It’s the stuff Instagram dreams are made of: a line of luxury overwater villas with private plunge pools, backed by panoramic views of vibrant turquoise lagoons and lush green mountains.
But is that the reality of most travelers who visit these exotics islands? Not really!
There is no denying that French Polynesia is commonly associated with luxury travel. It’s one of the most bucket-listed honeymoon and anniversary destinations in the world, with many couples willing to splash out the big bucks for airy villas perched literally in the sea.
And believe me, those overwater resorts will cost you the big big BIG bucks, starting anywhere from $500-1000 per night depending on the island, the hotel chain, and whether it’s the low or high tourism season.
…Which for the record, is roughly how much I typically spend on accommodation in total for a one-week getaway.
But it’s kind of a shame that “French Polynesia” and “luxury travel” are so closely linked, because the truth is that you CAN visit French Polynesia on a budget (relatively speaking, anyways).
And I would know, because my husband Derek and I have done it! We weren’t on a shoestring budget by any means, but our daily costs were quite moderate:
- Our accommodations (private bungalow rentals) averaged out around $140 per night. Super reasonable, right?
- We indulged in a handful of pricey excursions, but balanced them out with all of the free activities we enjoyed.
- We splurged on dinner out every night, but usually just snacked for breakfast and lunch.
Granted, French Polynesia can’t compete with ultra-cheap backpacker destinations like Thailand or Nicaragua. The remote location (and the fact that almost everything needs to be imported) means that many everyday items simply have a higher price tag than you’ll find on the mainland, and there’s no getting around that.
Additionally, getting to French Polynesia can be a significant cost for many travelers. That said, if you’re able to fly from Paris or San Francisco, the budget airline French Bee now offers flights to Tahiti at a much lower cost than most airlines.
Below are my best tips for traveling to French Polynesia on a budget (including recommendations for where to save and where to splurge).
1. Affordable accommodations are abundant in French Polynesia!
Your go-to resources for finding affordable places to stay in French Polynesia will be Booking.com and Airbnb. These are the two sites I used to do ALL of my research and make our reservations.
That’s exactly how we found amazing, budget-friendly options like this beautiful bungalow (with a huge, lush private yard) on Huahine, for just $120 per night:
Those same websites are also how we found this partially-overwater bungalow right on Cook’s Bay (one of the most breathtaking and dramatic regions of Moorea) for just $158 per night:
Neither of our bungalows were luxurious by any means, but they did have 1) excellent online reviews, 2) PERFECT locations, 3) beautiful natural scenery, and 4) welcoming, helpful hosts. And considering that they were both well under $200 per night, I consider that a major steal!
In general, affordable accommodations in French Polynesia can be broken into the follow sub-categories:
- Pensions: Family-owned guesthouses with multiple bookable rooms. Usually range from $40-100 per night depending on location and amenities. Often includes airport pickup and drop-off. They may offer breakfast for an additional fee, usually around $10-15.
- Private Rentals: Completely private bungalows, villas or condos, often found on Airbnb (but many of the islands have great selections on Booking.com too). Tend to be a bit pricier due to the increased privacy and space, ranging from $80-150 (of course they can cost much more if you choose a luxurious rental).
- Small Hotels: There are many locally-owned hotels in French Polynesia that offer great value, while remaining less expensive than their chain hotel counterparts. These do tend to be the priciest option on this list, starting around $150-250 per night.
- Hostels: Expect to pay anywhere from $20-30 per night for a standard shared dorm bed, or around $50-90 for a private room in a hostel.
- Camping: Believe it or not, you CAN camp on many French Polynesian islands! Bring your own supplies and plan to spend roughly $15-25 per night to reserve your campsite.
To showcase how incredibly diverse the accommodation options are in French Polynesia (and to prove that almost anyone can find someplace that fits their budget) I’ve rounded up 21 affordable rentals, hotels, hostels and pensions on Moorea.
These accommodations run the gamut, from $17/night for a dorm bed to $260/night for a sea-view bungalow at a hotel.
Affordable Accommodations on Moorea
- Paina Paopao Backpacker – $33/night for a 6-Bed Mixed Dorm, $85/night for a Private Room
- Fare Manureva – $75/night for a Bungalow with Patio
- Te Fare Hinahei – $83/night for a Private Bungalow Rental
- Pension Motu Iti – $90/night for a Garden View Bungalow, $103/night for a Beachfront Bungalow
- Hotel Kaveka – $160/night for a Garden View Bungalow
- Villa Dream Lagoon – $161/night for a Bungalow (with amazing views and a pool!)
Affordable Airbnbs on Moorea
If you expand your search to Airbnb, a WHOLE bunch of additional options become available. **Note that some of these are private rentals while others are guesthouses with multiple rooms available to book, please make sure you understand what you’re getting before you book!**
- Tropical Garden Opunohu – $17/night (shared dorm room!)
