The final days & summary

Up at 5.30am to get all packed up and ready to depart. A bit too early for breakfast, so we thought we would wait until the airport. Easy check out at the Manava and we ordered a taxi to take us to the airport. Big line up to go through the scanners, so we looked around at another pearl shop and after my suggestion of let’s get rid of the rest of our Pacific Franc’s, Dale decided that a few more pearls would be in order, so he bought me some earrings (that's not quite how he remembers it but anyway..). Another 15,000XPF well spent I think. Goodbye to Tahiti & French Polynesia – might come back on our own yacht one day.

What a great trip. I think maybe a month earlier might’ve been good – if only to get to Bloody Marys restaurant! Everything tends to shut down over the Dec/Jan/Feb period. 10 nights on the yacht was only just enough – probably should’ve been 14 nights as a minimum as there were places that would’ve been nice to explore and maybe fit Maupiti in as well.

IF YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING A SAILING TRIP TO FRENCH POLYNESIA PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ON reservations@yachtcharters.com.au

Dining out in French Polynesia:

When cruising around the islands have the phone numbers handy of the restaurants and back up ones just in case and book a table.

Eating out is expensive. When I shopped I allocated 5 nights eating on board & 5 nights ashore. We didn't end up doing this - thankfully but allow 15,000 XPF plus for 2 people to eat out for dinner (about $180-$200). We were not being extravagant either. Lunch dining ashore usually cost us around $50-$70AUD. Plan eating aboard most of the time if on a budget!

Grocery Shopping:

I enjoy planning my own menus and going shopping in foreign countries. However, the base can also arrange provisions for you to be delivered to the boat. You have to allow for everything you will need as the vessel is only equipped with cooking & eating utensils & linen. To restock, you will need to come back to Raiatea or Huahine. Our grocery bill for 2 people/10 days came to 80,000 XPF which was around $900 AUD. It did include 10 bottles of red wine which varied in price from $13-$22 a bottle and 6 white wine/2 champagne also around the same price. We found a case of Heineken on special for 4995 XPF ($57AUD), so we bought 2 of them. We also bought over a 1.25lt of rum, 1.25lt of bourbon and 1.25lt of Vodka from home poured into plastic bottles and placed in our luggage. As a guide some grocery prices in Pacific Francs are listed below:

25pk Lipton Tea bags - 157; sugar 132; 250g pasta 165; 200g block chocolate 335; 30m alfoil 270; cling wrap 310; 400g salami 569; 4pk toilet paper 190; 1l milk Long life 226; 6 x 1.5lt water 600; vita wheat 235; BBQ shapes 185; 25 coffee sachets 560; 250g tasty mainland cheese 349; 2 fish fillet 411; 2 x fillet steaks 638; 2lt multifruits juice 410; 1kg flour 120; Yeast 196; balsamic vinegar 250; 50cl olive oil 490; 4pk sponges 240; 125g salt 110; 1kg tomatoes 630; 1kg zucchini 655; 200gm ham slices 450; 100gm chorizo 260; Vegies from the markets vary in price but expect to pay between 300 to 500 for a small bag capsicum, a cabbage, spring onion, watermelon, tomatoes, salads (lettuce). The fresh produce from the markets is extra fresh!  We did get some imported items such as potatoes & onions and they seem reasonably priced and good quality.

If you love fruit juices, the ones here are some of the best I have ever tasted. If you are into lots of fish, then contact the base as they can obtain fish direct from the fishermen at a good price. 

Stock up on lots of fresh drinking water! We needed double what we started with which was 12 bottles including soda water. 

I would not have got by as well without baking my own bread which was also handy for pizza bases. In hindsight I probably would have bought SR flour also to make scones etc. It's a lot of fun and very rewarding.


Staying in touch
Buy a prepaid sim card from either the airport or you will find many shops that sell them also. The phone is handy for calling ahead and booking restaurants, vanilla tours and Pearl Farm tours. Also for contacting base this is the preferred method. You will need a GSM phone that operates on 900MHZ

You can pre-purchase internet time from www.iaoranet.pf or http://www.manaspot.pf/index.php?lang=english
I tried the former but found it only worked in two places but it listed mana wireless wherever I went.


Travel Light!
We took way too many clothes but only used sarongs, bathers, shorts and a t-shirt or two on the boat.


Research
There is not a lot out there as far as cruising guides go (suprisingly). Once you book a charter, we post out our mini charts of the area and a cruising guide to assist you in planning your sailing holiday. A guide website to look at for general information is http://www.tahitiguide.com/