French Polynesia Islands

-- French Polynesia Islands --

Before I launch into a long discussion about why you should be considering the island paradise of French Polynesia for your next holiday, let me mention a few names: Marquesas, Tahiti, Society Islands. If you know anything about French Polynesia at all, you won’t even have to read on. This place really is paradise on earth.

Hot, Hot, Hot

So, you’re dreaming of a tropical paradise? Well, considering that the average ambient temperature in the islands is around eighty degrees Fahrenheit, you can certainly tick that off your list! But don’t worry, most of the resorts and hotels have air conditioning!

The water temperature hovers around the same temperature, so that means you can strut your stuff in your bikini without worrying about goose bumps.

-- French Polynesia Islands --

Shop for Pearls

If you have the budget, there’s no better place in the world to buy black pearls than French Polynesia. Then again, if you have more of a beer budget than a champagne one, there are also some amazing mother of pearl items that are a lot more budget friendly.

In fact, even if you haven’t got the cash to buy pearls, you can still see how they come into being, by paying a visit to the pearl farm on Tamaa or at Tuamoto – it really is an amazing experience, and who knows, if you drop enough hints, maybe you’ll get an early birthday present?

If you want to find out about the history of the pearl industry in French Polynesia, plan a trip to the Robert Wan Pearl Museum in Tahiti.

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Food

If you have an adventurous palate, then French Polynesian food will be a treat! Interesting dishes like raw fish a la tahitienne are on the menu, which is fish marinated in lemon juice and coconut milk – delicious and different! There’s an interesting mix of island style cuisine, Chinese and French influences, but even if you prefer less interesting dishes, the hotels and restaurants will oblige.

To combine food and culture, head off to one of the bigger hotels for a buffet of traditional delights, and some native dancing, and there’s one great piece of news – tipping is not customary, or expected in French Polynesia!

Culture

The world famous artist Gauguin made his home in Tahiti in the French Polynesian islands, and took his inspiration for colorful, beautiful paintings from the islands. There’s a museum in Papeete that’s devoted to his work, and the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands is also in the city, and is a great place to find out more of the history of the islands, and her people.

Fantastic beaches, friendly people, amazing scenery, art, history and culture, along with great food, and fun, French Polynesia really does have it all. If you do plan to take a trip to paradise, make sure your budget is quite large though, since the islands are not tourist friendly, at least not where budget options are concerned.

Then again, there’s the old saying, you get what you pay for and if you’re talking about French Polynesia, it’s definitely worth every cent.

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