goldeyk

Was there 30 years ago crewing on sailboats thruout all the islands and I remember Huahine but not Tahaa. Bora Bora was spectacular with only Club Med and the Bali Hai? Hotels. Turning in hotel points for Bora Bora but would like to spend a couple of days on one more island besides Moorea. Any thoughts? Also, pensiones instead of Hotels?

Diamantina

I've never been to Taha'a, but I have been to Huahine. I don't think it has changed too much since your last visit. I was there a few years ago, and a couple of my friends have been there more recently. It is still not very touristy, still mainly Polynesian and somewhat French, laid back and slow-paced.
We stayed at the moderately priced Relais Mahana on Huahine Iti (the smaller of the two islands). It was far from the main town of Fare (where the supermarket and other businesses are). By far, I mean maybe a half-hour drive. Relais Mahana is a simple place but on a nice stretch of white sand beach with good coral/snorkeling right off the beach. It is close to a marae. There were some neighborhood dogs that visited, which we ended up feeding (their ribs showed through).
One my friends stayed in a guest house right in Fare and also enjoyed her stay. Another friend of mine did a home exchange and also loved Huahine. Huahine's up-market choice is the Te Tiare Resort.
There is not a lot going on in Huahine, so this is not an ideal place if you are into shopping or nightlife. You can take long walks, snorkel, scuba dive, laze on the beach, and one day go on a round the island boat ride (visit the black pearl farm, snorkel) or do a land-based round the island tour.
The nearby Pension Mauarii was supposed to have great Tahitian food based on local ingredients, and we regret never having dined there.
The food at Relais Mahana's restaurant was a little boring, but maybe things have changed.
We did a fair amount of scuba diving while we were there. The diving could be rough in the pass. You see some large pelagics. I would not recommend diving here, if you have other options.

SB_Travlr

We had a few lovely days on Ta'haa before a cruise -- a perfect place to chill and do nothing. Not cheap! but we got a good deal from the Windstar folks.

A private launch took us over to Ta'haa, and we stayed in a fab overwater bungalow. I think there's just one resort on the island, and not surprisingly, it's very popular with honeymooners. We ate at the resort, relaxed by the pool, or on the beach or deck of our bungalow. Loved it.

spassvogel

Huahine is brilliant. Manihi is gorgeous. Rangiroa great diving - shark alley with 500+ reef sharks and a channel with dolphins which can be "visited" by dinghi.Fakarava - less visited and a fantastic lagoon!

Nowadays wouldn't even think of spending ONE night on Bora Bora. Too touristic, too crowded, lagoon destroyed by huge cruise ships.

goldeyk

Thanks all. I can't help myself with Bora Bora, plus with miles it will be free. Now for the difficult part. Time of year to go. I was there obviously in July for Bastille Day, which was fun but crowded. Great dance school competitions. Am looking for quiet, not tooo insanely hot, and just beautiful. Oh yes, Huahine it is for another couple of nights . The perfect compliment to Bora.

spassvogel

gold
we were in French Polynesia in November 2000 (yes - time flies and it's a decade ago and some things might have changed particularly regarding weather pattern) and it was perfect!
No rain, not touristy - just IDEAL.

That was in 2000. Because of the ever changing weather globally you pls check with a TA/TO specialised in FP - they should be able to give you an update how the global warming affects FP recently.

There are quite a number of decent DMC's in Papeete. Check with them.

Happy planning!