The great thing about international flights out of Tahiti is that almost all of them are quite late. The less great thing is, you need to fill your time between hotel check out and your super late flight time! Here are some ideas to help you figure out how to make the most of your time, especially your last hours in paradise!

Use Your Hotel’s “Transit Room”

What’s a transit room? Not every hotel or accommodation has one, but if yours does, it will be a small, complimentary room you can use to shower, change, and regroup after you check out, but before you need to head to the airport. These rooms come in so handy because Tahiti is so humid, and most of the things to do are outdoor activities.

You can be as active as you want, or just hang out on the beach as long as you want, without worrying about needing a shower on your long-haul, red-eye flight home. 

Read on: What to Know Before You Visit the Island of Tahiti

Get Outside

If you do have a shower at your disposal after your check out time, get outside! Go find the waterfalls, get in the ocean, hang out by the pool all slathered in sunscreen, just enjoy being outside in the Tahitian paradise without being concerned for how sweaty you’ll inevitably be as a result. You can shower later!

More here: The 5 Things You Forgot to Pack for Your Trip to Tahiti

Make It a Car Day

If you don’t want get super sweaty, or if your accommodation does not have a transit-style room for you to use, make it a blissfully air-conditioned car day. Tahiti is the largest island of French Polynesia, so you have the most ground to cover and can spend a day seeing it all! The drive around is absolutely beautiful, and there are places to stop and get out, drive up to a viewpoint and take in the beauty, etc. 

(Coming soon) Also helpful: Tips for Driving on the Island of Tahiti

Go Shopping

One of the best things about Islands is that you can often find so many locally made items! These could be anything from soaps to woodwork to jewelry, and in Tahiti, that includes Tahitian black pearls! Not everyone is a shopper, of course, but for those of you who are, shopping is a great way to spend that last day on Tahiti. By waiting until your last day to shop, you’ll have already found out what’s available, where the best prices are, and what’s worth it to you, instead of buying the first thing you see that you like. Make it a shopping day!

Keep reading: How to Shop for Pearls in the Islands of Tahiti

Get a Late Check Out, or Rent Your Room for an Extra Day

This is not in everyone’s budget, but if it is, this can be a really convenient solution if your flight out is in the mid-night timeframe (hello, Air New Zealand with your 3:15am departure!). You can often get a late check out by simply asking, as long as the hotel has availability. Some hotels may charge a fee for that, but it never hurts to ask. 

As far as renting a room, this is 100% up to you and your budget. It might be worth it to you for the convenience of having all your stuff in its place as long as possible until you’re really ready to go to the airport. Another option is the Tahiti Airport Motel. It’s not cheap, but it’s less expensive than most hotels, and it is directly across the street from the airport, so it’s very convenient!

If you’re taking that 3:15am flight, it might be worth checking in the afternoon of your last day, taking a solid nap, and checking out around 1:00am to catch your flight. It’s a viable option for an awkward flight time!

More here: Staying at the Tahiti Airport Motel

Want more? Get everything you need on my dedicated French Polynesia Page!

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