Hostels in French Polynesia Hostels in French Polynesia

You are looking for hostels in French Polynesia? Good news, you have come to the right place.

On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your French Polynesia hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking French Polynesia.

All Cities in French Polynesia

We list every single hostel in French Polynesia and the world. In total, we have 13 cities in French Polynesia for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.

All French Polynesia hostels on a map

Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.

Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in French Polynesia. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.

Our handwritten guide on Backpacking French Polynesia

French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the South Pacific Ocean. It is comprised of more than 100 islands over 2000km; some of the most known include Bora Bora, Tahiti, Mo’orea, Nuku Hiva, and Mai’ao; only 67 of the islands are inhabited. Furthermore, the islands are divided into five different archipelagos, which are the Marquesas, Austral, Gambier, Society, and Tuamoto. The capital of French Polynesia is Pape’ete, on the island of Tahiti. Other cities and main towns include F’a’a’a, Punaauia, all on Tahiti.

French Polynesia (and other South Pacific Islands) were among the last bits of land to be inhabited, around 1500 BCE. Austro-Polynesians sailed to find new islands, finding first the Marquesas and later the Society islands. The archipelagos were first visited by Europeans in 1521. Modern transportation among the islands is not limited to sailing; there are 53 airports across the islands; they are served by Air Tahiti for quick and easy access. F’a’a’a International Airport, in F’a’a’a, 5km from Pape’ete, on Tahiti, is serviced by flights from the US, France, New Zealand, Japan, and Chile.

The currency is the CFP Franc. The main industries are exportation of coconuts and Tahitian black pearls, and tourism. The country also relies on assistance from France, as they are considered part of the country and vote in French elections.

The climate in French Polynesia is tropical. Hot and humid months are from November to April, while a cooler, slightly rainy season occurs from May to October. The geography is varied, from the jungle-covered mountains to the long white beaches. Pictures of French Polynesia often show the sultry sky, the vivid green forests, and the gorgeous white sand beaches. Travellers keen to relax in the sun will enjoy these while others will find the horseback riding, scuba diving, hiking, and more to be exhilarating.

Budget accommodation in French Polynesia is possible, though you may need to search harder. Traditional, European-style hostels are few and far between, if not completely nonexistent. Instead, consider guesthouses or bed and breakfasts. You may also come across the word “pension,” which also will indicate an inexpensive accommodation. They are essentially homestays, where you will get your own room but may have communal, family-style meals with other travellers. Budget travel in French Polynesia is possible, but you have to be frugal. In the remote areas of French Polynesia, guesthouses and pensions will be your best bet for inexpensive accommodation.

Once you have your accommodation sorted, set out to explore this beautiful country. Hikers should plan to ascend Mont Orohena, the highest point in the archipelago, the Fautaua waterfall, or take two days to hike Mount Aorai. Underwater lovers will enjoy the many snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities that the country allows for. Rangiroa and Fakarava (in the Tuamoto islands) are two of the most internationally well known diving spots. French Polynesia is also known for its surfing and kite surfing. Va’a, the traditional Polynesian canoeing sport, is practised on the islands; French Polynesia hosts the international Hawaiki nui va’a, which is a race between Bora Bora, Huahine, and Tahiti. It happens annually in October or November. There are also several archaeological sites; the most well known is Iipona, on Hiva Oa.

Whatever you choose to do in the French Polynesian islands, you will enjoy the peace and tranquility that they exude.

expert for French Polynesia hostels

Handwritten by local expert for French Polynesia hostels Jakob Lombardi

Islands

Travel Tips for French Polynesia - from the Community

Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking French Polynesia. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of French Polynesia. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!

FAQ on Hostels in French Polynesia

There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:

Finding Hostels and Prices

What hostel booking sites are best to use?

There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.

This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.

For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.

How much are hostels in French Polynesia?

Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.

You can search for exacty hostel prices in French Polynesia here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.

When to book hostels?

If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.

We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.

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Safety and Packing

Are hostels in French Polynesia safe?

Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.

What to pack when staying in hostels?

There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.

  1. Padlock
  2. Earplugs
  3. Sleeping Mask
  4. Quick Dry Travel Towel
  5. Head Lamp

There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.

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