Bora Bora and Beyond
Living in Moorea, I have had the undeniable privilege of visiting most every island & atoll in French Polynesia that has an airport and many that don’t even have that. There are 118 islands and each island is unique, carrying its own special charm. I can say without question that each island is truly magnificent.
Most Americans find themselves going to Moorea & Bora Bora. Some actually make it to Huahine or Tahaa and even fewer make it to the Tuamotu or Marquesas islands. Often when the vacation or honeymoon is in the early planning stages, I’m asked which is the best island? How do Moorea & Bora Bora compare? Should I do Huahine or Tahaa? And what about Manihi vs. Tikehau? The fact is every island is beautiful and the good news is that there is no wrong choice. I often tell people to go with their feeling. If you had the feeling to go to Huahine then that is where you should go. Don’t analyze it. Just go for it.
From my perspective, the biggest problem is that too many people, view a trip here as a once in a lifetime occurrence. Granted most people are unlikely to spend the kind of money on future trips that they spend on their honeymoons and that is OK. It makes sense that honeymoons should be an indulgence. I like splurging as much as the next person but it is simply not necessary to break the bank in order to experience paradise. Yes, we all hear about the rooms in Bora Bora that go for $1000+. And you know what, that too is OK. There are a lot of people in the world with a lot of money and god bless the people who can afford to do Bora on the high end. Of course some will say those prices are a travesty and talk longingly about the way Bora Bora once was. I absolutely understand their point of view. It is difficult to watch development occur in an area that was once so pristine and untouched. The fact is, Bora Bora was a hard secret to keep! I do however want to point out two other perspectives:
1) It is not necessary to spend a fortune to experience Bora Bora! There are actually some lovely moderately priced hotels. You just can’t be sucked into thinking the only way to do Bora is the expensive way.
2) There are 118 islands. Bora Bora does not have the monopoly on beauty. Yes, it is gorgeous — breathtaking even, but it is just one of many gorgeous islands.
The truth is, I would be hard pressed to tell you which island I think is most beautiful.
Last year I surprised James & took him to Bora Bora for his birthday. It had been many years since he had last been there. Now mind you, James was ticked off when they decided to put street lamps on part of Moorea so I was very curious to see what he would think of Bora Bora. Well he loved it. Cruising across her turquoise lagoon, James looked at me and said “Bora Bora has its reputation for a reason, this lagoon really is incredible.” We are lucky, because of the business we get to stay in all the best hotels for free and for us it is a great escape to be able to indulge in the luxury of Tahiti’s finest. Let’s face it, it’s wonderful to sip champagne from the deck of your overwater suite but you know what? There are times when I want luxury and there are times when I want a more pristine remote experience. Is one experience better than the other? No. Both experiences are vastly different and equally valued in my book.
Many people ask if I have a favorite island. In fact is, this is a hard question to answer as I am able to appreciate each island for its unique qualities. However, there is a place that possesses a bit of magic for me. It is a little atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago called Ahe. Is Ahe for Everyone? Absolutely not. There are no hotels. Just one very simple but charming little pension called Coco Perle. It is where I like to go with my family when I need a true vacation. I leave my computer at home and for a brief moment in time, I have no phone, no TV and no email to respond to. I spend the day with James & the kids looking for shells along the reef, playing in the lagoon and having hermit crab races. We eat pahua (a sort of clam) fresh from its shell and drink coconut water while sitting in the lagoon. It truly is our little paradise. But you know what, before I discovered I Ahe, I thought the southern part of Fakarava was my favorite and before that, I was in love with Tikehau and before that it was Tahaa. Meanwhile, James has a different list of favorites. So you see my point is, the more you discover Tahiti & Her Islands, the more you will be able to find YOUR perfect paradise. And who knows, you may find yourself in love with more than one island and would that be so bad?!
Most Americans find themselves going to Moorea & Bora Bora. Some actually make it to Huahine or Tahaa and even fewer make it to the Tuamotu or Marquesas islands. Often when the vacation or honeymoon is in the early planning stages, I’m asked which is the best island? How do Moorea & Bora Bora compare? Should I do Huahine or Tahaa? And what about Manihi vs. Tikehau? The fact is every island is beautiful and the good news is that there is no wrong choice. I often tell people to go with their feeling. If you had the feeling to go to Huahine then that is where you should go. Don’t analyze it. Just go for it.
From my perspective, the biggest problem is that too many people, view a trip here as a once in a lifetime occurrence. Granted most people are unlikely to spend the kind of money on future trips that they spend on their honeymoons and that is OK. It makes sense that honeymoons should be an indulgence. I like splurging as much as the next person but it is simply not necessary to break the bank in order to experience paradise. Yes, we all hear about the rooms in Bora Bora that go for $1000+. And you know what, that too is OK. There are a lot of people in the world with a lot of money and god bless the people who can afford to do Bora on the high end. Of course some will say those prices are a travesty and talk longingly about the way Bora Bora once was. I absolutely understand their point of view. It is difficult to watch development occur in an area that was once so pristine and untouched. The fact is, Bora Bora was a hard secret to keep! I do however want to point out two other perspectives:
1) It is not necessary to spend a fortune to experience Bora Bora! There are actually some lovely moderately priced hotels. You just can’t be sucked into thinking the only way to do Bora is the expensive way.
2) There are 118 islands. Bora Bora does not have the monopoly on beauty. Yes, it is gorgeous — breathtaking even, but it is just one of many gorgeous islands.
The truth is, I would be hard pressed to tell you which island I think is most beautiful.
Last year I surprised James & took him to Bora Bora for his birthday. It had been many years since he had last been there. Now mind you, James was ticked off when they decided to put street lamps on part of Moorea so I was very curious to see what he would think of Bora Bora. Well he loved it. Cruising across her turquoise lagoon, James looked at me and said “Bora Bora has its reputation for a reason, this lagoon really is incredible.” We are lucky, because of the business we get to stay in all the best hotels for free and for us it is a great escape to be able to indulge in the luxury of Tahiti’s finest. Let’s face it, it’s wonderful to sip champagne from the deck of your overwater suite but you know what? There are times when I want luxury and there are times when I want a more pristine remote experience. Is one experience better than the other? No. Both experiences are vastly different and equally valued in my book.
Many people ask if I have a favorite island. In fact is, this is a hard question to answer as I am able to appreciate each island for its unique qualities. However, there is a place that possesses a bit of magic for me. It is a little atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago called Ahe. Is Ahe for Everyone? Absolutely not. There are no hotels. Just one very simple but charming little pension called Coco Perle. It is where I like to go with my family when I need a true vacation. I leave my computer at home and for a brief moment in time, I have no phone, no TV and no email to respond to. I spend the day with James & the kids looking for shells along the reef, playing in the lagoon and having hermit crab races. We eat pahua (a sort of clam) fresh from its shell and drink coconut water while sitting in the lagoon. It truly is our little paradise. But you know what, before I discovered I Ahe, I thought the southern part of Fakarava was my favorite and before that, I was in love with Tikehau and before that it was Tahaa. Meanwhile, James has a different list of favorites. So you see my point is, the more you discover Tahiti & Her Islands, the more you will be able to find YOUR perfect paradise. And who knows, you may find yourself in love with more than one island and would that be so bad?!
posted by truetahiti at 5:13 PM
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