Inline Skating in Moorea, French Polynesia!

-The annual Tahiti Nui Roller Marathon! You'll never skate in a more beautiful setting.
-Snorkelling between the 2 motus off the Club Med property
-Hike up to the "Trois Cocotiers"- that's the 3 coconut palms. Though there's only 1 palm left of the 3 planted at the top of the trail, the hike is a stupendous way to see the 2 bays of Moorea from on high.
-Do a shark/ray feeding tour. There's no better way to get over Jaws than to immerse yourself in clear, warm, blue water watching a whole slew of sharks from a safe distance! The tours then usually follow this up with a feeding of stingrays- amazing creatures.
-The Tahitian feast on Sunday afternoon at the Moorea Village. This is a small, informal, wonderfully put-together meal of traditional Polynesian fare, music, and dance. Less impersonal than the bigger shows at the "higher-end" hotels. Locals come by to listen to the music- that's a pretty good recommendation!

Quick Tips:

-Bring bug spray! Some people are less susceptible to bug bites, but if you're tasty to the critters, be ready, 'cause they're waiting for you here.
-We brought a mosquito net to hang above our bed. It kept the bugs at bay AND was pretty romantic-looking, too. A nice addition to the very spare bungalows at Moorea Village.
-There is some diving here, but the novelty is pretty much over and done with once you've seen the sharks. Not that that's not an amazing thing! But there's significantly better diving on other islands of F.P.- look for my journal on Rangiroa, appearing here soon!

Best Way To Get Around:

-Of course, skating is a great way to get around the island! Unfortunately, the pavement is not great, so it's really not a viable option for long distances.
-Rent a bike, and make sure it's a good one (fits you right).
-DON'T rent one of those absurd little 3-wheeled "fun-cars." They're death cars. I don't know anyone who hasn't regretted renting them!

Moorea Village offers budget accommodations in a lovely setting. It offers a lot of bang for the buck, and it''s the perfect place for people looking to save some money, while travelling with family or friends. It''s not luxury, and anyone expecting that will be disappointed- but it''s good basic stuff, with a perfect bar to watch the sunset from while the stingrays cruise the shallow waters right in front. You won''t be sorry about spending a little extra for a beach-front bungalow; they''re kept cooler by the breezes from the lagoon, and you can''t beat the sunset viewing.

A lovely restaurant on Cook's Bay. Fabulous seafood, french and local cuisine. Beautifully presented in a lovely setting. This is a new place, built after the chef's old restaurant burnt down. It's wonderfully designed. A great experience!

Yes! You can get good pizza in French Polynesia! And here's the proof. Tasty crust and a variety of toppings on a WOOD-FIRED crust! Amazing. Be prepared for slow service, but it does come. Order a drink immediately to keep you busy in the interim.

Skaters of all abilities from all over the world (Canada, US, France, etc.), including a sizeable crew from Moorea and Tahiti! All skating in this most gorgeous setting. Weather can range from rain (3 years ago, the race took place just as Typhoon Frank started descending on the island) to serious heat. Be prepared for anything- which is good advice for travel in general, and to these islands in particular.

There are shark feeding dives all over Moorea, and in fact you won't do any dive at all without some attention from sharks. I used to be scared to death of sharks (that's what a viewing of Jaws in my impressionable youth did to me). No longer. Now they're just big fish to me. Pretty cool!