Tahiti Bank Bond

[FranklinGray]

I hear that I will need a $900 bank bond in Tahiti or a plane ticket and that the bank charges a 10% charge to convert the money to the XPF for the bond...both ways, plus a $25 fee. So that would mean it's $400 just for transaction fees for the bank bond. Is this true? Is there someplace else I can get the XPF (French Pacific Franc) without the 10% charge? Do I have to worry about this in other Islands/Countries as well?

[Zanshin]

Um 10% of 900 is $90, times 2 plus 25 is $205 - which is still a huge amount of money in fees.

You don't need to convert the bond - see http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Frenc ... ities#Fees for details.

[FranklinGray]

Um 10% of 900 is $90, times 2 plus 25 is $205 - which is still a huge amount of money in fees.

That's per person, right? If so, then a couple is $410.

[FranklinGray]

You don't need to convert the bond - see http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Frenc ... ities#Fees for details.

I see the "The bond is normally returned in the same currency in which the deposit was made." but that goes against what I was told...was told the bank demands it be in local currency and a 10% fee is charged.

[nukahiva]

Try Tahiti Yacht Services ( or something like that ). They can arrange to do it for you with no bond. Pacific Puddle Jumpers group on Yahoo has much more information on them and another company that does the same thing. I think fees ran about $140/boat.

[svcambria]

We bought the fully refundable return air ticket - costs quite a bit more than the regular one but has no penalties for cancellation. You have to really press Air Tahiti Nui, they never seemed to know about their own fares.
Then before you leave, call them up and cancel your reservation. Your credit card will be credited in four to six weeks, so your "fees" are the lost opportunity on the money you spent to pay your balance - or the interest your card charges - for the interim.

[osiris]

The situation changes from year to year and the only way to find out what is going to be is to join the Pacific Puddle Jumpers at: http://www.pacificpuddlejump.com/
Also join their Google Group site and you will be able to find out the answers to your Pacific Islands questions including the F.P. bond issues each year. The Group is made up of cruisers who are actually going to do the Pacific run, those who are doing it now and those who have done it in previous years.

[jim_thomsen]

We used Tahiti Yacht Services for a boat cost of 77 euro. That included the bond and he did all the check in and out running around. He is a really helpful person: Francesco Cannoni, fcannoni@tya.pf Phone: 689-747-212