Bora Bora info

HardDrive · 05:13 PM

Wifey wants to do a family vacation to Bora Bora. Seems like a big waste of $ to me. It looks beautiful, but it looks like a 3 day trip to me. Other than being able to name drop that we went to Bora Bora, I'm not seeing anything there that can't be had on Hawaii.

Can you combine a trip with a few day in Bora Bora + Tahiti?

Heel n Toe · 10-18-2016, 05:23 PM

Did somebody say Bora?

Oh... sorry... couldn't help myself.

And I couldn't find a pic of a Tahiti.

tevake · 10-18-2016, 05:36 PM

I found Riatea or Huahine more enjoyable that Bora Bora.
Bora Bora is more visually stunning. But is so based in tourism that it impacts the locals in a way that makes me less comfortable there than other islands in the group.
Where there is more ballance in the economy, and more comfortable locals to interact with.

I also feel that being there on a boat allows a more enjoyable visit than being stuck in hotels and touristic restaurants etc.
There is a good charter operation based in Riatea. A week live aboard charter can get you to at least Three islands including Bora Bora.
I think the best vacation trip there is to put together a few friends and charter a large cat with a captain and see a lot of the area within the lagoons, dashing between islands as weather allows.

Cheers Richard.

gshase · 05:57 PM

My daughter did a Make A Wish trip to Bora Bora. It was a magnificent week. A lot better than any place in the Caribbean that we had been to. It was a 23 hour trip for us.....DFW-LA-Tahati-Bora Bora airport then a ferry to island. My daughter loved staying in a (OWB) Over water bungalow. Snorkeling, Jet skis, WWII sites, and amazing food. WE were told this was one of the most expensive Make A Wish trips they had ever done...My daughter still talks about it. 2010 cost was 17K .....Air fair was like 4K each

Baz · Baz's Garage

You should go. How many people do you know who can say they visited Tahiti?

I stayed at the Club Bali Hai on Moorea for a week in December 2003 and was glad I went......if only for the experience.

I did feel the place was getting too commercialized but if you rent a moped for a day you can get away from it all to some extent and tour wherever you want.....

Baz · Baz's Garage

It's a long flight there and back - some people take something to help them sleep. Also if your plane is not full - keep an eye on an empty middle seat section you can grab once the door shuts before takeoff....works well for sleeping.

A few more pics....

Baz · Baz's Garage

Also you may want to take along a couple disposable underwater cameras in case you go snorkeling, or on a shark visitation trip, or ray feeding.....

Steve Viegas · 10-18-2016, 06:58 PM

I spent a week in Bora Bora and a week in Morea. They are beautiful and wonderful places to relax. Hiking, Hobie catting, snorkling and SCUBA are about the only activities. The circumference of Bora Bora is about 15 miles I believe. It is very small, not large enough to support fresh water. I am glad I went.

biosurfer1 · 10-18-2016, 07:18 PM

I went for 8 days in 2012, 4 in Moorea, 4 in Bora Bora. Long trip to get there, and I'm glad I went but won't be going back.

Very, very expensive, especially BB. You must really really like fish or meals will be even more expensive and not that great.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

We were just discussing this tonight also! Was thinking about going there for my honeymoon in March but not so sure i could justify the price/time to go there compared to other places like Aruba, etc..

LakeCleElum · 10-18-2016, 07:47 PM

Heading that way in a few weeks for a 2 week trip....was going to start a thread on what to do on Tahiti on our own for a few days B4 the start of the formal trip........HD and I compare notes upon our return?

tevake · 10-18-2016, 08:09 PM

Bora Bora markets itself as a jet setter 5 star type of place with prices to match.

The open market in Riatea offers great fresh produce fresh fish, fruits you may have never tasted etc. you can stock your boat for your pleasure and enjoy the experience.

The great thing about the leaward islands are the extensive lagoons surrounding the islands offering easy access to all parts of the islands without having to go out into the open ocean.

Great pics Baz, quite the flash back for me seeing them. Moorea is close to Tahiti and more developed than the leaward islands. Quite beautiful there.
Baz, Did you get to surf hapiti just around the corner from club Bali Hai. Epic left, long paddle from shore? I had some memorable sessions there, anchored just inside from the pass.

Hard Drive, how large is your family? A full crew? How old are the kids? The Tahitians are very friendly and love kids, they are your passport to good contact with the locals.
Learn a few greetings in French or Tahitian and off you go. The kids will never forget it.

Cheers Richard

HardDrive · 10-19-2016, 03:06 AM

Just one daughter 12. I just about choked looking at airfare. Best I could find is $3600 each.

Lets just get down to the brass tacks of this thread: A vacation this expensive would cut into my secret Cayman S fund

HardDrive · 10-19-2016, 03:07 AM

Thank you for the input all!

fingpilot · 10-19-2016, 04:35 PM

I used to take a rich guy there for the holidays, leave Santa Barbara mid-December, return mid-January. Same thing again two weeks ending on Easter morning.

You have to go thru Papeete both ways, to clear customs in and out of French Polynesia.

Taxi-back after the landing in Tahiti.

It really is that pretty

Swimming with the sharks and turtles...