The Final Information To Planning

Personally, I feel French Polynesia holidays are one thing most of us solely ever dream about taking. I can keep in mind half a life in the past eager to go and pondering it will by no means occur and that I must win the lottery to go. Effectively, 18 years later, I’m right here to let you know that I’m making it occur and I’ve not received the lottery.

A few of that is born out of sheer luck and the remaining out of limitless analysis, bank card miles, reward standing, and so on. I need to be a useful resource for anybody seeking to guide a visit to take French Polynesia holidays and I hope this information is helpful on your planning course of.

This was not a simple journey to plan for me as a result of often I simply guide the journey and present up. I knew a dream journey of this caliber was going to take a critical quantity of labor, and it ought to. It was enjoyable planning this journey and I loved each second I spent having fun with French Polynesia holidays with my husband.

So let’s get to it!

4 Seasons Bora Bora

French Polynesia Holidays: The place To Begin

For years I’ve been attempting to make this journey a actuality, I simply didn’t need to spend the money to make it occur. Usually when looking accommodations and flights for the 2 week period I needed, I’d provide you with a couple of $25,000-$40,000 spend, not together with meals, actions, and so on. That may be a giant price ticket for a two week journey. Granted, I used to be a planning an all luxurious journey with over water bungalows, however I didn’t need to do it every other manner.

So right here is the place to start out: airfare may be pricey. The place I dwell in Washington, D.C. tickets per particular person in coach are virtually ALWAYS over $2,000 USD and often over $2,500! If you may get snug with the airline costs, you’ll be on board with every thing else.

For me, I LUCKED out with an airfare deal on Delta. Flights got here as much as $585.28 per particular person. How may I say no? The very subsequent day I obtained an alert for Expedia that flights went up $2100 PER PERSON!! In my eyes, I needed to take this journey, so I already saved $4200 on flights for what it will usually value. That was $4200 additional {dollars} to spend on lodging.

My recommendation on the flights: LOOK FOR THOSE DEALS. I’ve not spent a ton of time in search of flights offers, this one simply got here throughout my Fb and I practically died. I mentioned to myself “YES OR NO? I NEED AN ANSWER NOW!” After which it was booked.

*Caveat – what I didn’t discover once I booked these flights was that it was the BUSIEST month of the 12 months, which meant costs have been going to be excessive for accommodations. You may test this information for the most effective time to go to Bora Bora.

If you happen to don’t thoughts paying for 100% of the journey and the cash has no bearing on once you go, then go to in August in the course of the driest season. They get the least quantity of rain and humidity and have the most effective climate.

If you wish to avoid wasting cash, go throughout shoulder season when the islands see extra rain. I hear its lovely 12 months spherical. Rain and climate occur to the most effective of us. However if you’re attempting to go to on a smaller funds, think about going throughout October-April (though Christmas tends to be increased).

However earlier than you guide something, plan on buying travel insurance! If you spend this sort of cash on a visit, you have to shield it if the unexpected ought to come up.

When to go to:

Most individuals will let you know that the islands are good 12 months spherical, however finally it is going to come all the way down to your desire in climate and the way a lot you need to spend.

Excessive season is Might – October with small quantities of rain and humidity. Which additionally means excessive journey season for vacationers and better value tags on lodging.
November to April is rainier and extra humid, however that is if you end up more likely to rating higher offers. I’d suggest should you go throughout this time to remain 4+ nights simply in case you do encounter rain.

When taking a look at value comparisons, I discovered that a few of the months from November to April had room prices 50% or lower than the upper months, making this journey exceedingly extra inexpensive.

Maximizing Offers

I bought collectively all bank card miles, factors, rewards, and standing to see the place I may get the most effective offers to maximise my keep and decrease the out of pocket prices. Going by way of every thing I’ve to see which might swimsuit me finest was the toughest half about planning the journey. As soon as I gathered what each standing would give , what factors and miles could possibly be exchanged for, what my bank card may give me for reserving by way of them, after which went by way of the accommodations reserving websites to search out offers, and to see if I may discover offers on accommodations.com (as a result of after each tenth night time that you simply guide you get a free keep), it was some critical work.

What was of nice profit to me was that I deliberate to maneuver accommodations incessantly to get essentially the most out of my go to. Between Tahiti, Bora Bora and Mo’orea, I deliberate to remain in a minimal of 5 accommodations over 11 nights. Being that I’m a journey author/photographer/and so on – I needed to get as a lot content material as potential to share with you guys, as a result of when you get to the island, transferring accommodations isn’t that onerous – I later discovered this to not be excellent. Attempt to keep at lest three nights in every lodge if you’re transferring round.

Then by sheer luck, one other superb deal got here throughout my desk. Windstar Cruise line had decreased their charges for an 8 day Tahiti Cruise from over $19K+ to only over $4800. I assumed to myself, “that is doable.” By deciding to go on this luxurious sailboat yacht, I used to be in command of meals and lodge prices for 8 days (the caveat – there’s an in a single day cease in Bora Bora and I took this chance to remain on the 4 Seasons). Now I used to be getting 8 days of exploring the islands already on my checklist AND extra ones I had not even thought-about visiting. PLUS I’d have one night time earlier than the cruise, one night time in the course of the cruise, and three nights on the finish of the cruise to remain in no matter accommodations I needed.

