Local Bounty

The French Polynesian islands are synonymous with luxury resorts and A-lister glam. But Sarah Tuck dines like a queen in Tahiti without breaking the bank… by going where the locals go

Ah glamorous, tropical Tahiti, with its swaying palm trees, white sandy beaches, fine French food and five-star resorts – expensive and out of reach for most… or is it? I went on a mission to French Polynesia to explore, hang out and eat locally, to see if there is another way to visit.

But first, a little foray into the past. Tahiti has a rich history, beginning with the original migrating Polynesians from as early as 500BC and extending through its discovery by European explorers in the 16th century. There followed an extended wrangling between Britain and France