Cheap accom in papeete

Hi Travellers

Would appreciate some advice on accomodation in Tahiti.

We are at the airport in papeete at 11pm and are looking for one nights accomodation in Papeete before renting a car to head over to moorea. We are tossing up the idea of staying at the airport but have heard about the crabs!

Any insight would be fantastic.

Also any good places to stay in Moorea would be great, we only have a few days!

Cheers

Hello,

There are some B&B-type places right across the road from the airport but I can't remember the name of them. A bit scruffy but very convenient and OK for one night.
In Moorea Fare Oa Oa is great and cheap. Owned by a frenchman called Herve. Google it.

Depending on how many people you are travelling with, we found Les Tipaniers (sp?) on Moorea to be good value. The garden bungalows sleep at least 6 people and have full kitchens, which makes self catering very easy Website

PS I would just sleep in the airport, rather than pay for a room for the first night. Papeete is not cheap, and by the time you clear customs etc, it will be close to midnight, then you will have to pay for a transfer etc etc... Save your money - you will need it! We thought it was expensive living on Rarotonga, until we went to Tahiti ;-)

While I haven't slept at the airport I wouldn't worry about the crabs. You see them everywhere, they are cute not creepy and will do you no harm.

The Tahiti Airport Motel is a new place right across the street. There's also the Tahiti Airport Lodge (do check if they will pick you up that late).

Be sure to double check with your car rental company on Tahiti that you are allowed to take it on the ferry over to Moorea.

I have slept at the airport (Didn't see crabs) and stayed at Pension Ahitea. Another place that was recently mentioned on another forum that looks good is Fare Suisse. On Moorea We stayed at Haapiti Surf lodge.

For overnight in Papeete, both Hotel Tiare Tahiti and Le Mandarin are relatively cheap, safe, comfortable, and within walking distance to shops, restaurants, the big market, and the ferry to get to Moorea the next day.

On Moorea, try Fare Moorea Miti, more information at this website: www.mooreafaremiti.com. This location is the former Moorea Village, now with just the kitchen bungalows run as a pension (bring your own towels), and they are located on a lovely beach, close to shops, with affordable rates! I am a repeat visitor and prefer this location to Les Tipaniers or Hotel Hibiscus (also reasonably prices places to stay on Moorea).

I have slept in the PPT ariport a couple times as flights usually get in around midnight. There weren't any crabs! LOL The Airport Hotel across the road has dorms and rooms, I think a double is around $100 USD.

Jmk, what did you think of Pension Ahitea? We are booked in there for 3 days in July. It seems to be well located and walking distance to Place Toata for the heiva Festival.

I've slept at PPT a time or 3 as well. Not bad as these things go. Try also the Sofitel Maeva. I found rates there that made it doable for me a few times. Walked it once or twice as well. I don't think its more than 3 or 4 km. The airport motel has gotten decent reviews fromt he folks that have used it and its literally right across the street. AND pretty inexpensive (for PPT that is).

Ed

Pappete is one of the most expensive places to visit and just about the poorest value, high prices for low grade accomodation. (dumps)

Moorea is better value along with some of the other islands, unfortunately it is one of the most stunning looking places on the planet.

Tony, did you read that shes getting in at 11 at night-as is typical of nearly all long haul flights to PPT-and so can't get to Moorea till the next day? Besides, as I said the Sofitel is definitely NOT a dump, the beach behind it is lovely-though I think probably man made-and the staff is great. Its is good value for the money, though it is definitely not a backpacker budget place. PPT itself was kind of fun, I enjoyed it a lot more than the "I hate cities" crowd said I would.

Ed

Pension Ahitea was nice but it was a VERY long walk from there to Place Toata for the Heiva festival. We would have been better off to stay in Faaa and use Le Truck. If you aren't going for Heiva, then Pension Ahitea is a great place and close enough to town and the roulottes.