FRENCH POLYNESIA, — For visitors looking to live like a local, the Islands of Tahiti have a unique way to stay. It's called the "guesthouse."
“It's really different from a hotel,” Guesthouse Owner Heiarii Girarad.
Guesthouses are like mini resorts, usually featuring a few bungalows operated by a single family.
“The people really love to take care of tourists - the people coming to French Polynesia - and I think it began with the guesthouse,” Heiarii said.
There are nearly 300 guesthouses spread across 38 islands. Each one with a character all its own.
“If you come to Anahata, it's a real experience,” Heiarii said.
Heiarii and his wife, Patricia, built and operate the Anahata Guesthouse on the island of Taha'a. The only way to get here is by sea, so Heiarii personally gives guests a lift.
“First travel is with the boat,” Heiarii said.
And that's just the start of a beautiful friendship.
“Really happy to give happiness to people,” Heiarii said.
Conversations flow over authentic island dishes, all prepared by Patricia.
“We love to speak with the people. We eat with the people. They eat what we eat also. Lovely fresh fish, and things like that, really local food,” said Heiarii. “The dinner is really perfect because of Patricia, of course.”
The meals are mind-blowing, and so is the view.
“It's a good experience,” Heiarii said.
The water here is crystal-clear. Perfect for spotting the 3-ton turtle sculpture Heiarii commissioned as a fish-friendly reef for the ocean floor. Consider it a treasured acquaintance waiting for your next visit.
“We are proud to say that people want to come back here,” said Heiarii. “At the end, they become our friends, our family. It's the way that Tahitian people receive people – like family."
Sponsored by Air Tahiti Nui
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