Most people spend months—hell, even a year—planning their vacations. Sometimes, I just show up at the airport fully packed, hoping for adventure. Literally.
I was utterly enthralled with the idea of some last minute deal on tickets at the counter, so my boyfriend and I headed for a midnight flight out of LAX to El Salvador. Sadly, the tickets were actually more expensive at the counter than they were online! As the midnight hour approached, we sat in a dim, dingy corner of Tom Brady International terminal, doom scrolling the flights that were leaving in the next few hours. Defeated, we decided to head back and regroup.
But honestly, the travel twists and turns are what make a trip an adventure. A day after leaving LAX empty handed, we returned fresh with tickets for a Delta flight bound for Tahiti. And what an adventure it was…
Arriving in Tahiti
After a long-haul flight over nothing but miles and miles of ocean, descending into the Jurassic jungle of the island is quite exciting. Fa’a’ā International Airport (PPT) is a tiny airport amidst a scenic tropical backdrop fit for a postcard. Like many small airports, you deplane right onto the tarmac. The humidity hits almost immediately and there is no air conditioning throughout the entire airport. It is open air, which while quaint, is quite stifling in the tropical heat.
With just a few terminals, the airport is easy to navigate. There are restaurants and shops both before and after security, so there are plenty of options to grab a beer while waiting for your flight or that last minute kitsch gift for your mom.
The outer ring of the airport features rental car agencies, ATMs, and a currency exchange. All of which are better priced outside airports, but it is nice to have the option in a pinch right when you get off the plane. We grabbed a cab, pleasantly surprised with a very detailed price break down posted right near the taxi area.
Fa’a’ā
Fa’a’ā is a popular area where many of the top fancy hotels are located. Think the over-the-water bungalows at the Intercontinental or the Hilton. While rooms can be quite pricey, the Hilton is actually a great spot for late night food and drinks, as its bars stay open longer than other spots in the area. We were even greeted by the resident chicken, nugget.
While these resorts are sick, they’re crazy expensive. If you don’t have a baller budget like nugget but still want to keep it bougie, there are great Air BnB condo options in the neighborhood’s climbing hills. At around $150 a night with fees, we snagged a studio condo with an amazing pool overlooking the port at Papeete. We definitely took full advantage of the pool in the short time that we were there. But I mean, these views, right? You should know by now I’m a sucker for a vista, honey.
Getting food for us night owls is actually quite difficult in this neighborhood and in Tahiti in general. A lot of places close early or are listed as closing when the bars close—not the kitchens. We stumbled on an adorable little food truck plaza just a few minutes south of the airport. There were tons of options, our favorite being the pizza at Cafe Maeva and the poke at Poke Bar II. I would recommend checking the spot out during the day to catch the beautiful views of Morea just across the water.
Papeete
We stayed in Papeete for two nights. I had a ton of work to finish, so needed good WiFi and space to spread out a bit as I tackled some serious deadlines. We booked a charming accommodation on Agoda with Tahiti Nui Hotel. At around $250 a night, the room had a balcony, a small kitchen, and tons of space to spread out. Amenities included a charming pool, spa with massage, and a posh restaurant serving French fare with a Tahitian twist.
However, many Tahitian hotels tend to charge additional service fees than what is originally charged by Agoda. Hotels in general are expensive here, and we quickly realized that honestly Air BnBs are a much better bang for your buck. But more on that in my Tahiti tips post coming out at the end of this series.
Most importantly, the hotel was right in the heart of the city. Given our last-minute travel arrangements, we definitely had some errands to run before heading out into the jungle on our road trip around the island. We picked up a few adaptors at like 3 euro each from a mom-and-pop electronics shop a few blocks down and some SIM cards from the Vodophone right next store.
Now, Papeete can be quite touristy. All the major cruise ships stop in at the port, so the streets along the waterside are filled with pricey, mediocre quality restaurants and pubs. While still an option for late night fare given that kitchens close pretty early here, they tend to be lackluster otherwise. There are some hidden gems, however, like the rooftop bar at Kon Tiki, a boutique hotel overlooking the port. Rooms can pricey, but the rooftop bar was a great spot for a nightcap and dancing away in the light drizzling tropical rain after working all day. Food wize, the bao spot Karaaji in the Vaima Shopping Center is a must. Serving unique bun burger combinations and cold beer, it was definitely worth the wait.
One of my favorite spots in the city—not surprisingly—was the main market. Papeete Municipal Market is over 150 years old. Food, kitsch, and jewelry vendors hawk their goods on the main market floor and in the fancier kiosks above on the second. You can buy all the trinkets, Tahitian oils, and tasty snacks you like. Just bring cash and be ready to bargain (respectfully of course).
My choice was a beautifully carved black pearl. Thanks baby! Tahiti is known for its unique pearls that are farmed all over the island. More about that on our trip to Tahiti Iti.
Word to the wize, be adaptable with travel. A missed ticket to El Salvador isn’t the end of the world. It is an open invitation for a Tahitian adventure.
In my next post, we start our epic road trip around the island. Hope you enjoy this Tahiti travel guide!
Comments