Post #203635 by Kilikopela on Sun, Dec 18, 2005 4:52 AM

Hey Rev. Tiki, thanks for bringing this thread up again.

A motorcycle accident gave an unfortunate delay to my honeymoon with my new wife and we are now looking at a possible trip to Tahiti in the summer or fall of 2006. So like you, I also have some questions about Tahiti. It seems like Hawaii is pretty well covered on this board, but I don't think I'm rehashing old questions and information here.

First off the features that I'm looking for are (yes, I’m a geek, I make lists):

1. About a two-week vacation
2. Probably two locations
3. Prefer not to go to the heavily touristed areas (like Papeete, Bora Bora, etc.)
4. Looking to stretch my thin American dollar as much as possible, so maybe only a few nights in an on-the-water bungalow, but then the rest of the time in more affordable establishments.
5. Would like to choose one island which has snorkeling close to beaches with reefs that we can swim out to
6. Also would like to find an area with some archaeological history so that we can explore the original culture and Tikis

In searching around on the web a bit I found the following information which also raises some questions:
A. As an alternative to the large hotel chains, it seems there are quite a number of "family pension" or “guesthouse” places. These appear to be mom and pop type bed and breakfasts and bungalow style. Has anyone here on the board stayed at one of these places? http://www.haere-mai.pf/index.php?page=accueil&lg=en
B. For the diving part of the trip I was thinking of either Manihi or Tikehau (“In fact the density of the fish in the lagoon is so high that Jacques Cousteau's research group declared that Tikehau's lagoon contained the highest concentration of fish in all of the Tuamotu atolls”), and for the archeological leg (try saying that when you’re drunk), I was thinking of Nuku Hiva. Has anyone visited these islands? http://www.thetahititraveler.com/maps/fpoly.asp
C. Has anyone gone to Fiji? I haven’t really looked much yet, but on first look it seems less expensive.

Virani - I saw your link to Aranui. I thought that was a pretty good idea, but I'm worried that you really don't get enough time in each of the ports to get around and explore. Would you mind giving us a bit more detail on how your trip was?

Pacific Andy - thanks for the tip about http://www.thetahititraveler.com/forum/list.asp?fid=12 (I think that’s the BB you intended). It has been somewhat useful, however I'm a bit suspicious that there are absolutely no critical responses and so many of the questions are unanswered. This would lead me to believe that this board is moderated and edited by some kind of BBB "tourism council".

I still have to listen to Vegas Vic’s podcast. Don’t know what info is on it…

Also, if there are any other TCers who have the same interests, let me know. Perhaps we could work group rates at some of the hotels.

Sorry for the long post and many questions, but I’ll update everyone on how this “vacation search” goes.

And if you want to hear how our life here in South Korea is going, my wife keeps a blog at http://rulebrittaniea.org . Yes, I prefer to be anonymous. I can’t believe she posts this stuff. I hope my mom doesn’t find it.

Thanks!
Kilikopela