Bora Bora Holidays
The Most Beautiful Curse on Earth!
I’ve been reminiscing about our Bora Bora holiday in French Polynesia ever since we got back from the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. Actually, it’s more like comparing rather than reminiscing.
You see, Bora Bora really is picture-perfect and it ruins any other destination afterwards. Even if they are incredibly beautiful. I’ve come to the conclusion that a Bora Bora holiday is actually a curse!
Every new destination changes you a little bit. It changes your perspective on human nature and the natural environment. It changes the way you feel about your own life and how you see things. Bora Bora did this for me but not in the way that I expected.
It’s Less Than an Hour From Tahiti by Plane!
I felt the tension drain from my shoulders before the plane even touched down. Bora Bora is only a short 45-minute flight from Papeete airport in Tahiti, and from the 30-minute mark, we were blessed with breathtaking views of Bora Bora’s extinct volcanic peaks, blue lagoon and spattering of white-fringed coral islets.
It is on one of these smaller islets that form a ring around the lagoon that the plane sets down. A boat transfer over Bora Bora’s lagoon is required to reach the mainland or any resorts.
My plan was to spend four days over indulging on good food, learning to snorkel and doing some serious relaxing in no particular order before moving on to the island of Moorea.
I couldn’t help but wonder who owns the secluded private bungalows we passed. Surely I’ll spot a celebrity here; especially considering I only learned about Bora Bora after watching Vin Diesel in XXX. It’s not the first time a movie has influenced my destination and probably won’t be the last.
The Sofitel Private Island
I was more than surprised at our welcome at the Sofitel Private Island. The manager came over, personally introduced himself and produced a small cake from behind his back. This was quickly followed by some very loud and enthusiastic singing of ‘Happy Birthday.’
For a brief moment, I had actually forgotten that a birthday was my justification for such a luxurious and expensive destination. Normally we travel fairly budget to mid-range.
The overwater bungalow turned out to be nothing short of amazing, with a ladder leading off the back deck down into the aqua blue waters. The room was a blend of French styling and Polynesian décor and we were treated to a round viewing window in the floor under the coffee table.
After a truly relaxing evening of watching the sunset over Bora Bora’s lagoon, I was ready to sell everything we owned to live here in luxury until the money ran out.
Let’s Sell our House and Move Here!
F*** working long hours. F*** medical expenses and IVF. Bora Bora made me irrational, and in my mind and in that moment, those few months would have been worth giving up everything we owned for.
After a good night’s sleep, selling our house and all of our possessions no longer seemed like such a good idea.
A bucket list item was ticked off by attempting to snorkel for the first time. I’m not a strong swimmer but still managed to swim around the calm lagoon waters with ease.
“The sharks don’t eat people here,” one of the staff informed me cheerfully. “Besides, they have already eaten today.”
He didn’t really answer my question about how large the sharks were but another visitor assured me that they are, “mostly just small reef sharks and nothing to worry about.”
The sharks indeed turned out to be small reef sharks and to my relief, they kept their distance. Besides, they look to small to eat anything larger than a few fingers.
Don’t Miss an Island Night Dinner and Show!
You can’t visit French Polynesia without seeing a dinner and show. I don’t usually like this kind of thing, they always seem tacky to me.
The show turned out to be pretty amazing. There was a lot of drumming, harmonies, coconut-bra wearing and hip-shaking. The finale was a performance by an extremely fit and tanned young man, wearing not much else than a loincloth and elaborate headpiece.
All in all, it was very entertaining and nowhere near as cheesy as it sounds.
Make Sure you Leave the Resort to Explore the Island!
Bora Bora is pretty small as far as islands go, and the road is virtually flat. We hired some pretty cool vintage styled pushbikes and set out to explore the quiet road.
There was a pizza shop ten minutes into the ride. The owner spoke no English, and we spoke no French. We ordered by pointing at vaguely familiar-looking words on the chalkboard menu outside.
The pizza was amazing!
The journey continued and we pedalled past waving locals. I stared wistfully at the beachside shacks and felt humbled by the innocence of the young children that we passed as I watched their good-natured banter.
One of the young boys we passed was carrying a feathered chicken under his arm; his friend was lugging a fishing rod and bucket. It was a simple fishing rod for a well-stocked lagoon and I doubt anything more complicated is required here. I’m assuming they were taking care of dinner!
