Have a great trip and dont be afraid to island hop.More. Disappointing - Review of Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora - Tripadvisor They allow you to bring 2 bottles of liquor on the plane per person as long as it is in their duty free bags. Many travelers buy a bottle of their favorite liquor at the duty-free shop at their U.S. gateway to use for their own cocktails throughout their trip (be sure to transfer large bottles to checked luggage in Tahiti before checking bags for the domestic flight). more. Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora: Disappointing - See 3,851 traveler reviews, 5,611 candid photos, and great deals for Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora at Tripadvisor. Read our. Geography & Travel Bora-Bora island, French Polynesia External Websites Also known as: Porapora Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica We visited Bora Bora and stayed at this hotel for my 60th Birthday celebration in an over the water bungalow. The good- The turtle sanctuary is a truly remarkable place. I was greeted with a smile and warm greeting everywhere I went throughout the resort. We picked this beautiful resort for our 10 year wedding anniversary and were not disappointed. Check in was seamless. Full Day Lagoon Group Tour in Bora Bora with Lunch. It seemed like they just did the minimum and did it poorly. With that said we can't always make everyone happy as well. Boring Bora?! - Bora Bora Forum - Tripadvisor We dined at two of the restaurants and had great meals at both. Tour guides dont expect tips, but are customarily handed around 10 percent of the tour priceunless theyre self-employed. Bora Bora is an additional 45-minute flight from Tahiti onboard Air Tahiti (French Polynesias domestic airline, not to be confused with the international carrier Air Tahiti Nui). Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. When we initially booked this trip, we were torn over whether to stay at Hotel Bora Bora (because everyone says it's so great and because it's on main island, as opposed to the moto where the Intercontinental is), but we were so happy that we chose to stay at the Intercontinental instead. The check in process was a bit cumbersome. And of course, a ladder into the ocean if you want to swim. Not only did she give me a wonderful education on Tahitian pearls, she and the owner created the most spectacular strand of black pearls for me. The good- The turtle sanctuary is a truly remarkable place. We were just happy to lounge around the resort, eat great meals and drinks great drinks. you probably won't notice the bumps and warts that we did. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. - Quora. Bargaining isnt the done thing in French Polynesia, although its customary to ask (politely, and just once) for a discount when buying pearls. The U.S. State Department gives French Polynesia its safest travel advisory level (Level 1), advising travelers to exercise normal precautions and noting that the country has a low crime rate.. One thing travelers need to know a lot about before they go to Bora Bora is what the weather is like. They were so full of personality. Another suggestion is to google "what to pack" when preparing for your trip. 3:30pm every afternoon, it would get dark over to the South, and you could watch the rain squall come in, as soon as it got near you, yes your right, you leisurely walk to the bar and find a seat and watch the down pour for 10-20mins, then gone !!! DISAPPOINTING - Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora - Tripadvisor I dont think there has been a coat of paint applied in years. We got settled then descended to about 150 feet below the surface. Bora Bora is located a brief 50-minute flight from The Islands of Tahiti or Moorea. Thank you again! best overwater bungalow resorts in Bora Bora. The food was the best of all of the places we stayed. So I made a list of things I thought could be helpful. We finished our 14 day vacation with three days at the IC and, well, we were a little disappointed.Don't get me wrong. Still, petty crimes do occur here from time to time, and its always smart, wherever youre anywhere thats popular with travelers, to beware of pickpockets and petty thieves; keep valuables concealed in a money belt under your clothes or in an anti-theft purse or backpack. 'Dreaming Island' is based on Komundo's folktale of the Odori. We finally found it! And then we jump in, look down and see the huge lemon sharks, about 8-10 feet long, swirling around right below us about 15 feet down. Thank you again and from all of us at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora we look forward to welcoming you back again one day soon. The scenic points visited with Vavau cannot compare to those we saw previously and even the Pareo place was not at good as the one we had been to with Tupuna. Almost everyone I saw afterward who knew black pearls gasped and told me how beautiful they were. But it didnt really feel scary, just exhilarating. Don't get me wrong. We did the Shark/Stingray excursion 2x. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Please see our partners for more details. Don't miss him and his Adopt-a-Coral program. These villas are HUGE, modern and very comfortable. I also really did not like how Juliano seemed to be fishing for tips. It's really not that bad! I had booked our stay at the IC Thalasso over a year ago, and had been eagerly anticipating this portion of our journey to French Polynesia. My husband and I decided to go to French Polynesia for our honeymoon. Before I go into our thoughts and recommendations on the resort (which are long and tripadvisor will have to insert the more button), I must say a very special thank you to Tasha at the Black Pearl Lounge. As to rooms, we were in overwater villa 104, which was wonderful as it was a shorter walk to the main resort and we almost always forgot something and had to go back. Don't get me wrong. The rooms were meticulously made up twice a day with extremely thoughtful service.The Black Pearl Lounge I am an inveterate bargain shopper but want to get quality along with a reasonable price. Granted, we were arriving on a ferry, and 99% of their clientele probably arrive by air, but still. Were very happy to hear that your time with us was at a Six Star level -WOW! The Intangibles There is something about the resort and Bora Bora that is so difficult to truly capture but can best be described as a feeling of relaxation that you just melt into. It's awkward. Rest assured that, as mentioned before, Bora Bora is an extremely safe place. