Honeymoon Booked, Suggestions Welcome!

onefootinthebayou

Hello,

I'm beyond excited that we've just booked our honeymoon for this coming November to Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora. I've heard that some peeps on these boards have gone and I'd be interested in any advice you have as this seems like a once in a lifetime trip.  

I realize that November marks the beginning of the rainy season but it's all our vacation and work schedules would allow.  

So far we are only booked for one night in Tahiti at a Le Meridien (I'm an SPG member so if we're going to shell out a lot of $, I at least want to earn points) and are planning for 4 nights in Moorea and 4 nights in Bora Bora.  We will try to stay in overwater huts for 6 nights or so.  

Any thoughts or advice on where to stay and "don't miss" activities?  We are game for anything, love the outdoors and also just laying around.  Love to eat and drink as well so I'd love restaurant recs.  Hoping to get off the resorts as much as possible.

Thanks in advance!

Jells2dot0

I am SPG Plat and probably returning to Bora Bora in the Spring. I've never stayed at an SPG resort there (I did before the Hilton took over in Moorea and the Bora Bora Nui) but I think we're going to stay at the St. Regis this time around. If you're going to spend $1k+ a night, why not get the points? Lol. Plus, we're at the St. Regis Punta Mita right now. It's awesome!

I've been to most of the resorts on Moorea and Bora Bora in some form (this spring will be my 7th time in the islands). I don't openly recommend anything as each resort is unique. I always ask more about what someone wants before openly offering information. Though, honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with most options and budget plays a big role on what choices you have. However, I recommend not splitting your stay at a resort between a garden/beach bungalow and an OWB. With only 4 nights, I don't think it's worth changing rooms (if that was what you were getting at.) one of my most memorable stays in the islands has been in a beach bungalow. So I'd opt for a garden/beach in Moorea and the OWB in Bora Bora.

onefootinthebayou

Thank you!  This is exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for.  We are going to splurge on the OWB but I felt like I wanted to cap that spend at about $5,000 (so, 4 or 5 nights total).  We may just do that in Bora Bora and follow your rec for Moorea rather than switching rooms in Moorea.

I'm wondering if it would be worth it to get our dive certs ahead of time.  It's always been on my bucket list but at the same time, the snorkeling over there looks pretty promising without all the hassle of gear.  

Would you recommend booking fishing trips/safaris ahead of time or through the resorts?  I'm guessing it may be more expensive to do so.  I'd also take recs on travel websites where I can research information on my own.  There is an overwhelming amount of information out there.

I'm Marriott Platinum & there are no properties out there so I'm SOL on using my 350K points there  Our lodging will be the most expensive part of this trip, obviously.  

Thank you again.

Jells2dot0

Booking activities ahead of time is probably not necessary for November. I've never had an issue any of the times I've been. The one item I would consider booking early is Villa Mahana on Bora Bora. It's one of the best restaurants on the island and it only has 7 tables.

Since you want good access to the main island, I'd look into InterContinental Thalasso or Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island. The Thalasso has several shuttles between there and the InterCon Le Moana. The Private Island has an on demand shuttle to the Bora Bora Beach Resort. But, then again, the Four Seasons and St. Regis has some of the best restaurants in Bora Bora right on the property. That's why I don't really give out resort recs- the resorts all have pros and cons

I do not dive (H can't b/c of ear problems) but I do recommend getting Certified prior to going. It will be cheaper and you'll have more time to enjoy dives since you can't fly for 24 hours after (including interisland). The snorkeling is great, especially on tours. Some resorts have great snorkeling right on the property.

As for travel websites, check out the boards on Tahiti-Explorer. I was super active over there years ago, but I think it's still going strong. A first time trip planning to Tahiti without an agent is tough (lots of intricacies that people might miss) but there are many pros over there who go several times per year.

onefootinthebayou

Thank you again, Jells - this is all great information.  I appreciate the note about the agent - I have considered it and not ruled it out but DH and I are travel level expert for the most part (and we won't be getting married there, although I did peruse the legal wedding rules ), we've both traveled a ton internationally for work and vacation and are pretty proficient.  Just out of curiosity, what do you think an agent would add?  We've already booked our flights and I think will have our lodging booked by end of this week.  Flights were complicated b/c I booked the NYC/LAX leg separately to go 1st class on miles.  1st class to Tahiti was $14,000 (we'll only fly Delta or partners) so we sucked it up and booked coach for LAX-PPT.  Just curious as I've never actually used a travel agent before (even for Africa to climb Kili and do safaris) so I'm wondering what an agent would contribute.  Of course, a first trip to anywhere is a learning experience so I'm sure we won't have thought of everything.  

