Customer Reviews

Hidden Tahiti and French Polynesia (Hidden Tahiti & French Polynesia)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My wife and I took the first edition of this book on our honeymoon in 1997. Let's just say that another couple we hooked up with wound up not doing a thing without consulting "the book". We are not adventure travellers per say, but we don't like exquisite resorts that cater to you hand and foot. We like to explore, meet/see the people, etc. Well, this book got us to a waterfall on Moorea, the lagoon passes of Rangiroa, the village on Manihi, and nothing it recommended led us astray.

As the author of Moon Handbooks Tahiti and one of Rob Kay's competitors, I'd like to say that his book has class and I recommend it to the traveler who carries two guides. Rob's coverage of top end food and lodging is unrivaled, and his cultural and historical vignettes convey the full flavor of Polynesia. It's great pre-trip reading and very useful in deciding when and where to splurge. It complements well the web and email addresses, tour and transportation listings, budget tips, and detailed maps in my book. After checking accommodations prices (which Rob doesn't provide) in Moon Handbooks Tahiti, you can get a well thought out second opinion about conditions on the ground from Hidden Tahiti. I hope this helps bring our 'rival' titles into focus.

We bought 3 books and always seemed to rely on this one. Mr Kay gives great info on restaurants and hidden lodgings, which are the 2 most important topics for us. We actually stayed in one place that he labeled "hidden" and he was right! We could not find the entrance and when we did they were not open to the public, but they decided to let us stay and we were the only guests for a week. No other guide book listed this hidden lodging. Mr. Kay has a more personal approach and gives great descriptions, which the other guide books lack. And as far as not giving exact prices, it's useless to do so as these things change so much anyway. All you need to know is this: you stay in a big hotel where all the other tourists stay you will pay big money for not so much, if you venture out to where the real people live, you pay less and get better service, food, and memories.

As a two time, three island visitor to the islands of Tahiti, I did not find this book helpful because it lacks prices and it focuses on upscale lodging/food. On both trips, I've found David Stanley's TAHITI (by Moon Pub.) to be the BEST guide, providing you purchase the most recent edition, as Tahiti's hotels change with the seasons. David Stanley's guides are full of detailed maps, reviews of hikes, beaches, accomodations (from hostels to resorts), food... His advice has never steered us wrong! We owe some great travel experiences to his guide book; TAHITI by D. Stanley is the only one that you will need.

I chose this book sight unseen because it included the Marquesas which weren't mentioned in the descriptions of most other guides. I cruised the islands on the Tahitian Princess. For each island stop this book was accurate. I followed several tips that maximized the onshore experience.

Most of the islands in French Polynesia are not heavily developed or populated. If you are thinking about a land based vacation I recommend this book because the description of each island and its facilities should give you a feeling of whether you will enjoy your vacation.

My husband and I travelled to Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora. This book was fantastic! I usually only use Lonely Planet tour books when we travel - but I have to say this book was 5 times better than the Lonely Planet Tahiti book! Every island we went to this book directed us to little travelled - non touristy places and we feel we really got to know the islands! I highly reccommend it!

Excellent book to have with you as you tour the islands of the South Seas.

My wife and I helped Rob with some of the research for the book while we were living on the island of Raiatea in 1994. Most travel writers can only spend a little time actually checking out places to stay and eat. With the research that we were able to do, the reader of this book can be assured that the information hotels, pensions and restaurants on Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa and Maupiti are not only accurate but informed by our personal experiences during a stay of several months.

We are planning our 2001 trip pacific south bound. Picked this book out of the several other's. Liked the cover!the "tone", and contents of the book. It envited me further in and on to the purchase line. Being prior Hawaiian residents, we have always hoped to get down to the true polynesian teritories and experiance, the "raw" and more un-americanized version of Polynesian lifestyle. Rob Kay's book truely stands out to be one of Tahiti's most informative, inspiring light's! I have found. So,thanks Rob for the Torch, it has surely helped enlighten us on our next Journey!

The guide helped out a lot during our research and our 10 days on Rangiroa/Huahine. Especially useful for those close aiport hotels when arriving at 2am. Some of the information on Huahine was out of date because of the hurricane they had in early '98 (>), especially the recommended dining section.

However, the guide was great in helping us enjoy our vacaton to the upmost