East Coast to Papeete

We are considering the 3/28/15 PG rt Papeete. We will be booking our own air and hotel stay. In order to break the travel time up we plan an overnight in LA on both legs. We're thinking about spending an additional day post cruise in Papeete. Do you recommend flying in a day early as well? Or the day of the cruise

I would definitely fly a couple of days early.

I usually return immediately after the cruise.

I did go via Hawaii this year as United has flat bed seats to Hawaii. I would do this again with stops in Hawaii both ways. Hawaii is in the same time zone as Papeete so it helps you get acclimatized.

Thanks. Hi is a nice idea

We flew in from South Florida and spent two days in LA area before we left for Papeete. It was a welcome break from flying, and it helped with the jet lag for sure. On the way back, we flew straight through, leaving the night we got off the PG. Since we had the red eye out of Papeete, it wasn't horrible and we were back home in Florida in the early evening.

We had already spent a couple weeks in overwater bungalows in FP in the past so we did not do this, but If I were to stay in Tahiti afterwards I would rather spend my time/money on a couple days in either Moorea or Bora Bora, rather than stay in Papeete. It's not that great to me, and the day room at the Intercontinental that we had was plenty of time there for us.

We also took the redeye into Papeete from LA and landed at 5:30am the day of the cruise. We had reserved a day room at a hotel up the street from where you board the ship and this worked out nicely. We had plenty of time to take a nap, get a quick work out in, shower up,and explore market and have lunch before walking down to board the ship at 3.

Fly into FP a few days early and head over to Moorea if you can. It's like stepping into a stress free world and gives you time to adjust to the time zone.

Fly into FP a few days early and head over to Moorea if you can. It's like stepping into a stress free world and gives you time to adjust to the time zone.

^^^^^^^

What he/she said!! Moorea is paradise and a pre-cruise stay on one of the islands gets you all relaxed and ready for the cruise. In my opinion, a post-cruise stay is not as important, although we did one day post-cruise in September, due to flight schedules.

But by all means, go at least one day in advance. We also have tried in the past to break our westbound journey in L.A., but often fly straight home, depending on the timing of the flights.

I flew into LA two days before we left for PPT and stayed with friends. My husband came in from EWR around noon the day we flew to PPT on a midnight-ish flight.

I had the benefit of already being a few hours ahead on time zones, but he had the benefit of being really tired after a long day of travel and he was able to sleep on the overnight flight while I was not. I don't think there is a right answer either way.

That said, we did arrive the day before the cruise, and were glad we did. If we were ever to go again, I'd fly in a few days early and stay in either Moorea or Bora Bora. If you only have one night the IC Tahiti is fine, but I have heard that the Hilton properties are better managed with a higher level of guest service. The IC Tahiti was fine, but it lacked a wow factor when it came to guest service, which was OK.

We spent the night at the IC Tahiti again on the return, I think if I was to do it again I'd just get off the ship and take a cab to the airport early enough to fly home that day. After eight days in FP we were ready to leave.

We stayed in LA for a couple more nights on the way back, as I had an appointment for a consult with a specialist at UCLA medical center and we had dinner plans with friends.

A pre cruise in Moorea is easy to manage and a delight. My favourite is the Sofitel. Don't care for the IC in Moorea and Hilton beach is only ok.

We spent a day at the Sofitel in an OWB when we were in Moorea on the cruise and it was great. The amount of fish in the area was immense. We have previously stayed in the beach bungalows last year, which are my preference,as I cannot swim.

I've heard great things about the Sofitel and Hilton on Moorea, too. We stayed at the IC Moorea pre-cruise and it was absolutely heaven. My wife and I took a kayak out on our own into the lagoon where we got our first visit with black tip reef sharks. It was unnerving at first, but you see them literally every day after that and get used to them quickly. We did not want to leave, but there was so much more to do and see on the other islands!

We've done it both ways (with and without a stop). If you are able to use award miles the stop can be problematic due to rules regarding the stopover. If you can go as many days early as possible do so and head to Moorea. If you only come in 1 day early going to Moorea is not a great idea.

Going is not that bad and I would try to book straight through if you can. If that gives you extra time in Moorea it is a great plan.

I loved flying through Hawaii - did this with Emdee. I flew them all the way from JFK. However this will not work with a 7 day cruise as it would leave you zero time pre or post unless you want to do a seven day pre or post - Hawaiian airlines only flies on Saturday both ways. Much cheaper to do it this way but....

If through LAX I always prefer one night in LA. Getting too old to go straight through!

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