Papeete, the capital and commercial hub of French Polynesia, hosts the government offices, hospitals, banks, airline and travel agencies, boutiques and black pearl shops, etc.. The Central Market (Marché Central) is a must, located 1 block behind the waterfront. You will see traditional Tahitian crafts, flowers, fruits, fish, etc.. The waterfront is attractive, with a tree lined promenade along a marina with an international yachting community. International cargo freighters, copra ships, luxury liners and sailing yachts share the harbor. There are several excellent restaurants (this is a little France after all) with menus featuring French , Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese and American choices (there is now a MacDonald :-( , in addition to local specialties (upstairs in the Central Market, nice lunch fare with a local band - a popular place). Prices vary to fit just about any budget, starting at about US$12 for a main course. If you are on a budget or want to get into some local color, there is also some good food to be had on the waterfront parking lot in the center of town. This is where, after 6 pm, you will find the "roulottes", about 2 dozen licensed food trucks offering a variety of inexpensive but fresh and well prepared dishes. This is funky dinning on hard stools amongst locals, tourists, airline crews etc..where the sights are almost as good as the food. A busy small city, Papeete hums with happy sounds in a tropical atmosphere with French flavor and a Tahitian easygoing disposition.

The Main Hotels

The best hotels/resorts are located outside of Papeete, bordering the lagoon. The Tahiti Intercontinental: Still the best five star resort, with a choice of rooms and overwater bungalows. Le Meridien: A deluxe resort, 40 minutes outside of town, past the airport, with rooms and overwater bungalows.Upscale with a Euro design, and largest of all. The Sheraton: Located at the edge of town on the waterfront. Good choice of accommodation but no bungalows. A good quality/value ratio. The Radisson: the newest hotel, located on the other side of town from the airport on a black sand beach.  5 star accommodation. The Sofitel Maeva Beach: a 3/4 star hotel, all a/c rooms, conveniently located near the airport and 15 minute from town. An OK resort on the beach, good for overnight stays. The Royal Tahitian: 2 stars, just outside of town opposite the airport on a black sand beach. A pleasant, smaller hotel with nice rooms at garden level. A swimming pool and beach side restaurant make this hotel a good value. Le Mandarin: budget hotel in the heart of Papeete, Ok amenities and excellent location near the Market and the waterfront. There are other small hotels in town, such as Prince Hinoi and Royal Papeete on the waterfront or Te Tiare.

