What is the best time of year to take a cruise to Tahiti - Polynesia - Cook Islands? Which months have the least rain? Which line or itinerary for the best trip of a lifetime?

I, too, would like to know that---how is january There?

We have taken 2 trips to F. Polynesia and both times were in Sept./Oct. where we experienced very good weather overall and little if any rain. I think that time is considered their drier season.

Quite a few years ago we were on a Windstar cruise in this region however they are no longer doing this itinerary. I have heard very good things about Radissons Paul Gauguin which is also a smaller luxury vessel and if we were to return for another cruise, it would most likely be with this line.

The rainy season runs from around Nov until March - which is their summer.

Dry season is from around May until October - which is their "winter". Depending on where you are from and what type of weather you are used to, I think the Cooks can be a bit cool during the June-Sept time frame - FP not so much.

April is our favorite time to go, but we've also been there in March (which is actually the rainiest month for the Cooks) and found it to be just fine.

This being the tropics, you can expect to get some rain but MOST of the time it probably won't interfere too much (no promises though).

Ken

Hi, we were there last May and we had all-to-all sunshine for 2 weeks. We plan to go back agai in 2008 so I have been monitoring the weather - daily - and it`s true...November to March is very rainy. A friend also went in February and it rained the whole week she was there.

KEN, you gave me great tips back a year ago when I was planning my trip - thanks! Have you been to other other islands groups such as the Tuamotu?

Andie

AndieB -

You are quite welcome.

No, in FP I've only been to Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea (the last one very briefly).

Been twice to the "nearby" Cook Islands though - and of course the Hawaiian Islands a couple of times (Oahu, Kauai and Maui).

Ken

PS to AndieB -

Do NOT trust the online weather sites to give you an accurate forecast for the region. They are notoriously inaccurate. What is often pictured as rain/thunderstorm all day in reality is "mostly nice" weather with a brief (but hard) downpoor once or twice a day that is often over in 15-20 minutes (just enough to cool things off nicely). Often these occur during the night-time hours.

This is not always the case of course, but more often than not, when the forecast is showing rain/thunderstorms.

Ken

Ken, you right... For example, today, it says thunderstorm, but the webcam show a brilliant sun...However, they were right yesterday! They said thunderstorms and boy, they were right! I have also started to listen to Radio Polynésie online (I`m French Canadian so it`s easy for me) so I get the exact picture now!

Yeah, that's not unusual. Checking the webcam is a GREAT way to see what is really happening. Check it several times a day to get a full picture of the weather.

As I said, the thing about the "Thunderstorm" forecast (which is typical for the "rainy" season) is that all it really means is that "somewhere", "sometime" during the day (or night), a thunderstorm is likely to be in the "general area" - might hit you, might not (might be 25 miles out at sea - but you'll be able to see it, so it's in the "general area&quot.

Personally I find the weather down there fascinating - even when it rainy.

Keep lookin' at those webcams.

Ken

could you post the webcam site for Bora Bora weather ?

Thanks!!!

PEarl Beach Resorts: Bora, Moorea, Taha'a Manihi:

http://www.pearlresorts.com/webcam/borabora/default.asp

Tahiti Intercontinental (view across the Sea of the Moon over to Moorea):

http://www.thetahititraveler.com/multimedia/webcam.asp

Ken

Pardon my typos. Working on my laptop with one of the those dumb touchpads.

Ken

E mea maita'i roa teie
Mauruuru Ken !

Enpleinair -

Glad you like it.

Ken