Are you traveling to French Polynesia and wondering what is the best tourist sim card to not waste money on high roaming charges? Let this guide help you to pick the best sim card for your trip to French Polynesia and how to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival in Tahiti.
In this guide you find everything you need to know about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in French Polynesia, a comparison of the mobile internet operators, the best 4G/5G network, a locals advice, info about eSIMs for French Polynesia, up to date prices as per September 2024, my recommendation, where to buy a sim card and more.
Traveling without an internet connection is from the past. I get it, disconnecting is the new luxury, but when traveling around French Polynesia things are simply much easier if you have data on your phone.
Therefore finding the right sim card is always one of the first things I do when planning my next trip abroad. In the past I always used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but more and more I use eSIMs to stay connected. Simply because eSIMs are super convenient and you order them directly on the internet rather than finding a sim card shop on arrival.
As I am already a full time nomad and travel blogger since 2012, buying prepaid sim cards and eSIMs is part of my life, especially since I am also aiming to travel to every country in the world. In fact I have visited every country in the Pacific.
In 2022 I visited more than 60 different countries and in 2023 I traveled to 34 countries. So I pretty much bought a new sim card every week in the last 2 years.
On Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card blogs from all around the world: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Singapore, China, Philippines, France, United Kingdom and many more.
Traveltomtom also wrote a specific guide for the best eSIMs for traveling to French Polynesia in 2024.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the most up to date and detailed advice about prepaid and eSIMs for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Some links in this article about the best prepaid sim cards for French Polynesia are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Vini sim card for traveling in French Polynesia. Vini is one of the mobile internet providers in French Polynesia and they have the best 4G/5G mobile data network across all the islands.
So when traveling to Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahiti and even more the outer islands a Vini sim card is the best way to stay connected in French Polynesia.
You don't need to buy a prepaid sim card in French Polynesia if your phone is eSIM compatible. Simply order an eSIM on the internet and arrive prepared. As soon as the plane lands you are online.
eSIMs for French Polynesia already start from $5.5 USD. Check out Traveltomtom's list of the best eSIMs for traveling to French Polynesia, including eSIM plans from Nomad, Holafly, Airalo, Sim Options, Sim Local, Roamless, Jetpac, etc.
Or if you continue your trip to French Polynesia in Asia/Pacific or North America then check out our list of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2024.
Be aware that a local prepaid sim card, eSIMs or international sim cards only work in unlocked phones. If your phone is locked you have to unlock it before your trip to French Polynesia. If you are unsure about this then contact your mobile internet provider in your home country.
Best eSIMs for French Polynesia
Traveltomtom's first recommendation is an eSIM card for traveling to French Polynesia. But only if your phone is eSIM compatible.
The easiest way to get data on your phone when visiting Tahiti, no need to visit a phone store on arrival in paradise. With an eSIM you are online as soon as the plane lands.
You can order an eSIM for French Polynesia directly on the internet. Process the payment, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the instructions and instal the eSIM in a couple simple steps. You are all set in less than 2 minutes.
For more detailed info and an answer to all FAQ about using eSIMs check out Traveltomtom's guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for French Polynesia in 2024.
Here are some quick recommendations.
Sim Local
Sim Local offers 5 different eSIM plans for French Polynesia: 4 eSIMs plans from Smartroam and 1 eSIM from Orange. Traveltomtom rates Sim Local as a trusted eSIM provider. Check out Traveltomtom's Sim Local Review with all Pros and Cons.
Smartroam eSIMs
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $36.5 USD
The Smartroam eSIMs operate on the Vini 4G/LTE network and are only valid in French Polynesia.
Orange Holiday World eSIM
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD
The Orange eSIM does not specify which network it uses in French Polynesia. The Orange Holiday World eSIM gives you 5 GB data valid in 149 countries around the world according to the Sim Local website.
Both eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported and these eSIMs do not come with a phone number.
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for French Polynesia via Sim Local.
Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 15% discount on all Sim Local eSIMs when using the promo code: TRAVELTOMOM at check out!
Airalo
Airalo is a trusted eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used them in more than 50 countries around the world.
Airalo also has 5 different French Polynesia eSIM plans:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $11.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $43 USD
Click here for more info or to order a French Polynesia eSIM via Airalo.
