What to pack for French Polynesia

Miscellaneous: If you want to bring your own cell phone to French Polynesia, make sure that it is a deblocked phone that can operate on a 900-megahertz system. You will need to go to a post office or telecommunication shop to have a Vini Chip inserted. Vini is the name of the local telephone company. You'll get a new local phone number and need to pay 6168 CFP for the prepaid Vini chip/phone card. This allows you to phone 30 minutes of local calls and 13 minutes of international calls.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Loose-fitting clothing (cotton is best), open-toed sandals. Be sure to include aqua socks or protective footgear for walking on the coral reef and in the lagoon. Along with a hat, don't forget to pack a good pair of sunglasses.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bring a good sunscreen and insect repellent.

Photo Equipment: Keep in mind that daylight is very intense in the tropics. Use a polarisation or UV filter and bring a waterproof bag to protect your camera from salt and spray during boat trips.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Snorkelling equipment

Miscellaneous: Bring an adapter if you don't have a French plug with two round prongs.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Bring shoes that can be worn in the water. You need to look out for poisonous fish and sharp coral when you snorkel.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Bring plenty of suntan lotion. It is very overpriced in most of the resort areas. Expect to pay $15-$20 per bottle.

Luggage and bags: Something tough w/ locks. My fiance had his credit card taken out of his luggage while we had our layover at LAX.
We found see-through, carry-on bags worked best through security. No hassles.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Water shoes
Sandals
Sarongs & bathing suits are all you need.
Light dinner dress. Nothing fancy.
That's all you'll need
Hat

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: OFF!, possibly some Pepto. For some reason we always ended up with the 'runs'.
Aspirin.

Photo Equipment: Don't forget the underwater cameras.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: You won't really have to bring your own snorkel equipment unless you dive.
You don't need to bring towels.
Bring lots of sunscreen & your sunglasses.

Miscellaneous: If you go to the Sauvage you'll have a 1-hr boat ride to the Sauvage from the Village. Don't forget to bring a few garbage bags just in case the ride is wet.
Bring a flashlight

Luggage and bags: BIG PADLOCKS ON YOUR SUITCASE, PAPEETE AIRPORT HAS A BIT OF A REPUTATION OF STAFF RIFLING THROUGH YOUR BAGS AND HELPING THEMSELVES

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: DURING THE SUMMER, IT IS ALWAYS WARM, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHTIME, HOWEVER IN BORA BORA OR MOOREA THEY DO HAVE QUITE A FEW SHOWERS, AND THESE SHOWERS REALLY GET YOU WET.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: CONDOMS, INSECT STUFF AND LOTS OF AFTERSUN

Photo Equipment: AS MOST THINGS ARE IMPORTED IN BATTERIES AND FILMS CAN BE A BIT PRICEY.

Miscellaneous:


ELECTRICITY: runs at 110 or 220 volts, so you'll need an adaptor.

OTHER: Sunscreen is highly recommended, as are loose fitting casual clothing, a small flashlight, and aqua socks (for walking on coral).

CURRENCY:
French Polynesia uses the Cour de Franc Pacifique (CFP). It's exchange rate is approximately 100 to 1 US dollar. You'll find the best exchange rates at banks, although you'll pay approximately a $4.00 fee for the transaction.

Although most places accept credit cards, you should have cash on hand for those places that don't. Many places will accept US Dollars, so don't exchange all your cash at once.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Anything made out of Solumbra to keep the sun off of you. We especially like Sun Precaution's Water Wear (www.solumbra.com). It looks a little silly, but offers SPF 30. We spent 8 days in the water...dawn to dusk...and did not get burned.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sunscreen, suncreen, sunscreen!

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Bring a snorkle, mask, and fins. Although your hotel may boast free equipment, it's likely to be damaged or possibly already reserved by another guest.

Miscellaneous: Wine/liquor
Bring your own. It's insanely expensive in Bora Bora. We balked when a friend told us to slip a bottle from home into our luggage to make wine coolers or cocktails at our hotel. After seeing a Long Island Ice Tea for $17 US (and a small one at that) we're now big proponents of BYOB (bringing your own bottle).

Luggage and bags: Less is best as the interisland transportation won't take excess luggage.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Rain can come unexpectedly so bring something waterproof.
Aquashoes are good as well.
Overall, travel light as not much clothing is necessary through the day and dressing up at night is a casual affair.
But prepare to change a few times each day with all the activities and being in and out of the water a lot.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Things such as sunscreen, medicine and the like are really expensive so bring a lot.

Photo Equipment: Same goes for film.
Everything is 220V in French Polynesia so bring adaptors for recharging.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Your own snorkelling equipment is a plus as it will save you the hassle of checking it in and out every day at special hours.

Miscellaneous: Tipping isnt the custom.