Tahiti and French Polynesia Travel Guide

Language

French and Tahitian are the official languages; English is widely spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency in French Polynesia is the French Pacific Franc (XPF), divided into 100 centimes. The exchange rate is fairly stable as it is linked to the Euro. Banks throughout the islands are open mainly on weekdays only and are the best place to change foreign currency; rates of exchange are not as good at hotels. There are ATMs on a few of the islands, but shouldn't be relied upon. Most hotels and resorts will exchange travelers checks in US$ or Euros, and credit cards and US currency is readily accepted on the main islands. Tourism taxes are levied for accommodation and activities.

82.6500

Time

GMT -10 (The Marquesas Islands are half an hour ahead of the rest of French Polynesia).

Electricity

The electric current in most hotels is 110/220 volts AC, 60 Hz. American-style two-pin flat blade plugs and a round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are used.

Communications

The international dialing code for French Polynesia is +689 and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are not in use. There are public phone booths on all the islands, most operated with phone cards called 'Telecartes', available from the airport, some bars, magazine stands and the post offices. A GSM 900 mobile network provides limited coverage on Tahiti. United States cell phones will not operate on the islands. Internet access is available in the larger hotels and resorts and the main tourist islands all have Internet cafes.

Duty-Free

Travelers arriving in Tahiti do not have to pay customs duty on 400 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcoholic spirits or 2 liters of still wine, a reasonable amount of perfume and eau de toilette for personal use, and items valued up to CFP5,000 (for adults) or CFP2,5000 (children under 15 years) for gifts or personal use. The import of food, weapons or drugs is prohibited.

Tourist Office

Tahiti Tourisme, Papeete, Tahiti: +689 505 700 or www.tahiti-tourisme.com

Embassies in Tahiti and French Polynesia

• United States Embassy, Suva, Fiji (also responsible for French Polynesia): +679 331 4466.
• British Embassy, Paris, France (also responsible for French Polynesia): +33 (0)1 4451 3100.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for French Polynesia): +64 (0)4 473 9577
• Australian Consulate-General, Noumea, New Caledonia (also responsible for French Polynesia): +687 272 414.
• New Zealand High Commission, Alofi, Niue: +683 4022.

Tahiti and French Polynesia Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of France, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 944 6000.
• Embassy of France, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7073 1000.
• Embassy of France, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1795.
• Embassy of France, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6216 0100.
• Embassy of France, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 1600.
• Embassy of France, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 277 5000.
• Embassy of France, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 384 2555.

Emergency

Emergencies: 15

Language

French and Tahitian are the official languages; English is widely spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency in French Polynesia is the French Pacific Franc (XPF), divided into 100 centimes. The exchange rate is fairly stable as it is linked to the Euro. Banks throughout the islands are open mainly on weekdays only and are the best place to change foreign currency; rates of exchange are not as good at hotels. There are ATMs on a few of the islands, but shouldn't be relied upon. Most hotels and resorts will exchange travelers checks in US$ or Euros, and credit cards and US currency is readily accepted on the main islands. Tourism taxes are levied for accommodation and activities.

82.6500

Time

GMT -10 (The Marquesas Islands are half an hour ahead of the rest of French Polynesia).

Electricity

The electric current in most hotels is 110/220 volts AC, 60 Hz. American-style two-pin flat blade plugs and a round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are used.

Communications

The international dialing code for French Polynesia is +689 and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are not in use. There are public phone booths on all the islands, most operated with phone cards called 'Telecartes', available from the airport, some bars, magazine stands and the post offices. A GSM 900 mobile network provides limited coverage on Tahiti. United States cell phones will not operate on the islands. Internet access is available in the larger hotels and resorts and the main tourist islands all have Internet cafes.

Duty-Free

Travelers arriving in Tahiti do not have to pay customs duty on 400 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcoholic spirits or 2 liters of still wine, a reasonable amount of perfume and eau de toilette for personal use, and items valued up to CFP5,000 (for adults) or CFP2,5000 (children under 15 years) for gifts or personal use. The import of food, weapons or drugs is prohibited.

Tourist Office

Tahiti Tourisme, Papeete, Tahiti: +689 505 700 or www.tahiti-tourisme.com

Embassies in Tahiti and French Polynesia

• United States Embassy, Suva, Fiji (also responsible for French Polynesia): +679 331 4466.
• British Embassy, Paris, France (also responsible for French Polynesia): +33 (0)1 4451 3100.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for French Polynesia): +64 (0)4 473 9577
• Australian Consulate-General, Noumea, New Caledonia (also responsible for French Polynesia): +687 272 414.
• New Zealand High Commission, Alofi, Niue: +683 4022.

Tahiti and French Polynesia Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of France, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 944 6000.
• Embassy of France, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7073 1000.
• Embassy of France, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1795.
• Embassy of France, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6216 0100.
• Embassy of France, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 1600.
• Embassy of France, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 277 5000.
• Embassy of France, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 384 2555.