These data-only eSIMs are from Polynet and operate on the Vini 4G/LTE network. Data-only means that incoming or outgoing calls/sms are not supported.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another trusted eSIM provider. Traveltomtom has used SimOptions sim cards for more than 5 years for staying connected abroad.
Check out Traveltomtom's detailed and honest SimOptions eSIM review.
For French Polynesia SimOptions has only one available eSIM:
- 5 GB data for 14 days = $39.90 USD
This is the same Orange Holiday World eSIM that you can also order via Sim Local.
Click here for more info or to order an eSIMs for traveling in French Polynesia via SimOptions.
There are many more eSIM providers like Roamless, Jetpac, Nomad, Holafly, etc. but none of them offer eSIMs for French Polynesia. For a much more detailed comparison check out Traveltomtom's eSIM guide for French Polynesia.
Before ordering an eSIM for French Polynesia make sure your phone is first of all unlocked. eSIMs only work in unlocked phones. Second, make sure your phone is eSIM compatible. Pretty much all newer smartphones are eSIM compatible.
Why buying a sim card for French Polynesia
First of all we want to avoid high roaming charges! If you use your sim card from home in another country then be prepared to pay a lot of money. In 2024 roaming charges are still ridiculous. Providers often charge up to $3 USD per MB, which means opening the Instagram app can easily cost you $100 USD. Not kidding!
Also don't sign up for those slow and expensive overseas data roaming plans that charge you $10 USD per day. Stupidly overpriced and on top these data roaming plans from your mobile internet provider in your home country often reduce the data speed. An eSIM or a local prepaid sim cards for French Polynesia are much more affordable.
Always make sure you switch off data roaming on your sim card from home when traveling internationally.
Staying connected is important when traveling to French Polynesia. Why? What about getting directions from Google Maps or finding a nearby restaurant. Ever thought about what to do in emergencies and not being able to use data on your phone? Or killing time on long ferry trips in French Polynesia or waiting at airports, accessing your banking apps, etc.
Don't rely on public WiFi in French Polynesia. Most hotels and Airbnbs offer free WiFi, but definitely not in restaurants. Also there is no guarantee your hotel room has good and fast WiFi.
And another reminder that being connected to the internet through public WiFi is on an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.
Where to buy a sim card for French Polynesia
Papeete International Airport in Tahiti
All international flights to French Polynesia land in Tahiti at Faa'a International Airport in Papeete. The most convenient place to buy a prepaid sim card in French Polynesia is of course straight away on arrival at the airport.
At Papeete Airport there is a Relay store that sells Vini sim cards and there is also a Vodafone store that sells sim cards for tourists.
When walking out of International Arrivals the Vodafone store is on your left hand side around the corner. At Vodafone they have physical prepaid sim cards as well as eSIMs for tourists available.
The Relay convenience store is on your right hand side in the food court opposite the car rental companies. The Relay store only sells Vini physical prepaid sim cads, no eSIMs.
Be aware that the Airport in Papeete does not offer free WiFi. That is not really a warm welcome Tahiti Tourism!
Phone stores in French Polynesia
In case you missed the opportunity to buy a prepaid sim card at Papeete Airport in Tahiti you can also buy a sim card any official Vodafone, Vini or Ora phone store. There are a couple around Tahiti, but mostly located in or nearby Papeete.
In Moorea there is a Vodafone store directly next to the ferry terminal. At Moorea Airport there is no phone store and you can not buy a sim card for tourists.
At Bora Bora there is no sim card shop and you can not buy a sim card for tourists. However, in Vaitape there is a Vodafone store about 3 minute walk to the left when you arrive by ferry from the airport.
In an official retail store of one of the mobile internet providers you get the best service, discounted deals and before you walk out of the store the staff will make sure your data connection is working properly. In these stores it is possible to get an eSIM or a traditional physical prepaid sim card.
Most of the people in French Polynesia speak decent English to help tourists. Phone stores are in general open from Monday to Friday 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM and on Saturday morning from 8.00 AM to 12.00 PM. Phone stores are closed on Sundays.
Kiosks, supermarkets and convenience stores
Prepaid sim cards are also often sold in convenience stores. These shops are excellent solution to quickly buy a prepaid sim card if you if it is late at night and phone stores are closed. But keep in mind that you will need to set up the sim card yourself.
