Tahiti has one of the lowest crime rates within France and its territories. However, petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching occurs.
Medical treatment is generally good. Two major hospitals as well as several private clinics provide 24-hour medical service.
As an overseas territory of France, defence and law enforcement are provided by the French Forces Army, Navy, Air Force and Gendarmerie.
Be sure to bring jelly-type sandals for walking amidst coral in the water and along the beaches or either old sneakers so you don't cut your feet on the coral or don't step on a stonefish.
Encounters with sharks in the lagoon will be most likely when scuba diving or even snorkeling but they are totally inoffensive. So are stingrays. However, be aware of moray eels which hide deep in the corals and whose bite can cause serious injury.
No vaccines are required.
Holders of a passport from the EU, and most countries of North or South America don't need to apply for a visa for a stay of up to one month. French Nationals only require a National Identity Card. However, the Delphine passport is necessary in case of transit via the USA.Except for nationals of the European Union and aliens holding a 10 year residence card for metropolitan France, all foreigners entering French Polynesia must have a return ticket.
contact
More and more resorts have business centres from where you can have high-speed Internet access.Papeete's Central Post Office is open weekdays from 7.30AM to 11.30AM and from 1.30PM to 5PM/6PM. Saturdays from 7.30AM to 11.30AM.
talk
French and Tahitian are the most spoken languages, but English is widely understood in the tourist areas, but not in less frequently visited areas such as the remote islands of the Tuamotus. Most signs are in French, very few of them in Tahitian.Brush up on your Tahitian and French:
Tahitian:
Iaorana E-yo-or-ahna = Hello
Mauruuru ma-rou-rou = Thank you
Vahine vah-heen-ney = Woman
Tane tah-ney = Man
Nana nah-nah = Goodbye
Maeva ma-ay-va = Welcome
Fare fa-ray = House/bungalow
French:
Salut/Bonjour sal-oo- bon-jour = Hi/Hello
A bientot ah-bee-yen-toe = See you soon
Femme/Fille fam/fee = Woman/Girl
Homme/Garçon ohm/gare-sohn = Man/Boy
Many Tahitians end up mixing up words in French and Tahitian. An example would be a Tahitian asking where his "vini" is instead of using the French word for cellphone. "Où est mon vini?" "Where is my cellphone?" This is very common.