costs moorea/tahiti

Hi there

Just spent 4 great days in Tahiti and thought I'd do a quick post of some budget prices for anyone who might want to know how possible it is to survive on a budget in Tahiti.
As I was travelling with 6 people (my husband and 4 kids) I was keen to 'do it cheap'. We got a dorm in Papeete for 6 of us (own room, 6 beds, basic but clean, included own ensuite). Water was drinkable. A bit of a 'seedy' feel to the town but we needed a place in Papeete for one night as our flight got in too late to catch the ferry without rushing. Recommend taking a few US dollars in case the ATM machine at the airport doesnt accept your visa and you need to catch a taxi. (As was our case).(Other ATM mchines subsequently worked).
Taxi to Hostel Teamo cost $NZ 30. (Halve it for pounds, divide by 0.8 for US dollars).
Can eat quite cheaply at wharf eateries but we bought tinned salmon, crackers, baguettes, pineapple and mango for maybe $50 or less NZ. The next morn we went to a suprette 50m away amd bought supplies. Flavoured milk, crackers, raisins, baguettes, fruit etc (you get the picture) for NZ%0 or less. Enough to feed 6 people for breakfast and lunch. eg baguettes cost about $1 or less NZ a tin of salmon maybe $5, cheese slices maybe $4 NZ, pineapple maybe $1.50 NZ etc.
Ferry to Moorea $100NZ for 2 adults 4 childrn 1 way. (return the same). Taxi to Pension Motu Iti $40. Motu Iti can't recommend highly enough. Cost maybe $210 a night NZ for all.(Bungalow on water, one double bed and 4 mattresses on floor). Gorgeous spot for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking etc. Take a snorkel and goggles will do. Kayaks free. Walk to suprette pretty hot so take supplies with you. We hitched (2 people) pretty easily to suprette and back having said that. Restaurant at Motu Iti pretty reasonable too eg pizza maybe $16NZ, fries $5, nicoise salad $14NZ. Coke $3 or so. Can live off baguettes and cheese and fruit pretty well if desperate.
Hope this may be helpful. If you are trying to do it really cheap for a few days to see Tahiti then I recommend Moorea and see how you go. Cheers.

That first suprette visit shouls read NZ $50 or less, not 0!! Haha

Well done and nice to read your report.

Thanks! Thanks for your help too. :-)

Four days (not sure if that is 4 or 5 nights) is not much time for FP.

Where did you go after that?

Thanks for the information about accomodations and food prices.

You are a star....we will be there in a couple of weeks and your info is really really helpful.

Thank you...

It seems to me that French Polynesia in spesific attracts many people travelling in groups (couples, families etc.), but how about accommodation for single travellers? It's obvious there are dorms available, and they are fine, but how about single rooms in a budget family-run guesthouse, any available in Tahiti? I can and will check all this from a guidebook but before that all you single visitors in FP may comment.

I've been to Tonga and Samoa before and FP is high on the list of my next destination on the Pacific.

Thanks everyone. Tahiti was just a stopover and we knew it was going to be pricey but we wanted to see it. It's a lovely place. We then went to Disneyland and we are now in Guatemala studying Spanish and living very cheaply! After that we go to Honduras, Mexico, Paris, London, Jordan, Israel, Egypt,India, Singapore, Bali, Melbourne and home! Cheers :-)

#6 couchsurfing in FP is possible. In Papeete of course but also where you wouldnt really expect it like in Moorea, Bora-Bora and even the Marquises. One guy also offers to stay on his boat in a cabin!