Change has made its way slowly to these islands. Relatively modest tourist levels have left Tahiti's Polynesian heritage and hospitality largely intact. Yet it has enough of the necessities--phone service, electricity, health facilities--to assure the safety and comfort of visitors. The best of both worlds.

• No Malls--And no high-rises. This is a place where the accepted standard is that no building shall be taller than two-thirds of a coconut tree.


• No Traffic Jams--There just aren't enough cars. You won't find any traffic signals either and on some islands not even a stop sign.


• Just Thatched Roof Bungalows--The typical hotel room. They're set in tropical gardens under the palms, scattered along the beach and over the water.

Flying time to Tahiti from Los Angeles is 7½ hours, about two hours farther than Hawaii.

Tahiti's time zone is two hours behind Pacific Standard Time.  If it is 2:00 p.m. in Los Angeles it is 12:00 noon in Tahiti.

A passport is required for entry into the country but a visa is not. Vaccinations are not required either.

French and Tahitian are the main languages. English is spoken at major hotels and most shops and restaurants.

Currency is the French Pacific Franc (cfp). Banks give better exchange rates for travelers checks than for cash.