Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Papeete Hotel for 12 hours

Does anyone have a suggestion for a hotel for a long-layover in Papeete?

I am arriving at 3pm and need to leave at 3am.

Alternatively, do you have a suggestion for an acitivity?

If you're going to be in Papeete on a Sunday, you will find most everything closed. Moorea is only a half hour by fast ferry (about US$9 each way), but I'm not sure of the last ferry back to Papeete. If there is no ferry service after 7PM or 8PM, then disregard the following. Time would be tight, but you could get off the ferry, take the bus (US$3) to the last stop at the halfway point around the island (Le Petit Village), explore a bit, then catch the next bus to complete the circle, ending up back at the port. If there's a ferry, there will be a bus. It's a beautiful island, and circling the island like this would fit into your time frame (perhaps). And it would be much better than hanging around Papeete. There are also several daily flights that hop over to Moorea--this might work out better if there are later flights.

hi there.. I actually just got back from Tahiti about a month ago... and I instead of doing the 12 hr layover, i parlayed it into a 5 night layover. The first night our flight arrived at around 10pm, so virtually all ferry transport was closed. They operate mostly during the day and I believe the last one is around 6pm or so... you have a choice of 2 (we used the Moorea Express -- good service 30 min ride or so..

I don't think that's going to be an option for you given your timeline. To tell you the truth, we didn't do much on Papeete. The focus of our tahitian layover was in Moorea.. absolutely beautiful.
here's a link to the ferry schedule: http://www.thetahititraveler.com/islandguide/tahititransferries.asp

Anywho, because of our brief time in Papeete, we stayed at the Royal Papeete (about 8800 CPF -- about 90 USD). It was decent at best. Carpet needed updating among other things.. But nonetheless, it was a place to park our bags and shower up.. About a $25 cab ride from the airport and $15 ride to the airport... $10 monopoly surcharge i'm assuming..

As far as things to do, shortly after sunset, about 30 food vendors set up on the ferry pier area and you can pretty much find anything to eat. I recommend the chinese dishes.. Chez Chinois or something liek that... Other than that, we walked around the busy polluted streets of Papeete to kill time.

Hope that helps.. Feel free to PM with any specific questions...

Been there twice last year thanks to the cheap fares, going back to PPT on FEB 27 the next time.

Basically, Moorea is not an option as the ferrys only operate during the day. I would definetely recommend you get yourself a hotel.

From the major chains, the Sheraton and the Le Meridien are close to the airport - but of course, they are not the cheapest properties...

Well to give you perspective, if the "hotel" I stayed at were located in the US, I would probably be paying about $25/night.

We stayed at the Intercontinental in Moorea which was absolutely awesome. They have their own dolphin center, nice beaches, rental car facility.. No real complaints about that place.. Except of course the price but well worth it..

Not a bad trip at all.. I thought I got a good deal from LAX @ $1100


http://airfare.travelzoo.com/international-airfare/227427

Does anyone have Papeete hotel suggestions for a 3-day stop-over?

Please continue the discussion in the Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz moderator

Does anyone have Papeete hotel suggestions for a 3-day stop-over?

If possible I'd head out to one of the islands. Papeete itself is not terriby exciting or interesting.

The Intercontinental is one of the best hotels/resorts on the actual island of Tahiti. But, I'd get off and go to Moorea with any extra time.

The Intercontinental is one of the best hotels/resorts on the actual island of Tahiti. But, I'd get off and go to Moorea with any extra time.

Same suggestion, what I would give to you !!

I'd like to jump on the bandwagon and ask a question please.

I'm doing a weekend jaunt from Australia. Flying via Auckland and arrive at PPT at 7:45 AM on a Friday morning. My return flight departs the following evening at 6:00 PM. Total time on the ground is about 34 hours.

It looks as though I have enough time to get to Moorea to look around the island, stay overnight, and get back to PPT in time for my return flight.

As I understand it, I'd need to organize ground transportation from the airport to the ferry wharf, or I could do the 10-minute flight. Is one better than the other. I assume the flight is more convenient, but more expensive.

Would you recommend I do the Moorea trip than, say, hang around downtown Papeete (or at the Sheraton or Intercontinental), which I understand is not as pleasant an option?

Many thanks.

My vote is for Moorea.

For a 12 hours layover, i would stay at the Tahiti Airport motel right accross the airport, clean a new room(1 year old) for about USd100.
longer than that The intercontinental hotel is my favorite there. I stayed at half of the hotel there. and like it the most.