How to Honeymoon in Bora Bora Without Breaking the Bank!
Your traveling guide for French Polynesia
What do you picture when someone says “Tahiti” or “Bora Bora?” A tropical paradise of aquamarine crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, tropical fish, and of course, charming over water thatched roof bungalows? YES. The water is a kaleidoscope of vivid blues and greens, like none other I have ever seen. Most people have heard of Tahiti, or Bora Bora, but French Polynesia is a vast archipelago of 118 islands. With so many islands to explore, how do you choose which ones to visit? I will focus on three islands, Tahiti, Mo’orea, and Bora Bora is a favorite island for honeymooners, and it certainly caters to the newly wed travelers with a romantic, relaxed style, and luxurious resorts. Paris might be considered the most romantic city in the world, but Bora Bora easily ranks as the most romantic island in the world. But a trip to French Polynesia can add up quickly, especially after the expense of having a wedding! So how do you go there for your honeymoon without breaking the bank?
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
French Polynesia is not Hawaii. When flying to French Polynesia from the West Coast of the United States, the flight time is just 3 hours more to Tahiti than a flight to Hawaii. I must preface that I absolutely love Hawaii, but French Polynesia is a very different refreshing vibe. In French Polynesia, you will not find any Costcos or Walmarts. Aside from the capital city of Papeete, there is hardly any traffic on the islands, nor are the islands built up. Hawaii is more commonly a family destination, whereas French Polynesia is quieter and the resorts are tailored towards couples. The island formations are different too. French Polynesia contains the largest chain of atolls on earth! Atolls are extinct, sunken volcanoes with an outer coral reef or ring around the center of the island. This reef often contains a stunning array of marine biodiversity, and makes for some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world. Seriously, this was the best snorkeling I have ever experienced. Check out my video at the bottom of this post of the majestic manta rays!
One more thing to know, French Polynesia is a semi-autonomous territory of France, and French is the official language, however Tahitian is also spoken. It certainly helps if you speak French, however English is spoken at the resorts, and we really found it to be no trouble getting around non-resort areas, as Polynesians are so friendly! Plus we learned how to say a few pleasantries in Tahitian:
Hello - Ia Orana (yo-rah-nah)
Thank you - Maururu (mah-roo-roo)
Cheers - Manuia
Yes - E! (rhymes with yay)
No - Aita (eye-tah)
Good bye - Nana (nah-nah)
Air Tahiti is the airline that flies small planes between the islands.
The wet vs dry season, and when to travel? Like most tropical places, French Polynesia only has two seasons. November through April is considered the wet season, however you may experience only a few rain showers during your stay. These islands get so much sun! So these months are your best bet if you want to save on your accommodations and avoid crowds. May through October is their dry season, and the months of June, July, and August are their peak tourist season. We experienced only a couple of downpours during our two week stay in late March. Before it started to rain, we noticed the locals started to go for cover even before the first drop. So if you see everyone moving for cover, you might want to do the same! The warm rain came down heavy, but within 15 or 20 minutes, the clouds parted and sunshine returned. If you are out walking, just keep a plastic bag on you to protect your cell phone and/or camera.
What’s Your Travel Style?
When you travel, what kind of experience are you looking for? Would you rather stay at an Airbnb, cook some of your own meals, mingle with the locals, and go discover some adventures? Or would you rather arrive at a resort, head to the beach, and find a lounge chair to relax with a tropical drink and unwind? After the excitement (and exhaustion) of a wedding, I completely understand wanting a more relaxing vacation to decompress with your partner. If so, then going to a resort is well-deserved and makes sense! But if you want a little adventure as well on your honeymoon, I’d suggest weaving in some non-resort time to get a more authentic, local vibe.
Locals style or lux resort?
The accommodation recipe that worked best for our style was a bit of both, resorts and local rentals. We started our trip with renting an Airbnb in Mo’orea. There are countless phenomenal locations on these islands that are not at a resort! And you’re more likely to get tips from locals and you’ll save a lot with these accommodations, as well as saving on your food budget if your rental has a kitchen. With a local rental, you will also get the chance to immerse yourself more in the day-to-day culture of Polynesians and have more of an authentic experience. Some of the fun things to do in French Polynesia are hiking a volcano, snorkeling in a translucent lagoon (in some places, with reef sharks and sting rays!), riding an ATV through the jungle, jet skiing on the lagoon, checking out a pineapple farm, or having a tasting at a rum distillery. The foodie bar is also raised in French Polynesia by the fusion of the French and Tahitian culture, so rest your mind at ease that your taste buds will be whetted. French Polynesian cuisine incorporates the best techniques and ingredients from the French, with the fresh ingredients and seafood from the islands. You can find more simple, relaxed fare in local towns, and upscale restaurants near and on resorts. After you’ve had that local experience, I recommend saving the luxurious resort experience for the end of your trip, to unwind and treat yourselves!
Explore a pineapple farm on the island of Mo’orea.
Jet Ski in Bora Bora’s turquoise lagoon, or ride an ATV up the steep mountain for amazing views!
