The word “pension” doesn’t have an exact translation in English, but it roughly means “guesthouse.” Cash-strapped travelers can find inexpensive pensions all over Polynesia, but their quality varies drastically. Some pensions resemble grimy hostels, with shared bathrooms and sheets that smell like mildew, while others feel like charming bed-and-breakfasts with welcoming hosts and clean, if simple, accommodations. Pensions that fall into the latter category join larger, budget-conscious resorts in our list of the best value hotels in French Polynesia.