French Polynesia Shopping

 
by malianrob
 
  •   Shopping
    by malianrob
  •   Shopping
    by malianrob
  •   Shopping
    by malianrob
  •   Shopping
    by malianrob
  •   Shopping
    by malianrob
 

Most Viewed Shopping in French Polynesia

1.

Black Pearls   Bora-Bora

Black Pearls, Bora-Bora

 4 Reviews  There was a special phone at our hotel to call BPC for a free visit. They pick you up and bring you back. We had a short guided tour of the pearl farm, showing the various steps of pearl making. The... 

 See All 15 Shopping in Bora-Bora

2.

Black Pearls   Tahiti

Black Pearls, Tahiti

 4 Reviews  The Gaugin pearl shop on Rangiroa is one of many pearl shops, however it is the one to which you will be directed if you are staying at the Hotel Kia Ora. The shop comes to the hotel and picks you up... 

 See All 10 Shopping in Tahiti

3.

Pareo   Bora-Bora

Pareo, Bora-Bora

 3 Reviews  The main shopping area is the village of Vaitape. However, I did not really buy anything there, and found shops along the main road outside Vaitape(I can't say off the beaten path because on BB there... 

 See All 15 Shopping in Bora-Bora

Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Book now for big savings!
hotels.com Outstanding choice of hotels all over the world at fantastic prices.

Sponsored Links

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

South Pacific Chocolate: Not always a good Idea...

by Kakapo2

It is always hot in the islands and, well… Chocolate surely is not the perfect thing to buy. But as this little box with 4 chocolate-covered macadamia nuts – made in Tahiti - was the only appealing item to be bought in conjunction with the tin box of coconut tea and the Gauguinesque coffee to match the amount of CFP we had left, we took it.It reminded me of the chocolate you could buy in GDR before the reunification of the two Germanies, a bit whitish on the surface from being stored at not really adequate temperatures. But it was still edible – but given the price of about 6 or 8 Euro, of course, not worth the money we had paid for it. The nuts, however, were in perfect condition ;-)

Tip Photo
Coconut Tea: … and other coconut products

by Kakapo2

I was very sceptical about buying this coconut tea in the beautiful Gauguin-inspired tin box. When I first tasted it I regretted that I had not bought more of it. Now I stretch it by just adding one spoonful of coconut tea to two spoonfuls of green tea… The coconut tea is strong, so it totally overwhelms the flavour of the green tea, there is a wonderful coconut scent in the room when I make it, and the taste is similarly beautiful.Funnily enough the tea of the tea does not even come from the islands but from Asia. I hope at least the ground coconut comes from French Polynesia LOLBut really, the reason for buying it was the beautiful tin box with the Gauguin-style “Noa Noa” (= sweet smell) design. I thought this is a lasting souvenir and a reminder of this beautiful trip, and apart from that I love Gauguin’s paintings. The tea (125 grams) cost 660 CFP (5,50 Euro), so not even...

Tip Photo
The best hot Weather Clothing: Wrap yourself in a Pareo/Pareu

by Kakapo2

That is the basic piece of clothing of all Polynesians. It is nothing but a rectangular piece of cotton fabric handpainted or printed with mostly floral designs. You can wear them as dresses or skirts, long or short, and as shorts (what men often do), just tied around the neck, crossed over the breasts, around the waist… The locals have special techniques of tying the pareos together, so you do not lose them ;-)In Tahiti I bought an especially nice short pareo which also serves as an elegant scarf.In other countries the pareus are called Lavalava (Tonga, Samoa) or Sarong (Malayan).In pre-European times the pareus and lavalavas were made of textile mats made of pandanus leaves or wild hibiscus bark.

Tip Photo
None in particular: Haggling on the Market Stalls

by easyoar

Generally if you are planning to buy something in French Polynesia, it is best to haggle with a local market trader than try and buy something in a shop.Haggling is very much the word though. Never pay the original price.The other nice thing about market traders is you tend to be able to have more of a conversation with them than with a shop worker. In this case, you can see the father looking after his daughter, and you get to see a bit more of Polynesian life. Carvings, necklaces hats etc It will not be cheap!

