#87290 - 10/12/10 11:02 AM
Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
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dawnlpm
Junior Member
Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 11
Loc: Los Angeles, Ca
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This is a couple of years old but still wanted to post since these forums helped me plan the entire trip!
We flew Sept. 1st on Air Tahiti Nui at 4PM from LAX (we live in Los Angeles) – arriving Papeete around 9:30PM. The flight was great – they give you cute little packets with slippers, masks, earplugs, etc. You can watch 2 movies as well as play games on your own, or against other passengers. Between the movies and the games, the 7 ½ hours breezes by! They serve 2 meals and they are by far the best airplane meals we have ever had.
Sept 1st – Intercontinental Tahiti. We expected this hotel to be less than desirable since it was a 1 night stay on our way to the other island, but we were mistaken. It is a beautiful hotel, the staff is awesome and we would go back there any time. They gave us a free upgrade without us even asking!
Sept. 2nd – Transfer to the teeny tiny airport for the flight from Papeete to Moorea on the teeny tiny airplane. The left side was the better side for the viewing. The flight was very rocky to me as I don’t like flying so next time we will take the ferry (but if you don’t mind flying, the view is unbelievable). We arrived at about noon and were transferred to the hotel immediately.
Moorea Pearl – When we arrived, we were told to sit in the lobby, relax and we were given yummy pineapple juice to sip on - it tasted like it had just been made 2 minutes prior. The people of Moorea were the nicest people we have ever met in the world and they couldn’t have done any more, answered more questions or been more accommodating. Everything is so well planned out – they bring you your paperwork to sign and lead you to your room where your luggage is already waiting for you! We had an overwater bungalow #14 which was well worth the money. We also did the breakfast every day at the hotel which was nice to not have to worry about going anywhere. That is the whole point of vacation – to relax and not have to worry about details. They had different fresh juices, crepes, pancakes, made to order omelettes, rolls / bread, yogurts, cheese assortment, etc….
We were to have our wedding that day at 5PM, so we loosened up at the pool with a swim and several cocktails. We knew we had to dance and that lots of strangers would be watching, so we made sure we took some of the anxiety away ;) The wedding was absolutely beautiful and so much fun. We weren’t sure if we wanted to do it but in the end after it was over, we were SO glad that we did. The staff was great and the photographer took some great pics.
After the wedding, we had a van from Alfredo’s pick us up for dinner and it was possibly the best Italian food I have ever had. We had garlic bread, pasta with marinara, alfredo pasta and dessert. We had a bottle of water and 2 beers as well and the bill came to about $90.
Sept. 3rd – We went to the market which is a 5 minute walk to the right out of the Pearl. The hotel is in such a good location with shops and restaurants all within a 5 minute walk. We picked up beer, water and snacks to take back to the room. When we returned we went to the activities desk to plan activities and massages – the activities staff was fantastic. We then did a little snorkeling off the deck of our bungalow and headed off to the spa. The spa is nice and relaxing – the one thing we both experienced was we asked for deep tissue and didn’t exactly get what we are used to as deep tissue. Still, it was a relaxing experience and we left happy regardless.
That evening we went to a more local favored restaurant called Le Mahogany – again, they came and picked us up from the hotel. We had bottled water, 2 beers, goat cheese salad, vegetable chow mein, mahi with coconut sauce and crème puffs with ice cream for about $100. The food was amazing – everything we ordered.
Sept 4th – We went on a morning ATV tour through www.atvmoorea.com It was ridiculously fun. They come and pick you up in the morning in a van & take you around the island to the ATV home base. It lasted several hours and we went all over the island – including up to the top for some awesome views. The guide stops and takes pictures of everyone along the way which is nice. I highly recommend this tour! We met some new friends – Scott & Sarah and hope to visit them in the UK for our 1st anniversary.
After the ATV tour we went back and showered off the Moorea dirt so we could head out to have some fun at the hotel. We took out a canoe and paddled way out to the reef. The water was so pristine and clear. For dinner, we walked to the area 5 minutes away from the hotel and went to Le Sud. We had all intentions of grabbing pizza and taking it back to the room but we had a surprising hard rain begin while we were ordering the food to go. We ended up sitting at the little take out bar for about 40 minutes until the rain let up enough for us to run full speed back to the hotel with our boxes of pizza. The pizza was very different – almost like it was on a tortilla more than a pizza crust. We had the 4 cheese and another with some varied toppings. It was good to try one time & it was cheap – about $30.
Sept. 5th – we had planned on renting scooters and going around the island but it was pooring rain all day. We cancelled the scooters and made plans through the activities desk to have massages at the Sheraton. We took a cab (about $20) to the Sheraton and checked out the hotel before our massages. They were a good way to fill in the void of the scooters ;) We both had deep tissue. His was super deep tissue – mine, not so much. We stayed around the Pearl for the rest of the day and watched movies in our room on the TV / DVD player. Glad we brought a few to watch! We ate room service which is brought out to the overwater bungalows on bikes.
Sept. 6th – I was very sad to leave Moorea as it was the place I was married and had spent the 4 best days of my life. It was exciting though to feel like we were going on a whole new adventure! We were transferred to the airport and flew Air Tahiti to Bora Bora around noon. It was very cloudy so I did not get any good pictures from above ☹ The airport is right on the water and you hop a boat that transfers you to the hotel. The first time you see the water, you will be in shock. It is so blue and so beautiful! Same routine at the Bora Bora Pearl – they take care of everything, you get a juice drink and there are your bags in your room! I love their services. We just relaxed, swam in the pool, snorkeled and had some drinks and food at the Miki Miki bar by the pool. The mosquitoes were a big problem and people were being bit badly. We had bought deet ahead of time http://www.buggspray.com - we brought 2 original 4 oz. bottles and that was just about the right amount.
