| anonymous03:36 UTC24 Mar 2007 | Okay.... sorta last minute-ish. I've scoured through this forum and others and find it encouraging that people are so passionate about french polynesia!
I'm headed off from Auckland to Tahiti on my way to NY (I'm a New Yorker, but I live in New Zealand) and will be there for 4 nights. I'm convinced by your posts that we should get to Moorea straight away (we're arriving in Pape'ete early in the morning and our departure from FP is at 9 at night so we really do have 5 full days). I like the idea of splitting time between the bays (Pension Motu Iti) and the West Coast (Camping Nelson) but is it silly to do two nights in one and two in the other? Should I have a night in the bays and 3 on the west coast? What order should we do it in? Is it a better idea, given the short time frame, to just go to the west coast? I'm not planning on spending heaps of money (I'm a student after all, and I want to be able to have money to spend in NY).
How much is the ferry anyway?
I'm soooo excited about this trip!
Cheers,
Betsy
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| silvanocat20:22 UTC25 Mar 2007 | <blockquote>Quote
<hr> To travel between Pension Motu Iti and Camping Nelson you can rent a car from Vaiare ferry quay or at the airport. Travelling by taxi is way too expensive so renting a car or a boat is a good idea. <hr></blockquote>
"TahitiTraveler" how would you suggest that they get to the Vaiare ferry quay or the airport from Motu Iti to rent the car to take them to Camping Nelson (which is closer to Motu Iti than the airport or ferry quay)? (FYI, "TahitiTraveler", if I was to rent a car and was staying at Motu Iti, I would rent it from the much closer Alberts by Club Bali Hai, I would check by the even closer Sheraton to see if they have auto rentals there first. ) And where exactly would you find a boat rental place by Motu Iti? And what makes you think that it would be cheaper than a taxi?
Simply take Le Truck from Motu Iti to Camping Nelson, that way you won't have to back track all the way back to the ferry or airport.
This page has links to the Moorea ferry schedules (you'll find the prices listed there).
The outgoing Le Truck schedule matches the ferry arrivals. The incoming ferry schedule from Petit Village (near Camping Nelson) is on the linked page. Of course, double check when you get there.
A good plan for you would be to head out to the west coast (you'll pass by the bays and Motu Iti) and stay there until (or if) you decide to move on.
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| anonymous02:36 UTC26 Mar 2007 | Thank you for your suggestions.
We wanted a hut at Camping Nelson, but due to our last minute planning, all that is left is a double bedroom in the dorms. Anyone stay in one of these? Are they very private?
If I base myself at Camping Nelson, can I easily get around to do day trips elsewhere? Is renting some scooters a good option?
What's the nightlife like in Moorea?
....what should I make sure to bring? Towels, sunscreen, book to read on the beach.... what else? :) Would it help to learn a bit of Tahitian or does my rusty French suffice - for that matter, will my boyfriend's English be enough? He also speaks Maori so the pronunciation of Tahitian might be easier for him than me! And heaps of words are so similar!
Thanks,
Betsy
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| lady traveler07:07 UTC27 Mar 2007 | Muto Iti has a very nice dorm located over the main building and looking out over the ocean. Good cross ventalation, and nice and clean. 2 Bathrooms are downstairs. As for nightlife, walk down to the Sheraton Hotel, but that is $$$$. Or just lay out on the end of the Muto Iti dock in one of their lounge chairs and watch a zillion+ stars. Pao Pao has a big hotel with an outdoor bar to. If you walk back towards the ferry from MI there is a small grocery store where you can buy bottled water and such. In the afternoon they make small take-out meals of rice, stew veggies,etc. which are cheap. If you walk 5 minutes toward the Sheraton, a family sells papayas and sometimes other fruit. Or walk back to Pao Pao to the big super market, about 1/2 hour. I also might mention that Le Truck looks like and is usually a yellow school bus. Look at the ferry arrival/departure schedule and you can see when the Truck will come by, it is most always late. Or, just stand by the side of the road and stick out your thumb, most locals want to practice english I have found.
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| barbijkm02:24 UTC14 Apr 2007 | If camping Nelson has no huts available, try Moorea Camping -- they have some cute sleeping huts right on a beautiful white sandy beach, within close walking distance to grocery store, shops, restaurants and a couple of roulottes (food trucks), including the famous chickenman! They are located at PK 27.5, 500 meters from the old Club Med beach (gorgeous)! Do a google search for reviews or email them at einui@hotmail.com
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| barbijkm02:29 UTC14 Apr 2007 | Forgot to mention re: transport between the two places. Le truck is definitely your best option, but if you find yourself stranded or the schedule doesn't work for you, and need a taxi, call John at 77-57-56 or Cecile at 77-57-52 on Moorea. They are a husband-wife taxi team, speak English, and are personal friends. Tell them Barbara and Randy referred you. They are located near Moorea Camping, but will pickup anywhere on the island. John often waits at the ferry dock for fares too.
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