Large school of gray reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Garuae Pass, Fakarava
Sunset at Pension Havaiki, Fakarava - LouwPhotography.com
Tahiti Tourisme has created a new information site that lists family pensions throughout its islands.
Family pensions are a great way to have an affordable French Polynesian vacation. Since they are more basic than a typical hotel, they come at a lower cost. What’s more, if you’re planning to visit more remote islands, there may be only 1 hotel to choose from – at best.
Plus, since pensions are usually family-run and small, you get to experience the Polynesian people and culture better – and get an idea of what it would be like to live on the island full-time…*sigh*
Just make sure you know what you’re in for – I researched many pensions in Fakarava for my last trip and almost all of them had cold water showers, which was fine with me but may not be for everyone.
The new website uses a three tiare rating system to help you find a pension, though the rating system is voluntary and looks pretty new. I clicked around several properties in Fakarava – including Pension Havaiki where I stayed and the well-regarded Raimiti – and they all came up with “no tiare”. Also, the site seems a little buggy when I navigated through it and kept switching me from English to French (is it trying to tell me something?)