JnL

Has anyone stayed at these resorts? We're looking into staying 1 (or 2) nights in tahiti, 4 nights on moorea in a garden bungalow and 4 in bora bora in an overwater bungalow for our honeymoon in June '06.

Moorea: Is it worth it to upgrade to the garden bungalow w/ pool or beach bungalow? Or stick with the regular garden bungalow?

Bora Bora: Is it worth it to upgrade to the premium OWB?

Thanks!!
Jess

swiggle75

Hi Jess,

We stayed in the premium OWB in Bora Bora. The premium OWB is the same as any other OWB other than that it is at the end of the dock, so you are deepest into the lagoon and your deck do not have any neighbors. The answer to your question really depends on your comfort of level. It looked over the rates for the OWB and the premium OWB and it looks like it's an extra $100/night. If it were me, I probably wouldn't do it, because the rooms look the same, and it doesn't bother me that much if i happen to see a neighbor, but it can be different for someone else.

For Moorea, I didn't stay at pearl beach, but did stay at the intercontinental in a garden bungalow. In Moorea, a lot of the resorts are very similar. Since Moorea is more lush, I was happy in saving some money staying in garden, however a beach bungalow was very nice as well. The OWB in moorea aren't worth it at all.
hope this helps.

JnL

Thanks! Did you find there were a lot of bugs when staying in the garden bungalow?

swiggle75

You know... I really expected there to be mosquitos around, especially in the OWBs, but we had no problem with mosquitos around our bungalow. I believe they spray all around the bungalows to limit the mosquitos. I did, however, get bit A LOT when we went out to eat in many of the outdoor restaurants.

In Moorea, in the garden bungalow, we did encounter 1 geikos... I hate HATE any insects or bugs, so I wasn't happy about that

Let me know if you have any other questions! We loved moorea and bora bora so much when we went for our HM, that this year we are going to cook islands for our anniversary!

klo

I just had my honeymoon at both islands in oct 04 and we stayed at the Pearl on both islands. I enjoyed my stay in a OWB on both. I love love loved Moorea. You must go to Aldo's Pizza.. best pizza ever. and also rent a car to see the whole island. the water was deep and nice on Moorea and we snorkled, although not much to see unless you go down past the bungalows and i saw schools of fish and a turtle. Great massage their and service was good. Diving instructors were a little arogant and diving is not spontaneous, they feed the fish so its more of a show, but i did still see some nice things. Bora Bora, i do not recommend the Pearl. Switch hotels and get a little more variety in the food. The service was not as good (misbooked tour times) and the OWB not as great b/c it is fairly shallow so you can't "dive" in but you can walk in and water was near waist deep unless you go out further. nothing to see much snorkling, a few small fish. If you were to go to both islands, i would say 7 days in OWB is plenty and we did 4 days moorea and 3 Bora Bora and i would definitely say a garden would be ok facing the water if i were to skip the OWB on one of the islands. they were building a Ritz and it looked to be nice when we traveled via boat past it. I think it was the Shearaton on a Motu that looked very beautiful from the boat that i would consider if i were to go back again. If i did go back truly i would skip Bora Bora all together, it just didn't seem all that it was hyped up to be. Beauty was much better in Moorea and a little more fun stuff to do. Let me know if you have more questions.

JnL

klo - Thanks for all the information. Did you stay in a premium OWB or standard?

Does anyone know if the premium OWB's at the BB Pearl are over deeper water?

Also, what about the standard OWB's at Le Meridien, are those over deeper water? Any info would be great.

Thanks!!
Jess

LordBalfor

Premium OW bungalows at the BBPB are in waist-deep water.

Ken

swiggle75

also, I would like that, although the premium OWB on PB in Bora Bora are waist deep when you jump from your bungalow into the water, if you walk a few steps, the water starts to get deeper. That was the case where we stayed.

In fact, from the PB website picture, you can see how the water changes from a light turquiose color to a deeper blue color.

JnL

Thanks!!!

JnL

Do you think it would be too much moving around if we did this itinerary:

1 night tahiti
4 nights moorea pearl (garden bungalow)
4 nights bora bora pearl (2 nights garden bung and 2 nights OWB)

We're trying to do this on a budget, but want to experience the OWB's for a few of the nights!!

