You’re heading to Tahiti and you’re super excited.  It’s time to start thinking about what to pack and you need some guidance.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui

My Vacation Lady has these tips to offer.

Let’s help you prepare for your honeymoon or vacation in Paradise

This really isn’t going to be a list of everything you need to pack for your honeymoon to the Tahitian Islands or French Polynesia but more about what you might not consider packing for your Tahitian honeymoon.

Some of this will depend on which islands you’ll be visiting but some are more generic:

Things you might not have thought of:

  • Bring your PADI certification card with you, even if you aren’t planning on diving.  You are allowed and extra 5kg of luggage on your inter-island flights.
  • Mosquito repellent- especially if you are planning on taking an ATV tour, or jeep excursion.
  • Don’t forget to pack an anti itch lotion, cream or spray.
  • Bring a combination of an adapter and an electric converter.  The adapter is for anything with a heating element (hair straightener, etc).  The converter is for your electronics.
  • Bring a wide mouth, insulated water bottle.  Fill it with ice and a bit of water at the hotel and you’ll have cold water most of the day.  A bottle of water is more expensive than a can of beer in Tahiti so if you prefer water during the day and on excursions, this will come in handy.
  • Bring a wine cork screw with you.  Stop off in a supermarket and buy some wine.  It will be a lot cheaper than at the hotel.
  • A small back pack to use as a carry on.  Air Tahiti’s inter island flights have a really low carry on allowance.  Their carry on weight is 11 lbs and they really don’t have room for the wheely type carry ons.  A back pack can easily fit in the over head compartment or under the seat in front of you.
  • If you drink decaffeinated tea or use artificial sweetner (like Equal or Splenda) bring your own.  You’ll only find Stevia in Tahiti and decaffeinated teas will be hard to find, if at all.  If you prefer diet beverages, consider individual packages of Crystal Lite.
Over Water Bungalows at the St Regis Bora Bora

Over Water Bungalows at the St Regis Bora Bora

Things you might think you won’t need:

  1. Sneakers or comfortable walking shoes- you might want to do some shopping in Tahiti or hiking along some of the trails in the islands.
  2. Water shoes – especially when you’re snorkeling among the coral reefs.  You can easily cut your feet on them.
  3. A Pareo (or Sarong).  This can be knotted and twisted into a bathing suit cover up or a dinner dress.  You don’t have to worry about not having one since you can buy them  all over the islands.
  4. A sweater or light jacket— it can get cooler at night
  5. Underwater camera- the sea life and the coral is so wonderful that you’ll really want to have one with you.

What you can leave home: 

  1. While you may think you’re going to need a curling iron or a flat iron for your French Polynesian honeymoon, you might want to embrace your curls.  A good conditioner, some hair clips and hair bands will help you tame your hair.
  2. We know you’ll want to look great for on your vacation, but ladies, French Polynesia can be hot and humid.  Leave home the heavy foundations, powders and eye make up.  They’ll wash right off in the water.  Opt for a good tinted moisturizer with sunscreen and some blush (until you get that natural glow)
  3. Don’t bring tons of cash.  There are some ATM’s in the Papeete airport and some of the major islands.  Resorts and larger restaurants will accept credit cards.  Since tipping is not a standard practice, you don’t need to have tons of small bills.  Consider about $300USD in XPF (French Pacific Francs) and you can always exchange more at the hotels if you really need it.
  4. High heeled shoes and fancy clothes.  You’ll be walking along wooden pontoons or, possibly, uneven walk ways.  The Tahitian islands are neat, comfortable and casual.  Some fun sandals, sun dresses for the ladies and cotton or linen shorts, short sleeved shirts and sandals are great for men.

Some things you should always pack for a tropical honeymoon:

1.  Good reef safe sunscreen—and quite a bit of it.  An 8 oz bottle of sunscreen in Tahiti was over $25 US.  You’ll need to re-apply often.
2.  An extra pair of contact lenses or glasses.
3.  Sunglasses
4.  A hat
5.  Extra bathing suits (nothing is worse than putting on a damp bathing suit).  You’ll be wearing bathing suits every day so really do consider at least 3 of them.
6.   A beach bag

My Vacation Lady is a top rated honeymoon specialist as well as a Tahiti Destination Specialist.  We won’t be the first to tell you that your vacation or honeymoon to should be special but we certainly will help make it special!