#72316 - 04/22/08 11:36 AM
Bora Bora questions..
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YanSolo
Junior Member
Registered: 04/22/08
Posts: 14
Loc: London
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I'm planning a trip in Sep 08 to Bora Bora and one other island. I've done alot of research, probably too much I've been obsessing over this trip to the point of near insanity please help.. alot of people have said it's crowded on bora, but I have no idea what they are comparing it to, I'm ok with a few people but if its going to be like a trip to the mediteranean I will be dissapointed. I've heard people also say that there is rubbish in the lagoon, don't really like the sound of that at all.. please confirm the lagoon isn't filthy (please)
Also heard that there aren't many beaches other than the resort's that you can access...
I dunno, I've obviously heard too much and one negative comment seems to cancel out all of the positive ones... don't wanna go now.. someone pursuade me otherwise...
As for our other island I like the look of Manihi for the fish and castaway feel.. can you hire jet ski's on manihi or any of the other atolls. can you hire jet ski's on bora to explore on your own??
Also I'm veering towards the IC Thalasso for bora bora, is the snorkeling that bad near the resorts with the best views of the mountain, or is just bad for someone with loads of diving and snorkeling experience and knowledge of fish?.................
basically I want to spend 2 weeks in some of the worlds most breath taking scenery while enjoying good food, some peace and quiet and bit of snorkeling and jet skiing.... I don't want to get to french polynesia and think.. 'really? ......is that it?'
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#72318 - 04/22/08 11:55 AM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: YanSolo]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Okay...it is over crowded compared to what it used to be. But that is all relative. There are probably less than 1500 hotel rooms in Bora Bora. So even if it were 100% full (which it never is), average 2 people to a room, you are looking at 3,000 tourists on the entire island at full capacity. We have hotels here in Vegas with over 3000 rooms...that's just ONE hotel!
The lagoon is not filthy. It seems there has been some talk lately that trash seems to be washing up on shore in the Matira Beach area quite regularly. I only experienced that when I was there on a very windy day, some stuff did wash up. But that area is not blocked by any motus, and is usually hit front on by the prevailing wind, so obviously anything that might be floating around...trash, leaves, coconuts, etc, will logically wash up on that particular stretch of beach. Plus this area is a public beach, so it doesn't have hotel workers cleaning and grooming it each morning like the beachs at hotel properties do. If you are staying on one of the Motus (like the IC Thalasso) this should not be a problem at all.
Most if not all of the jet skiing is done with a guide. Basically because there is shallow coral in many areas and you would not want to be jetskiing over it...for both the health of the coral and your body!
Sometimes you do go into information overload when researching a vacation. Information is a good thing, but too much information can be a bad thing.
It is worth going. I seriously doubt you will regret it. As for your other island....there are so many choices. Moorea is lovely, as is Huahine, and if you venture out to the Tuamotus, Tikihau and Manihi are supposed to be spectacular. If you REALLY want to experience that castaway feeling, look into going to Fakarava and staying at Pension Raimiti. It is truly a Robinson Cruso experince.
Edited by Patti. (04/22/08 11:56 AM)
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#72319 - 04/22/08 02:50 PM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: Patti.]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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You mention the best views of the mountain. Personally, I think one of the best views is from the Sofitel Motu which has outstanding snorkelling, so if you want a view & snorkelling, it's a great choice!
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#72323 - 04/22/08 03:45 PM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: Old Wife]
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YanSolo
Junior Member
Registered: 04/22/08
Posts: 14
Loc: London
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Thank you Patti, very helpful.. so not that busy at all then. I do want to go to the Tuamotus, I hear Manihi mentioned favourably with divers and honeymooners alike. How does Manihi compare with Fakarava (I had a look at Pension Raimiti.. looks awesome, but the accomodation looks a bit sparse)I know you're restricted to staying at the Pearl on Manihi which is supposed to be very nice.. we want to feel castaway but still with a few amenities and creature comforts...
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#72324 - 04/22/08 03:54 PM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: YanSolo]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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I have not been to Manihi, so I can not compare it to Fakarava. But from what I know about it, I have a feeling it will be close to that same beautiful blue lagoon for as far as the eye can see. Yes, the Manihi Pearl will absolutely have more amenities. And yes the room at Raimiti are sparce...but that's part of the allure in my opinion. I will be the first to say Raimiti is not for everyone.
I think visiting one of the high islands (Bora Bora) and one of the flat Tuamotus (Manihi) would be a great combination. Very different epxeriences and yet both quite spectacular in their own way.
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#72325 - 04/22/08 04:01 PM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: YanSolo]
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YanSolo
Junior Member
Registered: 04/22/08
Posts: 14
Loc: London
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Thank you Old Wife, when we first stumbled across bora bora we were awe struck by the shear beauty of it and made it our priority to get good views of the lagoon and the mountain from our bungalow, we particularlly liked views seen in photographs of the Pearl resort but have since been put off by reports of bad beaches and access to the island.. I looked at the Sofitel Motu you suggested looks lovely but in the pictures the mountain looks quite distant. The IC Thalasso looks quite near to the island and I like the idea if seeing the mountain quite close, like a huge monolith jutting out of the lovely blue water, but of course the resort seems to be in a long line of resorts covering that whole side of motu's, so I don't really want to see all of these other resorts.. How does the Sofitel Motu fare against the Thalasso?
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#72328 - 04/22/08 04:16 PM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: YanSolo]
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YanSolo
Junior Member
Registered: 04/22/08
Posts: 14
Loc: London
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Interesting... On Raimiti can you still buy drinks and food from a shop to take back to the bungalow, and does the Pension have any kind of room service or staff, what am I to expect if I went there for 6 maybe 7 days... it does looks very fairly priced for the region and looks stunning..
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#72332 - 04/22/08 04:47 PM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: YanSolo]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
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No room service, no shops. Check out their website.
http://www.raimiti.com/index-us.php
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#72333 - 04/22/08 04:50 PM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: YanSolo]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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There is no shop near Raimiti. There is NOTHING within 1 1/2 hours by boat! They serve all your meals there, it is included in the price. The drinks are not included. There is no room service. Meals are at a set time. The only staff are the owners. They cook all the amazing meals you will be served! And they take you out on a daily excursion...also included in the price. It truly is a remarkable experience. But....you have to be willing to more or less roygh it. It is a Robinson Crusoe type of experience. Check out my trip report in the trip report from February in the trip report section below. Also check out my picture show. Both will give you a very good idea what Raimiti is all about. The good, the bad, and the amazing!
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#72334 - 04/22/08 04:54 PM
Re: Bora Bora questions..
[Re: Patti.]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Also Yan, on Bora Bora...the Motu that the Sofitel is on is actually much closer to the main island than the Thalasso is. They just have different views of the island. You are getting a side view from the Thalasso and an end view from the Sofitel.
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