- Bungalow polynésien à Moorea – $67/night
- “Te fare iti” au bord du lagon – $78/night
- Fare Haurevaiti Moorea – $79/night
- Eden Moorea by the bay – $79/night
- Moorea Happy Bungalow – $84/night
- Unique Split Bungalow Paradise – $90/night
- Maison coloniale de standing à Moorea – $97/night
- Opunohu Beach House – $125/night
- Villa Poenaki – $134/night
- Moorea Bluebay – $136/night
- Honeymoon Bungalow (Aimeo Lodge) – $158/night (we stayed here!!)
Moderate Splurges on Moorea
These accommodations were a bit out of our price range, but I know many travelers would be thrilled with the value these properties offer!
- Villa BellaVista – $242/night for a Deluxe Room with Ocean View (check out that POOL!!)
- Hotel Hibiscus – $254/night for a Bungalow with Lagoon View
- Moorea Beach Lodge – $260/night for a Bungalow with Sea View
(Psst – save even more with $40 off your first Airbnb booking!)
And just for fun, here are some amazing, luxurious villa rentals on Moorea that are still much less expensive than an overwater bungalow (especially if you’re traveling as a family):
- Villa N°10 – $453/night for a huge, modern open-air villa with 3 beds, a gorgeous kitchen, a pool and amazing beach views
- Pool & Beach Villa – $532/night for yet another amazing open-air villa (in a more traditional Polynesian style) with 4 beds, a pool and beach access
- Maharepa Beach – $436/night for 5 beds and a small pool on a beautiful beachfront property
“But is traveling to French Polynesia worth it if I’m NOT staying in an overwater bungalow?”
Easy answer: YES.
Wait, scratch that—what I actually meant to say was HECK YES!!!
French Polynesia is without a doubt the most beautiful destination I have ever seen with my own eyes. The bright blue lagoons, palm-fringed white sand beaches, and lush green valleys are more beautiful than I can put into words.
So if you’re asking if it’s worth it to visit one of the world’s most incredible destinations, while spending a reasonable (rather than exorbitant) amount of money…um…just, yes.
I imagine that many people who are considering planning a trip to French Polynesia feel a lot of pressure to have the iconic overwater bungalow experience if they’re making the trip alllll the way there, and I totally get it—I felt that same pressure.
But ultimately, we came to terms with the fact that this wasn’t a “splurge worthy” occasion for us, and we’re both content to save the experience of staying in an overwater villa for a later date. Perhaps the Maldives for our 10-year wedding anniversary…?
So if you don’t want or can’t afford to spend the money on a luxury resort in French Polynesia, but are wondering if you should still make the effort to visit, here’s me giving you permission: Yes, 100% do it!
(Hopefully this doesn’t need to be said, but I’m not at all trying to diminish the experience of staying in an overwater bungalow in French Polynesia or convince you NOT to do it. Considering that the vast majority of travel resources focus on those types of accommodations, I’m just providing an alternate perspective).
2. Save HUNDREDS by cooking your own meals.
Aside from airfare, dining out was easily our biggest expense during our 10 days in French Polynesia. Yes, more than our accommodation!
Here’s a breakdown of average food costs in French Polynesia:
- Entree at a casual “snack” serving local cuisine – $15-20
- Entree at a nicer restaurant (i.e. hotel restaurant) – $25-45
- Roulotte (food truck) meal – $10-15
- Cocktail (mai tai, pina colada, rum punch) – $15
- Coca Cola (can) – $3
- Water for the table (bottled) – $2-3
So picture this: you and your partner go out to dinner at a typical “snack” and each get one entree ($20 per person) and one cocktail ($15 per person). That single meal adds up to a whopping $70!
…at a casual local restaurant with plastic table covers, paper napkins and servers in flip flips and sarongs, no less. YIKES.
This is exactly how we ended up spending $100+ on dinner every single night of our trip. And hey, no regrets—it was vacation and we’re foodies, so it’s an area we’re happy to splurge on.
But if you’re on a tight budget, this is one area where you can save a significant amount of money. Here’s how:
- Choose accommodations where you will have access to a kitchen, so you can do your own cooking. You can stock up on all sorts of local meats, seafood and produce at the grocery store, and cook your own delicious Polynesian-inspired meals at home (…or Top Ramen always works, too).
- Speaking of grocery stores, you can find baguettes and other bakery items for super cheap across French Polynesia. They’re a staple among the locals and expats!
- Those roadside fruit stands you’ll see all over the islands area great place to snag fresh tropical fruits at a low price point. Bananas, coconuts, pineapples, passionfruit, papaya and lychee make for an amazing daily breakfast or snack. Delicious fruit salad, anyone?
