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# Tahiti/Moorea in November Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tahiti & French Polynesia
evelyn67 08:00 UTC 11 Aug 2012 | Advice needed! My boyfriend and I are planning a trip over thanksgiving this november. I keep reading that it's "wet season" in Tahiti but then see conflicting articles saying "there is no real wet season". We haven't taken a vacation in 2 years so I really don't want to end up spending thousands of dollars to go somewhere it rains the whole trip! Any experience on November in French Polynesia? Any island recommendations? Safer to go to Hawaii?? Would love input on the weather there and would love to hear some other options for great places to travel in November (beach/relaxation trip). We're flying from Los Angeles. Thanks! |
lagoon 22:00 UTC 11 Aug 2012 | Near Tahiti is the Cook Islands. Very similar Polynesian culture, but far less expensive to visit. Direct Air NZ flight from LAX (departs late Sunday to arrive Rarotonga early Monday morning). Beautiful beaches with many lagoonside resorts (think small and secluded), lodges and private rental villas. Good swimming and snorkelling from the shoreline. Currency is the Kiwi dollar. Clean, safe and affordable destination. Like Fr Polynesian, the Cook Islands is heading into the summer (wet season) from November. But showery as opposed to rain for extended periods (unless it's a real tropical storm which isn't a common phenomenon) . Mid November the annual vaka (outrigger canoes) paddling comps take place providing plenty of colour and action on & off the water. Aitutaki island situated north of Rarotonga which has a drier climate compared to the mountainous island of Rarotonga. Extrordinary lagoon, and the island is sparsely populated, with a charming, laidback culture. Aitutaki epitomises the idyllic south seas islands image. Air NZ provides non-stop departures to LAX late Saturday evenings. Otherwise there are daily flights to NZ with Air NZ & Virgin. Air Tahiti has a direct service from Raro to Papeete every Thursday afternoon. Have a look around the site http://www.ck for ideas on what's available and what to expect from this tropical island group. Happy planning. | 1
agingaquarian 06:47 UTC 12 Aug 2012 | Hi November is the beginning of the 'wet' or 'cyclone' season but should still be a pleasant time in the south pacific unless you are very unlucky. I see that lagoon is suggesting the Cook Islands which is certainly a possibility. But maybe you should also consider Fiji which has myriad accommodation options and lovely people. I haven't personally been to Tahiti but I'm sure others will give you their opinions. | 2
taranaki_chick 23:28 UTC 14 Aug 2012 | Hawaii could just as easily be having grey windy/rainy days in November too. | 3
h2ooh 01:30 UTC 15 Aug 2012 | The shorter your stay the higher the odds you'll have a trip ruined by bad weather. That's just the way it is, no matter where you go. If I had a choice between Tahiti and Hawaii, I'd choose Tahiti, or any place in the South Pacific, hands down, every time. Most of my visits to the South Pacific are in the "rainy season," it's not usually a problem. But I've been rained out in Hawaii during the month of February twice. | 4
ikariotiko 08:38 UTC 31 Oct 2012 | Hi, I went last year over Thanksgiving and had a great time! I did have a couple days or evenings of rain, but that was all. I would recommend going over to Moorea, just a short ferry ride. I stayed at a great place there called the Lagoonarium. Let us know what you decide! | 5