Sunsail – French Polynesia

• Home
• Clubs
• Flotillas
• Yachts
• Team Building / Events
• Yacht Ownership
• Yacht Schools

• Fleet
• Charter information
• Destinations
• Already Booked

French Polynesia - Essential Holiday Information

Sunsail French Polynesia
Sunsail Raiatea
Marina Apooiti
BP 169
Uturoa
Raiatea
TAHITI

Tel +689 777003
Fax +689 662094

Base Manager: Patricia Hubbard

LANGUAGE
• Official languages are Tahitian and French.
• English is spoken in the tourist areas.

VACCINATIONS
• Immunisation or tablets are recommended for protection against Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid.
• Immunisation against Yellow Fever is essential if arriving from an infected country.
• Please refer to the Department of Health's 'EHIC and health advice for travellers' web page at www.dh.gov.uk or consult your family GP for further details.

PASSPORT & VISAS
• Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return.
• Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.
• Visas are not required for British passport holders visiting French Polynesia for less than 90 days
• Non-British passport holders should check with their local Consulate direct.
• If your child is not already included on a valid British Passport they are required to hold their own passport.

FLIGHTS
• Gatwick Information 0870 000 2468
• Heathrow Information 0870 000 0123
• Manchester Information 0161 489 3000
• Luton Information 0158 240 5100
• Glasgow Information 0141 887 1111
• Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend traveling light and using folding luggage.
• Lost or damaged luggage whilst flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance, however First Choice Airways has no liability for loss or damage to valuable or fragile items packed in hold baggage however caused. You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewellery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.
• If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials and ensure Property Irregularity Reports (PIR) are completed. Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport.
• IIf you are taking our First Choice Charter flights and wish to enquire about pre booking seats please call the airline direct on 0870 757 2757. Group seats are available for pre booking through Sunsail. Call the team for more details.
• SAVE UPTO 30% when you book your airport parking with BCP through Sunsail. Call the team for more details quoting Sunsail reference BN545

AIRPORT & TRANSFER
• Raiatea Airport / Faaroa Bay base approximately 20 minutes.
• If your Sunsail Holiday includes our charter flight, a Sunsail representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your transfer.
• If your holiday is flight exclusive, we request that you send your travel arrangements to us so we can assist with transfer details where required.
PLEASE NOTE: Guests arriving separately should bring a copy of the charter contract / invoice.

CURRENCY
• Polynesian Franc (Fcp).
• US$ widely accepted.
• Euro
• Currency can be exchanged commission free at any high street First Choice Retail travel agent on production of your Sunsail invoice. You can pre-order your currency from a First Choice travel agent by telephoning them in advance on 0870 9005154 to find your nearest branch.

BOARDING/DEPARTURE
• Your yacht will be ready at 1800 hrs for boarding. Please be aware that the yacht and chart briefings will be arranged on your arrival. At the end of your charter your yacht will need to be vacated by 0900 hrs so we recommend that you return to the base the day before.

BASE / LOCAL AREA FACILITIES
Facilities include:
• Showers/toilets
• Restaurant
• Bar
• Accommodation
• Re-fuelling dock
• Launderette
• Provisioning store
• Swimming pool
• Car rental
• Taxis
• Foreign exchange

ELECTRICITY
• 220v (60hz)
• 12V is standard on all yachts.

HOTEL ACCOMODATION
• If your charter forms part of a longer trip, Sunsail can help you arrange hotel accommodation. Please call our Aftersales team for more information on 02392 222894.
• Higher discounts on local accommodation can be arranged through Sunsail.

BRIEFINGS
• The personalised chart briefing given on your arrival describes the cruising area and any potential hazards.
• The yacht briefing introduces you to your yacht, it’s systems and rigging. It is carried out individually for each yacht. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood. Briefings are mandatory.

SAFETY
• All yachts are equipped with life jackets and a harness for everyone on board. We leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.
• We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck.
• Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine.

