#72363 - 04/23/08 04:44 AM
Which resort???
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YanSolo
Junior Member
Registered: 04/22/08
Posts: 14
Loc: London
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Currently thinking the Thalasso for the views, white sand, amazing looking lagoon.. Ihave since heard that the double beds are just 2 single mattress's crudely taped together with only a top sheet covering, the staff are apparently disinterested and not very nice,(this all seems ridiculous for such a pricey and apparrently luxury resort) access to the islands main town also bad.. I do hear there is shops and restaurants near the other IC but have been seriously put off. The Sofitel Motu has been suggested but pictures haven't inspired me, the lagoon and beach looks abit rough, at the same time I've heard very few bad reports. The Pearl was an option, but the beach and surrounding area aren't supposed to be amazing, and it's way out from anywhere... My girlfriend and I want to play in sandy beaches, soft under foot ,not rough and corally. We want a picturesque resort with nice rooms, good views of the mountain and decent level of service, we're going to hit Manihi for the sea life and castaway
feel so in Bora we're happy to sacrifice sea life for location.. I may seem picky but me and my girlfriend aren't rich by any stretch, I've just buried my mother and I am spending some of the inheritence on taking my girlfriend away for a magical holiday, she's been amazing through 2 years of pain and we need something big to wash it all off.. I just don't want to get there and have a dodgy resort spoil things..
Edited by YanSolo (04/23/08 05:06 AM)
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#72364 - 04/23/08 05:26 AM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: YanSolo]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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Service in French Polynesia isn't dependent on what you spend (and it's a different level of service compared to what you get elsewhere in the world, although there are pleasant exceptions). The lagoon and beach at the Sofitel Motu aren't rough (I'm not sure what you mean...dirty? it's not). The beach isn't really big (it's man-made, as most are), but there's also a sand spit that sticks out towards the island. It's a very nice resort, extremely private, but not the most luxurious on the island, if that's what you're after (but it sure seemed really luxurious to us!). I seem to remember the Meridien's beach being really amazing (and natural), but then you give up good snorkelling if you want lots of sand. And it had lots of bungalows, which wasn't what we were after.
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#72369 - 04/23/08 07:30 AM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: Old Wife]
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msoprano13
Member
Registered: 04/04/06
Posts: 121
Loc: New York
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MY wife and i stayed at the thalasso for 5 nights last june. it was so peaceful and beautiful. we didnt encounter one rude person. actually quite the opposite. my wife and i are very courteous when we travel and we dont expect people to jump at our requests. If you smile and say hello your experience will be golden. We often talked to the servers in the restaurant every night. They loved to talk to us and share their experiences on the island.
i hung out the the driver on the entire 4*4 tour and asked him about his life and his family and life on the island. he couldnt stop talking.
i dont think its possible to be disapointed at the thalasso. the rooms are huge and beautiful. we really didnt notice that the bed was two together. we thought they were extremely comfortable.
we also spoke with the hotel manager a few times before arriving to secure a room that was not in deep water. every request was met.
hope this helps
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#72386 - 04/23/08 06:41 PM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: msoprano13]
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holte
Expert Advisor
Registered: 11/19/04
Posts: 2417
Loc: Duluth, Minnesota
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Yan Solo-I read somewhere that I can't find about your questions about going to the Seychelles or Maldives instead of FP. I have not been to either, but have researched them. The Maldives are Muslim so you are restricted to your resort. It looks beautiful, but I want more than a resort experience. The Seychelles look wonderful also, but really pricey. Is she still the Duchess of York-Sarah Ferguson? She goes to the Seychelles. If you are looking for beauty, Bora Bora is breathtaking. Look up snowboarder's trip report. He is wild about Bora Bora and has fabulous photos. I don't know how anyone could be disappointed about a first trip to Bora Bora , but it all depends on what you want. We go every year, but to Huahine which we love the most because it is so calm. Nothing else compares to French Polynesia for us.
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#72388 - 04/23/08 07:18 PM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: holte]
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Justine2
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/12/07
Posts: 1911
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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The beaches in FP are coral beaches, so they will be rough at best. These are atolls in the middle of the ocean. Not enough of a land mass for powder soft. Unfortunately, you can't have it all. Everything in FP is a compromise.
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#72391 - 04/23/08 07:29 PM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: Justine2]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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YanSolo have you had a look at the Hotel Bora Bora?
WHat is your 1-5 expectation/wish list?
