Ia Oranaaaa! Welcome in this new travel story!
“Storytime” is a series where I share real-life travel experiences from different types of travelers who have recently visited Bora Bora and French Polynesia. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a loved one, as a family, or in a group, you’re sure to find something relatable and informative in these stories. Each experience comes from individuals with varying budgets, so you can better understand what to expect if you’re planning a trip to Bora Bora.
This week, Amy, a valuable member of “Off to Bora Bora” is celebrating her 15th wedding anniversary (congrats guys!) in French Polynesia, between Moorea and Bora Bora.
And while they used to go to Hawaii for vacation… they have ultimately decided that French Polynesia will be their go-to tropical destination from now on.
Happy reading!
Planning & itinerary
What made you want to discover French Polynesia?
We took the trip to celebrate my 50th birthday and our 15th wedding anniversary. I had seen pictures of the overwater bungalows in the incredibly gorgeous lagoons on the cover of travel magazines, and it was on my “bucket list” to stay in one.
Was this your first time visiting French Polynesia?
Yes, it was our first time.
Let me know more about the planning phase of your trip + Itinerary in French Polynesia
I reached out to a travel agent for help, not knowing much about French Polynesia. With a one week stay and our budget, he recommended that we stay 3 nights on Moorea at the Sofitel and 4 nights in an overwater bungalow at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui – what we did.
Would do anything differently if that was possible?
We would have liked to stay an extra night on Moorea and would love to visit more islands.
Accommodation & Food
Where did you stay on each island?
Sofitel on Moorea + Conrad Bora Bora Nui on Bora Bora
Which resort/hotel was your favorite and why?
The Conrad Bora Bora Nui was very luxurious. The grounds, beach, pool, and bungalow were all unbelievable. The staff was incredible. The breakfast buffet was phenomenal – I ate multiple croissants every day!
Unfortunately the Chinese restaurant (which we heard great things about) was closed during our stay, and we were not impressed with the dinners we had at the Tamure Beach Grill. We did a couples retreat at the Hina Spa – the treatment was fabulous, and the view from the spa was gorgeous.
We also really liked the Sofitel – the beach and lagoon were stunning.
What was your room # and what did your room look like?
Sofitel Moorea: #406 Luxury Beach Bungalow – lovely terrace/patio – there is a sunrise view there (not sunset). We were steps from the water. We did not have a pool or kitchenette. The minibar was stocked with juices, water, and beer daily.
Conrad Bora Bora: #314 Deluxe Overwater Bungalow – private deck with direct access to jump into the lagoon. We sat on our lovely chaise lounges and enjoyed the lagoon view – we had a sunrise angle, but had to walk down about 4-5 bungalows to the end for incredible sunset views. We did not see any reason to have a pool when we could jump into the lagoon! The room itself was stunning.
Where did you eat during your stay? Any special restaurant that you would recommend?
On Moorea, we ate dinner at Rudy’s, which was good, and La Fare Canadienne (which was a great deal for good casual food).
On Bora Bora, we had THE BEST DINNER at La Villa Mahana. The food was incredible, the service and presentation was top notch, a totally exquisite experience.
Favorite food memory
I did love the poisson cru (Tahitian Raw Fish)!
Activities & tours
What activities did you do on each island?
Activities on Moorea
On Day 1, we rented a car and explored Belvedere Lookout, the Rotui juice factory, and had lunch at Snack Mahana.
Day 2 was spent on a fabulous snorkeling excursion. Our guide owned a small boat and left early to get to all the best spots before the crowds. We saw a school of eagle rays, turtles, and enjoyed the stingrays and sharks.
On Day 3, we visited Coco Beach. While nice, we didn’t consider it a “must-do” activity.
Activities On Bora Bora
Day 1: We went deep-sea fishing and caught a sailfish.
Day 2: In the morning, we rented a car and drove around the island. In the afternoon, we hired a photographer (Caroline Tongourian) for some anniversary photos. That night, we had dinner at La Villa Mahana.
Day 3: We went on an all-day snorkeling excursion with lunch on a private motu. It was wonderful – we swam with sharks and enjoyed the demonstrations and stories from our guide.
Day 4: We spent the day at the beach, trying paddleboarding, and then ended with some time at the pool before leaving that night.
If you had to pick only one activity, which one would it be and why?
The snorkeling excursion for me, the deep sea fishing for my husband.
⬇️ Mentioned tours ⬇️
Shopping experience : Did you go shopping at all during your stay?
I stopped at a pearl store to check it out, but I didn’t buy anything.
Budget
What was the overall cost of your entire trip?
I’m not sure I want to know! But probably around $19k.
That price included the flights (Moana Premium seats on the way to Tahiti, and upgrade to business class on the way back), accommodation, transfers, travel insurance and inter-island flights. We did not used points or member programs to save.
Activities. What was the overall cost for activities?
We shared all of our activities, spending $1850 for two people. This included two snorkeling excursions, one deep sea fishing trip, and renting a car on both islands for exploration purposes.
Food. What was the overall cost for food?
Breakfast was included at both resorts, and we brought most of our alcohol and snacks with us. We also bought some snacks at a grocery store to save money. Our food expenses totaled around $1600, including one nice and expensive dinner at La Villa Mahana. We ordered room service twice and generally ate dinner for $120 or less. For lunch, we went to cheaper “snack” places a few times.
No
Last word & tips
Do you have tips / advice for other travelers visiting Bora Bora soon?
My advice is this: if you’re on a budget, go to Moorea. It’s cheaper and has more activities to offer.
Bring your own alcohol to save money compared to resort drinks. Spend your money on snorkeling and other excursions.
However, if you’re splurging and not concerned about money, definitely go to Bora Bora as well.
For those going to Bora Bora, I suggest spending part of your time on the main island, not just at one of the motu resorts. It can be frustrating not being able to easily go to an off-property restaurant for dinner.
Anything else / any experience you would like to talk about to finish?
My husband has visited Hawaii over 20 times and always enjoyed it. However, after going to French Polynesia, he said he never felt the need to go back to Hawaii again. He would rather fly the two extra hours for the incredible lagoons and sea life in French Polynesia.
And, voilà!
Thank you again, Amy, for sharing your first trip to French Polynesia! Hopefully, it won’t be your last!
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