Bora Bora

Taking your beach resort vacation to the next level

For those living in the United States (especially people on the West Coast), Hawaii is a popular destination for an easy and close beach holiday. But for minimal additional flight time, Bora Bora and Tahiti offer a more authentic, exotic and relaxing vacation. With overwater bungalows and less populated beaches, it is the ultimate honeymoon destination.

I rarely like doing packages and tour groups and instead want to do the research and carefully align only the things I want to do. However, locations like this are where I deviate from my normal routine and purchase a travel package bundling flight and resort. Some of the best deals available will be as a package and will make the trip easier. Travel sites will be competitive, but I recommend considering Costco's Travel site. The prices will be similar to places like Expedia, but generally have a few things included like airport transfers to the resort, or credit for activities.

Duration: One week

Budget: $5,000 per person (all inclusive) on double occupancy

Getting (there and around):

There are plenty of direct flights from the West Coast and it is a marginal additional flight time from a Hawaii flight. The annoying step in going to Bora Bora is that you fly to Tahiti first, then transfer on a short flight to the island of Bora Bora (the views are breathtaking though). Once arriving on Bora Bora, there is also a boat ride to your resort. It can be an exhausting day of transferring, but the seclusion has it's price and it's worth it.

Experienced Tip: Even if you don't traditionally go to the duty free, this is a must stop at the Tahiti airport. Alcohol is incredibly expensive on the island as everything needs to come by supply ship to the resort you are staying at. A few bottles of wine and spirits will save substantial money and also provide convenience for whenever you want it.

Staying:

There is a range of options in places to stay that are at different price points. But Bora Bora isn't a place to go unless you can afford to do it right. If you are tight on a budget, consider a different beach location like Mexico. That said, there is no reason to spend unnecessarily and you can certainly get affordable luxury. This is also one of the few places in the world you can stay in an overwater bungalow and you need to seize that opportunity- it's half the reason in choosing Bora Bora as a destination.

A strong recommendation is Le Meridien. It is adjacent to the St. Regis (famous for the movie Couples Retreat) and shares the same mountain view, but will save you a considerable amount of money. It is the kind of place that is not crowded and you do not need to wake up early to work for some lounge chair (one of the reasons I typically despise resorts). In fact, you can basically get a cabana and chair any time of the day. There are plenty of water accessories if you want, from paddle boards to floats to enjoy the water at the resort's private beach.

Experienced Tip: The rates are different for different zones along the bungalow piers. There is an advantage to being at the end and having more seclusion (I think it's worth it), but definitely at least choose the mid-range. The ones closest to the beach will have more noise and proximity to others, but you still won't be disappointed (especially with saving money). The more important part is getting a bungalow away from the main walkway.

Something to keep in mind staying anywhere in Bora Bora are the hours. The sun and heat start early and it will make even the strongest night owl a morning person. At the same time, it gets dark very early and dinner and activities end much sooner than you are used to. Therefore, don't expect nighttime entertainment at the resort. Most public activities wind down at dinner.

Another reason to choose Le Meridien is the food. More on this is described below, but the value of choosing this resort can be found in the cuisine alone. Though there are not a lot of restaurants on the resort, the quality is some of the best I've had at resorts around the world. I was just fine with just a buffet breakfast and dinner.

Doing:

Any beach vacation is more about not doing anything. However, it is great to get active a little and do something unique while experiencing the locations. There are two specific non-resort recommendations to consider.

The first is a snorkeling day-trip. This is a pretty standard activity on Bora Bora. I was able to arrange a day trip through the Costco Travel site for about $100, which included a day on a boat (with about 10 people total), three snorkeling trips an outdoor preserve for sharks and turtles, and lunch. It was one of the highlights of the trip and snorkeling included seeing coral reefs, sting rays and other interesting fish.

The other is that Bora Bora is an ideal place to do parasailing. The nature of the atoll keeps the water somewhat safe and protected and the views are amazing. It can be easily arranged through the hotel.

Eating:

Your food options are largely dependent on your hotel option for all-inclusive, so choose wisely. This is one of the reasons for stepping it up a little on your hotel quality.

The food at Le Meridien is predominantly French with other alternatives and is incredible. The daily breakfast buffet is the highest quality and one of the few buffet places I've been where didn't get tired of the food by the end of the week. There are two main restaurants for dinner. One is outside and the other is inside. The inside restaurant is a place you want to order about three main dishes because they all sound good. There is also a bar restaurant on the main beach for quick eats and beverages during the day.

Photography Tips:

It is not likely you are seeking out Bora Bora for photography, but if it is one of your hobbies or passions, there are great views of the mountain. Just be patient. The weather and clouds change rapidly and the view will seriously change minute by minute.

This is a great opportunity to get some underwater equipment or even an underwater point and shoot camera for your snorkeling adventure. But it is also important to remember not to live this experience behind the lens. Put the camera down and enjoy the experience.

Have your camera ready when you are flying between Tahiti and Bora Bora. It is an breathtaking view of the entire atoll and gives you great perspective on the unique setting.

Day Planning:

Each day is likely the same, or at least allow the same options for you to do whatever you feel. However, I'd recommend having a pre-planned excursion like snorkeling about half way in so that you have something to look forward to, but still have time to relax again before leaving.