It’s All About Credit Card Points
French Polynesia can be very expensive. It is an extremely remote chain of islands in the South Pacific, and most of its food needs to be flown in. Flights there are limited, (but not as limited as they used to be!), and so it has become a luxury destination. If you do not use credit card points, a one week stay at a resort could easily add up to anywhere from $6000-$12,000. This is the secret, not-so-secret way to travel for free…choose your credit cards wisely, get sign-up bonuses, maximize your spending for points, and do your research on travel rewards programs. For example, if you have a credit card with a quarterly promotion of 5 points per dollar on groceries and gas, then you need to remember to always use that card for groceries and gas during that quarter. It takes a little bit of work but if you use your credit cards on all the every day purchases we make, you can really start to a accrue a nice pot of points. Of course, the key to getting those travel points is responsible credit card use. That might mean creating a spreadsheet to monitor what cards you use, how much spend they need after signing up to get the bonus, and what spend categories to use them for. So there may be some time spent on monitoring that spreadsheet, but once you get the hang of it, and don’t let the credit cards get away from you, it’s a completely viable way to earn points and eventually travel for free. Also if you shop online, check to see if your credit card has an online shopping portal. If you shop through their portal, you’ll earn even more points on the dollar. For example, all of the Chase Ultimate Reward credit cards have shopping portals. We have found that Chase Ultimate Reward points to be the most flexible to earn and redeem, so we have focused on accruing those points mostly. Also, a lot of the major airlines and hotel chains have shopping portals and/or other ways to earn points, and you don’t have to have a credit card with that airline or hotel, just a rewards account. If you have never heard of a shopping portal, google “Cashback Monitor.” Let’s say you were planning to buy something from Sephora. At the time of publication of this article, this website shows you all the credit card and airline portals that will give you rewards for the company you want to make a purchase from. So as an example, United MileagePlus will give you 7 points to the dollar if you shop at Sephora through their portal. There is no catch! Just going through the portal instead of the direct website of Sephora to make purchases can really boost your points. I do need to mention in full disclosure, that this article is NOT sponsored. I just want to share that travel to amazing, exotic places is completely possible without spending a fortune. My husband and I went to French Polynesia for 10 days and our international flights and resort accommodations were 100% covered by points. Over these 10 days, we spent only $800 per person, which was on our Airbnb (for 3 nights), food, and activities. So we spent $1,600 total, and the value of our point redemption was around $10,000.
Save your credit card points to splurge on the resort experience!
Lastly, consider setting up a honeymoon registry for your wedding. You can list the different activities you’d like to do on your trip: snorkeling, spa treatments, a sailing excursion, whatever it may be, and your guests can chip in towards the cash payments, as their wedding gift..
Travel Logistics
Flights from the US used to be limited to LAX via Air Tahiti Nui, and those flights could be expensive, ranging from approximately $1,200-$2,400 round trip per person! But all that changes in late 2018 when United Airlines started flying to Tahiti (PPT) direct from San Francisco (SFO). And I have seen flights as low as $545 from SFO to PPT. Whether paying cash or redeeming points, United Airlines has now leveled the playing field from California to Tahiti. It’s only an 8 hour flight and jet lag is not a big issue because it’s a 2 hours behind Pacific Standard Time. All international flights land in Tahiti’s capital, Papeete. From there you can catch a smaller flight via Air Tahiti, to one of the many other islands, like Bora Bora. When you land in Bora Bora’s small airport, your resort will have a boat sent to meet you, and transfer you to your resort.
Arriving in Bora Bora
When landing from your international flight into Papeete, you could instead choose to catch a 45 minute ferry to Tahiti’s closest island, Mo’orea. This is island is somewhat lesser known than Bora Bora. Rather than a ring of coral reef (known as a motu) surrounding it, Mo’orea has rugged, voluminous mountain peaks jutting up from its center and has more of a jungle topography to explore. It was amazing to see this towering amazing island formation come into view as we approached it from the ferry. If you are looking for some adventures, then the island Mo’orea is well worth spending some time, before you get to Bora Bora.
A palm-lined beach below Mo’orea’s rugged mountain peaks, and a charming bungalow Airbnb.
Places to Stay
Airbnb/Pension: We rented a charming bungalow on the property of a French woman who was born and raised in Mo’orea. She gave us all kinds of great local tips, places to eat, and how to get around. She shared with us the history of her property, how she built it with her dad, and you could see the love of their work in all the details of her property. That kind of experience was one of a kind, and we are so grateful we stayed there. Our little bungalow had a small kitchen, where we made breakfast in the mornings. We shopped at a local grocery store that was walking distance. I totally love this kind of travel experience, and felt like we got to witness more of the day-to-day life of the islanders, which is harder to experience from a stay only at a resort.
French Polynesia has lots of other islands we haven’t explored but hope to some day: Taha’a, Raiatea, Huahine, Fakarava, to name only a few. Many of these islands are less touristed, and you might only find rentals and not resorts. It’s definitely a chance to get off the beaten path but still have an incredible tropical paradise vacation!
Getting the local vibes when you stay at an Airbnb or pension.
