#91940 - 10/26/11 02:31 PM
Help!! Much appreciated...
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nrmm
Junior Member
Registered: 10/26/11
Posts: 8
Loc: London
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Hi everyone
My mum now over her 50s always told that she couldn't pass away before going over to BoraBora.. So I've decided to take her there, also with a fief of mine, next august. I'm already checking things with a few travel agents but I wanted a more honest opinion so to speak. I wanted you thoughts on:
- we are going to stay at thalasso for four to five nights
- we are also being suggested to stay at Moorea at the Hilton or Legends for three nights
- we are going to in the first week of august
- we are not divers and we are also amateur snorkelers
And I'm on a dilemma around the following after reading so many opinions:
1) is Moorea that amazing that is a must visit or could you replace it by Tahaa and Huahine easily...? I've heard so many good things about these two islands and Moorea being busy... If you agree would you go for both of these two besides BoraBora?
2) we just love flat sea, idealic sceneries - do these islands get a lot of wind compromising the transparency of the water?
3) due to budget do you think that doing london to LA in economic, LA to Tahiti in business, Tahiti to LA in business and then LA to London in premium would e comfortable enough? I had a terrible time going to Thailand in economic...
4) 10 nights would enough? 4 nights at bora bora and then two other islands, 3 nights each?
So many thanks in advance for guiding me through
Nuno
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#91941 - 10/26/11 03:00 PM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: nrmm]
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holte
Expert Advisor
Registered: 11/19/04
Posts: 2417
Loc: Duluth, Minnesota
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If you can afford it, I would go for more days.
Huahine is my favorite, but Moorea is hardly what I would call as busy.
It so depends. Bora Bora is the dream, but I don't think it would be mine for too many days. But it depends on what you like.
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#91942 - 10/26/11 03:12 PM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: holte]
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BarbiJKM
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 6150
Loc: Mesa, AZ
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And Moorea is my favorite, but I also like Huahine! You can't go wrong with either island (or both). But if you intend to see more than two islands, you should try and extend your time in FP. If you spend any less than 3 full days on any island, you will be disappointed, and will spend too much time packing, waiting, and transporting between islands (besides which, the interisland airline fares are expensive!)
August is high season, with more tourists and higher prices. Also, the mara'amu winds blow in July/August, so you might look for a bungalow that doesn't face south or southeast during your visits.
Traveling from London is a LONG trip -- see what the prices are for business class or first class on each leg, and also you might consider the new economy comfort class on Air France.
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#91946 - 10/26/11 04:11 PM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: BarbiJKM]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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If you want to see 3 islands, I'd do 4/4/4 nights. I found Bora Bora very windy, but it could be the direction we were facing. You'll love the snorkelling on any island you go to. And don't feel Moorea is "busy". Yes, it's got more people on it, but it's huge. Busy is a relative term. We found the tourist area of Bora Bora more crowded (there are so many resorts all in one spot there). And it was definitely smellier and dirtier (but, again, those are relative terms). I haven't been to Taha'a, but I think of Bora Bora and Taha'a as similar and Moorea and Huahine as similar. So make sure you do one of each set at least (in my opinion) for a fuller experience.
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#91948 - 10/26/11 04:41 PM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: Old Wife]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Hi Nuno
Here is a link to our photos from 2007 trip to IC Tahiti, Moorea and Thalasso BB
http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/68729/page/6#Post68729
We just love Bora Bora and have been there 5 times (soon to be 6) but agree with Old Wife re doing three islands no less than 4 nights on each.
You should also check out the trip report section and read through the last couple of years of people that have travelled to Huahine, Moorea, BB etc
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#91952 - 10/26/11 07:04 PM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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Poehere
Expert Advisor
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 2362
Loc: FP
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The Legends is up on a hill, nice view but not on the water so you'd need to walk down and across the Intercontinental hotel to get to the beach.. it is also self-catering unless you book the hotel services with it. The restaurant, la Villa des Sens is mouthwatering but VERY expensive.
August is high season here, and is also a month which has a SE wind that can at times be a little strong but it really depends where you'll be. FYI if there were no wind there would not be the beautiful variety of lagoon colors for which the islands are known...! Also if you book 10 days, you should know that, depending on the arrival hour in Tahiti you may loose a night there being no night flights to BB or ferries to Moorea, same may apply for your int'l return flight to the UK.
so maybe just stick to 2 islands...
For your long trip over here, do check the Premium Voyager class of Air France which offers great chairs and leg room with regular economy class food but at a very attractive fare all the way to Papeete in comparison to booking part in business... (you'd have to fly via Paris but that's only 1 hr). Air New Zealand also offers a comfort class but would put you on a codeshare with Air Tahiti Nui for the Los Angeles Papeete part which does not offer that particular class.
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* with sunshine *
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#91959 - 10/27/11 09:23 AM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: nrmm]
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islandboyatheart
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/19/05
Posts: 1376
Loc: Florida
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I think the choice of islands really depends on what type of vacation you are looking for. I do agree with both Old Wife and G&C that 4/4/4 is a much more relaxing pace for the trip. I would definitely choose the Hilton over Legends on Moorea for its location on the beach. Bora Bora's lagoon is beautiful and a must see for a first time trip but the island as a whole is certainly not my favorite. I love both Moorea and Huahine and I find it difficult to choose between the two because they offer different experiences. Moorea offers a little bit of everything - more things to do and more eating places but with more people than you find on Huahine. It is still a very peaceful island and certainly not what I would describe as "busy". Huahine is much less developed and quieter but there are fewer things to do. Taha'a is also very beautiful but even quieter than Huahine. The nice thing about Taha'a is that you can take a boat to Raiatea which will offer more options for culture and activities. As a first trip, if I had to decide from the choices you've given, I personally would choose Bora Bora, Moorea and Huahine as a 3 island combo. If your goal is to get off the beaten track, you can opt for Taha'a instead of Moorea but you will give up some activities and some good eating options in exchange for a bit more solitude.
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#91963 - 10/27/11 03:59 PM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: islandboyatheart]
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nrmm
Junior Member
Registered: 10/26/11
Posts: 8
Loc: London
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Well so so many thanks for all your opinions!! Given that bora bora is a must and definitely at Thalasso, I'm just not sure if Moorea is more of the same and we are not that much into touristic places.. So if Huahine is quite the same as Moorea what would you think of 3 Huahine, 3 tahaa and then 5 at bora bora? We def want to have a mix, we live idealic places and we also don't like to get bored.. I've heard so many good things also about the non divers islands which I dont quite remember right now... And also I've watched some videos from Huahine and I was not impressed by the sea there?
Also re air france do they fly from Paris directly to Tahiti?
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#91964 - 10/27/11 04:05 PM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: nrmm]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Here is the photo link to our last holiday:
We did 5 Huahine (Te Tiare), 5 Bora Bora (Pearl) and 6 Le Tahaá -
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=676858419309%3A1237740592&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee
Underwater photos:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=797510519309%3A252031889&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#91965 - 10/27/11 04:09 PM
Re: Help!! Much appreciated...
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
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AF stops in Los Angles then continues on to Tahiti.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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