Moorea, along with Bora Bora, is considered one of the most beautiful areas in the South Pacific (and by extension, the world). It is a laid-back island with white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, and green mountains jutting into the sky.

One can drive around the island in under 2 hours,...

Moorea, along with Bora Bora, is considered one of the most beautiful areas in the South Pacific (and by extension, the world). It is a laid-back island with white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, and green mountains jutting into the sky.

One can drive around the island in under 2 hours, making most areas easily accessible by car or scooter, a better deal in ultra-expensive French Polynesia. Scooters run about 5500 cfp per day, cheaper for multi-day rentals. Cars are 8500 cfp and up. Most people arrive by ferry in Vaiare,on the east side of Moorea. Ferry is the best way to access the island as it is only a 45-minute ride from Pape'ete and cheaper than flying (about $8 US), with the additional bonus of some beautiful views of both Tahiti and Moorea.

The Sofitel Ia Ora is 2 miles from the ferry, and there is a bus which runs from the ferry around the island for 300 cfp; a taxi will cost three times that for the short ride. The Sofitel also has the best beach on the island, and as with all beaches here, is open to the public. There are very few places to eat near the hotel though, so a car or scooter is helpful to have for those looking to spend less and eat better. The Sofitel is a great place to stay, but food is not their strength. There are several restaurants that will pick you up for dinner, and two markets near the ferry. Buying basic groceries will save you money, but be prepared to spend there as well. Cereal alone will run you $6-7 US per box!

( As of early 2006 the Sofitel Ia Ora is under renovation, should re open mid 2006 )

Cheaper meals on the island include several pizza parlors and a rotisserie chicken stand. The pizza place across from the ferry is pretty standard, better is Chez Luciano on the Western side of the island. Pizzas start at about 1000 cfp.

Accomodations: Most are on the expensive side, as with everything here, but travelers can save money by staying at one of the two campgrounds, both on the west side of the island.

This content is licenced under a creative commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 licence and has been copied from World66.com.