Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - Island hopping in French Polynesia

Any cheap way of doing this?

Look at Air Tahiti (not Air Tahiti Nui). They have a few island hopper passes which all originate in tahiti. It looks like they are around $500 per person.

Look at Air Tahiti (not Air Tahiti Nui). They have a few island hopper passes which all originate in tahiti. It looks like they are around $500 per person.

yes - get the island hopper . its almost the same price as a return flight to one island anyway. i paid over $400 per person just to bora bora return. it really is your only option unless you did the Paul Gauguin cruise

Hi, thanks for the info about the Airpasses from Air Tahiti.
Here are the current prices (40 lbs luggage allowance) I found for them:
#1 Discovery Pass 278€
(Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea)
#2 Bora Bora Pass 372-392€
(Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti)
#3 Lagons Pass 397€
(Moorea, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi, Fakarava, Ahe)
#4 Bora-Tuamotu Pass 529€
(Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi, Fakarava, Ahe)
#5 Marquesas Pass 729€
(Nuku Hiva, Atuona, Ua Pou, Ua Huka)
#6 Austral Pass 521€
(Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, Rimatara)

Is this the only airline in French Polynesia that has this type of airpasses?
Isn't Air Tahiti part of any alliances or partnerships?

...Isn't Air Tahiti part of any alliances or partnerships?It doesn't have a Frequent Flyer program -- so perhaps discussion of it must be banned from FT :) ???

TN does (but that is the international service only). There is some limited interlining (with TN and QF, for example) but definitely no partnerships and no free tickets. Welcome to the unspoiled paradise!

Welcome to the unspoiled paradise!

:D

paradise doesnt accept airmiles ;)

i was in bora bora for a week in april
whatever it takes you to get there its worth every single $$$

I'm scared of the baggage limit. I don't mind paying some extra cash for overweight checked-in pieces, but 3kg of carry-on frightens me. I really don't want to put expensive DSLR equipment into the baggage area. Any tips? Are they strict about backpack weight?

I'm scared of the baggage limit. I don't mind paying some extra cash for overweight checked-in pieces, but 3kg of carry-on frightens me. I really don't want to put expensive DSLR equipment into the baggage area. Any tips? Are they strict about backpack weight?It varies with the aircraft weight which in turn is affected by weather conditions; the enforcement is practical rather than being an arbitrary rule. What DSLR camera weighs over 3kg? :) Often the overweight baggage travels on a later flight, which might be a few days later, so it isn't just money involved. This is a different world, road warriors have to cut down to a single DSLR :)

It's not the camera itself, but various lenses. Even if I strip it to minimum (basic lenses), it will be very very tough :-( Just the telephoto lens weights 2kg. Going to such destination without an option to photograph it properly is my nightmare.

It's not the camera itself, but various lenses. Even if I strip it to minimum (basic lenses), it will be very very tough :-( Just the telephoto lens weights 2kg. Going to such destination without an option to photograph it properly is my nightmare.You can buy one of those travel vests with dozens of large pockets (e.g. Scottevest) and worst case the lenses can go into your pocket if they aren't accepted as carry-on. Easy contingency and problem solved.

the excess baggage costs are not much so just be prepared to put everything in hold and keep on you just your expensive camera and accessories..

to be honest i never noticed them being strict on baggage at all .

maybe post on polynesia tripadvisor forums to get definate answers

Yes, it's not the cost that worries me. It just the set of my favourite (I'd almost say essential) lenses together with camera definitely weighs more then 6kgs (I'm already relying on my girlfriend to carry the other half). Scottevest is very good idea, I'll look it up. Besides that, did any airline make problems when people things in hands - like came in one and telephoto lens in the other? And does anyone know, if they check it only at check-in or also at the gate?
I'll try TripAdvisor as well, thanks

i think you will be fine . i was there in april and have no memories of seeing any problems. my hand luggage wasnt bulky but was far more than 3kg and we had no issues.

at tahiti check in i saw many locals with lots of bags etc - i think things they had bought in tahiti to take home to whatever island they lived on etc and no problems!