- If you want to enjoy a sunset cocktail, make your own. Even the cheapest local eateries price their cocktails starting around $15 each…or you can buy a bottle of rum that will last your entire trip for $30. You do the math!
- Stick with just two meals a day. Between the sticky heat and the large restaurant portions, we were more than fine skipping lunch nearly every day of our trip. There’s only one day I can remember eating lunch, and because it was so late in the day, we ended up just splitting some light (read: cheap) appetizers for dinner. If you do plan to dine out every day, cutting down the frequency of meals can save you a lot of money.
3. Prioritize free activities.
They say that the best things in life are free, and that’s certainly true in French Polynesia! This chain of islands is a true-blue tropical paradise, like something straight out of Moana.
Escaping somewhere as remote and wild as French Polynesia made me feel just like a kid again. We spent our days slathering on sunscreen for daily adventures like barefoot walks, bike rides around the island and afternoon dips in the ocean.
All of the above activities? 100% FREE!
We were lucky that our bungalow on Huahine included two bikes that were available to use for free throughout our stay. You will find many accommodations that offer this perk (especially on Airbnb), or in some cases they may charge a small rental fee—typically lower than what you’ll find at bicycle rental shops.
Standard hotels often have even more gear available for their guests to use, such as kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and snorkeling equipment.
And of course, the number one feature that French Polynesia is renowned for is completely free to experience: the beautiful turquoise lagoons. We spent countless hours floating and swimming in the crystal clear water, and every moment was pure bliss.
Hiking is another popular activity on many of the islands (such as Moorea) and unless you’re hiring a guide, comes with absolutely zero costs.
If you fill your days with mostly these types of free activities, it’s still entirely possible to book a few tours and pricier activities and still have an overall affordable trip.
4. Bring your own snorkeling gear.
Snorkeling is one of those activities that could go either way in a place like French Polynesia: you could book pricey full-day snorkeling excursions (which start around $80 per person) OR you could bring your own gear and snorkel right off the beach without spending a cent.
Derek and I aren’t that into snorkeling, so we did just end up booking one of the tours (more on that later). But if you plan to snorkel multiple times during your vacation, tours are just not the most economical choice.
You can rent snorkeling gear by the hour from many of the hotels and shops near the beaches, but why not save even more and just bring your own?
French Polynesia has many beaches that are excellent for snorkeling (no boat required). If you have access to a kayak, you can reach an even greater number of beautiful snorkeling spots just off the shoreline.
5. Know when to splurge.
Ultimately, you’re on vacation in of the world’s most stunning and exotic destinations. While you could absolutely plan a shoestring trip (camping, hitchhiking, cooking all of your own meals, zero tours or rentals) and still see all the same beautiful scenery as everyone else, we personally enjoyed splurging on a few special activities.
Some of our splurges included:
The full-day lagoon tour with Huahine Nautique. We snorkeled with dozens of black tip reef sharks, had a picnic on a gorgeous motu, drift snorkeled over coral gardens, swam in amazingly clear lagoons, and boated around the most scenic parts of the island. At $85 per person, YEAH, it was well worth it. In fact, it was probably the best day of our entire 10 days in French Polynesia!
The day pass at Hilton Moorea. Believe it or not, this was even more expensive than the lagoon tour! We wanted to end our trip on a relaxing note, so we splurged for the $90 per person resort passes and spent an entire blissful day lounging by the pool and sipping fruity cocktails (not included in the price). An expensive day? Mmhmm. Worth it? Absolutely!
Food…every single day. Like I said, Derek and I are serious foodies. We’re just not the type to eat noodles in our Airbnb kitchen when there’s fresh mahi mahi dressed in Tahitian vanilla sauce to be had…even if doing so would save us hundreds over the course of a week. Dining out was definitely a worthwhile splurge for us, but I know this is an area where others may rather cut costs.
What it all boils down to is this: What is your budget? What are you comfortable spending, and more importantly, what can you afford to spend? What is your typical travel style? What do you hope to get out of this travel experience?
Despite French Polynesia’s reputation as a luxury destination, I really don’t see any reason to deviate from your usual travel spending habits just because you’re planning a trip here.
If you typically stay in 5-star hotels and splurge on fine dining while traveling anywhere else in the world (whether it’s Mexico, Italy or New Zealand) then go for it! But if you usually stay in boutique hotels, Airbnbs or hostels, why feel pressured to do things differently in French Polynesia?
These islands will certainly not be the cheapest place you’ll ever visit…but there’s a good chance they will be among the most beautiful and untouched, and that makes any expenses more than worth it in my book.
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Did you know it was possible to travel to French Polynesia on a budget, or do you mostly associate the islands with luxury travel? What else would you like to know about finding affordable accommodations or visiting French Polynesia on a budget?
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Thanks for the blog post. Super helpful to get a idea concerning cost of accommodation.
thank you for sharing is helpful.