We are on the PG 4/30. I need some advice about shopping on the islands. I'm not a jewelry person, so not interested in the pearls, but I would like to get some gifts for the kids and grandparents. I would appreciate any suggestions for gift purchases, as well as answers to some questions:

I heard it's best to get AMEX travelers checks and exchange for local currency at the bank in the Tahiti airport. Is it really necessary to have local currency and how much is recommended for just buying a few gifts and maybe lunch at Bloody Mary's?

From the previous posts, it sounds like pareos, tahitian shirts, and tiki gods are good ideas for gifts. Any suggestions on the best prices and places to buy them?

Can you pay for the excursions booked on the PG with credit card?

Thanks for your help! You posters are awesome!

Javafreek,

Welcome to LCT! I wouldn't worry about using travelers checks, I've used my ATM card at the banks in Papette to get local currency. I think they also accept US$, but in the markets and small shops local money or small bills might be better.

Welcome Javafreek! Don't forget to look for the wonderful woven straw sun hats, vanilla and that skin lotion that everyone raves about. I forget the name of it but I am sure someone will know the name.

You can use US dollars everywhere and I would not get travellers checks. These days most people just use credit cards and they are widely accepted in Tahiti. I have been many times and never changed to local money. Shopping is not that great in Tahiti. You named the most common purchases and the vanilla is very popular too. I have forgotten the skin lotion name that people like someone will bring it up I am sure. You will love the cruise have a wonderful time.

I got a better rate (by 10%) by cashing travelers checks at a bank on Bora Bora and using local currency rather than dollars. It was just the way the pricing was working at the time. For example, the mamas on Bora Bora had a shell necklace for either $10 or 1000 francs (the rates have changed since then, so this is just my example). By changing a $100 travelers check I was able to get that necklace for roughly $8.90.

I then went to Chin Lee's grocery store on Bora Bora and got some coffee, tea, skin creams and skin oils with my francs. I also rented a bike to go to Bloody Marys and I had a drink there but no lunch.

To get to Chin Lee's from the tender area take the little road that is about 1 block long and leads to the main road that circles the Island. At the main road take a left and walk about the equivalent of 5 or 6 blocks. It's been almost 3 years but I believe you pass a church then you get to Chin Lee's. It will be on the right side of the road. Not a long walk if you are reasonalby healthy. I would not advise it in a wheel chair. They had t-shirts, pareos, and groceries, of course.

I like using local currency, or sometimes Euros or American dollars. Since I'm Canadian, I have to change my money into something, and I feel that in this case, the local currency probably gets you a bit better value, as Colleen says. That being said, dollars are certainly handy to have as well. I'll be bringing some of each! :D

At the market place in Papette (right at the dock) we bought shells that are perfect for serving caviar! We saw similar dishes at about twice the price (I think we paid about 8 USD) in the ship's boutique. Now if only the caviar was as inexpensive! ;)

I suggest you check prices on vanilla locally before you invest in a bunch of it in Tahiti. I can buy very, very fresh vanilla beans in bulk at my local natural grocery for a lot less than they cost in Tahiti.

I thought everything was ghastly expensive in FP, if you could even find what you wanted. I don't think we bought anything except for pearls and a camera battery.

I would suggest getting some Tahitian money if you plan to do activities other than the excursions. The last time we were there for example, Albert's would only take Tahitian money when renting his scooters. Also, for gifts, some of the out of the way places/small shops may only take Tahitian dollars. We actually found pareos on Bora Bora that were actually made right there on the spot by the locals (most of the ones in the Papeete market are not made in Tahiti) during a tour with one of the local guides. It was only $10 (US). A pareo with one of the books showing you how to wear them made nice presents. There is also alot of local shell jewlry sold on ship or at the ports that make nice gifts at very reasonable prices. I know you will have a wonderful time on your cruise and the gorgeous islands. Wish I were going with you!!
Sally

Dixiechick, do you remember where in Bora Bora you found the hand made pareos?

Let me clarify. Since the mamas were selling things right near the tender area and the banks were about a block away, you could price what you want then go to one of the banks and check the exchange rate. (The exchange rate is better for travelers checks than cash.) See which is better now a days, dollars or francs.

Marnalou, if you don't mind my asking, what are you paying for vanilla beans these days? Are they tahitian vanilla? The last time, in 2003, we paid about $1 per bean on the cruise. I've heard that the price of vanilla has skyrocketted world-wide since then. I know that a small bottle of vanilla extract here now costs about $8 CDN. And it is nowhere as nice as the vanilla extract I made from the Tahitian beans.

