Mar 23, 2015, 11:08 pm
Last edit by: jigri2003
Some info:
Prepaid meal plan rates as of Feb 2015 per post 1305: (breakfast price updated as of Jan 2020)
Breakfast: 4860 xpf (tax incl) per person per day
Half board (breakfast and a 3-courses dinner): 13 053 xpf (tax incl) per person per day
Full board (breakfast, a 2-courses lunch and a 3-courses dinner): 17 632 xpf (tax incl) per person per day.
Breakfast 50% discount: available only at check in time if it is taken for the entire stay. It does not apply for half board and full board. Post 1376
Guaranteed Upgrade Costs as of January 2015 per post 1293
Emerald to Sapphire: 15,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond: 25,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond Otemanu: 35,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond End of Pontoon: 45,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Full prepayment prior to arrival required
Direct Boat Transfers to/from Airport One-way: 7334 XPF (updated Dec 2019) (about 15 minutes). Resort will email you to arrange this ahead of time if desired.
Boat transfer from the Airport is not mandatory despite what any hotel emails might imply to the contrary. It's possible to take the free Air Tahiti shuttle to Vaitape (15 minutes), followed by a taxi to the IC Le Moana for 2000XPF (15 minutes), then the IC's shuttle between Le Moana and Thalasso for 3390 XPF per person one way (updated Dec 2019) (15 minutes). If all transfers go smoothly, the journey could be as short as an hour, or longer than two hours if you're unlucky.
Boat Times (as of Oct 2016, and current as of Jan 2020)
Leaving Le Moana:
7:45am
8:45am
11:45am*
12:45pm
1:45pm
4:30pm
5:30pm*
6:30pm
8:30pm
10:00pm
Leaving Thalasso:
8:15am
9:15am*
12:15pm
1:15pm
2:15pm*
5:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
9:30pm
10:30pm
* Boat times with a * can connect with the bus shuttle between IC Le Moana and Vaitape town, as shown below:
Bus Shuttles between IC Le Moana and Vaitape town:
Depart IC Le Moana:
9:45am
2:45pm
Depart Vaitape:
11:15am
5:00pm
The bus shuttle costs 1150 XPF RT/person.
Note: There is no ATM at the Thalasso. The closest ATMs are in Vaitape, the main town where the airport ferry stops. However, both IC Le Moana and Thalasso will give you a "cash advance" on your credit card for a fee of 5%. The transaction will post as a purchase.
XPF is also available at the airport in Pappeete from several ATMs.
POST 1795
Resort Email: [email protected]
Prepaid meal plan rates as of Feb 2015 per post 1305: (breakfast price updated as of Jan 2020)
Breakfast: 4860 xpf (tax incl) per person per day
Half board (breakfast and a 3-courses dinner): 13 053 xpf (tax incl) per person per day
Full board (breakfast, a 2-courses lunch and a 3-courses dinner): 17 632 xpf (tax incl) per person per day.
Breakfast 50% discount: available only at check in time if it is taken for the entire stay. It does not apply for half board and full board. Post 1376
Guaranteed Upgrade Costs as of January 2015 per post 1293
Emerald to Sapphire: 15,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond: 25,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond Otemanu: 35,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond End of Pontoon: 45,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Full prepayment prior to arrival required
Direct Boat Transfers to/from Airport One-way: 7334 XPF (updated Dec 2019) (about 15 minutes). Resort will email you to arrange this ahead of time if desired.
Boat transfer from the Airport is not mandatory despite what any hotel emails might imply to the contrary. It's possible to take the free Air Tahiti shuttle to Vaitape (15 minutes), followed by a taxi to the IC Le Moana for 2000XPF (15 minutes), then the IC's shuttle between Le Moana and Thalasso for 3390 XPF per person one way (updated Dec 2019) (15 minutes). If all transfers go smoothly, the journey could be as short as an hour, or longer than two hours if you're unlucky.
Boat Times (as of Oct 2016, and current as of Jan 2020)
Leaving Le Moana:
7:45am
8:45am
11:45am*
12:45pm
1:45pm
4:30pm
5:30pm*
6:30pm
8:30pm
10:00pm
Leaving Thalasso:
8:15am
9:15am*
12:15pm
1:15pm
2:15pm*
5:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
9:30pm
10:30pm
* Boat times with a * can connect with the bus shuttle between IC Le Moana and Vaitape town, as shown below:
Bus Shuttles between IC Le Moana and Vaitape town:
Depart IC Le Moana:
9:45am
2:45pm
Depart Vaitape:
11:15am
5:00pm
The bus shuttle costs 1150 XPF RT/person.
Note: There is no ATM at the Thalasso. The closest ATMs are in Vaitape, the main town where the airport ferry stops. However, both IC Le Moana and Thalasso will give you a "cash advance" on your credit card for a fee of 5%. The transaction will post as a purchase.
XPF is also available at the airport in Pappeete from several ATMs.
