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!
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.
Kirsty
Wednesday 14th of November 2007
Ya I'm curious to see how that goes. I've got a surf lined up in Manila I think and can't wait to see how it goes. I think the whole thing is amazing and just wish I could have hosted people in London. Damn flatmates. I'll definately be into in in Beijing though!
Kirsty
Wednesday 14th of November 2007
Ya I'm curious to see how that goes. I've got a surf lined up in Manila I think and can't wait to see how it goes. I think the whole thing is amazing and just wish I could have hosted people in London. Damn flatmates. I'll definately be into in in Beijing though!
Nath
Tuesday 13th of November 2007
Fingers crossed for you on the Tahiti couchsurfing, Dave - That'll certainly save a few bucks AND provide a great first experience! Good luck!
Nath
Tuesday 13th of November 2007
Fingers crossed for you on the Tahiti couchsurfing, Dave - That'll certainly save a few bucks AND provide a great first experience! Good luck!