Currency
French Pacific Franc (CFPFr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFPFr10,000, 5000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFPFr100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. The French Pacific Franc is tied to the Euro. (¬1 is worth CFPFr119.331.)
Currency exchange
Exchange facilities are available at the airport, major banks (which may charge up to 5 per cent) and at authorised hotels and shops in Papeete.
Credit & debit cards
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. ATMs are common on Tahiti, with a few on the smaller islands.
Travellers cheques
The recommended means of importing foreign currency. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Euros.
Currency restrictions
The import and export of local and foreign currency is unlimited; amounts over ¬7622 must be declared.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the French Pacific Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May '04 | Aug '04 | Nov '04 | Feb '05 | | £1.00= | 175.04 | 177.86 | 170.31 | 173.59 | | $1.00= | 98.00 | 96.54 | 89.93 | 91.92 |
Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1530.
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