Tahiti?? Please help! TIA
 

We're looking at CostCo's travel packages and see that CostCo is offering packages to Tahiti and Moorea for $2600- $3800 FOR BOTH OF US. Air and accomodations included for 7 nights.

Here's the thing, people talk about Tahiti like it's dirty, crowded, just a place to spend one night (and only if you have to). But the packages we can afford are: Tahiti 7 nights (Le Meridian); Tahiti 3 nights (Intercontinental), Moorea 4 nights (Intercontinental); Moorea 7 nights (Pearl Resort); or Moorea 7 nighs (Intercontinental).

Is the Tahiti Le Meridian or Tahiti Intercontinental Beachcomber nice? Looks like it on the site. Why wouldn't we want to stay in Tahiti? (We can't afford Bora Bora or the others, seems like Tahiti and Moorea are the most economical.) Will it be worth it for 7 nights, since these are the only options we think we can afford? Thanks!!

The main reason folks put Tahiti down is because all they ever see of it is the city of Papeete - a rather heavily developed place with a large population. The island itself is apparently lovely - however - there is not much in the way of the wonderful shallow lagoons and crystal-clear waters that French Polynesia is so famous for. Moorea however DOES have those things and is quite arguably the most beautiful island in the entire South Pacific. I would go for a 7 night stay on Moorea as my first choice of the options you list, followed by a 3 night/4 night stay on Tahiti/Moorea as a second choice. We stayed a couple of nights at the Tahiti Intercontinental and liked it (especially the sand-bottomed horizon pool). Setting for the Moorea Intercontinental was very nice. Didn't stay there though so can't really say too much about it. Moorea Pearl Beach was not yet built when we visited the island.

I would try VERY hard to spend AT LEAST some of your time on Moorea. The water conditions there are to die for.

Ken

PS - At the webshots link I posted on JerseySue's post are also some shots of both the Tahiti and Moorea Intercontinental resorts (though they had different names at the time).

Ken

I just returned from tahiti in march. I did a lot of research before I went. I found Pleasant Holidays to be the least expensive. We took the package 1 night tahiti, 6 nights Huahine at Te Tiare. Tahiti is dirty&ugly. Huahine is a paradise. The resort is 5star. No nightlife or shopping very remote a quiet. I talked to several people who also went to bora Bora, moorea and they said that Huahaine was the best. If you want nightlife and more people go somewhere else. The bungalows are all the same, large and beautiful. The garden bungalows are private, we upgraded when we got there because it wasn't full and negotiated a Deep OWB for $100 more a night. It was awesome. The restaurant is excellent, large quanities. We often shared meals on our deck under the stars. The pictures do not do this place justice. Ive been to many tropical resorts and this place is fabulous. There is a grocery store in town that is well stocked, we bought our water, snacks, wine, beer there the prices were fine. If you dive, Dive Mahana was excellent they will pick you up at the resort. Every night at sunset we took a kayak out in the bay and watched it set it truly was a vacations from lifestyles of the rich and famous.
The Package was around 3200. for 7 night and air and transfers for 2. Go to www.pleasantholidays.com check it out good luck and have a great time!

thank you, both of you! just what i needed to hear. i appreciate your tips and your frankness.

love, love, love these boards!

I concur with the comments about Moorea. Just returned from a week's stay at the Beachcomber Intercontinental. I have just posted a response to "Choosing the perfect resort". If you want to hear more about this resort, click on my screen name for that thread. Below is the resort's home page:

http://www.moorea.interconti.com/control.cfm?page=Home