ILLNESS OR INJURY
• Contact a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible on either a lead boat or at a Sunsail base.
• If you need to make a claim for curtailment due to illness, ask the base manager for assistance and contact your insurer's emergency medical service immediately.
• Your insurance company will assist with travel arrangements, advice and payment of bills.
• Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim.

EQUIPMENT ON THE YACHTS
Sunsail yachts are equipped with just about everything you will need for a safe and enjoyable holiday.
• A deposit is required for dinghy, outboard engine, windsurfer, ocean kayak, cruising chute and GP.
• A refundable security deposit of £300 (regardless of number of items booked) is payable by credit card or Travellers Cheques at the Sunsail base against the loss or damage of these items, whether included in the basic holiday price or as an extra.
• You will be given a checklist on arrival to make sure you have all the items listed on the inventory.
• Please inform the base manager before you leave the base if anything is missing as it is not always possible to replace or exchange items once you have departed on your cruise. Stolen items must be immediately reported to Sunsail management and the local police. An incident report will be completed for insurance purposes
• Any problems with, or damage to, your yacht must be reported to the local staff immediately. If not we cannot be held responsible.
• Each yacht is equipped with two pairs of snorkelling equipment, linen and bath towels and navigation equipment. Please bring beach towels with you. We advise you not to bring self-inflating life jackets or buoyancy aids fitted with gas-cylinders as they may not be allowed on the aircraft.
• Clothing – In Sunsail locations dress is informal, but we ask you to respect local etiquette. Wet weather gear and fleeces are advisable for early and late season.

PROVISIONING
• We offer an online pre-provisioning service so you can order goods before your holiday starts. The provisioning pages will confirm the latest order date for your chosen destination.
• A supermarket is located near to the Sunsail base. There is little opportunity to re-provision en-route therefore it is advisable to stock up on beverages before your departure from the base as this Marina is the only facility where you can tie up to a quay to load things onto your boat easily.

COST OF LIVING
• Bottle of wine – 2000 Fcp
• Snack – 1500 / 2000 Fcp
• Three course meal – 3000 / 6000 Fcp

EATING OUT
• Along the coastline and on several islands there are restaurants serving excellent seafood that is great value for money, and Strong French colonial influenced local dishes.

MOORING FEES / TAXES
• No fees, no tax.

CHARTS AND PILOT BOOK
• All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht. Charts and pilot books can be purchased in advance from www.imray.com or www.kelvinhughes.com

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
• Summer holidays Dec 15 / Jan 15
• Winter holidays July 1 / August 20

IMPORTANT EVENTS
• July 14 National feast lots of festivities all month
• Hawaiki Nui Vaa’ national canoe race mid October

LOST PROPERTY
• If any valuables are left behind in your base, please contact the relevant base as soon as possible after the loss.
• Our base staff will endeavour to locate your property and will contact you with the result of their search.
• Return of property to you will normally be by DHL. The cost of the courier service plus a £15 charge will have to be taken by credit/debit card.
• If goods are left on the plane you will need to contact the airline direct. For First Choice Airways this number is 01293 507160. The office is open between 10am and 4pm. If there is no reply leave and message and they will return your call.
PLEASE NOTE SUNSAIL DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY GOODS THAT SUBSEQUENTLY GO MISSING DURING TRANSIT TO THE UK

PLEASE NOTE
• If you feel that a problem may adversely affect your holiday, you must give our staff the opportunity to resolve it for you. If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, please ensure that you inform the base manager and it is essential that you complete a holiday report form.
• Unfortunately, claims made for problems not reported first to the base staff and then to the manager locally, cannot be considered.
TO REITERATE THE HOLIDAY BOOKING CONDITIONS, ANY COMPLAINTS OR CLAIMS MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE END OF YOUR HOLIDAY

RESPECTING DESTINATIONS
Sunsail remain committed to looking after the environment and supporting the cultures where we operate and over many years you have helped us to ensure that our presence does not negatively impact these areas. Please continue to assist us to leave these areas ‘As good or better than we found them’

PLEASE NOTE: Times and prices are correct at the time of publication, but are subject to change without prior notice.
French Polynesia Information Sheet last updated 02.07.07