French Polynesia spreads 118 islands across five archipelagos, so planning here is less about picking a hotel and more about choosing a route that the flights, boats and rooms will actually support. This guide sets out the order I use with clients: season, entry rules, island priorities, then bookings in the sequence that protects the trip.
Start with the season and the length of stay
Tahiti Tourisme describes two seasons. May to October is the drier, slightly cooler period with lower humidity and steady trade winds; November to April is warmer and more humid, with heavier tropical showers, especially from December to February. The wetter months are also when cyclones are possible, and the Government of Canada travel advice notes that heavy rain can flood roads and cause landslides in that period. Off-peak months often bring better room choice, so neither season is wrong; it simply changes how much slack to build in. Our best time to visit guide goes month by month.
For length, count nights rather than days. Long-haul arrivals and departures usually consume a night on Tahiti at each end, and every island change takes part of a day. Seven nights suits Tahiti plus one other island; ten to fourteen nights comfortably covers two or three.
Check entry rules before anything is paid
Canadian citizens do not need a tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days. Canada’s advice says a regular passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your departure date, and officials may ask to see a return or onward ticket and proof of funds. Other nationalities should check their own government’s page and our visa and entry guide.
Match islands to what you want most
Write down the two or three things that matter most, then let them choose the islands. A short list of compatible islands is easier to connect than a list of famous names.
| If you mostly want | Islands that fit well |
|---|---|
| An easy first add-on to Tahiti | Moorea, about half an hour by ferry |
| A classic lagoon and overwater stay | Bora Bora, Taha’a, Moorea |
| Quieter Society Islands and marae sites | Huahine, Raiatea, Maupiti |
| Drift snorkeling and diving in atoll passes | Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau |
| Mountains, archaeology and remoteness | Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa in the Marquesas |
Two or three islands is the realistic range for most trips. Islands in the same archipelago link more easily; mixing the Society Islands with the Tuamotus works well, while adding the Marquesas needs more days because flights there are longer and less frequent.
Book in the order that protects the trip
1. International flights
These fix your first and last nights. Note the arrival time at Faa’a: a late-night landing usually means a hotel on Tahiti before any domestic flight.
2. Domestic flights or an island pass
Air Tahiti flies to 47 islands and atolls, and Air Moana serves a smaller network of the most visited ones. When you are visiting several islands, an Air Tahiti multi-island pass prices the circuit as one ticket, but once issued it cannot be changed, so dates must be settled first.
3. Accommodation on the smaller islands
Pensions and small hotels on Maupiti, Huahine or the atolls have few rooms. Secure them right after the flights, then book the larger islands. Our pensions and guesthouses guide explains what family-run stays include.
4. Transfers and the few activities that sell out
Arrange airport and ferry transfers through your accommodation in advance, as Tahiti Tourisme recommends. Book only the activities with limited places, such as a specific dive, ahead of time, and leave the rest until you see the weather.
Money, health and driving
The local currency is the CFP franc (XPF). Cards work at larger hotels and businesses, but Canada’s advice notes that only cash in local currency may be accepted outside the busiest islands. Dengue is present, so pack repellent for daytime use. A valid Canadian driver’s licence can be used for short stays, with an official translation or an International Driving Permit if it is not in French.
A realistic planning timeline
Six to twelve months out: choose the season, length of stay and two or three islands, and check passport validity for every traveller. This is also the time to set a budget that includes domestic flights and transfers, which first-time visitors often leave out; our French Polynesia costs guide lists the main items.
Four to nine months out: book international flights, then domestic flights or a pass, then rooms, starting with the smallest islands. Overwater bungalows and the few pensions on islands such as Maupiti go first around school holidays.
One to three months out: buy travel insurance, arrange transfers and book the activities with limited space. Download offline maps and save each property’s phone number.
The week before: reconfirm domestic flights and transfers, check the weather outlook, and get some CFP francs or make sure your card works abroad.
Make the visit respectful
A few words of Tahitian go a long way: ‘Ia ora na for hello and Māuruuru for thank you. Outside resort areas, dress modestly away from the beach, and ask before walking onto land or photographing people, since many coastal paths cross family property. Marae and some other sites are tapu, or sacred; visit with a guide or follow the signs. Spending some nights in locally owned pensions spreads the value of your trip into the communities you visit.
Common planning mistakes
Starting with a list of hotels and fitting flights around them; trying to see five islands in ten days; and assuming a ferry links every pair of nearby islands. Let transport and pacing shape the trip first.
Accessibility and individual needs
List each traveller’s needs early, including mobility, diet, sleep and swimming confidence, since they often decide between islands, resorts and pensions. Boat transfers, high steps onto small aircraft and sandy paths are common, so ask each property and airline how they handle wheelchairs, walkers and heavy luggage.
After booking
As each part is booked, compare it with the others for dates, times and the spelling of names, so a change in one confirmation is caught before departure. Keep offline copies on your phone.
On the day
Leave one or two open days across the trip so weather or a schedule change can be absorbed without losing a whole island stay.