Somewhere that has long been on my bucket list, I finally got the chance to escape to paradise this week by visiting Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Now some of my reality-tv-show loving readers will known this of course as one of the Kardashian holiday destinations (myself included – I do love a good reality show binge), but for most of you Bora Bora is one of the few idyllic locations around the world home to the iconic water bungalows. Below you’ll find all this and more in my complete guide to Bora Bora, Tahiti!
Arriving in Bora Bora
After spending a couple of nights on the main island of Tahiti (a great way to catch up on jetlag if you’re arriving from the Europe), I hopped on a quick 45-minute flight to Bora Bora. Upon landing I was (not so) warmly welcomed by rain and lots of it, but the idea of stepping off a plane and straight on to a boat to my resort was too lovely to let a little storm get in the way of my happiness.
On the subject of weather, I would highly recommend you visiting Tahiti any time other than January as rain is almost a guarantee (there wasn’t a day it didn’t rain on my trip and most days we didn’t see sunshine). Bad weather patterns aside, Bora Bora is too beautiful not to still enjoy – especially for honeymooners and couples looking for an island escape.
Check-In: Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort
The hotel boat transported us from the airport straight to check-in, where I happily snagged the keys for my overwater bungalow. The images speak for themselves and despite the miserable weather, it was a beautiful few days in paradise (despite the in-room cockroaches you might have read about on Twitter!)
Prices are sky-high in Bora Bora and although this resort is rated as four stars, you’ll need to save your pennies before coming here. Once at the resort be sure to keep in mind that all of your food and activities are an additional cost and will soon blow your budget if you’re anything like me and can’t say no to dessert at every meal.
Resort Activities
Around the resort there were plenty of activities to keep one busy: jet skis for rent, stand up paddle-boarding, kayaking… you name it. In a way this reminded me of the Maldives and the endless activities my boyfriend and I got up to there, however with the storms continually rolling in, much of my time was spent indoors or running through the rain from one eatery to another (when you have no options left, food is always a good idea).
Around Bora Bora
One thing I would strongly suggest you do when visiting Bora Bora is to escape your resort. Although it is easy to stay in one place and eat your favourites off the menu three times a day, I promise you there is so much more to discover when you venture in to “town”.
My absolute favourite experience of my entire stay was at Villa Mahana – a new addition to my list of favourite restaurants around the globe. Not only was this a lovely dining experience with a gastronomic menu, but it also gave me the chance to try local Polynesian foods with a modern, French twist. Safe to say I left nothing on my plate(s) that night.
Another great restaurant I escaped to was Lagoon by Jean Georges, found at the St Regis hotel in Bora Bora. This dinner was a little fancier (requiring more of a dress code) and delicious as well.
Getting There
I flew to Tahiti with Air Tahiti Nui from Australia. While this did involve a transit in Auckland, it was a pretty seamless flight path and if you live in one of the major cities (unlike me from Tasmania!), then you will reach Tahiti within the same day you begin flying.
Beyond Bora Bora
Although it is tempting to arrive in Bora Bora and beach yourself at one resort, I would strongly recommend you venture beyond this island to explore other parts of Tahiti. Personally, my favourite island was Moorea, full of dramatic scenery and less outside influence. You can read about my guide to the top islands to visit in Tahiti here.
Special thanks to Tahiti Tourisme for making my visit possible and going above and beyond to provide an incredible experience for my first time in Tahiti! I’ll be back!
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
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