Resorts: It is pretty amazing to wake up, walk out to your private deck, and jump into warm, clear turquoise water. The over water bungalow experience is not overrated, especially if you pay for it with points! If you are planning for Bora Bora, there are a variety of posh resorts: The Four Seasons, St Regis, Conrad Bora Bora Nui, Intercontinental Thalasso, and Le Moana, to a few. Check and see where your points can be applied. The resorts are designed for total relaxation and treating yourself. It’s a great way to unwind on your honeymoon with your honey! Also, don’t forget to notify your resort in advance that you are coming for a special occasion, such as your honeymoon, or for us it was our anniversary. You might find a bottle of the bubbly, or some other little extra surprises, upon your arrival! Keep in mind that the resorts, especially in Bora Bora, are expensive for food as well. And since many of the top-rated the resorts in Bora Bora are located on the motu (outer ring), and not on the mainland where the locals live, you can’t easily opt to go have dinner off the resort, or even grocery shop to pick up snacks. There are water taxis that will take you to Vaitape, the city on the mainland, but those taxis can be pricey. And for a point of reference, the breakfast buffet at the St Regis was $50/person. While it was a lovely buffet, that adds up very quickly! So keep that in mind when choosing your resort, if breakfast is included that could be a lot in savings! Mo’orea has resorts over their lagoon as well, but one big difference is that they are all located on the mainland, since there is no motu. So if you stay at a resort like the Hilton Mo’orea, many restaurants offer to pick you up and return you for free, and this way you can eat at great local spots without paying resort prices for dinner every night.
If the over water bungalow is too pricey for your budget or point value, then a room on land is still a super nice option, and generally are larger than the over water bungalows, and some come with their own private pools! These are often called reef side villas, beach villas, or garden villas.
The Reef Side Garden Villa at the Bora Bora St. Regis
What to pack:
Your time in French Polynesia will be primarily spent outdoors in warm, 70-80 degree fahrenheit weather. Consider also that you’ll also spend a lot of that outdoor time in water, whether at the beach, snorkeling , diving, jet skiing, etc. So pack lots of bathing suits, some beach cover ups, light weight clothing, and a rash guard if you have sensitive skin. Pack some nicer attire for the resort, but it does not need to be too dressy. Also some nice sandals, but heels are unnecessary as you’ll often be walking on the beach. Also you can buy a pareo (you might know it as a sarong) when you get there, and I pretty much lived in mine! I looked for a local shop that sold beautiful handmade pareos, before going to the resort. They come in all kinds of bright, beautiful colors and tropical designs.
Other items to pack: lots of sunscreen that is reef safe, mosquito repellent, aloe, snacks are handy (think energy bars and trail mix), snorkel & fins if you like your own, a hat that packs well and can get wet, a day bag to carry stuff to the beach, an international adaptor, camera, sandals, reef shoes, and walking shoes if you plan to hike. Since you will be in the water a lot, don’t bring a lot of jewelry, and careful with your brand new wedding bands as they can fall off in the water. One other money saver, is to buy some wine or rum when you land in Papeete, to bring with you to your next island. However if you plan to take inter-island flights to more than one island, try to pack light. Those planes are much smaller and have stricter baggage allowance (45lbs).
What to buy?
For you or to bring home as gifts, here are several unique items:
1. French Polynesia is known for their black pearls, and I have never seen so many beautiful pearls in my life! Lots of shops sell them, from tiny to golf ball size, from rose pink to green gun metal. They can be purchased loose, on strings, set into earrings, rings, you name it. You can even visit a pearl farm to see how pearls are cultured. We did not buy any pearls, but if you hope to buy some while you’re there, make sure the seller has a certificate of authenticity.
2. As I mentioned above, buying a handmade pareo or two to wear while you’re in French Polynesia is well worth it. They are lightweight, and easy to throw on over your bathing suit. You’ll just need to learn a few of the many many ways they can be worn.
3. Real vanilla is grown in many places in Fench Polynesia. Most vanilla is artificially flavored, so it is an experience to try true Tahitian vanilla while you’re there, and also bring some vanilla beans home as a gifts. You can also visit an vanilla farm on the island of Taha’a.
Lastly, when you are heading back to Papeete to catch your international flight home, it’s a good idea to make time to stop by their Pearl Market, which sells all kinds of wares, including a variety of pearls. If you need some souvenirs to bring home as gifts but don’t want to carry them in your suitcase throughout your trip, then this is a great market to stop at before the airport. There is also a Pearl Museum in Papeete that is worth checking out if you have time!
Papeete’s Pearl Market
Fun Facts
Hawaii was settled by Polynesians.
Marlon Brando bought an island in French Polynesia in the 60’s, called Tetiaroa. He was granted a 99 year lease.
The origin of the word “Tattoo” is Tahitian, and is an ancient practice in Polynesian culture.
Teahupoo on the island of Tahiti is one of the world’s most dangerous waves and a testing ground for professional surfers.
To see more of Sonya’s travel photography, click here. Sonya is also available to travel to your destination wedding! If you are thinking about eloping in Bora Bora or French Polynesia, inquire here.