Our friends from LA Dave & Jennie were in Bora Bora on their honeymoon as well so we met up with them for dinner at Bloody Mary’s. It is a fun place to go to for the atmosphere. You walk in on the sand floor and they have all of the days’ food availability sitting in a cooler at the front. You pick what you want and that’s it – no menu. I don’t eat meat or fish but they were offering to make anything and everything that didn’t have those in it – super nice guys! We had a few beers and food that came to about $100. We took the shuttle back to the dock and then the boat back to the Pearl.
Sept. 7th – In the morning we met up with Dave and Jennie at the shuttle stop to go on the Tupuna Jeep Safari. This was a blast and I recommend it for everyone. We went all over the entire island and went on a few stops like a pearl farm and a local artist retreat. Bring money to tip because the driver is hilarious and super nice!!
That night we went to the Bamboo House (Bambou Cabane) and had another super meal. We had several mixed drinks and beer with appetizers – lobster plate and this crab dip that comes lined in guacamole in a martini glass! For the main course we had pesto pasta and lagoon fish then the brownie dessert for the finale. This was our most expensive meal but we had a lot of cocktails too – it was about $150. The restaurants owner has the best little dog named Chocolat who will come and sit with you if you want him to.
Sept 8th – The boys went on the shark / stingray feeding tour while Jennie and I stayed back at her hotel – Bora Bora Lagoon. They came back with raving reviews on the tour and they took some crazy pics. When they returned we ate pizza and had beers at their hotel – the pizza was pretty good. Their hotel was nice and had a bit of a better location. Their dock went straight into the village where as the Pearl boat goes to a dock and then you take a 20 minute van ride to get into the village.
Our last night (very sad) was spent at the hotel and we decided to eat at the Italian restaurant Ambrosia. We had caprese, 2 different pastas and dessert which were all scrumptious. There are a couple of the cutest dogs that hang around there (super well behaved) that I wanted to kidnap and bring back with me.
Sept 9th – Last day. We started with breakfast in bed. If you get the breakfast plan, you can get it in room service form for a delivery fee (I think it was $10). We were going to check out and go to Dave & Jennie’s hotel for the day because our departure wasn’t until 6PM, but the bus does not run on Sundays. We hung out at the Pearl lounge and played pool and cards for a couple of hours then we went to visit Scott & Sarah in their room until we left. It was a rainy morning to fit my rainy mood. I was not happy to leave the best place I have ever been.
Looking back, we needed 1 more day on each island to do everything we wanted to do, but I guess that just means we will have to return.
:)
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#87291 - 10/12/10 12:03 PM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: dawnlpm]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Great report...sounds like you had a spectacular time!
But yes...it is a couple years old...sadly a couple of the places you mentioned no longer exist.
I think Alfredos has closed and so has the Bora Bora Lagoon.
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#87292 - 10/12/10 12:04 PM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: Patti.]
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dawnlpm
Junior Member
Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 11
Loc: Los Angeles, Ca
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Oh no - that is so sad to hear
:(
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#87293 - 10/12/10 12:19 PM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: dawnlpm]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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The turn down in the economy has not been nice to French Polynesia. :-(
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#87295 - 10/12/10 12:53 PM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: Patti.]
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SabineLiebling
Junior Member
Registered: 05/04/10
Posts: 31
Loc: Portland, OR
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I was super bummed to find that Alfredo's had closed from our concierge when we tried to make a reservation. From Jan Prince's guide it seemed like a really lively place that was very popular!
I liked your trip report, I thought the Moorea Pearl resort was very pretty as well.
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#87297 - 10/12/10 01:11 PM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: SabineLiebling]
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dawnlpm
Junior Member
Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 11
Loc: Los Angeles, Ca
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We plan to go back for our 5 year, and wont wait as long to do trip report #2! ha
I heard that there is also extensive damage from a storm a couple of years ago after we were there. Between the economy & that storm, apparently they are not doing so well. Awful - Tahiti will always be the greatest place we have traveled to regardless.
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#87298 - 10/12/10 05:58 PM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: dawnlpm]
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holte
Expert Advisor
Registered: 11/19/04
Posts: 2417
Loc: Duluth, Minnesota
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great report. When you go back, you will not be disappointed. It's a beautiful as ever.
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#87308 - 10/13/10 07:50 AM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: holte]
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BarbiJKM
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 6150
Loc: Mesa, AZ
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Thanks for posting this, even though it's two years old. Your "wedding" was not the legal ceremony now available in FP, just the ceremonial unofficial version? Alfredo's is now Le Martinez -- I haven't eaten there yet but heard good things about it.
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#87316 - 10/14/10 09:30 AM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: BarbiJKM]
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dawnlpm
Junior Member
Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 11
Loc: Los Angeles, Ca
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Yes - we actually had our friend marry us the day we left for Tahiti as we knew it would not be a legal wedding. We have some great pics though from the wedding! I don't know if there is anywhere to post them on here?
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#87326 - 10/14/10 10:09 PM
Re: Trip Report - Moorea & Bora Bora
[Re: dawnlpm]
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Suki (689)
Senior Advisor
Registered: 10/29/07
Posts: 920
Loc: ELA US of A
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Congrats on da wedding great report ________FP4LIFE________
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