If you want to telephone to Tahiti, the country code is 689, before the numbers given here (there is no city code - yet..).

TOURIST OFFICE	Fare Manihi, Pomare Blvd. (waterfront) Tel: 50. 57. 00 / Fax: 43. 66. 19 Main Points of Interest MARCHÉ CENTRAL - Central Market CATHEDRALE NOTRE-DAME -Papeete TEMPLE PAOFAI -Papeete SAINT-ETIENNE CHURCH- Unaauia SAINT-MICHEL CHURCH- Papara BOTANICAL GARDEN - Motu ovini HARRISSON SMITH GARDEN - Papeari VALLEE DE LA FAUTAUA - Papeete POINTE VENUS - Mahina LAGOONARIUM - Punaauia
AIR TRANSPORTATION	Regular Inter-Island Airline Service: AIR TAHITI - Aeroport de Faaa Res. Tahiti - Tel. 86 42. 42 Fax. 86. 40. 69 Charter Flights: AIR TAHITI / AIR MOOREA Aeroport de Faaa Tel. 86. 40. 14/ Fax. 86. 40. 69 TAHITI CONQUEST AIRLINES Aeroport de Faaa Tel. 85. 55. 54 / Fax.~85 55. 56 AIR OCEANIA TAHITI Aeroport de Faaa Tel 82.10.47/Fax 82.10.34 WAN AIR - Aeroport de Faaa Tel. 83. 57. 36/Fax. 82. 10. 34 AIR ALIZEE Aeroport de Raiatea - Tel. 66. 10. 00/ Fax. 66. 10. Ol Helicopter Service: HELl PACIFIC - Faaa Airport - Tel. 85.68.00 Fax. 85.68.08 HELl-INTER POLYNESIE - Aeroport de Tahiti-Faaa Tel. 81. 99. 00/ Fax. 81. 99. 99
MOOREA FERRY	(See MOOREA)
TAXI	AIRPORT - Tel. 83. 30. 07
CAR RENTALS	HERTZ RENT-A-CAR - TeI. 42.04.71/ Fax. 42.48 62 AVIS POLYNESIE - Tel. 42. 96. 49/ Fax. 41. 08. 47 PACIFICAR - Tel. 41. 93. 93/Fax. 42. 19. 11 ROBERT RENT-A-CAR -TeI. 42. 97. 20/ Fax. 42.63.00 EUROPCAR INTER-RENT -Tel. 45.24.24/Fax. 41.93. 41
SIGHTSEEING TOURS	SAFARI LOISIRS - Tel. 43.97.99 I Fax. 57.90.30 SAFARI TAHITI EXPEDITION -Tel. 42.14.15 ADVENTURE EAGLE TOURS - Tel. 41. 37. 63 TAHITI ATA MOU' A - Tel. 41. 99. 00 NAVE NAVE ADVENTURE TOURS- Tel/Fax 43.43.30 TEFAARAHI ADVENTURE TOURS Te I. 56.41.24 - Fax 56.31.91
MUSEUM	MUSEE PAUL GAUGUIN - Papeari Tel. 57. 10.58 /Fax. 57. 10.42 MUSEE DE TAHITI ET SES ILES - Punaauia Tel: 58.34.76 /Fax. 58.43.00 MUSEE DU COQUILLAGE - Papara Tel. 57. 45. 22 / Fax. 57. 37. 78 MUSEE DE LA PERLE NOIRE - Papeete TeL. 50.53. 10/Fax. 43.49.01
ART GALLERIES	WINKLER - Rue Jeanne d' Arc PPT - Tel. 42. 81. 77 REVA REVA - Rue Lagarde PPT- Tel. 43. 32. 67 ETIENNE SIQUIN - Avenue du Pnnce Hinoi PPT Tel. 42.09.81 NOA NOA - Boulevard Pomare PPT Tel. 42.73.47 MATAMUA - Boulevard Pomare PPT TeI.41 .34.95 LES TROPIQUES - Rue Cook PPT Tel. 41.05.00 OVIRI - Mairie de Punaauia - Tel. 45.04.04 O TAHITI NUl - Punaauia - Tel. 58.40.99 TIAMA' 0 - Papara - TeI. 57. 34. 82 HALVERSEN - Taravao - Te I. 57.72.56
