothes instead of folding, planning to do laundry on your vacation, and investing in storage cubes are all ways to maximize the space in your suitcase, bringing down the price of baggage on your flight to Tahiti.
Book a Cruise
Traveling by cruise ship, aside from presenting an exciting journey furnished with luxury, can be a more affordable way to visit Tahiti than flying in and staying on the island. Cruise lines such as Norwegian offer French Polynesian cruises starting at $3,858 USD. While still not a cheap trip, the cost of a cruise covers food, lodging, and transportation all at once.
According to Budget Your Trip, the cost of vacationing in Tahiti is roughly $1,200 per person per week, not including airfare or luxury accommodations. The addition of those expenses makes staying on the island for your entire trip more expensive than taking a cruise through the area and stopping at the island.
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Conclusion
Tahiti is known around the world as one of the most beautiful, luxurious, and relaxing vacation spots. This popularity makes vacationing in Tahiti an expensive ordeal unless travelers plan their budget wisely. By adhering to the travel advice given in this article, vacationers can stretch their money at the same time they’re stretching their toes in the sand. Planning to visit during the offseason, avoiding the high prices of hotels by renting Airbnbs, and planning your meal budget ahead of time are all ways you can help make your vacation to Tahiti a little more affordable.