POST 1795
Resort Email: [email protected]
IC Thalasso Bora Bora Master Thread [merged]
Sep 12, 2015, 10:15 am
#1772
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Washington, DC area
Programs: Air: Many; Hotel: HH D, HY G, IHG P, MR S, RR
Posts: 504
"Cash advance" at hotel v using ATM at PPT
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with or thoughts about the "cash advance" option noted in the wiki, where you can get cash for a a 5% fee, with the transaction showing as a credit card purchase.
If I understand this correctly, it means that if I paid 10,000 CFP, I would receive 9,500 CFP in cash. Since there is no currency exchange involved at the hotel, the credit card foreign currency exchange rates would be used. If I use a credit card with no foreign currency fees that has hotels as a 3X bonus category (e.g., Citi Prestige), the value of the points earned would pretty much offset the 5% hotel fee.
I also have debit cards where my bank does not charge any fees for foreign ATM withdrawals, but I was uncertain if the French Polynesia banks impose any ATM withdrawal fees.
I do not plan on using much local currency for my trip to Bora Bora and Moorea, but it seems like some might be needed for smaller transactions at some "local" restaurants or shops. From what I have read, it seems like there may not be anywhere to convert local currency back to USD at PPT before my flight home, since I arrive back at PPT after normal banking hours.
Thoughts?
If I understand this correctly, it means that if I paid 10,000 CFP, I would receive 9,500 CFP in cash. Since there is no currency exchange involved at the hotel, the credit card foreign currency exchange rates would be used. If I use a credit card with no foreign currency fees that has hotels as a 3X bonus category (e.g., Citi Prestige), the value of the points earned would pretty much offset the 5% hotel fee.
I also have debit cards where my bank does not charge any fees for foreign ATM withdrawals, but I was uncertain if the French Polynesia banks impose any ATM withdrawal fees.
I do not plan on using much local currency for my trip to Bora Bora and Moorea, but it seems like some might be needed for smaller transactions at some "local" restaurants or shops. From what I have read, it seems like there may not be anywhere to convert local currency back to USD at PPT before my flight home, since I arrive back at PPT after normal banking hours.
Thoughts?
Sep 14, 2015, 10:38 am
#1775
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 53
I don't believe so but I am not 100% sure. I tried to book the Lagoon at the St Regis but transportation alone would be XPF 30,000 (around USD300), I got the impression that the motu resorts try to keep you "captive" for the dinners.
Sep 14, 2015, 1:17 pm
#1777
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 105
Sep 15, 2015, 12:56 pm
#1780
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Fortunately, I was able to get 6 nights consecutively for my upcoming trip and for me to cancel, I would need to see a news report that Bora Bora is facing an imminent tsunami verified by multiple news outlets.
Sep 16, 2015, 6:53 pm
#1781
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 112
" El Nino 2015-16
Aug 27, 2015, 2:01 PM
Meteorologists are predicting this to be a monster el nino season and can have significant affects on the south pacific islands. Anyone with trips planned between November and April should pay close attention to weather reports. What are your plans?"
So I'm going to cancel my November trip because some unnamed "meteorologist" made a prediction? I don't think so!
Sep 17, 2015, 12:13 pm
#1782
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 105
Honestly, it is mostly my fear of flying talking rather than rational thought. I agree completely that it's not worth paying attention to that closely or changing travel plans. I've developed an unnatural fear of flying after taking a Lufthansa flight that went through crazy turbulence and dropped a couple thousand feet 3 times out of the sky during the turbulence. I'm talking stewardesses being lifted off the floor and slamming into the overhead storage bad. An experience like that really stays with you- you do become somewhat paranoid of bad weather. 
.
. You can drive yourself crazy following every worry on social media. Here is the text from the TA thread:
" El Nino 2015-16
Aug 27, 2015, 2:01 PM
Meteorologists are predicting this to be a monster el nino season and can have significant affects on the south pacific islands. Anyone with trips planned between November and April should pay close attention to weather reports. What are your plans?"
So I'm going to cancel my November trip because some unnamed "meteorologist" made a prediction? I don't think so!
" El Nino 2015-16
Aug 27, 2015, 2:01 PM
Meteorologists are predicting this to be a monster el nino season and can have significant affects on the south pacific islands. Anyone with trips planned between November and April should pay close attention to weather reports. What are your plans?"
So I'm going to cancel my November trip because some unnamed "meteorologist" made a prediction? I don't think so!
Last edited by sunshine213; Sep 17, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Sep 17, 2015, 12:20 pm
#1783
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Honestly, it is my fear of flying talking rather than rational thought. I agree completely that it's not wort paying attention to that closely or changing travel plans. I've developed an unnatural fear of flying after taking a Lufthansa flight that went through crazy turbulence and dropped a couple thousand feet 3 times out of the sky during the turbulence. I'm talking stewardesses being lifted off the floor and slamming into the overhead storage bad.
Sep 22, 2015, 3:40 pm
#1785
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 102