Tip Photo
None in particular: Colourful Batiks

by easyoar

These colourful Batiks are sold all over the island. They are very colourful and look great blowing in the breeze.As with all things Polynesian, never pay the first price you are told, always haggle hard!This picture shows a Batik on the right that has a Paul Gauguin design on. He is a famous artist who lived in Polynesia for 4 years from 1897 to 1901 and painted a lot of 'Polynesian' art.Note:- Being English, I use the correct English spelling for colour, and not the corrupted American spelling of it ;-)

Tip Photo
Black Pearls: Black Pearls (but watch what you pay!)

by easyoar

If you have seen Pirates of the Caribbean, you may have thought that the curse of the Black Pearl was just a name right? No, in French Polynesia, some of the pearls are actually blackish in appearance.As all things are in extremely expensive in Moorea, you could end up re-mortgage your house to buy one (well OK, that is a bit of an exaggeration, especially if you buy a poor quality one), but almost everything in French Polynesia is seriously expensive. People expect you to haggle, so try your luck in several places to see what price you can get.As French Polynesia is so expensive, it may be advisable to buy the pearl unmounted, and get it mounted when you get home. I didn't actually buy one, but they are pretty to look at! Probably down to your skill at haggling...

Tip Photo
Monoi

by Helga67

Monoi is a wonderful product made from coconut oil and different flowers and herbs. The most popular fragrance is that of the Tiare Tahiti. But you can also buy vanilla, coconut and sandalwood scented monoi products.Monoi oil can be used as a moisturizing lotion, a perfume, suntan lotion, mosquito repellent, hairdressing and a massage lotion.Monoi oil, soaps, shampoos, bath gels and balms can be bought in pharmacies, super markets, hotel boutiques and even in souvenir shops. Most monoi products are inexpensive.

Tip Photo
Black Pearls

by Helga67

The Tahitian black pearl is French Polynesia's biggest export product and, together with the traditional souvenirs, the most sold item to tourists visiting French Polynesia. The beautiful black pearls are produced by the black-lipped oyster living in the lagoons of the Tuamotu and Gambier Islands.When you shop for your black pearls you can make a better choice if you know what to look for in choosing a quality pearl. The main criteria are size, shape, surface quality, luster and color.On the website below, you can find more info.

Tip Photo
What to buy?

by Helga67

Most of the islands have souvenir shops and arts and craft centers, where you can find hand-painted pareos, carved Marquesan bowls, ukulele, tikis, woven hats, shell jewelry, vanilla beans, and much more. More than you would expect

Tip Photo
POE RAVA (BLACK PEARL)

by swesn

There are many pearl farms around the Polynesian lagoons, producing black pearls, from a special oyster found in abundance in this region. The colours of the pearls actually range from pearl white to black and also deep purple, grey and champagne. They are cultured meticulously and used to make various jewellery. Most tourists do not go all the way to the Polynesian islands to stinge. So black pearls should make very special souvenirs and presents. There are many jewellery shops in and around Le Petit Village at Hauru Point in Moorea.As for me, French Polynesia was the end of my 1-year trip. My friends and family members certainly DID NOT GET the chance to say, "My daughter / sister / friend went to Tahiti and all she got me was this black pearl necklace."

Stores, Malls or Markets in French Polynesia

Top 3 Hotels in French Polynesia

Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa  Moorea

 9 Reviews and 477 Opinions  My wife and I went there for a 4 night getaway and we were impressed with everything from the start.... 

 See all 14 Hotels in Moorea

St. Regis Resort  Bora-Bora

 396 Opinions

 See all 20 Hotels in Bora-Bora

Le Tahaa Private Island And Spa  Tahiti

 2 Reviews and 211 Opinions  Le Taha'a is a lovely hotel in many ways, but it is not a good fit for everyone. The layout of the... 

 See all 9 Hotels in Tahiti

76 Hotels in French Polynesia
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of French Polynesia attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for French Polynesia sightseeing.

Experience French Polynesia
Shopping: Cities in French Polynesia
  1. Bora-Bora Shopping
  2. Tahiti Shopping
  3. Moorea Shopping
  4. Papeete Shopping
  5. Raiatea Shopping
  6. Nuku Hiva Shopping

More Cities in French Polynesia

 

Questions and Answers

zilyad profile photo

Q:  I'd love to cruise the islands, but I notice the cruise ships seem to be there in winter. I've read that's the rainy season. I... 

gwened profile photo

A: hard to predict weather but you can get past averages and estimates at www.wunderground.com cheers 

Read 4 Replies

postQuestion_button

Click here for best deals for French Polynesia

Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Plenty of choices
agoda.com Save up to 75%, Don't miss! Live support, Instant confirmation.
Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Book now for big savings!
hotels.com Outstanding choice of hotels all over the world at fantastic prices.

Sponsored Links