Tahiti and French Polynesia on a budget

No need for hot showers or fancy meals amid sun-soaked paradise

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By Jean-Bernard Carillet

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No, there's no need to remortgage the house to visit Tahiti and elsewhere in French Polynesia. Despite a reputation for opulence and exclusivity, it's perfectly possible to visit these dreamy islands on a limited budget — if you make the right decisions.

Slideshow: Tahiti & French Polynesia

Affordable accommodation
Glossy brochures focus on ultra-swish resorts, but French Polynesia actually has a wide range of accommodations. You can keep costs down by staying in small guesthouses and pensions (homestays) that are sprinkled around the islands. They're nothing glamorous or ostentatious, just modest operations that blend perfectly into the tropical surroundings. At the cheaper end of the scale (around $80 a double), they consist of simple, local-style bungalows with cold showers and thin walls. Upmarket versions (plan on $100-$120) have lots of amenities and are more comfortable.

These options are generally excellent value, and they offer good opportunities for cultural immersion; they're mostly family-run operations (which ensures your money goes straight into local pockets) and provide much more personal, idiosyncratic experiences than hotels — the perfect island experience.

Most pensions are in scenic locations, tucked away in greenery-cloaked hills or near the ocean. In the Tuamotu archipelago, they feature lagoon frontage — at $90 a double, how does a bungalow facing the turquoise waters of the lagoon sound?

Good news, too, for those who want to spend their holiday under canvas: French Polynesia has a smattering of camping options around. Don't expect full-blown campsites, though; generally it's a matter of guesthouses having areas where you can pitch your tent and allowing use of the facilities. The price? Around $15 per person.

Choosing the best-value islands
As much as Paris doesn't represent France, Bora Bora, Tahiti and Moorea (the beloved islands of tour operators), don't sum up French Polynesia. There are about 30 islands (scattered in five archipelagoes) that have tourist facilities, which means that you've got plenty of choice. Tip: skip the heavily-publicized islands, such as Bora Bora, which are very expensive, and consider lesser-known, off-the-radar islands, which offer greater value for money. A few suggestions: Maupiti (Bora Bora's little sister), Raiatea and Tahaa (in the Society Islands), Mataiva, Tikehau (in the Tuamotus), Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, Ua Pou (in the Marquesas), Raivavae, and Rurutu (in the Australs).

How to eat cheaply
It's possible to eat reasonably cheaply by patronizing snack stands and getting takeout such as sandwiches, salads, grilled fish and meat or fish burgers. Most pensions offer half board (bed, breakfast and one other meal) at around $20 to $30 per person (set menu) if you reserve in advance (usually the day before). This is a fantastic way to meet locals and sample the local cuisine at economical prices.

Self-catering can also save you a lot of money; many pensions have well-equipped kitchens. Fresh fish, fruits and vegetables are easily found at roadside stalls found on most major islands.

Budget-friendly ways to get around
Air Tahiti, the domestic airline, has six island-hopping air passes offerings inclusive fares to a number of islands. Thus, you'll save about 30 percent on regular flights. If you're looking for adventure and have plenty of time on your hands, boat travel works even cheaper. Cargo vessels serve most islands on a regular basis, especially within the Society group and the Tuamotus.

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Hiring a car is expensive but it's possible to get around by bike on many islands; distances are rarely great, the traffic is rarely heavy and the roads are rarely hilly. Bikes can be rented for less than $15 per day.

Picking the right season
It helps to travel off-season: prices are generally discounted and there's more chance of being able to bargain. Flights are full to bursting in July and August and prices skyrocket accordingly. The Christmas-to-New Year period is also particularly busy. The best deals can be found during the shoulder seasons — April to June and September to November.

This story, Tahiti and French Polynesia on a budget, originally appeared on LonelyPlanet.com.

Video: How to find hidden airfare deals

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>>> this morning on "today's" travel, finding the best airfare deals, with prices expected to climb 15%, how do you find the most for your buck? good to see you.

>> great to be here, al.

>> there are a lot of old rules that go out the door, because these airfares are going to keep going up.

>> 10 to 15% higher this upcoming summer than last summer. and the rules are also changing. for the best way you should buy a ticket. a couple airlines have withdrawn their fares for some popular online sites so you need to know the new way to find the best deal.

>> so the new way is these that bring together all these other websites.

>> exactly. so right now, you might be looking at an online travel agency , something like an expedia or an orbitz that is going to give you a commission of that. but a better way is to use a giant search engine , like a kayak or a trip adviser, fly.com is another one that will search all of those sites, plus the airline carrier. so the search is just much more comprehensive, it's more likely you're going to find a deal.

>> and the old rule was you found a good fare, grab it. not so much anymore.

>> well, we want you to -- there are so many tools that will help you determine the best time to buy today. so to start, you can go to the website, bing.com/travel. and they have a price predictor tool that will tell you whether prices are likely to go higher, lower, or hold steady, and they will also give you sort of how confident they are in that prediction. so you definitely want to start looking there. also, go to trip adviser.com. you can put your e- mail address in there, and you will get e-mail alerts if a fare drops below a certain price point. and then finally, if you're a fan of twitter, many airlines are tweeting these flash sales that are available for a very short time period . so follow the major carriers.

>> if you buy a ticket on an airline and then, like, two days later or a week later, there's a lower fare, will they let you do -- switch those tickets out?

>> not. usually -- you have to read the fine print, but there's all sorts of words in there like nonrefundable. of and if you find a better deal later, it's too late.

>> here is one, you recommend people shop for opaque fares. of what is an opaque fare?

>> where you don't know the airline, if you have any layovers and where they will be and also the time of departure. but you can save anywhere from 20 to 50% off published rates if you can be flexible. and these have been around for a while. a lot of people don't use them. and i think they are worth a look, particularly because there are limits to them. you're not going to have three or four different layovers. you can learn that information ahead of time.

>> is that like with a priceline.com.

>> exactly, priceline has name your own fare. hotwire has hot rates, and expedia has their bargain fares, definitely worth checking out.

>> and then you say a lot of hotels will actually pay you back if you have to check a bag.

>> so check bag fees are pretty much standard today, and they're rising, starting at $20 for the first bag. so hotels are starting to use this as a marketing ploy. of and a couple of them are saying, come stay with us, and we'll pay your baggage fee. so not all of them -- intercontinental hotel groups right now is doing a great campaign. and definitely worth asking about.

>> and quickly, the last thing utilize credit cards with travel rewards.

>> of course, if you have been shopping -- or if you wanted to sign up for a rewards card right now, there are so many cards that will actually give you 10,000, 20,000 miles just for signing up. one of our favorites at "money" magazine is capital one venture card, so look into all of these rewards cards right now.

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