In general Traveltomtom recommends buying a prepaid sim card in an official retail store over a random phone shop or convenience store. If you buy a prepaid sim card in a convenience store you can not expect any service. It is plug and play and hope that it works, otherwise you still have to go to a store the next day.
Online
Forget about buying a prepaid sim card on arrival in French Polynesia. Be already online as soon as the plane lands! Arrive prepared with an eSIM for French Polynesia.
Traveltomtom in general recommends ordering an eSIM on the internet because of its convenience and it is fast and easy.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for French Polynesia via either Sim Local, SimOptions or Airalo. For more detailed info about using eSIMs and more eSIM deals for French Polynesia check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for French Polynesia.
Mobile internet providers in French Polynesia
There are 3 main mobile internet providers in French Polynesia: Ora, Vini and Vodafone.
All mobile internet providers in French Polynesia sell prepaid sim cards for tourists and as of 2024 they also offer eSIMs for tourists.
Registration process
Buying a prepaid sim card in French Polynesia is straight forward and the only thing you need is your passport. A copy of your passport is taken in the store and your local prepaid sim card will be registered on your name and passport number.
You will receive a pre-registered physical prepaid sim card or an eSIM that comes with a phone number from French Polynesia that starts with +689.
The physical prepaid sim cards you put in your phone and should instantly work. Plug and play. The same counts for the eSIM. After installing the eSIMs instantly work.
Prices prepaid sim cards in French Polynesia
All the information below is based on my own experience traveling to French Polynesia and up to date as of September 2024. Prices are in French Pacific Franc (CFP) and $1 USD = 107 CFP and 100 CFP = $0.93 USD.
As of 2024 all mobile internet providers in French Polynesia also offer eSIMs for tourists.
Vodafone
In Vodafone stores in French Polynesia they sell the following prepaid sim cards for tourists:
- 10 GB data-only for 30 days = 1,800 CFP - $17 USD
- 20 GB data + 30 minutes local calls + 18 minutes international for 30 days = 3,800 CFP - $35 USD
- 60 GB data + 600 minutes local + international calls for 30 days = 4,900 CFP - $46 USD
Here is some extra info for when buying a Vodafone sim card in French Polynesia.
These prepaid tourist sim cards are available as physical prepaid sim cards and as eSIMs. For more info check out the Vodafone French Polynesia website.
Ora
In Ora phone stores in French Polynesia they sell the following prepaid sim cards for tourists:
- 20 GB data + 120 minutes calls + unlimited sms for 1 month = 995 CFP - $9.3 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + 120 minutes international calls for 1 month = 1,995 CFP - $18.6 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + 600 minutes international calls for 1 month = 2,995 CFP - $28 USD
- 100 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + unlimited international calls for 1 month = 4,995 CFP - $46.6 USD
If you buy an Ora eSIM you can also get an eSIM or a physical prepaid sim card. For more info check the Ora French Polynesia website.
Vini
In Vini stores in French Polynesia they sell the following prepaid sim cards for tourists:
- 20 GB data + 30 minutes for 30 days = 4,000 CFP - $37 USD
- 40 GB data + 60 minutes for 30 days = 8,000 CFP - $75 USD
As you can see the Vini prepaid sim cards for tourists are much more expensive than Vodafone and Ora. The above tourist sim cards from Vini are available as physical prepaid sim cards as well as eSIMs.
Vini has another prepaid sim card offer:
- 4 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 30 days = 3,000 CFP - $28 USD
Also not really a cheap tourist sim card.
In Vini stores in French Polynesia you can only get physical prepaid sim cards, no eSIMs. If you want an eSIM you have to order via the Vini website. For more info see the Vini French Polynesia website.
Best 4G/5G data network in French Polynesia in 2024
To determine the best prepaid sim card for traveling in French Polynesia let's also compare the mobile data network coverage of all the mobile internet providers. French Polynesia is of course a complicated country when it comes to staying connected. With so many outer islands phone signal is sometimes limited.
Therefore choose your prepaid sim card wisely. A sim card without a signal is useless.
Is there 5G in French Polynesia?
Yes, there is 5G in French Polynesia but pretty much only in Tahiti and merely only in Papeete.
Let me show you the difference in the network coverage of the mobile internet providers. Below Traveltomtom compared 4G/5G network coverage maps of Vodafone, Ora and Vini.
