15 thoughts on “Hawaii Alternative: Tahiti | $236+ West Coast”
Xavier S
I have loved reading Beat of Hawaii articles for a long time. However, comparing Hawaii and Tahiti is sort of silly to me…it is like comparing apples and papayas. Hawaii is a State, part of the USA which is a dynamic place with things to do that Tahiti does not have. Comparing Papeete against Honolulu again is silly! Yes…if you are looking to go to rest, snorkel, see sunsets, rest under palm trees, etc then Tahiti is that place. See if you can leave your trash on beaches, destroy private property like you do as an American tourist and get away with it as you do in Hawaii. In Tahiti, you are an American in France. In Hawaii, you are a US citizen in the 50th State….big difference. You should know French otherwise, you will miss a lot of what’s happening. I speak French so I know how Americans are laughed at when they don’t speak French and demand others to speak English because they are Americans. And yes, I am an American 🙂 Both are great places but it a silly comparison in my opinion 🙂
Can you comment on Air Tahiti Nui prices from LAX and SEA? I’ve heard nothing but good things about that airline and your article on fare comparison would not be complete without including them. Thanks!
Mahalo, This is fantastic news. I have had to save 5 years for this Hawaii trip and have always want to visit Tahiti, so this may be a good alternative for next year if prices are doable.
Being from Hawaii, I have made it a habit to return annually for the last 40 years to visit with family and friends.
Weald I have family in Tahiti. In light of your in formative article we should spend 5 or 6 weeks there for a change. Don’t get me wrong, even though I was born no in Hawaii, even I am getting tired of the costs, fees, and general nickel and dining.
Hi its been my dream to go to maui in hawaii since I was 16 yrs old never made it yet and I’m now 67 think it’s time to make my dream a reality where in hawaii do you think is the best place to be for water falls scenery and beautiful beach and what time of year is best time to go
During the pandemic tahiti was way more easy to travel to then hi. I had the best days of my life on bora, and stayed with a local cpl in ppt that invited me to thier party. You can stay in tahiti and take the ferry to monera over and the resorts will sale a day pass.
I found while cc are accepted plan on using cash for thinks like taxis, transport in general and the famous food trucks.
Aloha BOH! If you like French Polynesia, you should check out the Cook Islands. Think FP, but English speaking, cheaper, and way less tourism….but with all the same beautiful nature of FP. Same time zone of Hawai’i, about a six hour flight and the people are very warm & welcoming. Reminds me what I thought Hawai’i would have been like before tourism.
Good to hear from you again and thanks for so many comments over the past 4 years! Yes we would like to go down to Rarotonga and cover that. We wrote about Tahiti because it is now offering low costs compared with Hawaii. Getting to Rarotonga from the US is still challenging and expensive.
Very good article on Tahiti as a Hawaiian option. I made around a dozen trips to Tahiti (and Moorea and Bora Bora) over thirty years and found the people and the value more than worth it. Comparable costs to Hawaii and much much slower. The higher airfare to Tahiti will be offset by spending less on other things, like rental cars. It actually is quite comparable.
Much of Tahiti and her islands are what I imagine Hawaii was like in the 1930’s and 1940’s before the world changed. Food, diving, hiking, bicycling, and more. You don’t need to rent a car on Moorea as a trip around the island on a bike takes about 4 hours including two snorkeling stops and a bite to eat. Cab to/from the airport or ferry terminal is very reasonable.
There was no mention of Air Tahiti Nui in your article. We travelled exclusively on them in the incredibly comfortable A340 aircraft, now 787’s. Inflight is suburb and we were in economy! I heartily recommend them without hesitation. The trip from Papeete Airport to Moorea on Air Tahiti Interisland in a Twin Otter was under 5 minutes (4:50 actually, I’m a pilot so I was curious) across the channel. Your 10 minutes probably included taxi time at both ends!
I also recommend Allo Pizza on Moorea. They do have a website. Stone oven, outdoor patio only seating, yummy and a killer view!! A must visit for us every visit.
Not to downplay Hawaii but Moorea, French Polynesia and specifically the Maharepa area there is wonderful. Went for our 5th time in February and accommodations for a 3 bedroom house on the lagoon was less than Hawaii for an ocean view room. Plus Tahitians are friendly and polite and island is very low key. Too many crowded areas in Hawaii anymore.
