Preparing to Travel: Communication

Post Office

The postal service in Tahiti is very efficient, both between the islands and internationally. Mail sent to Europe or the United States will typically take between 8 to 15 days to arrive. The post offices are located on the major islands and are generally open Monday to Friday from 7:00AM to 3:00PM. Your resort can also usually send your outgoing mail for you.

Street Addresses

Not many businesses in Tahiti have a defined geographical address with a street number and name. Instead, they use Point Kilometer (PK) to indicate an address. Most locals will usually refer to a major landmark or point of interest when giving directions.

Telephone

Telephones are available in your hotel for both international and local calls. Calling cards can easily be purchased at most post offices and local shops or sometimes from the front desk at your hotel. Pay phones are also usually located at the post office. You must have a calling card to use a pay phone.

To make a domestic call within French Polynesia, simply dial the local 8-digit phone number. There is no prefix or area code required.

To call French Polynesia from your home country, dial your international access code (011 from the U.S.; 00 from the U.K., Ireland, or New Zealand; or 0011 from Australia), followed by French Polynesia's country code 689, and the 8-digit local number.

To make international calls from within French Polynesia, first dial 00, then the country code (U.S. or Canada 1, U.K. 44, Australia 61, New Zealand 64), followed by the area code and phone number.

Mobile Phone

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). If not, you can always rent a phone or buy a local SIM card from Vini once you arrive. You can also purchase a phone or SIM card duty free from Air Tahiti Nui on the plane or online before your departure (www.tahiti-airstore.com).

Internet Access

Internet access is readily available in Tahiti but it can sometimes run on island time. If you are bringing your own laptop or tablet, please note that not all hotels are completely Wi-Fi enabled and you may need to use an Ethernet cable in your room. More resorts are starting to offer free Wi-Fi in the common areas, and some provide free Internet access during your full stay. If you don't have your own laptop or tablet, the hotels often have business centers.