LordBalfor

JnL -

I do think your latest plan is a little more trouble (with extra packing) - HOWEVER - I would go forward with it for 2 reasons:

1) If you really want to experience the OW bungalow, and you don't you will likely regret it later, so if you can swing a couple of nights in one, then do so.

2) The possiblity exists that if an OW unit is vacant the whole time during your Bora Bora stay, the hotel may just put you in the OW unit (for little or nothing extra) for the whole time. It's actually easier on the hotel staff for them to do that than to move you part way through, so you have the convenience factor on your side.

All in all, a good plan.

Ken

JnL

Thanks! Since we are on a budget, how do the bb pearl OWB's compare to the Le Maitai ones? Thanks!!

LordBalfor

Not been inside the Le Maitai and not inside the PB since 2000 so I can't comment on the bungalows specifically, except to say that we found the PB units to be superb. Based on the fact that the PB is pricier and a bit more upscale than the Le Maitai, I'd guess the bungalows at Le Maitai are PROBABLY a little less fancy. Don't know for sure though.

In regards to location of the units I will say that the experiences will likely be mostly similar between the 2 places but not quite entirely so. For one thing, the view from the PB will be better (in my opinion) looking as it does across the lagoon back at the main island and the experience MIGHT feel a bit more exotic. Water will be deeper in the immediate vacinity of the Le Maitai as the shore drops away faster there (the PB is on a vast submerged sand bar). At the time of our stay, I would say that the Le Maitai almost certainly had better snorkeling as the area around the PB was mostly coral-free. The PB folks were in the process of constructing an artifical reef (made up of concrete chunks) beneath the walkways to attract fish and this seemed to be working fairly well. I imagine it's probably attracted quite a few more fish since then but can't say for sure. My guess is that the snorkeling is still probably better near the Le Maitai - but's that's just a guess. Le Maitai will also put you a bit closer to the "action" (such as it is) of beautiful Matira Beach and will be more convenient for sightseeing & dining away from your resort as it's on the main island as opposed to being out on a motu.

Photos of our stay at the BBPB:
http://community.webshots.com/user/lordbalfor

Ken

JnL

Wow!!! Your pics sealed the deal. The BBPB is amazing. LordB.. which OWB were you in?

LordBalfor

JnL -

Number 32, I think. As I mention, it was a while back now. It was one of the premium overwater units. Note that only the premium units will guarentee that you are looking out into the lagoon (and at the main island) as opposed to back towards the shore of the motu. Several of the regular overwater units look at the main island too, but you may or may not get one of those.

Ken

PS: Glad you liked the pics.

JnL

Thanks again! How do Manihi and Tikehau compare costwise and beauty-wise?!

klo

We stayed in the Premium owb in deep water at Moorea. Very nice we enjoyed the deep water. not all are in deep water, but the premium's definitely are deep and the others are over shallow water. The Pearl Bora Bora is not hooribly disappointing due to shallow but still not as impressive. We stayed premium there also so it was more private and deeper water but by no means deep, if you know what i mean. they are trying to build a reef, but its still not much there. a few sporatic fish and a few rocks and nets under the docks you walk on. Nothing special. More fish at the boat dock. All in all, if snorkling or beach or deep water is what you want, Bora Bora is not going to Wow you. This was my honey moon and i'm not "high Maintenace" nor do i have very high expectations, but comparing Pearl resorts, Moorea was great and i had a nice time, I would not go back to the Pearl at Bora Bora. I would go to others. Like the Sheraton. it had a beautiful location.

stephen_ross

how is the nightlife in Bora Bora? Are there things to do? Are ther bars on or off the resorts? Good food, etc?

LordBalfor

Stephan -

Virtually no nightlife on Bora Bora - or really anywhere else in the South Pacific. The islands are not a party kind of place and after dark they generally "roll up the sidewalks".

I know that may sound hard to imagine - especially if you are used to places like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, but that's the way it is. The South Pacific is really not a good choice if nightlife is important to you. There are Polynesian dance shows that rotate among the various resorts, but really, that's about it.

Ken