Ora 4G/5G network coverage map
Vodafone 4G/5G network coverage map
Vini 4G/5G network coverage map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2024 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in French Polynesia in 2024.
From the French Polynesia 4G/5G coverage maps Traveltomtom comes to the easy conclusion that Ora is the smallest mobile internet provider in French Polynesia and is not recommended for tourists. They basically only have signal Tahiti and Moorea.
Ora only offers a data connection in Tahiti and Moorea.
Vodafone only offers a data connection in Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea and Huahine.
Vini offers a data connection in all of the above islands and beyond. For traveling to popular tourist destinations like Rangiroa, Nuku Hiva, Fakarava Atoll, Tetiaroa, Maupiti Island, Taha'a, Marquesas Islands and Austral Islands the only recommended sim card is Vini.
The difference in network strength between Vodafone and Vini is smaller, but it is also an easy conclusion that Vini has the most extensive mobile data network in French Polynesia and is therefore also the most recommended sim card for traveling the beautiful islands of French Polynesia.
Best sim card for French Polynesia
From the network coverage maps comparison we clearly see that Ora is not a recommended sim card for traveling in French Polynesia. That leaves us with Vodafone and Vini.
Prices for Vodafone tourist sim cards are significantly cheaper than Vini prepaid sim cards.
Vini knows it is the best sim card for traveling in French Polynesia and they therefore charge you more. Great thing is that Vodafone and Vini offer eSIMs for tourists.
Despite its higher prices Traveltomtom rates Vini as the best sim card for French Polynesia in 2024.
What about eSIMs for French Polynesia? There is not so much choice. For example, eSIM providers like Roamless, Jetpac, Nomad, Holafly, all do NOT offer French Polynesia eSIMs. You are limited to order an eSIM from either Sim Local, Airalo or SimOptions.
Which eSIM provider is the cheapest for French Polynesia? Sim Local!
For more detailed info check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to French Polynesia in 2024.
My experiences buying a sim card in French Polynesia
On arrival at Papeete Airport I was instantly connected with my Sim Local eSIM for just $5.5 USD. I only bought an eSIM with just 1 GB data, which I do often just to be connected as soon as the plane lands.
Depending on the length of my trip I decide to go with an eSIM or buy a local prepaid sim card. Since I was staying 3 weeks in French Polynesia I opted for a local prepaid sim card. After my research I knew a Vini tourist sim card would be my best bid to stay connected.
So the next day I went to the Vini store in Papeete to buy a sim card. Since my iPhone is an eSIM only iPhone it does not accept physical prepaid sim cards and I need an eSIM. In the Vini store they told me the process of buying an prepaid eSIM card is only done onlin. Basically they redirected me to the Vini website.
Once on the Vini website I was able to purchase an eSIM. However, the 20 GB data package was unavailable and my only choice was buying the really expensive 40 GB data plan for $75 USD. It is probably one of the most expensive sim cards I have ever bought.
I contemplated about getting a Orange Holiday World eSIM for $32 USD with 10 GB data via Sim Local. But I also wanted to test the Vini prepaid tourist sim card for this guide.
Expected data speed
Traveling in Moorea and Tahiti I was experiencing pretty decent data speed. All around Tahiti and Moorea I was able to use my phone as normal and stream videos without any issues.
Some Airbnbs in Moorea had terrible slow WiFi so I used my phone to create a hotspot to work on my Macbook. Yes, the Vini prepaid sim cards allow tethering.
But especially in Bora Bora, the data speed was straight up disappointing! I spent 5 days in Bora Bora and the data speed on my Vini sim card was very disappointing as well as the WiFi in my Airbnb and hotel.
Most of the time I was dealing with a download speed of less than 3 Mbps and an upload speed of less than 1 Mbps.
Basically uploading social media videos was barely impossible. Especially in Bora Bora that was a huge disappointment.
I asked around and the local people said this was normally the case in Bora Bora.
Anyway, I am sure some of the above tips for buying a prepaid sim card or an eSIM for French Polynesia were helpful and my information made it easier for you to pick the right sim card for your trip to French Polynesia.
Leave me a comment below if you have any questions and I am more than happy to help you out.
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Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world. As of September 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to French Polynesia!