I did read that getting the Island Hopper Jet pass might be a good idea and plan to look into that.  

I'm going to check out Tahiti explorer this afternoon.  Thank you again!

Jells2dot0

For Tahiti, an agent's assistance would give recs based on wants/needs but also tie everything together in a package. Example- in Bora Bora, the airport transfers are run through the resorts. This is not true for Moorea and Tahiti. Outside companies are used for transfers. On Tahiti, you could just catch a cab, but that is less likely on Moorea. For Moorea, you can take a ferry there from Tahiti. So, that one-way transfer could be included. The airpass is sometimes less expensive, but sometimes not. For outer islands, an agent would be able to route you to make best use of the pass. Obviously, in your case, that is probably not needed.

I consider myself to be an expert traveler and plan everything myself, but I have found using an agent would have been helpful in some cases (Seychelles and Mauritius, Australia, for example. There were some crazy intricacies on those trips). For Tahiti, I saw value in using a specialist for my first trip. But, once I had been to a few of the islands, I knew I could do it on my own. I also think that for special occasions, working with a specialist might provide added touches like upgrades and perks, but that is not always guaranteed.

onefootinthebayou

Again, great information.  I'm really considering using an agent.  I'd be happy to take recs if you know a good one, otherwise I'll check the board you listed earlier and use the interwebz.  Thank you, this is all so useful and helpful.  You also give me hope that this won't be a once in a lifetime trip if you've been there 7 times!

JoanE2012

onefootinthebayou said:

Again, great information.  I'm really considering using an agent.  I'd be happy to take recs if you know a good one, otherwise I'll check the board you listed earlier and use the interwebz.  Thank you, this is all so useful and helpful.  You also give me hope that this won't be a once in a lifetime trip if you've been there 7 times!

We also went to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora.  We said it was a once in a lifetime trip (we love seeing new places and therefore rarely repeat places, especially one that is pretty expensive) - but knew once we got home that we'd be back again.  We are going back in a couple years for our 5 year anniversary.  

We stayed at the Hilton in Moorea (deluxe garden bungalow) as well as in Bora Bora (deluxe overwater bungalow) in order to save some money.  I was just reading a couple days ago that the Hilton in Bora Bora is undergoing renovations so many OWBs are not available (they are closing completely early next year for several months)

We booked through an agent who took care of everything - main flights, interisland flights, hotels, transfers.....though we found Costco to offer almost the same price.  I like Costco because they always seem to give you something more (ie breakfast included).  Not sure you can earn rewards though.

Oh, and we also went the end of November - all I remember was it being HOT.  I don't think we got much rain.

And my tip - get one of these (or 2 so your SO doesn't steal it) - it was heavenly floating around in the lagoon.

http://www.amazon.com/Swimways-Spring-Float-Papasan-Colors/dp/B0037Z6XPQ/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1439257818&sr=8-16&keywords=water+hammock

Jells2dot0

onefootinthebayou said:

Again, great information.  I'm really considering using an agent.  I'd be happy to take recs if you know a good one, otherwise I'll check the board you listed earlier and use the interwebz.  Thank you, this is all so useful and helpful.  You also give me hope that this won't be a once in a lifetime trip if you've been there 7 times!

There are many places that I've been that I will never consider a return trip, but the second I hit the ground on my first Tahiti trip, I knew I'd be back. I was there for 10 nights that first time and cried when the plane took off for home!

Check out Tahiti-tourisme.com. They have an agent finder on there based on state, city, zip, area code, etc. The agents listed on there have to meet annual booking and training requirements, so they know their stuff.

Costco is great for pricing because they roll the commission they receive from the resorts back into the bookings since their employees get paid hourly. But, their "agents" are not agents. They won't know anything about the destination and you'll never speak to the same person twice. To me, Costco is great if you want to do all of the work, but want to what everything rolled into one booking package.

JoanE2012

Good point about Costco Jells.  We research the heck out of our vacations, so technically we're just using the agent to do the actual bookings.  We even did all the legwork for our honeymoon to FP.  We gave our live agent everything - down to preferred rooms at each hotel and flight times.  I was just too lazy to do all the individual bookings.  hahaha.