Once I arrived in Tahiti, it became immediately clear – there’s so much to see and do, it can feel overwhelming. But with Sefora only having two nights before heading back to Los Angeles, I designed a concise itinerary to showcase the best of both Tahiti and its stunning neighbor, Moorea, just a short ferry ride away.
At the Airport: Getting a Taxi Is Easy
There’s a clearly marked taxi line right outside the airport. When we arrived, I simply walked along the line asking each driver if they accepted cards. Since my go-to currency exchange in Los Angeles was out of French Polynesian francs, I didn’t want to waste time (or money) on poor exchange rates on the island. Eventually, I found a driver who accepted card payment – and off we went to our Airbnb.
Tip: It’s tough to find a taxi that accepts American Express, so always have a Visa or Mastercard ready. From the airport to our Airbnb in Papeete, it was around $24.
There’s no Uber or Lyft in Tahiti, so I highly recommend having WhatsApp installed to communicate with your driver or make future arrangements.
Taking the Ferry to Moorea
The ferry to Moorea is quick and scenic. Technically, the Aremiti and Terevau are the main lines, but we ended up booking with Avanti, which is slightly faster than the others.
Tip: Book a one-way ticket instead of round-trip if you’re unsure of your return time. We accidentally misread the ferry schedule and thought the last return was at 5:45 p.m. – when it was actually 5:00 p.m.
Fortunately, there was a 6:30 p.m. ferry, which turned out to be cheaper and even more enjoyable on the Terevau ferry line. The concierge at the Sofitel Moorea kindly helped arrange a taxi for us to the terminal, making the entire experience seamless. That kind gesture made the Sofitel feel like a forever favorite.
And to top it off? A live Polynesian music group performed classic Tahitian songs on the ferry.
Reminder: In travel, it’s not always about how much you spend – but about the service you receive.
Resort Day Pass
We got day passes at the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort. It was fantastic, inclusive and full of activities that we both absolutely loved. Plus, it included lunch.
Flying to Bora Bora
Flights to Bora Bora are simple and straightforward via Air Tahiti. While they offer multi-island passes, I only planned to visit Tahiti and Bora Bora. So, a direct round-trip flight made more sense.
My Final Thoughts
Tahiti and the Society Islands are my favorite destinations in the world—so far. If I had to choose between Hawaii and Tahiti? I’d choose Tahiti every time. Between Bora Bora and the Maldives? Bora Bora wins.
I absolutely love French Polynesia and can’t wait to go back and explore even more.
