Top Local Tips for Papeete

Don't Rush to the Airport to leave! The airport doesn't even "open" until approx 7pm for the start of check-in. If you arrive early you will sit with your luggage in the heat and humidity. The "first class lounge" is comfortable and air conditioned, but there is not much there for snacks.

Papeete town Visit the market. Buy some locally grown or made produce. Have a beer or two and/or a meal at The 3 Brasseurs, nearby. Stroll on the promenade, away from the traffic.

Papeete Don't plan to spend too much time in this town. It's dirty and congested and NOT a quaint friendly village as one would expect. It completely lacks any charm and is best a day trip. One day was enough for us. Get your cash here though as ATM's and credit card machines work intermittantly on other islands. Vanilla was the only bargain we found at the open market. Everything else is very expensive and frankly over priced. they were selling small Tiki doll carvings made in Indonesia for $35 US. It was a joke! Buy your pearls elsewhere, and somewhere memorable. We found great prices on Moorea at Woody's. ICH hotel is only a 5 minute cab ride from the airport (expect to pay about $30 US or $3000 francs)

Other names for InterContinental Beachcomber Tahiti Hotel

• papeete inter-continental
• intercontinental resort tahiti
• intercontinental hotel tahiti
• intercontinental hotel faaa
• beachcomber resort tahiti
• Address: PO Box 6014, Pointe Tahiti, - Papeete - 98702 - French Polynesia