Papeete

My husband and I live in Kauai and we are considering going to Tahiti this summer. We love it here in Kauai but we are trying to figure out if Tahiti would be different enough from Kauai to be excited.
Does Papeete sound like a nice place to go to? If so, which placed would you recommend to stay at?
Is there easy and cheap boat rides to go to the other islands?
Thanks

Well- can't address Tahiti but when living out in the wester Pacific islands and coming through Hawaii it was coming to civilization. Even Bali was an immense step towards civilization. Very different from Hawaii

But icky you- living in Kuai sounds wonderful!

It depends on your expectations. In terms of development it is probably more like Hawaii than any other SP destination but the culture and language are certainly different.

If you are looking for something less touristy I'd suggest Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands or Samoa. They represent a real change from what you are used to in Hawaii.

I have lived in Kauai and also traveled to Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea. Tahiti is culturally very different than Kauai, where you still are in the U.S. and civilization (that's a great way of putting it too). In French Polynesia, it feels, well, more French and more Polynesian both.

Papeete is a nice place to spend an afternoon. Not sure why to stay there beyond that. Still, it's not like Hawaii much at all.

Much more my speed than Tahiti was Moorea and Bora Bora. Bora Bora is a truly spectacular place and does not remind me of Kauai much at all; it is volcanic black rock with white sand beaches, absolutely still and clear bathwater-warm water -- better than any beach that I've ever been to, anywhere. and minimal jungle. Moorea has more to see culturally and is also quite beautiful, not only the water, which is similar in select areas to Bora Bora, but also the interior plantations and jungles (which are very lush). And while lodging isn't cheap, there are pensions and even campsites for doable prices coming from Hawaii.

In terms of transport, there is a ferry from Moorea to Tahiti that is cheap. There aren't really regular boats to Bora Bora, but there is a plane that wasn't too outrageous in '06 when I visited.