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Five tips to help you decide between Tahiti or the Maldives

Tahiti and the Maldives are both known as honeymoon destinations with stunning island settings and let you check an item off the bucket list by staying in an overwater bungalow. I know it can be a stressful experience deciding which one better suits your client’s tastes and needs, so I’ve put together five tips to help your clients make the best choice to meet all their needs in Tahiti or the Maldives.

Getting There

Travelling to Tahiti is pretty straightforward with only one air route from North America via Los Angeles. From there, it takes about eight hours to arrive in paradise. Once in the Islands of Tahiti, most guests will spend their holiday island hopping throughout islands, finishing with the iconic stay in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora with the average length of the trip being 10 days including travel.

The Maldives is farther than Tahiti from North America, making it common for travellers to make it a multi-country trip (e.g. add-on Dubai) to break up the journey. There are numerous airline routes for North American clients (via Asia, the Middle East, and Europe). Most clients taking this long journey will spend 12-14 days visiting the Maldives, including flying time and a possible stop-over along the way.

Island Hopping

Most travellers visiting Tahiti will island hop from Papeete (the gateway) to at least one other island such as Moorea or Bora Bora. There are usually several resorts on each island, and this is a great way to control the budget as most chain resorts will offer additional discounts for staying at multiple properties, so make sure to ask your IslandsExpert how you can ensure your clients are getting the best possible deals.

In the Maldives, as most resorts are on an atoll (coral islands) by themselves, guests typically stay in one place for the duration of their stay and part of the fun in the Maldives are the scenic seaplane flight transfers getting you to your resort.

Both countries “incentivise” travellers to stay on a resort longer by offering special promotions, such as stay-5 pay-4 or extended stay discounts of 25 to 35 percent off depending on the length of their stay.

Snorkelling in the turquoise lagoon
Best Time of Year to Travel

Tahiti and the Maldives have entirely different seasons, although both have the option to visit year-round.

In Tahiti, the dry season is from May to October, and it is the best time for weather. It also coincides with North American honeymoon season making it an ideal option for honeymooners. Temperatures rise and you can expect a bit more rain from November to April when it’s humid and wet. The peak season and most expensive time to travel is July and August, and during this period availability can be difficult. The best time to get a deal in Tahiti is during the shoulder season, April-May and November-March (except for the Christmas period).

The Maldives dry season is from December to March when there is little rain, making it the perfect escape to get away from our cold winters. The wet monsoon season is from May to November, where travellers can expect tropical downpours and humid days. The best time of the year to get a deal is from May to August. The most expensive travel period is the end of December to February.

Meal Plans and All Inclusive

In the Islands of Tahiti, it’s recommended to do a meal plan at the resort, such as half board (breakfast and dinner), especially when staying on a remote island. In the more popular places like Papeete, Moorea, and Bora Bora, your clients can choose to dine off the resort at local restaurants.

In the Maldives, there isn’t an option to dine off property as the resort is usually the only establishment on the island. Resorts here typically have many restaurants on site (sometimes as many as five or six) with a vast range of international cuisine and unique dining experiences. In the Maldives, most resorts offer an option of meal plans all the way to an all-inclusive package (with alcohol), which is something I would suggest your clients consider upgrading to as the cost of things as simple as water can get pretty expensive in this destination.

Deep Ocean Spa at InterContinental Bora Bora and Thalasso Spa
Activities and Scenery

Both countries have stunning turquoise waters and pristine powdery white-sand beaches. Tahiti has a mountain backdrop with beautiful lagoons. The Maldives has a more “deserted island” feel, as there is usually nothing but water on the horizon.

Your clients can do as little or as much as they like, and interact with as many or as few people as they want! Both countries are great for viewing underwater life and indulging in fantastic food and luxurious spas.

In Tahiti, your clients have a wide variety of activities to choose from, such as water-based (snorkelling or diving), culture-based, such as dining on a traditional Tahitian feast, or land-based like riding an ATV or doing a 4WD safari, which your IslandsExpert can help you arrange before they travel.

The activities in the Maldives are water-based and purchased in the destination at the resort’s excursions desk, which runs many different day tours from snorkelling safaris, diving, and sunset boat tours.

For more information or any questions on vacations to Tahiti or the Maldives or for assistance creating the perfect vacation package for your clients, please contact one of our IslandsExperts.

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Mike Bertoia

IslandsEscapes Product Manager - At a young age, Mike's family departed on an adventure of a lifetime, moving to Saudi Arabia and travelling throughout the world. When living in Europe as a young adult, Mike decided to create travel memories of his own, which ignited a passion for the industry. He has since travelled to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, Cook Islands, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Maldives with Goway.
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