In some way, I lucked out and bought the most effective of each worlds. I bought to expertise a lot of French Polynesia by boat and I bought to remain in a single day on the islands I had initially picked. And for considerably lower than I had deliberate.

Here’s what I needed to work with earlier than paying money:

100,000 Marriott Bonvoy Factors (finally didn’t use these)
- The one Marriott properties have been on Bora Bora.
114,856 Factors with our Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Along with our factors, I even have a service on our card that enables me to guide sure luxurious accommodations that include varied perks.
  - Staying on the Sofitel in Mo’orea would get me: full breakfast for two folks every day, 7500 XPF meals and beverage credit score per keep for lunch or dinner (excluding drinks), VIP check-in, fruit basket, early check-in, late check-out, and a room improve based mostly on availability.
  - Staying on the St. Regis in Bora Bora would get me: every day breakfast for two, spherical journey airport transportation, 20% low cost on the spa, late try, early check-in, and upgrades if obtainable on request.
    - Since I ended up not staying at both of those accommodations, we didn’t want to make use of the perks on my bank card – which is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Hilton Honors Gold Standing
- We knew I may get free breakfast by staying at Hilton Properties – each the Conrad in Bora Bora and the Hilton in Mo’orea honored this.

Selecting Islands to Keep On:

If you’re going to go all the way in which to French Polynesia, I extremely suggest visiting just a few islands. For me, Bora Bora was at all times on the highest of my checklist. Extra so than Tahiti and Mo’orea. Nevertheless, I knew I needed to go to all three islands so I made the plan to take action, outdoors of what I’d be visiting on the eight day cruise.

FRENCH POLYNESIA HOLIDAYS

Right here was my thought course of:

Arrive in Tahiti on August seventh very early within the morning after practically a full day of journey. Go to Bora Bora for the night time on the Conrad for one night time. One in all my bucket checklist goals has at all times been to see Bora Bora from the air on a flight. This might be my solely choice to do that based mostly on the remainder of my itinerary.
August Eighth-Fifteenth exploring the islands of Mo’orea, Bora Bora ,Taaa, Raiatea, and so on with Windstar.
- I did buy an in a single day keep on the 4 Seasons Bora Bora in the course of the cruise as a result of it was over 24 hours for the cease. This isn’t an unusual follow for individuals who take this cruise. I feel its slightly genius since lots of people who go on French Polynesia holidays WANT to remain in an over water bungalow in Bora Bora.
August Fifteenth-Seventeenth Mo’orea
- I used to be actually torn about staying in a single or two accommodations for these two nights.
  - I ended up reserving the Hilton Mo’orea for 2 nights and stayed one night time in an over water bungalow and one night time in a villa with a pool on land.
August Seventeenth – return to Tahiti and keep the night time since I’ve a really early flight out of Papeete the subsequent morning.

This was a possible and doable schedule for me. I’d most certainly present up exhausted and drained to Bora Bora, however I’d simply fall asleep early.

I picked Mo’orea final as a result of the ferry is simply a forty five minute boat experience from Tahiti. It could not take lengthy to get there and I may take pleasure in these two days on the island since I had already spent two nights in Bora Bora.

French Polynesia Holidays: The place To Keep

After narrowing down accommodations by way of every thing I had, I knew we needed luxurious accommodations and over water bungalows. Now I may have run the chance of reserving a daily room that was not on the water and hoped we might get an improve BUT once I purchased the flights in March, accommodations have been already over 65% booked for the 2 weeks I used to be going to the islands in August. It was a really slim probability I’d ever get an improve. So I didn’t take the prospect to save lots of a couple of dollars – all rooms occurred to be offered out in all places once I arrived.

Seeing as how our cruise could be taking over nearly all of my French Polynesia holidays, I solely wanted to safe just a few nights in accommodations.

Bora Bora

For me, I at all times knew that the highest of my bucket checklist could be staying on the Four Seasons in Bora Bora. Even when I solely bought to remain one night time, my life could be full! So I booked one night time in the course of the center of my cruise once I had an in a single day in Bora Bora. It made sense to go this route as a result of 1: I’d not must pay to fly to the island which might have value over $900 spherical journey for each of us and a pair of: I’d not must pay the payment for a taxi from the airport. Palms down, that is the BEST lodge I’ve ever stayed in.

For Bora Bora, we stayed one night time on the Four Seasons in an over water bungalow. Earlier than we discovered the cruise deal we have been going to remain 5-6 nights in Bora Bora.

We additionally stayed on the Conrad and booked the 2 story Penthouse Suite on the entrance of our journey, as a result of why not! We cherished the room however should you don’t need to splurge, all the opposite rooms are simply as beautiful.

Conrad Penthouse Suite

There are another luxurious properties and non-luxury properties to remain at on the island. I’d suggest getting an over water bungalow on the 4 Seasons or Conrad should you go to the island. I’d not come all the way in which right here and never. You’ll be doing your self and your French Polynesia holidays a disservice.

