Papeete on a Sunday?

Is Sunday a bad day for Papeete?

We will be docked there from 10.00am until 12.00 midnight in April next year.

I would appreciate hearing your ideas of things we will be able to do on a Sunday.

I haven't been yet (going this Sept/Oct) but have read many things in PPT are not open on Sundays.

We'll arrive late on a Sat and will have Sun-Mon in PPT so will also be eager to hear what those who know say.

I don't have personal Sunday experience on Tahiti. We were on Moorea on a Sunday. Most all of the businesses were closed. We went on Alberts Lagoon excursion that day. That turned out to be a good way to spend a Sunday.

I think you might want to have an excursion scheduled for a Sunday. If an excursion is not of interest, you might consider renting a car and driving around the island.

Last year we were in Papeete on Saturday & Sunday - it was like walking around a ghost town by Sunday morning.

We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and were informed by the cruise staff to do any shopping asap as on Sunday all businesses will be closed. Good day for an island tour or car rental. We opted for an island tour and then to the IC for a few days.

Darcy

So is a car rental place open on Sundays? We'll arrive too late on Saturday to pick one up and would also want to return it on Sunday.

The Papeete Downtown location is open from 8 to 11 am on Sundays. It is within walking distance of the cruise ship pier.

For an extra $20 or so, you can pick up the car downtown and drop it off at the airport, or vice a versa. We did that on our last day before our red-eye flight. We toured the island, had dinner at the roulettes, and then went to the airport.

Because the downtown rental office is only open for three hours on Sunday, it might be just as easy to take a taxi to the airport and rent from there, about $25 each way, 15 minute drive on a Sunday.

See http://www.avis.com/car-rental/location/ASP/TA/Tahiti

Sent from my Nexus 7

Thanks! So if we rent a car in PPT during our arrival stay there versus our departure stay we would need to pick it up Sun 8-11am and keep it overnight to return Monday morning prior to boarding the ship.

I do hope so!

I'm assuming that taxis will still be running? Anyone know for sure? :confused:

We weren't there on a Sunday, but we were there on a holiday--New Year's Day. Not cruising, but at a resort. Similar situation though, with most places closed. We were able to get a taxi to take us from the resort to the airport where we rented a car and drove around the island. It was well worth the effort.

We also have had a port call in Papeete on a Sunday, and while there were a few shops and restaurants open, most were closed. However, there will be an assortment of tour operators meeting the ship on the dock, ready to offer a tour.

You would probably be best served to pre arrange a tour of Tahiti on Sunday. We've been there on Sunday and Le Marche, the market, while open for a brief time, only had flower stalls open. Most everything else was closed.

The island tours take you to the interior, with unforgettable scenery, waterfalls, and views comparable to none. Patric Adventures is who we used, he was charming and provided top notch service.

Enjoy Tahiti, it's magical.

I'm assuming that taxis will still be running? Anyone know for sure? :confused:

Yes, the taxis are running on Sundays, especially if there is a ship in dock.

We were there just recently on a Sunday. There were no shops open but a number of market areas were open, including some right at the dock.

Diane

We were there on a Sunday a few weeks ago - it was also Mother's Day there - probably 85% of the places were closed. Not sure if more than normal for a Sunday were closed due to Mother's Day.

Was a disappointing stop for us.

Should not have been a disappointment for you. If you had hired a driver for a scenic tour you would have been amazed. There is so much to see and most people ignore the island and focus on shopping.

Visiting Papeete on a Sat should I book a tour or just wonder around the town???

Can anyone suggest a good tour operator??

We tend to go with Marama. We have done business with them for a number of years and they have always proven reliable.