Skip the $2,000 overwater bungalow.
French Polynesia has a reputation for being an expensive honeymoon destination and influencer magnet. But that’s mainly how American travelers see it—85% of whom are bound for Bora Bora with its rows of luxury resorts with overwater bungalows stretching out into the lagoon.
What is less known about French Polynesia, which is also marketed as The Islands of Tahiti, is that it’s comprised of thousands of islands spread across an area of the Pacific the size of Europe. Around 100 of the islands are inhabited, and some twenty of those have significant tourism infrastructure, so there’s a lot more to the country than $2,000-per-night overwater bungalows with expat butlers and luxury bath amenities flown in from top skincare lines.
I recently visited the island of Taha’a, in French Polynesia’s…
