French Polynesia Honeymooners

Linqdz

I am booking my HM to French Polynesia. We are going to both Bora Bora and Moorea. I am having trouble deciding between hotels. I read reviews on tripadvisor, but they all say, "amazing, incredible, etc."On Bora Bora: Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa OR St. Regis OR Four Seasons?On Moorea: Intercontinental Moorea Resort and Spa OR Hilton/Sheraton Moorea Resort and Spa

lyss3210

I had the same issue.  We ended up going with recommendations from our Amex TA and which hotel would give us the best deal.  We are staying at the Hilton in Moorea and the Four Seasons in Bora Bora.  You may want to research the IC in Moorea because I think they will be doing construction at the time of your HM.

princessbridega

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those Bora Bora resorts! On Moorea, the Intercontinental is wonderful (I actually spent part of my HM there!) but they are about to start doing a ton of renovations/construction that will last through May of next year. Since (I assume from your wedding date) you're going in March, I would recommend staying at the Hilton instead. I've stayed there as well, and it's also a great property, with beautiful water and excellent snorkeling!

SarahNE

We're staying at the Four Seasons in Bora Bora. I've heard that the Four Seasons and the St. Regis are pretty similar in the sense that they offer the most luxury. Between the two, The Four Seasons is newer, but the St. Regis bungalows are a little bigger. For that Island, I'd go with whoever is going to give you the better deal. We went with the Four Seasons, because I love the layout of the bungalows, the bathroom has large windows that open up to your deck. We wanted a plunge pool, and we wanted the Four Seasons service, nothing really compares :)But again, whoever gives you the best deal, that's what you should go with   HTH!As for Moorea, we're not staying there so I can't help.

Linqdz

Thank you. I should mention that we aren't going on our honeymoon until August (due to work schedules). I am also working with an Amex travel advisor. Maybe since the IC on Moorea is doing renovations, they would be better in August?  

GMC520

Thanks for posting this. I am also looking for recommendations for our honeymoon. To those who have visited, is 1 night in tahiti enough or do you recommend 2? Also, very torn between Four Seasons vs. St. Regis. What noticeable differences are there? For those that visited either were you happy with your choice or would you stay elsewhere?

msaputra

We are going to Tahiti/Moorea/Bora Bora next May.For Bora Bora, I don't think you can go wrong with Thalasso or St Regis or Four Seasons. I think Four Seasons is the newest of the 3, but all 3 seems to be really really nice! I decided with the Thalasso because we got a really good deal (buy 4 nights get 5th night free) plus free breakfast and dinner! For Moorea, I read on Trip Advisor that the IC is a little older. I was going to go with the IC but decided to go with Sofitel. I heard that the Hilton just completed renovations on all their bungalows so if you go next year, they should all be recently renovated.

Allison&Donnie

We are going to F.P on our honeymoon next year. We are staying at the Hilton Moorea and Intercontinental Thalasso in Bora Bora. IMO- I would either stay at the Sofitel or Hilton in Moorea. They are the nicest, newest and best rated (per tripadvisor and other sites). We chose Hilton for the location (Sofitel is kind of seperated from a lot) and for the snorkeling. If price is an issue-see what kind of deal/meal package you can get.For Bora Bora- the Thalasso was the most reasonable between those three. But is ranked 2nd (per tripadvisor) Four Season is the most expensive and highest rated. We wanted the top over water bunglalows at whatever resort we stayed at- and St. Regis/4 seasons were just too costly.... Again, see what type of deal you can get and that should help with your decisionI like looking at travelers pics too- and that has really helped set our minds...HTH!!!!!!

clark897

FI and I are just beginning our search for our honeymoon destination, I have always wanted to go to Bora Bora and Moorea but since we are just beginning we haven't determined if we can afford it yet.  Did you all use a travel agent to help book and get the best hotel deals? FI is a little hesitant to book and coordinate travel/transportation on his own since he knows nothing about the area.  Any suggestions on where to begin and get comfortable you are getting the best deal?  Should we go at it alone or try to use a travel agent?

ellenalabama

This is going to sound really dumb, but FI and I went to see Couple's Retreat last night and we stayed and watched the credits to see where it was filmed at bc we thought it was so beautiful! (I know we're dorks)  We were all set with Cabo, but we may be changing our minds?  I got online and it seemed pricey?  Anything anyone can tell me about Bora Bora?  Do they have any AI there?  Is it more relaxed or is there nightlife?

nylalany

We just got back from our "babymoon" from French Polynesia, which we booked through Caroline (who replied earlier in this thread). On Moorea, we wanted to stay at the Hilton, but due to price, we stayed at the Sofitel, which we liked - nice accommodations, good food, good snorkeling, decent service - the downside was location - only in terms of having nothing to walk to. Restaurants did pick us up, but of course you are limited to the restaurants that will do pick up. We rented a car and drove around the island, passing the Hilton and the IC. We stopped at the IC to see if we could do the dolphin experience, but it was closed. The IC was a bit bigger and more standard looking of a beach resort than the Sofitel, but it seemed nice. I think they have a boat to a motu for snorkeling, which seems neat. I've read that the Hilton has better snorkeling, and the Hilton was my 1st choice personally, and I think there are a few restaurants you can walk to from the Hilton, such as Aito. On Bora Bora, we were also thinking about the 4Seasons, IC Thalasso, and St. Regis, but picked the Hilton Bora Bora Nui to save money and also b/c of the great snorkeling there right off your bnugalow. I thought the snorkeling was good, the water colors at the resort were amazing, but the service left something to be desired. The breakfast was good, but the lunch and dinners were not. Anyhow, we picked up some people from the 4Seasons on one of our tours, and they said the service was incredible there, which seems consistent with the reviews on tripadvisor. The views and water colors there were beautiful, although the water didn't have as much color variation as at the Hilton. Their boats are super cool, and the interior of their bungalows to me look the nicest out of any on the island. If money wasn't a factor, and I could take snorkeling tours every day, I would have picked the 4Seasons. They do have an inner lagoon with a snorkeling guide, which seems neat, and if you do a few tours to get your fill, maybe this would be worth it. We also had friends who just stayed at the IC Thalasso. They loved it. It seems like the IC Thalasso has more bungalows with great views of the mountain, if that is something you want, and the best thing about that place is that you have a free boat shuttle to the mainland - to their sister hotel, where you can then either walk to restaurants around Matira beach, or you can get free pickups from the nicer restaurants on Bora Bora. This is a huge factor. The Hilton BB Nui had free boat shuttles during the day to the town of Vaitape, but the restaurant selection there was pretty abysmal and it seems from the reviews on TA that most of the good less pricey/more casual restaurants are in Matira. Also the Hilton BB Nui charged for their evening shuttles, $20 pp, and I hear that the 4Seasons charges $73 per couple or $90 per couple (varying reports), just to put things into perspective. The food on BB is SO pricey and mediocre that the last thing you want is to tack an extra amount onto your meal for the shuttle. SO IC Thalasso seems like a good pick for that reason. Plus I've read you can take a free kayak from their sister hotel and kayak to the coral gardens near the Sofitel Motu, to get some snorkeling in. If I were to go back and take $ into consideration, I might choose the IC Thalasso b/c of the convenience of the boat shuttle. Check the times it runs though, that could make a difference too. The Hilton's shuttle had screwy times, which was really annoying. Anyway, that is my 2cents. Probably not very helpful, since I didn't actually stay in those 2 hotels, but maybe a little? I'll post my trip review for others interested in FP details this wknd when I have some more time.