Thank you so much for all of your ideas. I looked today and 1 US dollar is approx 1.20 Francs, so it may be an advantage to convert if one was to purchase a lot on the islands (which I don't think I will be). I'll have to look again when it gets closer.
Do you think the PG allows enough time in Pepete either the day of arrival or the last day? we don't have a pre or post stay. And like I said, I'm not a shopper usually, but since this is the FIRST vacation without the kids (in 20 years)I'd feel bad coming home without a small gift for them and their grandparents who are kind enough to watch them for the week....

Wendy, I bought a few in December for bread pudding, and I paid less than a dollar (U.S.) each and they were really fat, fresh, and moist but I cannot say if they were Tahitian or not. However, the aroma was absolutely heady. I think the bulk price was something on the order of $90 - 100 per pound but by the each it's negligible.

On our cruise last year the best price I saw was several dollars per bean and I wasn't impressed with the quality compared to what I can get at home. It just wasn't worth even the small effort of tucking them into my bag.

I noticed last time I bought extract here at home that it has become extremely pricey.

Javafreek:

I think you may have the wrong exchange rate. When I checked this morning this is what I found.

Currency Converter: Results
Sunday, February 6, 2005
1 US Dollar(s) = 95.996 CFP Franc(s)
1 CFP Franc = 0.011 US Dollar(s)

IF you are arriving on Saturday for the cruise I think you arrive around 7 pm and go straight to the ship. The markets are all closed by then. On the last Saturday with the new debarkation procedures you may have time to visit the market that morning. Check the post about it recently. I think the market closes at noon on Saturday.

Since you have 2 days at Bora Bora you may find shopping there to be more relaxing. Papeete has a larger selection but if you are looking for the usual tourist stuff like pareos, t-shirts, vanilla, oil, then Bora Bora had them too.

Actually we visited an ag school or farm of some sort and I bought a vew vanilla beans there. Where was that? I've been making Kaluha with them.

Colleen, that could have been Moorea, or Taha'a if you went on an excursion there. It's the "vanilla-isle", after all. But many of the Moorea excursions go to the Agricultural Research station there, and vanilla is certainly grown, I saw the flowers, so maybe it's for sale too.

There's something romantic about the vanilla I brought home from there. But I'm going to go out and price vanilla beans here now, before I go, just to keep it in perspective. Then again, Tahitian vanilla is supposed to be the best.

Wendy, I checked the price of vanilla beans today at my favorite store and the price has ballooned to $429 a pound!! More than quadruple what it was just a couple of months ago.

That's very interesting, MarnaLou, thanks. I had heard that was the case, but didn't know what the prices actually were. Wondering what a single bean will cost in FP this time--last time they were about $1 per bean.

If they're still just a dollar, Wendy, bring home as many as you can. You could pay for your next cruise with just a small tote bag's worth!

You can buy lovely things right on the ship. Monoi Oil and a wonderful Tahitian perfume are nice local gifts. For the children, if girls, there were lovely barettes made out of mother of pearl. Pareos are cheapest in Tahiti at the market. I found the ship had the best price on monoi oil.

Question from someone who hasn't been to Tahiti (YET) what's monoi oil?

Hi Bobbi,

It's coconut oil, and contains oil from the tiare flower, which is the Tahitian gardenia. It also comes in other scents, vanilla, plus it comes in a variety that is an insect repellant.

I use it all the time, it smells wonderful. In fact, the scent of tiare pervades my memories of the islands, so the oil reminds me of being there.

Margo,

Goodness, you are right! I was coverting US dollar to swiss franc. I checked again and converted to French polynesia Franc (listed as XPF) and it was $1US=93.495XPF

Makes a HUGE difference. Thanks for drawing it to my attention!

I have four children and always feel compelled to bring back something. I have bought shell necklaces on the private motu on Monday with US dollars. They range from $5-10. They also have "Shark" teeth necklaces and ones with dolphins or turtles that work for younger boys. They also have similar type items at the temporary market that sets up at the Bora Bora tender pier. Many of the pareos are made in China or Indonesia except for the ones made locally that are silkscreened. I have travelled to French Polynesia a number of times and never changed to local currency. I always take lots of $1, $5, and 10's or you can also get change on the ship at reception. I have bought local beer in the grocery store on both Bora Bora and Moorea and used US dollars. Of course, the change they gave in return was Polynesian.

Thanks, Divediva!

I have 3 kids (2 teens and a 10 y.o.)The shark tooth would be perfect for the younger one. A pareo would be something my daughter would like and actually use ( we have enough souvenirs that really serve little purpose). No clue for the oldest (boy), but I'm sure I'll find something for him and their grandparents.

Maybe the polynesian currency (change) would be nice to give the kids too. It's good to know I don't need to bother with the currency exchange.