changing currency in French Polynesia (euros <=> XPF)

Hi,

is it OK to change money at the airport? Or do they apply worse fees/commision/rate than in the city?

When one pays purchases with VISA, to special fees apply? Or one pays only the normal price?

When do the money changers in the city open/close? Normal opening hours, or do they work longer hours?

Should we have XPF left by the time we finish our vacation, can one easily change them back into euros at
the airport in Tahiti before departure?

Heiva: we arrive during Heiva. Any tips? Do they party the whole night through? We arrive
late and leave early, so, we could spend the night partying and skip the hotel thing...
any thoughts on it?

Should we arrive in one of the islands, say Rangiroa, and not find a hotel, is there a place where one
can crash and sleep? Say, a camping? We know there used to be a camping there, but we don't know
if it's still working. We couldn't contact them.

Is accommodation in Huahine easy to find?

Thank you very much for your help.

The bank at the airport charges the same rate as the other banks - if I remember correctly. The euro has a fixed exchange rate with the XPF as you probably know. Have your passport ready when you exchange money. The banks have banking hours and are the only money changers in town. When we left, the airport bank was closed, so I spent the rest of my money in one of the stores.

When I was there during Heiva, there wasn't always something going on at night. You may or may not find a party. In the night, you need a taxi to go from the airport to downtown and back because the busses stop running.