HIKING EXCURSIONS	PRESQU' ILE LOISIRS - Tel. 57. 00. 57 LE CIRCUIT VERT - Tel. 57. 22. 67 TAHITI SPECIAL EXCURSIONS Tel. I Fax. 43. 72. 01 TE ROO NUl 0 TE PARI HONOURA Tel. 42. 80. 19 1 57. 19. 56 TE FETIA 0 TE MAU MATO Tel. 42. 84. 82
GOLF	GOLF INTERNATIONAL OLIVIER BREAUD - Mataiea Tel. 57. 40. 32/ 57. 43. 41/ Fax. 57. 49. 68
TENNIS	TENNIS CLUB DE FAUTAUA Fautaua PPT Tel. 42. 00. 59 1 42. 38. 66 AS FEl PI SECTION TENNIS - Awe - Tel. 42. 53.87/41. 95.92 CLUB EXCELSIOR SECTION TENNIS Quartier de Ia Mission PPT- Tel. 43. 91. 46 I 45. 18. 17 TENNIS CLUB CHON WA Mamao PPT- Tel. 42. 01. 31 CLUB A.S DRAGON SECTION TENNIS Titioro PPT Tel. 43.31.12/43.74.94 CLUB A.S. PHOENIX SECTION TENNIS Punaauia Tel. 82. 35. 56 1 42. 96. 41 TENNIS CLUB J.t Pirae - TeI. 45. 13. 14/43. 80. 83 TENNIS CLUB RAUTEA - Faaa - Tel. 81. 90. 08 1 43. 32. 72
SOUASH	HoteI Matava PPT - Tel. 42.67.67/ Fax. 42.36.90
HORSE BACK RIDING	CLUB EQUESTRE OF TAHITI - Hippodrome de Pirae Tel. 42. 70. 41 L' EPERON DE PIRAE - Hippodrome de Pirae Tel. 42. 79. 87/ Fax. 45. 14. 51 PONEY CLUB DE TAHITI - Hippodrome de Pirae Tel. 43. 49. 29 RANCH LE CENTAURE - Papeari - Tel. 57.70.77
PARA SAILING	AIR EVASION - Tel. 58. 22. 88 I Fax. 43. 72. 01 SAFARI TAHITI PARAPENTE - Te. 58.26.12/ Fax. 58. 26. 12
MOUNTAIN SAFARI EXCURSIONS	SAFARI LOISIRS - Tel. 43.97.99 I Fax. 57.90.30 SAFARI TAHITI EXPEDITION -Tel. 42.14.15 ADVENTURE EAGLE TOURS - Tel. 41. 37. 63 TAHITI ATA MOU' A - Tel. 41. 99. 00 NAVE NAVE ADVENTURE TOURS- Te~VFax 43.43.30 TEFAARAHI ADVENTURE TOURS Te I. 56.41.24 - Fax 56.31.91
YACHT CHARTERS	TAHITI YACHT CHARTER - Boulevard Pomare PPT Tel. 45. 04. 00 / Fax. 42. 76. 00 DUFOUR TAHITI NPM YACHT CHARTER Boulevard Pomare PPT - Tel. 43. 39. 79 / Fax. 43. 39. 78 JET FRANCE - Boulevard Poamre PPT Tel. 56. 25. 62 ENJOY - HoteI Tahiti Beachcomber Parkroyal Tel. 86. 51. 10/ 45. 59. 37/ Fax. 42. 18. 88 RAG DOLL - Mers et Loisirs Papeete - Te I. 53.43.83/42.69.63 Charter Cruises AREMITI I - Mers et Loisirs PPT - TeI. 42.88.88/ Fax 45.27.58 POT TERE I - Boulevard Pomare PPT - Tel. 77.77.70 Fax. 43.66.05 Marinas MARINA TAINA - Tel. 41. 02. 25 1 Fax. 45. 27. 58 MARINA DU COMPTOIR MARINE Fare Ute Tel. 42. 80. 27/ Fax. 42. 24. 41
