Audley in French Polynesia
French Polynesia is the kind of place to throw caution to the wind - you are in paradise so you might as well push the boat out and stay in one of the world’s most stunning resorts. This is the ultimate place to stay in an over-water bungalow, where breakfast is brought by outrigger canoe while tropical fish swim below. Tahiti is the main island, and where you’ll find the capital and the international airport of Pape’ete: with a selection of good resort hotels close to town this can be a good base for those on a short stopover. To make the most of French Polynesia, however, it is best to travel further to one of the surrounding islands. Some offer world class resorts, others intimate private island retreats, and almost all provide the chance to explore little-visited cultures, remote in their ocean setting. Island hopping allows the opportunity to mix and match experiences, and we can recommend appropriate island combinations to suit your plans. It is often necessary to overnight on Tahiti itself and then take scheduled flights the next day to smaller islands, often completing your journey by boat.
Accommodation
French Polynesia is renowned for its superb resorts, and many of the islands are now home to several large, internationally-recognised chains. Architecturally designed to be Polynesian in style, most offer traditional bures nestled in tropical gardens, on the beachfront or perched on stilts over lagoons. However, there is also a scattering of smaller properties and family-run pensions, where accommodation is simple but functional, and your hosts will provide home-cooked, local cuisine. Wherever you choose to stay, combining several islands and accommodation styles will give you a much better flavour of the variety of the islands.
Getting Around
An excellent flight network connects the major islands of each archipelago, so most islandhopping is done by plane. Many resorts can then only be reached by boat, usually involving a short trip across a calm lagoon. For extensive exploration of the islands there are several cruising options, and private yacht charters can be arranged from some of the larger islands.