Is alcohol expensive in French Polynesia?

Bring your own alcohol.
As mentioned above, alcohol in French Polynesia, especially on resorts, is pricey. To save on alcohol costs and “booze on a budget,” bring your own alcohol from home or purchase alcohol at the duty free store on arrival in French Polynesia.



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Yes, compared to other places in Europe, French Polynesia can be a very expensive destination to visit.

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You are allowed to fly into Bora Bora with 2L of liquor or wine per person, so 3 bottles each. Take advantage of this and bring some in your checked luggage or purchase them in the Duty-Free zone before your flight.

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Both locations are $$$. There is no getting around it. French Polynesia's food and drinks are more expensive than Maldives.

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Drinking water:
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.

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Another popular beer is Tabu - a Tahitian pale lager. Rum is popular and Moorea is home to the Pineapple Factory and Fruit Juice Distillery which produces fruit-infused rums with flavours like pineapple, coconut, and ginger.

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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.

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To summarize, tipping in French Polynesia is not required nor expected! Unlike places in Canada and the United States, such as Calgary and San Diego, where servers are heavily reliant on receiving tips to have a livable wage, French Polynesia automatically factors in the cost of their staff's salary in your bill.

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There is no standard tip amount in Bora Bora.
You can tip whatever you feel is appropriate based on the service you receive, similar to how it works in Europe. Continue reading this guide to find out what is generally considered a good tip for each type of service.

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Tahiti is a relatively cheap island because it is the main island. Many local people live here and there are big supermarkets on the island. Because the island is not that popular with tourists, you also pay relatively little for accommodation here. Huahine is also a relatively cheap island.

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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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Tipping. Tipping is not customary in the Islands of Tahiti and therefore not expected. It is left at your discretion for exemplary service.

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