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 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Just amazing!Excursions We did the Ray and Shark Snorkel Safari and the Submarine Experience. We began our trip with 4 days in Moorea at the Intercontinental there and were very disappointed. The Ray and Shark safari was great. I agree with doing the lagoon tour on Bora Bora. Is true that Bora Bora is 'boring boring'? - Quora It was so unreal to be that close to the sharks. Swimming with the sea turtles was amazing, as well as our snorkeling and scuba excursions. -And the last point I would like to make in regards to the competition, we are not a jewelry shopping tour. In French Polynesia, its also common to ask for and pay the bill at the bar or front deskit wont be provided unless requested. Lock in the lowest price from these sites. The easy luxury of the surroundings, the ability to do what you want pretty much any time you want to do it is wonderful. Please see our partners for more details. Read our, Youre getting a reduced rate because this partner is offering a discount when you book from a mobile device. I stayed here after staying at a lovely resort on Moorea and this was a big step down. The staff are very friendly and helpful - a perfect place to relax. We felt so comfortable there that they had a lot of freedom and independence. . Hello and thank you for sharing your outstanding review! He must do the tour so many times, and it so it is very touching to see how much he loves this land and doesn't take this beauty for granted. It was room temp at best. We're truly happy to read that you and your family enjoyed your time with us and that you particularly enjoyed our Kids for all Seasons program, our restaurants, the pool, and lagoon. If youre planning on going diving divingas in head-first into the waterbe absolutely certain that the water youre diving into is deep enough to accommodate your jump. Hiro also provided great local information on life on Bora Bora which my husband and I really enjoyed. The ocean and the view were spectacular. Disappointing - Review of Matira Beach Restaurant, Bora Bora, French We finished our 14 day vacation with three days at the IC and, well, we were a little disappointed. The staff were great and were really kind. Hello Janet, thank you for your glowing review! I had booked our stay at the IC Thalasso over a year ago, and had been eagerly anticipating this portion of our journey to French Polynesia. Disappointing - Conrad Bora Bora Nui - Tripadvisor It is quite simply the most spectacular resort we have ever seen. Four Season's runs top of the line budiness hotels but if you know them you might be disappointed by this property. Would not make it even in my top 100 list of beach resorts.More. To put this into perspective I would give Le Meridian a 8.5/10. !The only litter on the beaches are bits of sea weed or maybe a piece of drift wood, how's that for pristine.Vaitape the Capital is small, but you can hire scooters, motorbikes and cars easily, but we found that as on Tahiti the locals DON'T accept any thing else except their currency XCF. They met us at the boat dock, walked us to the reception area, and we were checked in and given a tour of the property. Here you get two bottles of water for the day and thats it. Beach toys are complimentary. The good- The turtle sanctuary is a truly remarkable place. Bad Things About Bora Bora - With Examples - asquestions We dined at two of the restaurants and had great meals at both. From the time you arrive in the Bora Bora airport to the departure you get treatment, which makes you feel special and enjoy this beautiful place. The location is amazing. However, there is one exception to the tipping rule in French Polynesia. "Frequently Asked Questions." I had to keep reminding myself that I was actually a guest there. Australia: 12-Night Melbourne, Cairns & Sydney Athens to Barcelona: Luxe, 10-Night Mediterranean Pennsylvania: Daily Car Rentals from Pittsburgh, 8 Travel Safety Tips You Probably Ignore (But Shouldnt), 8 Packable Things That Could Save Your Life, 10 Epic South Pacific Adventures for Your Bucket List, 10 Amazing Overwater Bungalows You Can Sleep In, Where to Stay in French Polynesia: Lodging Tips You Need to Know. The other wing of overwater villas is quite a walk, probably 15-20 minutes to the more remote ones. Your right down the road from a little market which has everything you need. To put this into perspective I would give Le Meridian a 8.5/10. Boat Tours, Waterskiing & Jetskiing, Private Tours, Boat Tours, Dolphin & Whale Watching, Scuba & Snorkeling, 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours, Waterskiing & Jetskiing, Private Tours, Scuba & Snorkeling, Boat Tours, Scuba & Snorkeling, Boat Tours, Private Tours, Boat Rentals, Sightseeing Tours. Not to whine (I know, too late), but I spend most of my working life living out of IC Hotel Group hotels and I hold the highest status on the Priority Club membership. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Bora Bora - Wikipedia In Bora Bora, take all the precautions youd take when traveling to any tropical islanduse plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, read up on what to do in case of a hurricane or tsunami, watch for falling coconuts, and, if youre planning to go scuba diving, beware of decompression sickness. We are the editors of SmarterTravel! It is incredibly private and stunning. She left footprints on my heart and my memories of her kindness will be forever cherished. The 5 Best Overwater Bungalow Resorts in Tahiti and Bora Bora in 2023, Tahiti Will Open Its Borders to International Tourists on May 1, A Complete Guide to Rangiroa, French Polynesia, The Island Paradise That Embraces All Genders, The Best Private Island Resorts in the Caribbean, 5 Overwater Bungalows You Can Book With Points, Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox, TripSavvy uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. There is also a pizzeria within walking distance which is surprisingly affordable and very delicious! Michele Westmorland / Getty Images Things to Do Bora Bora is a low-energy vacation destination, and the resorts are designed with this in mind. Ask mevchartrand about Bora Bora Explorer. I thought the layout in the room was not great at all. Rest assured, however, that shark attacks in Bora Bora are exceedingly rarethere have been just two recorded in the last century.