Fast Facts

Bookstores -- Kina Maharepa, in the Maharepa shopping center (tel. 56.22.44), has English-language novels and magazines. Supersonics, in Le Petit Village shopping center opposite Club Med (tel. 56.14.96), carries some English-language magazines and newspapers.

Camera/Film -- The hotel boutiques, along with the aforementioned Kina Maharepa and Supersonics , all sell film.

Currency Exchange -- Banque Socredo, Banque de Tahiti, and Banque de Polynésie have offices and ATMs in or near the Maharepa shopping center. Banque de Polynésie has an ATM and a currency-exchange machine (but not an office) in Le Petit Village shopping center in Haapiti. Bring cash or traveler's checks if you're staying on the northwest corner, or be prepared to put most of your expenditures on a credit card. Banks are open Monday through Friday from 8am to noon and 1:30 to 4:30pm.

Drugstores -- Pharmacie Tran, in Maharepa (tel. 56.10.51), is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to noon and 2 to 6pm, Saturday from 8am to noon and 3:30 to 6pm, and Sunday and holidays from 8 to 11am. The owner, Tran Thai Thanh, is a Vietnamese refugee who speaks English.

Emergencies/Police -- The emergency police phone number is tel. 17. The phone number for the gendarmerie in Cook's Bay is tel. 56.13.44. Local police have offices at Pao Pao (tel. 56.13.63) and at Haapiti (tel. 56.10.84), near Club Med.

Eyeglasses -- Try Optique Moorea in the Maharepa shopping center (tel. 56.55.44).

Healthcare -- The island's infirmary, which has an ambulance, is at Afareaitu on the southwest coast (tel. 56.24.24). Several doctors are in private practice; ask your hotel staff for a recommendation.

Internet Access -- Every hotel has Internet access for its guests. In Cook's Bay, the restaurant Maria Tapas (tel. 55.01.70; www.mariatapas.com) has fast Internet access for 250CFP (US$2.50) for 15 minutes. Computers are available Monday through Thursday from 9am to 11pm, Friday from 9am to 1am. In Haapiti, Polynesian Arts, in Le Petit Village (tel. 56.22.00), also has fast access at 20CFP (US20¢) a minute. Open Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 6pm. You can burn your digital photos onto CDs at either place.

Post Office -- Moorea's main post office is in the Maharepa shopping center. It's open Monday through Thursday from 7:30am to noon and 1:30 to 4pm, Friday from 7:30am to noon and 1:30 to 3pm, and Saturday from 7:30 to 9:30am. A post office in Papetoai village is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30am to noon and 1:30 to 4pm, Friday from 7:30am to noon and 1:30 to 3pm, and Saturday from 8 to 10am.

Taxes -- Moorea's municipal government adds 100CFP to 150CFP (US$1-US$1.50) per night to your hotel bill. Don't complain: The money helps keep the island litter-free.

Visitor Information -- The Moorea Visitors Bureau, B.P. 1121, 98279 Papetoai (tel. 56.29.09; www.gomoorea.com), has an office at Le Petit Village shopping center in Haapiti. Open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm (more or less; they sometimes change). The bureau also has an unstaffed booth at the Temae Airport where you can pick up maps and brochures any time.

Water -- Tap water on Moorea is not safe to drink, so buy bottled water at any grocery store. Some hotels filter their water; ask if it's safe before drinking from the tap.