#89402 - 03/25/11 01:09 PM
First time to Bora Bora
|
Tgoff
Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Dallas,TX
|
Hi all, I'm looking at surprising my wife with a trip to Bora Bora, staying at Pearl Beach Resort in mid July. This will be our first time, and I'm having a hard time finding useful information about FP. This site looks like the place that would know. A few questions for those who have been:
1-How much should one budget for meals & drinks per day? Not looking at the "best" Lunch/dinner every day.
2-Would you recommend bringing cash, credit cards or both?
3-Are ATM machines reliable on the island?
4-What are some of the "must do" excursions in Bora Bora, and are you able to book excursions upon arrival?
5- I'm wanting to stay in the premium OWB for 7 nights. It's looking like that will run around $10,000 USD. Does that sound reasonable?
I''m sure I'll have more questions... Thanks for any and all help...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89403 - 03/25/11 01:39 PM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: Tgoff]
|
Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
|
1-How much should one budget for meals & drinks per day? Not looking at the "best" Lunch/dinner every day. You might be able to get breakfasts included in your package price...be sure to look into that. You will probably want to budget at least $100-150 per day per person. Everything is very expensive, and it's hard (although not impossible) to find less expensive eats.
For drinks...they can be very expensive also, but you can kinda do it yourself....buy alcohol at the duty free shop at LAX and buy fruit juice at the market's there and make your own. Plus beer and wine are easily bought there at the markets for less than your hotel will charge.
2-Would you recommend bringing cash, credit cards or both?
Put as much as you can on credit cards. you'll get your best exchange rate that way. If you have a card (like Capital One) that doesn't have the 3-5% exchange fee...all the better! You should exchange at least "some cash". Some of the smaller establishments don't take CC or some markets have a minimum you must spend (around $25) to use a CC. Bring at least $200USD in cash. Exchange it at the bank at the airport in Papeete when you first arrive.
3-Are ATM machines reliable on the island? Not really. They are there and oftentimes they work. BUT...they do run out of cash fairly often...especially on weekends and even more so on holiday weekends. I would not rely on them as your only source of money.
4-What are some of the "must do" excursions in Bora Bora, and are you able to book excursions upon arrival?
The shark/ray feeding motu tour is a fantastic experience. Yes you can book after you get there.
5- I'm wanting to stay in the premium OWB for 7 nights. It's looking like that will run around $10,000 USD. Does that sound reasonable? Yes, that's pretty much in the ball park for July. Contact the company that runs this site for a quote. They may be able to match or beat price.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89406 - 03/25/11 04:18 PM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: Patti.]
|
Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
|
Hi Tgoff, we have stayed a Pearl BB twice so if you need any help, just ask away.
Here is the link to Pearl BB - its a factsheet with the shuttle timetable on page 6.
http://www.spmhotels.com/uploads/resorts/4-factsheet-Bora_Bora_Pearl_Beach_Resort_&_Spa.pdf
Basically Pearl BB is on a motu but they have a fantastic shuttle that takes you across to the mainland, then you get on a mini bus which takes you into Vaitape (the main town in BB) - it only takes approx 15 mins.
When you get into Vaitape you can get your supplies at the Magasin (the supermarket across the road from where the minibus drops you off) and you can also do some souvenir shopping, have some lunch etc etc.
Definitely bring some cash, but you will be able to use credit cards at the big resorts (and if you have cash left over at the end, just put it towards you hotel bill upon check-out).
Agree with Patti, get a quote from Yves on this website as I am sure you can do better than $10K for 7 nights. You may also have to stay a night in Papeete on arrival or departure depending on your international flight times.
Check out this website as well - Tahiti Tourism
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/specials/tahitivacationpackages.asp
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89417 - 03/26/11 06:41 PM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: Gary & Cath]
|
Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
|
SPM has some incredible promotions nowadays, like stay 5 + 5 nights free...!!! Just so you know lol
ATM's are pretty reliable and BB has actually 4: Postoffice, Banque de Tahiti, Banque de Socredo and Banque de Polynésie all in the main village of Vaitape
Indeed a lagoon tour with or without picnic is absolutely a must and you could drive around the island for a 1/2 day orso stop wherever you want to have lunch etc.
Apart from that there's not much to do (but you could get her some nice black pearls hihihi), BB is a lagoon place, but I am sure she'll love the surprise!
_________________________
* with sunshine *
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89430 - 03/28/11 07:06 AM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: Gary & Cath]
|
Tgoff
Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Dallas,TX
|
Thanks again for the input. Another quick question...I see there are 2 flights out of LAX...One requires a night in Papeete, one does not. Does anyone have a recommendation on which flight? I'm afraid we'll be exhausted our first day if we don't stay a night in Papeete....
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89431 - 03/28/11 07:45 AM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: Tgoff]
|
DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
|
You would normally have to spend either your first or last night in Papeete depending on your flights. That is pretty standard anymore. I prefer to get to my resort ASAP, rather than spend a night on Tahiti. I can catch up on rest at my hotel.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89432 - 03/28/11 10:53 AM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: DenverJoe]
|
Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
|
I've done it both ways....and both have their upsides and their downsides. I hate the red eye because I can NOT sleep on a plane and I am a complete zombie that first day...BUT...I also hate having to spend the money to spend the night in Papeete when I just really want to get straight to my island destination.
Taking the red eye...you will get to your island faster...BUT...your room may not be ready for you until the afternoon. And when you're already dog tired, it's a pain to have to wait around another 5-6 hours for you room. You can have a nice breakfats and possibly also lunch and yes, you can just change into your swim suit and hang out at the pool(or lagoon) all morning...find a shady spot and snooze for a bit.
By staying the night in Papeete....you will wake refreshed, have a nice leisurely breakfast...but then you will have to head back to the airport (or ferry dock) to get to your destination. You can take a little later flight, so when you arrive your room will likely be ready for you, and you won't have to wait around for a few hours.
ATN has flight that have both arrival times and most departure times are red eyes....Air France only has red eyes...you arrive in the morning...but you will have to spend your last night in Papeete because the flights depart in the morning.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89439 - 03/29/11 07:31 PM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: Patti.]
|
Tgoff
Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Dallas,TX
|
A few more questions...
1. Are there refrigerators in the bungalows?
2. How far is the grocery store from Pearl Beach?
3. Do you recommend buying wine there or bring it from LAX?
4. Are there spots where you can get burgers/sandwiches?
5. Dress code???
Edited by Tgoff (03/29/11 07:31 PM)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89440 - 03/29/11 07:55 PM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: Tgoff]
|
Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
|
Refrigerators - they are only mini bar size and not really all that cold. We always take a collapsible cooler bag and fill it with ice from the ice machines located on the pontoon/walkway to the overwater bungalows.
Grocery store is a 5 min shuttle by boat across to the mainland and then a 10 min approx mini bus ride to Vaitape (see above) where you can also buy snacks etc
Relaxed dress code, ie no long pants/jeans required
Wine - I believe they have lifted the amount of wine you can bring into FP - can someone remember what the limit is for US visitors?
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#89442 - 03/30/11 07:35 AM
Re: First time to Bora Bora
[Re: Gary & Cath]
|
hamara
Expert Advisor
Registered: 01/07/02
Posts: 2319
Loc: Washington/Moorea
|
Buy your wine in French Polynesia. They have good French wine at reasonable prices but bring duty free hard booze.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: BarbiJKM, hamara, DenverJoe, Poehere
|
6923 Members
15 Forums
10259 Topics
91469 Posts
Max Online: 118 @ 04/08/12 01:59 PM
|
|
|
