Honeymoon in Tahiti - Any Suggestions?

[derekinla]

My fiance and I are interested in a honeymoon vacation to Tahiti (end of May). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about looking for a good travel package? Are there any particular islands that are a "must see"? Thanks in advance! (Leonid: can we set-up a section for honeymoons and travel?)

 

[Hest88]

I've been research French Polynesia for awhile now, and think we'll go on our 5th anniversary. I've decided on two islands, but they're not the two most ppl suggest first-timers go to! The usual advice is Bora Bora as one island. The 2nd island depends on how active or inactive you want to be. The most active bulletin board on FP is here: http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/cgibin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro

Good luck and let me know what you decide!

 

[derekinla]

Thanks for the tip Hest!! Just curious, why Bora Bora as one of the islands? I think my fiance is interested in staying in an overwater bungalow. Are all OWB's pretty much the same? Also, do you have any suggestions for travel agents or vendors offering competitive rates?

 

[Hest88]

People say Bora Bora because it supposedly has the most gorgeous lagoon. It's what people think of when they imagine FP.

I've decided against it, though, purely because my DH and I are laze around types. When we go, I plan on staying at the Pearl Beach on Taha'a and the Kia Ora Village on Rangiroa. Taha'a because it is a newish resort on a relatively undeveloped island and Rangiroa because it supposedly has incredible sea-life.

What's your budget like? And are you lounge-around types or do you like activities and sightseeing? If I were to stay in Bora Bora I would have chosen Sofitel Motu--which is luxurious and secluded. However, if I were someone who wanted more to see I would choose somewhere else.

The island of Moorea, for instance, is a very popular spot because there's a lot to do there. Which is exactly why I don't want to go!

 

[Mara]

Actually Moorea is supposed to be a more relaxing island. Lots of things to do in terms of water sports etc but not alot of restaurants, alot of hotels, etc. Sleepier. Bora Bora is like a mini Tahiti....the way Tahiti was about 5-10 years ago before it got totally commercial and horrible.




We were planning on BB because had heard it was beautiful, but its horribly expensive. My two cents are saving your pennies and go to Moorea. Beautiful sunsets, much more reasonable in costs. Plus its a smaller island, with more peace. Less people too. This is totally us, more relaxing. Our travel agent highly recommended it.




Also I recommend you save your money and don't go overwater bungalow. I've heard it isn't all that great AND you will be looking at almost double the cost of a land bungalow. We were going to stay at the Moorea Sofitel on a beach bungalow which is just as awesome, but almost 1/2 the price. Our travel agent worked it all out for us and we had excellent pricing for 8 days, incl airfare, a catamaran ride from the airport to Moorea, etc. Oh and the hotel has tons of activities that were all-inclusive, like their kayaking, and bodysurfing, snorkeling all was included.




But then we decided to jump the gun and buy the new townhouse, so extra $3500 doesn't seem like such a good idea blown on a honeymoon. So we're staying in Hawaii for another week for about $1000, then taking a big Europe trip next fall for about 3 weeks. We'll do FP another time, was hard to give it up though.

Our travel agent is excellent if you are interested. Nancy Lund @ Travel Desk in San Jose. She can work with you even though you aren't local. She is doing all of our guests for the wedding to Hawaii. She priced us out for the honeymoon at $3500 for Moorea 7 days when all was said and done, but that was including $1400 airfare for both of us from Hawaii to Moorea...it may be much cheaper from LA. Email her at [email protected] and tell her that I referred you.

She's great and she travels *all the time* so she has been to almost every place that she recommends. BTW the Bora Bora estimate was about $6500, just to show the difference. Moorea with overwater bungalow was something like $5500.




Oh and check out my thread 'Beautiful Sunsets' here in the DH forum--I put two amazing Moorea sunsets in there. I surfed around the web for a while looking for Moorea stuff, it looks amazingly beautiful. You can also look up the Sofitels and see the hotels, etc.

BTW, random thought but what is the new obsession with having so many new forums?? It's so hard to visit all the forums and stay up on what people are talking about...too random and split up IMO.

 

[Hest88]

Mara, we had to nix our lavish honeymoon to buy a house as well, but don't regret it at all!

Derekinla, there's lots of info on the boards I posted. I'd love to hash out the pros and cons with you, but the boards will give you lots of perspectives of people who've actually *been* there, unlike me! God knows I've changed my mind a dozen times in the last six months! I even got to the point where I was seriously thinking about going in 2004 instead of 2006! That's what happens when you do too much research.

 

[Mara]

Hest...yes I know what you mean. At first I was very sad because we had really looked into it and were so excited, we don't travel a whole lot. But then the house of course is top priority...so we'll just have to do the Europe thing later in the year which is fine too because I've never been!!

 

[derekinla]

Hest& Mara,

Thanks for all of the tips! You two have been soooo helpful! I'm just starting out with the honeymoon research so there will be alot to learn. I will also likley be condo shopping starting this upcoming July so the honeymoon plans might have to be tweaked.