Mo’orea

On the finish of our cruise we had two nights to remain in Mo’orea. We went backwards and forwards about staying in a single or two locations and finally determined to do one. Whereas this was our trip and we have been self funding it, it was nonetheless one thing I used to be going to showcase on social media and deliberate to jot down about.

We ended up staying two complete nights on the Hilton Mo’orea. One night time in an over water bungalow and one night time in a King Backyard Suite with Non-public Pool. We opted to not keep in an over water bungalow each nights as a result of the room we picked was about 1,700 sq. toes with a non-public pool and I needed to present a distinct perspective in regards to the lodge room classes on the islands.

Which by the way in which – we cherished each choices. Don’t be afraid to remain in a land villa as a result of it is not going to break your trip.

Hilton Mo’orea

Tahiti

Tahiti was just about booked once we bought our flights and there was slim selecting on the lodge entrance. We needed to remain on the Intercontinental nevertheless it was full. We ended up reserving one night time at Manava Suite Resort Tahiti and paid money for it. We would have liked a lodge for our final night time as a result of the next morning we would have liked to be on the airport by 5:35am for our flight again to America. The lodge was nothing to jot down house about – it was a transit lodge for us.

French Polynesia Holidays: Getting To The Islands

The longest haul flight you’ll take is attending to Tahiti from wherever you begin. For us, this meant three flights and practically a full day of journey. When you arrive in Papeete, attending to Bora Bora and Mo’orea is straightforward.

Attending to Mo’orea:

Air Tahiti runs flights to the island every day
You may take a ship that takes about 45 minutes and prices $26 per particular person spherical journey – that is thought-about a lot simpler.

Attending to Bora Bora:

Air Tahiti runs a number of flights per day from Tahiti, and so on. This flight is about 50 minutes lengthy and straightforward to navigate.

Take a Cruise:

We had not thought-about taking a cruise till I got here up on the take care of Windstar, however rapidly realized it will be the simplest approach to get across the islands with out having to catch flights and transfer our stuff on daily basis. If you end up planning your French Polynesia holidays I strongly urge you to contemplate a cruise. It is among the finest cruises we’ve ever been on.

French Polynesia Holidays: Precise Prices For This 2 Week Journey

french polynesia holidays

Now that my journey is over, I can share with you all prices related so you may plan your French Polynesia holidays and resolve how one can use factors, miles and the place to save lots of and the place to splurge.

*Take into accout, these are the charges I paid. You could not discover the identical offers, have miles/factors, standing, and so on.

My first large break on this journey: Scoring airfare from Washington, D.C. for $585.28 per particular person X 2 = $1170.56
On the flight house we upgraded at test in for $632.44 per particular person X 2 = $1264.88
Flights to Bora Bora from Tahiti have been 36,010 Chase Sapphire Reserve factors and $300.73 = $300.73
My second large break was lucking out with a deeply discounted cruise with Windstar for 8 days (usually priced over $19K!!) which value $2406 per particular person X 2 = $4812
- Further bills on board which included drinks, excursions, gratuities, and needing to see the physician = $897.88
We determined to remain on the Conrad in Bora Bora and guide the one two story Penthouse Suite in all of the land = $5,537
- Meals= $251.45 (simply lunch and a dinner)
- Transportation from the Bora Bora airport was $150 per particular person spherical journey X 2= $300.00
I used Inns.com (as a result of after staying 10 nights, your eleventh night time is free and this may drive up the prices of my common of the ten nights) to remain on the 4 Seasons for 1 night time in an over water bungalow + free breakfast = $1865.34
- Breakfast was included within the room and I did companion with the lodge to showcase lunch and dinner, nevertheless the costs for these meals have been:
  - Lunch = $257.57
  - Dinner = $239.17
  - Canoe Breakfast = $229.97
- Transportation from the Bora Bora airport 1 manner = free as a result of we had a credit score with the lodge resulting from upkeep being carried out (should you guide a room whereas they’re renovating you’ll get a credit score based mostly on how lengthy you keep and your room class).
- Transportation to Viatape to return to our cruise= $50
I used 23,084 + paid $451.65 to remain on the Hilton Mo’orea in a King Backyard Suite with Non-public Pool =$451.61
- Attending to the lodge from the ferry = $25.00
- Getting again to the ferry from the lodge for 2 = $35.00
- Meals prices = full disclosure, I made a final minute partnership with the lodge for change of photographs, so that they coated 3 meals and we had breakfasts coated by lodge standing. Nevertheless, I’ve left the costs right here simply to gauge for reference.
  - Lunch – $103.39
  - Dinner on the Creperie – $72.21
  - Lunch – $107.17
I used 55,762 Chase Sapphire Reserve factors to remain 1 night time on the Hilton Mo’orea in a King Overwater Bungalow =$0.00
To remain one night time at Manava Suite Resort Tahiti for our final night time I paid $362.56
- Attending to the lodge from the ferry for 2 = $22.00
- Attending to the airport for 2 = $30.00
- Meals prices = $40.00 at McDonald’s + a $20.00 spherical journey taxi

Complete value spent for two weeks in French Polynesia for 2 folks: $17,436.01

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