At first, I thought staying at campground/hostel Chez Nelson on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia was a godsend. It's only $20 the first night, $16 each additional night for a dorm, and several people have recommended it in the BootsnAll forum. Then I checked Couchsurfing on a whim, and was surprised to find 5 results!
I just e-mailed my first couchsurfer from the guest perspective. I'm suddenly even *more* excited to head to the island paradise, if that is possible. While saving a little money would be nice, I'm thinking more about how the experience of staying with a local could enrich my stay. I'll let you know if I get the green light.
Fun Facts About Tahiti from my Lonely Planet guide (as costly as any other with far fewer pages):
- birthplace of surfing
- lacks malaria (though dengue fever is a risk)
- no poisonous snakes
- December is the rainy season
- I'm going to freakin' Tahiti in 16 days!