DEEP SEA FISHING	NAPUKA - Marina Taina Punaauia Tel. 42.18.34/ 41.02.27 / Fax. 45.27.58 MISS HINANO - Marina Taina Punaauia Tel. 41 02 25/ 42. 67. 52/ Fax. 45. 27. 58 ROSTER - Marina Fare Ute Tel. 41. 02. 54/ 43. 05. 78/ Fax. 45. 27. 58 TEA NUl - Baie de Cook Moorea Tel. 42. 75. 42/ 56. 15. 08/ Fax. 45. 27. 58 TEHITIRERE - Arue Tel. 42.04.15 / Fax. 45.25.58 / 43.59.21 TEVAITE - Marina Taina Punaauia Tel. 42. 58. 23 / Fax. 45. 27. 58 LElANA III - Tel. 41.02.25 Fax 45.27.58 HAKA NUl - Marina Taina Punaauia Tel. 41. 02. 25 / Fax. 45. 27. 58 TEANUATA - Punaauia - Tel. 41.02.25 /Fax. 45.27.58 RAIHAUTUA - Boulevard Pomare PPT Tel. 41.02.25/Fax. 45.27.58 HOREA - Marina Taina Punaauia Tel. 41.02.25 / Fax 45.27.58 TAHITIAN INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNMENT Tel. 43.19.00 / Fax. 43.28.45
MISC. WATER ACTIVITIES	SCUBA DIVING CENTER YACHT CLUB DIVING CENTER Yacht Club d' Arue Tel. 42. 23. 55 Fax. 42. 37. 07 TAHITI AQUATIC MAEVA Hotel Sotitel Maeva Beach - Tel. / Fax. 41. 08. 54 TAHITI PLONGEE - P.K. 7,500 - Punaauia Tel. 41. 00. 62/ 43. 62. 51/ Fax. 42. 26. 06 TAHITI CHARTER ISLAND Hotel Tahiti Tel. 45.28.12/45.07.75 - Fax 45.28.12 TAHITI AQUATIC BEACHCOMBER Hotel Tahiti Beachcomber Parkroyal -Tel. 86.51.10 Ext. 5610 Fax. 86.51.30 COWAN PLONGEE - Arue Tel. 46.32.78/ 43.08.15 / Fax. 42.14.09 TA' ITUA PLONGEE - Taravao - Tel. 57. 77. 93 / 57. 77. 98 Misc. Nautical Activities SURFING SCHOOL - Papeete Phone / Fax: 41 91 37 YACHT CLUB D' ARUE - Arue Tel. 42.78.03 / Fax. 42.37.07 HOTEL TAHITI BEACHCOMBER PARKROYAL - Punaauia - Tel. 86. 51. 10/Fax. 86.51.30 HOTEL SOFITEL MAEVA BEACH - Punaauia Tel. 42. 80. 42/ Fax. 41. 08. 54 WATER SKI CLUB DE TAHITI Punaauia Tel. 42. 10. 38
RESORT HOTELS	For a complete description - with photos - of our selection of hotels, please go to our Hotel Page.
NON CLASSIFIED SMALL HOTELS	MAHINA TEA - Papeete - Tel: 42. 00. 97 SHOGUN - Papeete - TeI: 43.13.93/Fax 43.27.28 PAPARA VILLAGE - Papara - TeI: 57.41.41/57.79.00 RELAIS DE LA MAROTO - Mataiea Tel. 43.97.99 / 57.90.29 / Fax. 57.90. 30 TE ANUANUA - Pueu - Tel. / Fax. 57. 12. 54
LODGING WITH PRIVATE FAMILIES	LES BOUGAINVILLEES - Paea - Tel. / Fax. 53. 28. 02 MEHERlO - Vairao - Tel. 57. 74. 31 TEAMO - Papeete - Tel. 42.00.35/ 42.47.26/ Fax. 43.56.95 TAHITI BUDGET LODGE - Papeete Tel. 42.66.82/ Fax. 43.06. 79 CHEZ MYRNA - Papeete -Tel. 42. 64. 11 HEITIARE INN - Faaa -Tel. 83. 33. 52/82. 77. 53 CHEZ FIFI - Faaa - Tel. 82. 63. 30 CHEZ VA' A - Punaauia - Tel. 42. 94. 32 CHEZ ARMELLE - Punaauia - Tel. 58. 42. 43/ Fax. 58. 42. 81 LE BELLEVUE - Punaauia - Tel. / Fax. 58. 47. 04 FARE OPUHI ROTI - Paea - Tel. 53. 20.26 HITI MOANA VILLA - Papara Tel. 57. 93. 93/ Fax. 57 94 44 FARE NANA' 0 - Faaone - Tel. 57. 18. 14/Fax. 57. 16. 10 CHEZ LOLA - Faaa - Tel. 81.91.75

1 800 747 9997

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