_________________________
* with sunshine *
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#72399 - 04/24/08 03:44 AM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: Poehere]
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YanSolo
Junior Member
Registered: 04/22/08
Posts: 14
Loc: London
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Our wish list 1. Blue Lagoon, mountain veiws, Romantic location, it has to be the idyllic picture of Bora Bora we first fell in love with 2. Nice resort/rooms, I don't mind spending a little extra if it's worth it (a trip to Bora Bora or anywhere in FP from London is ridiculously expensive so I have to be a little picky) 3. The sand on the beach of our resort to not be too rough underfoot, Justine2 has said 'they will be rough at best' will it be a case of walking into the lagoon saying 'ooh, that's a bit painfull, ouch, crikey this sand is rough' or more 'hmmm, this sand is rougher than I'm used to, but hey I'm all right with this' 4. Access to a grocery store, bar, restaurants... we're not bothered about being close to Viatape, we quite like the idea of trekking round the island to where it is busy and coming home to the suclusion of our resort but we would like to be able to buy drinks and snacks from a near by shop. 5. Powered boat or JetSki to explore the lagoon on our own (we'll be carefull)
For our second island we want 1, seclusion - to be castaway. 2, to not be too castaway (we're from London where everything is either red brick or grey brick or beige, mainly grey and concrete.. so we will need some amenities) 3, we like the idea of wandering down a deserted beach, where the beach becomes slightly broken by the ocean leaving tiny islets, you know where the line between ocean and island becomes slightly blurred, I've seen pictures like this from places like Manihi / Rangiroa / Fakarava they look awesome. 4. good snorkeling near to the resort
thank you everyone for all of your help...
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#72400 - 04/24/08 04:01 AM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: Poehere]
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YanSolo
Junior Member
Registered: 04/22/08
Posts: 14
Loc: London
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Our wish list 1. Blue Lagoon, mountain veiws, Romantic location, it has to be the idyllic picture of Bora Bora we first fell in love with 2. Nice resort/rooms, I don't mind spending a little extra if it's worth it (a trip to Bora Bora or anywhere in FP from London is ridiculously expensive so I have to be a little picky) 3. The sand on the beach of our resort to not be too rough underfoot, Justine2 has said 'they will be rough at best' will it be a case of walking into the lagoon saying 'ooh, that's a bit painfull, ouch, crikey this sand is rough' or more 'hmmm, this sand is rougher than I'm used to, but hey I'm all right with this' 4. Access to a grocery store, bar, restaurants... we're not bothered about being close to Viatape, we quite like the idea of trekking round the island to where it is busy and coming home to the suclusion of our resort but we would like to be able to buy drinks and snacks from a near by shop. 5. Powered boat or JetSki to explore the lagoon on our own (we'll be carefull)
For our second island we want 1, seclusion - to be castaway. 2, to not be too castaway (we're from London where everything is either red brick or grey brick or beige, mainly grey and concrete.. so we will need some amenities) 3, we like the idea of wandering down a deserted beach, where the beach becomes slightly broken by the ocean leaving tiny islets, you know where the line between ocean and island becomes slightly blurred, I've seen pictures like this from places like Manihi / Rangiroa / Fakarava they look awesome. 4. good snorkeling near to the resort
thank you everyone for all of your help...
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#72403 - 04/24/08 06:17 AM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: YanSolo]
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msoprano13
Member
Registered: 04/04/06
Posts: 121
Loc: New York
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for bora bora go with the thalasso trust me.
you will definatley have blue blue lagoons and a straight dean on view of the mountain peak. the rooms are brand new and beautiful and fully equipped with everything you need. there man made beach is very nice. there were numerous people walking around the beach and hanging out there while we were thre.
the thalasso is on the motu so access to a grocery store is limited. you can take the boat to the sister resort for free and then walk to the grocery store stock up and store everything in the fridge in your room. thats what we did.
the thalasso has plenty of excusions you can take such as jet skiing and their own private shark tour. it was about 4-5 hours and just hotel guests. there was no rush at all. the tour guide was awesome and took us to swim with the sharks, rays, eels, lagoon tour, and private moto tour.
there isnt good snorkiling by the resort but on the plus side the lagoon floor is very sandy so its easy to walk and you dont have to worry about banging into any coral. we brought a raft with us and floated around the lagoon all day.
pure heaven
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#72427 - 04/24/08 03:39 PM
Re: Which resort???
[Re: msoprano13]
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Justine2
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/12/07
Posts: 1911
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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The sand wasn't too bad for the first couple of days, until it rubs off your calluses. Then it did get kind of crunchy on the soles of your feet. The resorts will be fine, everywhere else, not so much. I imagine you walk quite a bit (most Londoners do) so you can welcome the free pedicure. If your GF gets a pedi before you leave, have her tell them to go easy on the calluses. The sand will do their work. Sorry to be a killjoy but no can do on the solo jet ski excursion. All BB lagoon traffic must have an appropriate license or be with a guide. The lagoon traffic is quite heavy. It would be pretty easy to get mowed over by a larger boat.
Rangi or Fakarava would be the better choice for your second island. Manihi has wonderful resort snorkeling, and great diving but doesn't have any sand bar fringes. I don't know if it's possible to wander to the edge of the world so to speak on Rangi or Fakarava from the resorts. I know there are pensions where it's possible to do so. (The south end of Fakarava comes to mind.) If not, I'm sure the resort could drop you off somewhere.
Edited by Justine2 (04/24/08 03:41 PM)
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