Bora Bora Hotels

Kex Santos

Hey everyone!!

Any suggestions on a reasonable hotel in Bora Bora? 

Looking for an overwater bungalow with a meal plan

or would it be better to just book the bungalow and buy food there?

Please let me know!

Happy Planning!! 

msaputra

The Sofitel hotel in Bora Bora is quite reasonable, as is the Pearl. They are not as luxurious as the others but prices are of course better The Maitai is probably one of the cheapest but it only offers very basic accommodation.

If you are more adventurous and wanted to try the different restaurants, it's probably better to just book the bungalow and buy the food there so you can try the different restaurants.

But if you prefer convenience you can book the meal plan.

When we went for our honeymoon we stayed at the Thalasso which is on the motu, so decided to get the meal plan for convenience although we did go to Villa Mahana for dinner one night.

Jells2dot0

I agree with msa- I think the Sofitel is probably the bes bang for your buck right now or possibly Le Moana. Both are on the main island, though. If you want to be on a motu, I'd say the Pearl. I've been to all three and all three are very different. I personally think the meal plans take a little bit of fun out of the trip, but I do recommend stoppin at a market for some goodies.

I guess I also have to ask what reasonable means to you! If you want an OWB, expect to shell out at least 800/night, or more, depending on the time of year and resort.

allychase

Or you could rent an overwater bungalow from VRBO.com like this one-

http://www.vrbo.com/316750

I wanted to rent that house sooooo bad and I am DYING to go to Bora Bora but it just wasn't in the budget.

Kex Santos

Thanks everyone for your responses!

We are getting married on 12/7/13 so we'd like to go on our honeymoon anytime after that and come back home for Christmas. So we'd be traveling either during the 2nd or 3rd week of December. We're thinking that this trip should last at least 7 days to make it worthwhile since the flight is so long.

We also have to take into account the flights. We live in northern NJ and are open to flying out of Newark, JFK or LaGuardia, depending on the flights.

Looking to stay below $12k for the honeymoon. Ideally $10k.

Thanks for suggesting getting food at the markets! That's a great idea!

I think we'd just have breakfast included in the bungalow.

So is this at all possible within my budget??

Please let me know!

Thank you!

Jells2dot0

It is absolutely possible given that you are traveling during early December. My best advice is to split your stay on two islands (Bora Bora and Moorea are the top two) and stay in a garden bungalow in Moorea to help ease the cost. Even though it's cheaper to travel there during that time of year, your flights will still run around $300/person from NYC to LAX; $1200/person from LAX to Tahiti; $550/person for interisland air to Bora Bora. A lot of resorts already include breakfast in their rate, so that helps. You may also find some good specials for that time of year where you get free nights. I'm more than happy to recommend a resort based on what you are looking for. Each resort is unique in its own way. I've stayed at or been to most of them on both islands. My favorite on Moorea is the Hilton and I like most of the resorts on Bora Bora depending on what I want at the time

jhg140

We are staying at the IC Thalasso (3 weeks away! finally!) and we booked our package through a travel agent and total cost was under $10k. Granted we are flying from Houston to LAX and only doing Bora Bora (6 nights), but I think its definitely reasonable. We also booked an excursion and have breakfast/dinner included in our price. Highly recommend talking to a few travel agents to see what they can propose to you.

Kex Santos

Jells2dot0, yes can you please give me some suggestions on where to stay? We've both never been there and want opinions/suggestions from people who have actually gone there. That would be very much appreciated!!

jhg140, if you don't mind me asking, what travel agents did you work with? Even though you're in a different state, if they're from a large company, maybe they have a location here in NJ. 

Thanks so much ladies!!!

So far, it's been more fun to plan the honeymoon than the wedding!!

Have a very good day!

Jells2dot0

What kind of experience are you looking for? A smaller property? Larger? More oppulent? More authentic? Is beach important? Snorkeling from your OWB? Dead on view of mountain versus lagoon?

As far as agents go, I have always worked with Tahti Tiare Specialists. They know the most about the islands because they have to go there and book it to retain their certifications. I would HIGHLY recommend working with one over the phone or internet over dealing with a larger agency that is close to home, unless you can find someone close by who really knows their stuff. Check out Tahiti-tourisme.com and you can search by state, zip code, area code, etc.

Kex Santos

Jells2dot0, we're looking for something romantic, authentic, friendly staff and the beach is important. We'd like to stay in an OWB where you can see the fish swim underneath. The size of the property doesn't really concern us as long as it's clean and has a helpful, friendly staff. 

Thanks so much for the help and the link! I'll be sure to check it out!

Jells2dot0

Here are my thoughts:

Sofitel Private Island: romantic, excellent snorkeling, but snorkeling best from the shoreline rather than the OWB. Awesome views of main island and surrounding lagoon.

Hilton Nui: Good snorkeling from OWBs, large beach, a good mix between authentic and modern, but property a bit large (I didn't feel crowded at all when there though). Property is on a motu and faces out toward the lagoon.

Pearl: Intimate resort, very authentic, snorkeling from OWBs is decent but not as great as Sofitel or Nui, awesome view of main island from the motu. The beach is okay, but not as nice as the Nui. Needs some renovations, but still very clean. Best value if you want that awesome view. Snorkeling off of the OWBs is okay, but not great.

Le Moana: on main island, nice beach, authentic, and awesome value. You can catch a free shuttle daily to the Thalasso, which is more modern and chic. Not as luxurious as the Nui or Sofitel, but more recently renovated than the Pearl. Snorkeling is okay.

On the other side of the island, you have the St. Regis, Four Seasons, Thalasso, and Le Meridien. All are pretty modern and fancy. The least expensive is probably Le Meridien. They have an awesome beach there and at the Thalasso. Since most of these resorts are somewhat new, the snorkeling there is so-so. The coral needs time to regenerate. Le Meridien does have a smaller lagoon that offers some better snorkeling. That being said, you'll find the best service at the Four Seasons but the most authentic experience at the Pearl or Le Moana.

To maximize your time in the islands, Le Moana will have some awesome deals. To hit the most of what you asked for, I'd go with the Nui. To really pamper yourself, the Four Seasons, but you'd have to limit your time there because of cost and spend more time on another island, like Moorea.

jhg140

We worked with Caroline Bracewell at Easy Escapes Travel. All via e-mail. She was very helpful, as she had been to all of the resorts we were considering and her input helped us narrow down our choices considerably.

Kex Santos

Jells2dot0 thanks so much for the suggestions. We've been checking out the Hilton Nui and feel more confident in that since you also reccommended it!

What time of year did you go there? Is the weather sunny and dry in December?

jhg140 thanks for the referral! I'll do more research on the island and reach out if need be.

You've all been so helpful! Very much appreciated!!!

Jells2dot0

I have been several different times of the year. While their summer starts in November, which means it's a bit more humid and can rain a bit more, it doesn't really mean that will be the case. It has poured sometimes in July, which is peak season, and it's been perfect and sunny during January. More importantly, it tends to be less crowded in December, and of course, less expensive.