Suddenly, I longed to live in a place such as this. A place where children are free to roam. A place where young people are perfectly capable of fishing, or catching a chicken, or surviving a whole day without some kind of electronic device.
Bora Bora is Paradise on Earth!
Visitors come to this beautiful island and see only the luxury resorts, but there is a community of very welcoming people here that live a very different life to the one I live back home.
To this particular outsider, it is a beautiful life. Do they see it this way? Do they know that millions of people all over the world fantasise about visiting this place?
Words can’t describe how beautiful Bora Bora really is. What I can assure you is that the postcards are not a lie. It is every bit as beautiful as the pictures, and then some more. Before I even left, I knew Bora Bora had cursed me.
I will be forever cursed, comparing new destinations and experiences to this one, knowing they won’t compare. I will be cursed, always dreaming of returning. I’m not talking about the luxury bungalow and VIP treatment, that can be bought anywhere in the world.
I’m talking about the breathtaking way the lagoon flitters between shades of aqua, turquoise and blue. Shades that you didn’t even know existed before coming here.
The way the prehistoric volcano rises dramatically out of the sea, surrounded by lush green jungle. I’m talking about breathing in fresh air that is not tainted by modern society, and the thrashing white surf on the horizon where the force of the ocean meets the reef.
Bora Bora has cursed me!
Visiting Bora Bora With Kids
We visited Bora Bora when I was having IVF for our firstborn. Although we have since taken the kids back to French Polynesia, we have not yet had the opportunity to revisit Bora Bora with them.
HOWEVER, we would LOVE to share Bora Bora with them. The lovely couple next to us had their children in an overwater bungalow and there were many other families enjoying the island. It is NOT just for honeymooners and I would feel 100% confident taking my family to this wonderful destination!
Essential information for your French Polynesia family holiday
Best time to visit French Polynesia
The dry period from May to October is a great time to visit due to less rainfall and cooler weather.
Peak season is July and August and Christmas and Easter are also busier. The cost of flights rise considerably over this period.
Getting to French Polynesia
Getting to French Polynesia pretty straightforward. All international flights land in Tahiti. Search for a great deal on flights on Trip.com.
To visit one of the beautiful outlying islands, a flight will need to be booked with Air Tahiti. If you’re planning on visiting a few islands, it’s worth clicking on the Multi-Islands button for a cheaper deal.
Moorea can also be reached by Ferry.
Where to stay in French Polynesia
French Polynesia is not cheap so this will depend on your budget. Luxury accommodation is catered for but cheaper options can be found in family-run guesthouses or pensions. These can be absolutely wonderful!
Search for your accommodation here or check out where we have stayed below:
- TAHITI – We have stayed at Villa BO (our favourite) in Teahupoo and in Papeete at both Hotel Sarah Nui and the Sofitel Ia Ora Beach Resort.
- MOOREA – We have stayed at the Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort.
- HUAHINE – We have stayed at the Royal Huahine.
- RAIATEA – We have stayed at the Pension Les Trois Cascades.
- BORA BORA – We have stayed at the Sofitel Private Island and the Sofitel Marara Beach Resort.
Getting around the islands
This really depends on what you want to do and the age of your kids!
- We loved hiring a car for a day or two in Tahiti, Huahine, and Raiatea. Search car hire across major brands here.
- In Bora-Bora, Moorea, and Raiatea we loved getting around by pushbike and on foot.
- Taxis, water taxis and private transfers are available and your accommodation can help you out with this.
- There is a public bus on Tahiti which is an enjoyable experience but be warned that it sometimes (especially on the weekend) isn’t reliable. During weekdays and day-time hours should be fine.
Attractions and tours
There is plenty of things to do and see around French Polynesia. I found booking through our accommodation was the best option and we had no problems booking the night before.
WiFi
WiFi is usually available at hotels but the connection can be a bit hit and miss on the lesser-visited islands. Purchasing data is expensive so don’t plan on being able to watch YouTube.
French Polynesia holiday travel guides
Check out the official Tahiti Tourism site here!
Looking for more awesome family holiday inspiration?
For more information on visiting French Polynesia, head on over to our French Polynesia page. Alternatively, head back to the home page for other destinations and activities.
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