Tipping in French Polynesia: What Is the Standard? (2024)
If you’re visiting for the first time, you may be wondering what is expected regarding tipping in French Polynesia. Is tipping a thing in Tahiti? As someone who has first-hand experience in French Polynesia, I’ll be explaining some of the local customs as well as what is considered appropriate. This way, you can enjoy your visit stress-free!
Tipping in French Polynesia
Compared to the United States where tipping is always expected, regardless of the kind of service you receive, tipping is not required or expected in French Polynesia. It’s similar to the culture in France and most places in Europe. No extra math needs to be done when signing the bill, and no one is going to chase you down for not leaving some coins or bills. In fact, most places around French Polynesia don’t even include a line to add a tip, except at some larger resorts. So, it’s not even encouraged, and it’s unlikely that you’ll see locals tipping.
That said, you are more than welcome to leave a tip and recognize the efforts of those who have gone above and beyond to help you or provided exceptional customer service. You will just have to do so with cash since you likely won’t be able to tack it on when paying with a credit card.
Do You Tip in Tahiti?
Since Tahiti is part of French Polynesia, tipping in Tahiti is not customary. However, it is appreciated by locals as a gesture of generosity and kindness for outstanding service. For example, my friends and I went to a couple of nice restaurants around Tahiti and received fantastic service. We had waiters who were attentive and more than happy to provide us with a few recommendations on what to do around Tahiti. Therefore, we left a 1000 XFP bill (~$9 USD) on the table for them.
Naturally, we didn’t stick around to catch their reaction, but I assume they happily accepted it since they didn’t run to return it or anything lol. So, do you have to tip at restaurants in Tahiti? No. Is it still nice to? Yes.
Similarly, if you do an immersive tour in Tahiti or partake in some of the incredible excursions on Moorea, you can add an extra thanks with a small cash bill. I’ve even gone as far as to take my tour guides out for lunch to show my gratitude or learn more about their culture.
But, don’t feel obligated or bad if you’re traveling on a tighter budget and can’t afford to tip. What you see on the bill already factors in service charges and covers the cost of the staff’s fixed salary. Anything on top of that is just you giving them extra thanks!
Do You Tip at Bora Bora Resorts?
Even if you’re staying in a fancy overwater bungalow or one of the luxury Bora Bora resorts, tipping is not expected by hotel staff. The reason is that in 2007, service charges became automatically included in hotel bills. This is to ensure their staff is paid adequately and no one has to rely on tips. Then, at the end of the year, these service charges are added up by the hotels, and the staff are rewarded for their quality service.
That said, I know some of the uber-fancy Bora Bora resorts, such as the lovely St. Regis Bora Bora, gorgeous Conrad Bora Bora Nui, and excellent InterContinental Bora Bora come with personal butlers… I don’t know about you, but if I had a personal butler who provided impeccable service, I might feel inclined to tip them.
Another thing to note is that at some of the luxury resorts, their restaurants might include a tip line on the bill and have something that says, “Tips are appreciated“. I know this throws some guests off, but you won’t be offending anyone if you choose not to tip. Again, it’s totally up to your discretion on how much to give or not to give. There are no official rules or tipping customs to follow. But, my philosophy is to always reward excellent service when I can…which could just be a US mentality thing lol 😅
Do They Accept US Dollars in Tahiti?
I can’t speak for every local on the island, but in general, I would say that they do not accept US dollars in Tahiti. Almost every cash transaction my friends and I made was in the local currency, XPF or CFP Franc. There was only one exception when my friends and I didn’t have enough local French Polynesian cash on hand.
As a result, the local vendor was gracious enough to accept a large US bill instead. But, it’s worth mentioning that this caused us to overpay by about $10. So, if you want to avoid this situation from happening to you, come prepared with the local French Polynesia currency!
How Much Cash Should I Bring to Tahiti?
Even if you’re traveling with a good travel rewards credit card, I recommend bringing French Polynesia cash with you. My general rule of thumb is to bring $200 USD worth of CFP Francs per week you’re in French Polynesia.
I know this may seem ridiculous or unnecessary in this contactless payment/cashless society that we are moving towards, but many of the smaller local vendors at the markets and food stands aren’t equipped to take card payments. Also, it’s good for the previously mentioned tipping purposes. 🙂 And if you’re wondering how much it costs to visit the string of islands, you can check out this post.
🧳 PRO TIP: You can find out other essential items to bring to French Polynesia here!
Best Place to Stay in Tahiti
If you’re spending time in Tahiti and wondering what the best places are to stay, here are my recommendations.
Low-Cost Stays
- Fare D’hôtes Tutehau — A local homestay | ⭐️ 9.2 / 10
- Manaeva Lodge — Great family-run lodge | ⭐️ 9.5 / 10
Mid-Range Stays
- Te Moana Tahiti Resort — Beautiful waterfront resort | ⭐️ 8.2 / 10
- Vanira Lodge — Bungalows near Teahupo’o on Tahiti Iti | ⭐️ 9.2 / 10
Fancy Stays
- Intercontinental Resort Tahiti — Tahiti’s famed overwater bungalows | ⭐️ 8.2 / 10
- Hilton Hotel Tahiti — The ultimate package | ⭐️ 9.0 / 10
Visiting French Polynesia: FAQ
The best way (and pretty much the only way) to get to Tahiti is to fly into Fa’a’ā International Airport. There are several direct flights from LAX and SFO. From Tahiti, you can use their inter-island airline to fly to smaller islands like Bora Bora or Huahine. The only case I wouldn’t fly within French Polynesia is if you want to visit Moorea.
If you’re thinking about visiting Tahiti, the best time to go is during the dry season, which is from May – October.
For me, the best beach in Tahiti is Plage de Taharuu! Coming here was one of my favorite things we did on the island because the black sand is so eye-catching against the green mountains and super blue waters. Plus, the surf isn’t too shabby there either (as in I got my butt handed to me — but that’s beside the point 😂).
For those staying at a resort or hotel in Tahiti, Moorea, or Bora Bora, the tap water is likely safe to drink. I say likely because sometimes the bigger tropical storms may cause contamination, so you’ll want to confirm with the hotel staff. If you’re staying in a guesthouse through VRBO or Airbnb, I would ask your host and not assume anything prior. My friends and I bought a couple of cases of giant water bottles every other day from Carrefour since we didn’t want to risk anything.
Wrap-Up: Tipping in French Polynesia? (2024)
To summarize, tipping in French Polynesia is not required nor expected! Unlike places in Canada and the United States, where servers are heavily reliant on receiving tips to receive a livable wage, French Polynesia automatically factors in the cost of their staff’s salary in your bill.
But, tipping can be a thing in Tahiti or anywhere else in French Polynesia if you want it to be! There’s no hard or fast rule, and you won’t be doing something taboo. Thus, feel free to show your appreciation to those who have gone the extra mile to make your stay in French Polynesia enjoyable. Whether it’s tipping on a tour, at a restaurant, or resort, these small gestures are always appreciated!
Bonus: Tahiti Packing List
