Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants, and larger shops and grocery stores on Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. Smaller shops or stores or more remote islands may accept credit cards with a minimum purchase. Visa and MasterCard are the two most widely accepted credit cards.
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You should use a credit card in French Polynesia. The ones that are accepted on our main islands are American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners Club, etc. However, only cash will be accepted in Tubuai, Ua Pou, Mangareva, or on other small islands.
It is important to exchange or withdraw XPF before departing the island because it is not commonly accepted outside of French Polynesia. The fact that many shops and hotels on Bora Bora also take US dollars as payment is very significant.
Compared to the United States where tipping is always expected, regardless of the kind of service you receive, tipping is not required or expected in French Polynesia. It's similar to the culture in France and most places in Europe.
French Polynesia is an expensive destination. You must pick and choose your battles or you'll blow through your budget within the first couple of days. Here are a few ways you can save money while you're here: Look for package deals – You can often find package deals on sale that include hotels, food, and activities.
You can drink tap water in Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora and in all the international resorts. It is usually fine in family hotels and in the other islands but we recommend that you ask your hosts for confirmation.
French Polynesia uses the Global System for Mobiles (GSM) technology. Check with your wireless company before traveling to see if you have a GSM phone. If so, you may be able to use it in the islands if your home provider has an international roaming agreement with the mobile network Vinia (www.vini.pf).
The legal drinking age is 18, and individuals under 18 years of age are not allowed to purchase or consume alcohol. Additionally, French Polynesia has strict laws in place to prevent drunk driving, and the legal age to purchase cigarettes is 21 years old.
The languages spoken in Bora Bora are Tahitian and French. However, due to the high tourism population, many natives of Bora Bora have learned to speak English.