Emergency

Emergencies: 15

Language

French and Tahitian are the official languages; English is widely spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency in French Polynesia is the French Pacific Franc (XPF), divided into 100 centimes. The exchange rate is fairly stable as it is linked to the Euro. Banks throughout the islands are open mainly on weekdays only and are the best place to change foreign currency; rates of exchange are not as good at hotels. There are ATMs on a few of the islands, but shouldn't be relied upon. Most hotels and resorts will exchange travelers checks in US$ or Euros, and credit cards and US currency is readily accepted on the main islands. Tourism taxes are levied for accommodation and activities.

82.6500

Time

GMT -10 (The Marquesas Islands are half an hour ahead of the rest of French Polynesia).

Electricity

The electric current in most hotels is 110/220 volts AC, 60 Hz. American-style two-pin flat blade plugs and a round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are used.

Communications

The international dialing code for French Polynesia is +689 and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are not in use. There are public phone booths on all the islands, most operated with phone cards called 'Telecartes', available from the airport, some bars, magazine stands and the post offices. A GSM 900 mobile network provides limited coverage on Tahiti. United States cell phones will not operate on the islands. Internet access is available in the larger hotels and resorts and the main tourist islands all have Internet cafes.

Duty-Free

Travelers arriving in Tahiti do not have to pay customs duty on 400 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcoholic spirits or 2 liters of still wine, a reasonable amount of perfume and eau de toilette for personal use, and items valued up to CFP5,000 (for adults) or CFP2,5000 (children under 15 years) for gifts or personal use. The import of food, weapons or drugs is prohibited.

Tourist Office

Tahiti Tourisme, Papeete, Tahiti: +689 505 700 or www.tahiti-tourisme.com

Embassies in Tahiti and French Polynesia

• United States Embassy, Suva, Fiji (also responsible for French Polynesia): +679 331 4466.
• British Embassy, Paris, France (also responsible for French Polynesia): +33 (0)1 4451 3100.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for French Polynesia): +64 (0)4 473 9577
• Australian Consulate-General, Noumea, New Caledonia (also responsible for French Polynesia): +687 272 414.
• New Zealand High Commission, Alofi, Niue: +683 4022.

Tahiti and French Polynesia Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of France, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 944 6000.
• Embassy of France, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7073 1000.
• Embassy of France, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1795.
• Embassy of France, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6216 0100.
• Embassy of France, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 1600.
• Embassy of France, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 277 5000.
• Embassy of France, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 384 2555.

Emergency

Emergencies: 15

Language

French and Tahitian are the official languages; English is widely spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency in French Polynesia is the French Pacific Franc (XPF), divided into 100 centimes. The exchange rate is fairly stable as it is linked to the Euro. Banks throughout the islands are open mainly on weekdays only and are the best place to change foreign currency; rates of exchange are not as good at hotels. There are ATMs on a few of the islands, but shouldn't be relied upon. Most hotels and resorts will exchange travelers checks in US$ or Euros, and credit cards and US currency is readily accepted on the main islands. Tourism taxes are levied for accommodation and activities.

82.6500

Time

GMT -10 (The Marquesas Islands are half an hour ahead of the rest of French Polynesia).

Electricity

The electric current in most hotels is 110/220 volts AC, 60 Hz. American-style two-pin flat blade plugs and a round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are used.

Communications

The international dialing code for French Polynesia is +689 and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are not in use. There are public phone booths on all the islands, most operated with phone cards called 'Telecartes', available from the airport, some bars, magazine stands and the post offices. A GSM 900 mobile network provides limited coverage on Tahiti. United States cell phones will not operate on the islands. Internet access is available in the larger hotels and resorts and the main tourist islands all have Internet cafes.

Duty-Free

Travelers arriving in Tahiti do not have to pay customs duty on 400 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcoholic spirits or 2 liters of still wine, a reasonable amount of perfume and eau de toilette for personal use, and items valued up to CFP5,000 (for adults) or CFP2,5000 (children under 15 years) for gifts or personal use. The import of food, weapons or drugs is prohibited.

Tourist Office

Tahiti Tourisme, Papeete, Tahiti: +689 505 700 or www.tahiti-tourisme.com

Embassies in Tahiti and French Polynesia

• United States Embassy, Suva, Fiji (also responsible for French Polynesia): +679 331 4466.
• British Embassy, Paris, France (also responsible for French Polynesia): +33 (0)1 4451 3100.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for French Polynesia): +64 (0)4 473 9577
• Australian Consulate-General, Noumea, New Caledonia (also responsible for French Polynesia): +687 272 414.
• New Zealand High Commission, Alofi, Niue: +683 4022.

Tahiti and French Polynesia Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of France, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 944 6000.
• Embassy of France, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7073 1000.
• Embassy of France, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1795.
• Embassy of France, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6216 0100.
• Embassy of France, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 1600.
• Embassy of France, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 277 5000.
• Embassy of France, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 384 2555.

Emergency

Emergencies: 15