| Since the age of explorers Wallis,
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| | renting a bicycle instead of a car (on
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| Bougainville, and Cook, legendary Tahiti
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| | Moorea and Bora Bora) or traveling by le
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| has tickled imaginations worldwide. More
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| | truck or public bus (on Tahiti).
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| recently, Tahiti became the most famous
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| | Four-wheel-drive safari tours are offered
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| Polynesian island of all when Clark Gable
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| | on all the main islands and these are
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| (1935), Marlon Brando (1962), and Mel
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| | also cheaper than renting a car. On
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| Gibson (1984) played the role of Fletcher
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| | Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, and Bora Bora,
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| Christian in three blockbuster Mutiny on
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| | there are sightseeing tours by outrigger
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| the Bounty films. Even the horrendous
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| | canoe.
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| French nuclear testing program from
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| | When to go? May to October is the cooler,
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| 1966-1996 did little to dampen this
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| | less humid time, although prolonged
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| image.
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| | rainfall is possible yearround. An
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| For the modern traveler, there's no
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| | optimum time to be there is for the Heiva
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| getting around the fact that French
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| | festival on Tahiti, Huahine, and Bora
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| Polynesia is expensive. Bora Bora is
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| | Bora in early July. Whatever, don't miss
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| easily the most upscale tourist
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| | attending at least one Island Night at a
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| destination in the South Pacific with 17
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| | fancy resort for the wild tamure dancing
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| resorts charging over US$250 double a
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| | and drumming. These happen several times
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| night without meals. Yet it's also true
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| | a week. You can often avoid the high cost
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| that you can greatly reduce your costs if
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| | of the buffet by settling for a drink at
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| you book your top end hotel rooms as part
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| | the bar.
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| of a package tour. Another option is to
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| | One thing you won't encounter in French
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| stay in small locally-operated pensions.
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| | Polynesia - unless you spend most of your
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| Bora Bora has seven hostels and pensions
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| | time at a large resort - is a tourist
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| in the US$50-100 range and Moorea has 11.
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| | glut. French Polynesia gets only 200,000
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| On Moorea you can also camp.
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| | tourists a year compared to the six
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| Most visitors get around the islands by
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| | million who visit Hawaii. Geographically,
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| air, and Air Tahiti operates efficient
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| | Tahiti is actually east of Hawaii, and
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| services to 46 islands and atolls in
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| | the flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti
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| French Polynesia. Here again, you can
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| | takes only 7.5 hours, just 2.5 hours more
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| save money by purchasing one of Air
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| | than it takes to fly to Hawaii. My most
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| Tahiti's 28-day air passes. A Society
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| | memorable experience in French Polynesia?
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| Islands air pass will cost around US$400,
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| | The cruise to the Marquesas Islands on
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| or US$550 if you add on the Tuamotu
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| | the Aranui, something I hope to do again
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| Islands. The only interisland boat trip
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| | very soon.
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| which is easy to do is Tahiti to Moorea
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| | ###
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| which operates every two hours and costs
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| | David Stanley is the author of Moon
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| US$10. Passenger-carrying cargo boats do
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| | Tahiti published by Avalon Travel
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| ply from Tahiti to Bora Bora several
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| | Publishing of Berkeley, California.
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| times a week, but they're basic and the
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| | Stanley's travel photos of French
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| overnight trip can be rough. If you want
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| | Polynesia may be perused at Pacific
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| to experience the boat trip one way,
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| | Pictures.
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| you're better off flying from Tahiti to
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| | You have permission to publish this
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| Bora Bora and then returning to Tahiti by
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| | article electronically or in print, free
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| boat. I explain why in my guidebook, Moon
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| | of charge, so long as the byline and
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| Tahiti.
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| | resource box are included. Please do not
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| Car rentals in French Polynesia average
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| | use this article without the byline and
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| US$100 a day - expensive! Options include
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| | resource box. Many thanks!
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