The South Pacific has many wondrous tropical paradises but it’s fair to say that French Polynesia encompasses more than its share of them. Destinations like Tahiti, Mo’orea and Bora Bora could each stand on their own as a nation’s crown gem, but French Polynesia is lucky enough to include them all. Visitors are truly spoiled for choice when planning a trip here, and whether you’re seeking the deluxe resort life or a more grounded (and more wallet friendly) stay at locally owned and operated establishments, you’re sure to find a perfect setting for the tropical holiday of your dreams.
Booking a car rental in Tahiti, French Polynesia’s largest island, gives you the chance to dig a little deeper and discover incredible hidden gems that most others never bother to look for. The freedom to come and go as you please will have you experiencing French Polynesia the way it’s meant to be.
AirportRentals.com - Making car hire in French Polynesia reliably easy
One of the first things on your checklist when you land in the country will be picking up you car rental from Tahiti’s main airport: Fa'a'ā International Airport. Booking online ahead of time means you should have minimal hassles when it comes to the pick up, and to avoid hassle during the booking process you can search for the best rental deal via AirportRentals.com. No need to trawl through endless rental supplier websites - Airport Rentals brings all the greatest deals together so you can easily compare and choose.
To get the booking process on the road, all you need to do is plug a few basic details about your travel itinerary into the AirportRentals.com search tool. Once you’ve entered points like the required time and location for pick up and drop off, you’ll be presented with a list of vehicles from different suppliers that match your specs. If you’d like to be a bit more specific, you can then filter these results by rental brand, vehicle type, and other categories. Once you’ve found the right deal for you and are ready to book, the actual booking part of the process will be finished in a matter of minutes.
Airport rentals around French Polynesia
There are a number of different ways to start your vacation in French Polynesia, but all of them will begin with flying in to Fa'a'ā International Airport on Tahiti. From there you might choose to catch a connecting flight to islands like Bora Bora or Mo’orea and pick up a car rental for your French Polynesia holiday there.
● Tahiti car rental - Tahiti may not be known for the stereotypical white sand beaches that many have come to expect from South Pacific holiday destinations, but the island more than makes up for this with its still lagoons, bustling city life and ancient historical sites.
● Mo’orea car rental - Mo’orea is widely regarded as Tahiti’s little sibling but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own as a very attractive French Polynesian destination. The landscape here is stunning, with green coated mountains rising spectacularly out of a deep blue lagoon, and there are all sorts of activities to enjoy, from snorkeling and whale watching to hiking and biking.
● Bora Bora car rental - Bora Bora isn’t the cheapest South Pacific destination by any means, but it is arguably the most luxurious. This is one of the most popular honeymoon locations on earth, and when you see the picturesque bungalows, the aquamarine waters and the soaring rainforest-covered peaks, you’ll understand why.
Car rental suppliers in French Polynesia
Three different car hire suppliers operate in French Polynesia, giving you a decent selection when it comes to picking a Tahiti car rental in particular. Europcar, Hertz and Avis all have car rental offerings here, which means you get to select from some of the most well known rental brands on the planet.
French Polynesia road rules
One of the main things to take into account when driving in French Polynesia is that drivers here use the right hand side of the road. This is the same as many other countries around the world, but for British and Australasian visitors, it might take a little bit of adjusting to. As long as you pay attention at intersections though, the change shouldn’t throw you too much. When it comes to speed limits, 40 km/h is the default limit in built up areas and 80 km/h on the open road. The freeway allows slightly faster travel, but always keep an eye out for signs which will let you know exactly what the limit is. When it comes to drinking and driving, French Polynesia has a blood alcohol limit of 0.05% - essentially, if you’re planning on indulging in a drink or two, rope someone else in to take care of driving duties. In order to be eligible to drive here, you need to be carrying a valid driver’s licence from your home country.
French Polynesia driving tips
● One of the most important things to remember about driving in French Polynesia is to take it slow. Road conditions can be uneven, especially on narrow rural roads, so keep an eye out for potholes and don’t forget that the locals can tend to drive a little more recklessly than you’re used to.
● You may be allowed to take your car rental from one French Polynesia island to another but special insurance could be required - check with your rental supplier if this is something you’re considering.