I have loved reading Beat of Hawaii articles for a long time. However, comparing Hawaii and Tahiti is sort of silly to me…it is like comparing apples and papayas. Hawaii is a State, part of the USA which is a dynamic place with things to do that Tahiti does not have. Comparing Papeete against Honolulu again is silly! Yes…if you are looking to go to rest, snorkel, see sunsets, rest under palm trees, etc then Tahiti is that place. See if you can leave your trash on beaches, destroy private property like you do as an American tourist and get away with it as you do in Hawaii. In Tahiti, you are an American in France. In Hawaii, you are a US citizen in the 50th State….big difference. You should know French otherwise, you will miss a lot of what’s happening. I speak French so I know how Americans are laughed at when they don’t speak French and demand others to speak English because they are Americans. And yes, I am an American 🙂 Both are great places but it a silly comparison in my opinion 🙂
Hawaii is pricing is ridiculous. The economy is going to suffer with no tourist.
Shouldn’t be as bad as covid
But it’s going to hurt everyone.
Can you comment on Air Tahiti Nui prices from LAX and SEA? I’ve heard nothing but good things about that airline and your article on fare comparison would not be complete without including them. Thanks!
Hi Sean.
This article was largely about value. And the price from SEA to PPT on ATN starts at over $1,100 RT. That’s why we didn’t include them.
Aloha.
Hawaii is more than tourists and No….it won’t suffer as you think…yeah….maybe the cleaning people and servers but Hawaii is more than that!
Mahalo, This is fantastic news. I have had to save 5 years for this Hawaii trip and have always want to visit Tahiti, so this may be a good alternative for next year if prices are doable.
Being from Hawaii, I have made it a habit to return annually for the last 40 years to visit with family and friends.
Weald I have family in Tahiti. In light of your in formative article we should spend 5 or 6 weeks there for a change. Don’t get me wrong, even though I was born no in Hawaii, even I am getting tired of the costs, fees, and general nickel and dining.
Time for a change and less stress.
Aloha
Hi its been my dream to go to maui in hawaii since I was 16 yrs old never made it yet and I’m now 67 think it’s time to make my dream a reality where in hawaii do you think is the best place to be for water falls scenery and beautiful beach and what time of year is best time to go
During the pandemic tahiti was way more easy to travel to then hi. I had the best days of my life on bora, and stayed with a local cpl in ppt that invited me to thier party. You can stay in tahiti and take the ferry to monera over and the resorts will sale a day pass.
I found while cc are accepted plan on using cash for thinks like taxis, transport in general and the famous food trucks.
Flying interisland can be pricy.
Aloha BOH! If you like French Polynesia, you should check out the Cook Islands. Think FP, but English speaking, cheaper, and way less tourism….but with all the same beautiful nature of FP. Same time zone of Hawai’i, about a six hour flight and the people are very warm & welcoming. Reminds me what I thought Hawai’i would have been like before tourism.
Hi Justin.
Good to hear from you again and thanks for so many comments over the past 4 years! Yes we would like to go down to Rarotonga and cover that. We wrote about Tahiti because it is now offering low costs compared with Hawaii. Getting to Rarotonga from the US is still challenging and expensive.
Aloha.
BOH,
Indeed. We live on O’ahu and tickets were $750/person roundtrip. I can only imagine with it is from the mainland!
Hey, Folks!
Very good article on Tahiti as a Hawaiian option. I made around a dozen trips to Tahiti (and Moorea and Bora Bora) over thirty years and found the people and the value more than worth it. Comparable costs to Hawaii and much much slower. The higher airfare to Tahiti will be offset by spending less on other things, like rental cars. It actually is quite comparable.
Much of Tahiti and her islands are what I imagine Hawaii was like in the 1930’s and 1940’s before the world changed. Food, diving, hiking, bicycling, and more. You don’t need to rent a car on Moorea as a trip around the island on a bike takes about 4 hours including two snorkeling stops and a bite to eat. Cab to/from the airport or ferry terminal is very reasonable.
There was no mention of Air Tahiti Nui in your article. We travelled exclusively on them in the incredibly comfortable A340 aircraft, now 787’s. Inflight is suburb and we were in economy! I heartily recommend them without hesitation. The trip from Papeete Airport to Moorea on Air Tahiti Interisland in a Twin Otter was under 5 minutes (4:50 actually, I’m a pilot so I was curious) across the channel. Your 10 minutes probably included taxi time at both ends!
I also recommend Allo Pizza on Moorea. They do have a website. Stone oven, outdoor patio only seating, yummy and a killer view!! A must visit for us every visit.
Maruru!!
Peter
Spokane, WA
Not to downplay Hawaii but Moorea, French Polynesia and specifically the Maharepa area there is wonderful. Went for our 5th time in February and accommodations for a 3 bedroom house on the lagoon was less than Hawaii for an ocean view room. Plus Tahitians are friendly and polite and island is very low key. Too many crowded areas in Hawaii anymore.
Great article!
Looking into it.
L. C.