PLANNING 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AND WE NEED YOUR HELP
 

My hubby and I are trying to plan a trip to Tahiti (Moorea - Bora Bora) to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We will be making our trip in February of 2000. Our questions are as follows: <BR> <BR>(1) Are prices extremely high for food and drink? We have been tossing back and forth about obtaining a "meal-inclusive" trip or just setting out on our own. <BR> <BR>(2) What hotel is the "BEST" you've ever stayed at on both islands. <BR> <BR>(3) How man days would you recommend going for? Both of us have set aside 2 weeks, is this enough for both islands? <BR> <BR>(4) Travel agent, who did you book thru? <BR> <BR>If you could help us with our plans, we certainly appreciate any input. We read people's comments, however, am just looking for a few answers to my questions. Thanks --

I would have expected someone with more recent experience to post. But here is my input. We have been there twice, last time was 92. Both times the prices were high, so I do not expect any changes in this respect. <BR> <BR>1). Food and drinks are VERY VERY HIGH at hotels. Towns were not much better. Even in 92, lunch burger at HOtel Bora Bora was $14, $8 milkshake, and $6 coke. In downtown Vaitape(?), coke was still $4/can. We were not on meal plan because we would never come ahead elsewhere. This was perhaps the only place we should have been on the meal plan. Some nights at HOtel Bora Bora, they had "Buffet Gastronomique" for $60/head (in 92, mind you). On those nights, there was no other meal options at the hotel. The food was outstanding, however, if it was any consolation... We noted on menu as to which plates the people on meal options can take, so there were restrictions. <BR> <BR>2). We stayed at Hotel Bora Bora and Parkroyal at Moorea. We wanted to stay at Sofitel at Moorea, but they did not have a bungalow large enough for our family. <BR> <BR>3). Days: This depends on what your view of toropical island is. If you are looking for isolation, while they are more so than Hawaii, you should head to smaller islands such as Rangiora, Tetiaroa, etc. Moorea far more developped than Bora Bora because of the proximity. It's lagoons are not as large as Bora Bora, but the mountains are just like movie "South Pacific" minus Hollywood modifications. You can rent a car and take a lazy one day drive around the island. There is hardly any traffic except few cars when the planes land or the ships arrive from Tahiti. Rest of time you snorkel, or ride a boat to smaller Motus (barrier reef island.) <BR> <BR>What Bora Bora has is the lagoon. Its blue lagoon will not disappoint you. You would probably spend most time at beach, lagoon (boat ride, snorkel, scuba, day trip to a Motu.) you decide how many days you want to do these. Our budget decided how many days we COULD do these, however. The excursions were VERY VERY EXPENSIVE also. <BR> <BR>4) We booked thru travel agent, but then at that time, they got good commissions. Can't help you with that now. <BR> <BR>One surprise we found at Hotel Bora Bora was so called "Maximum credit limit." The notice stated that the bank they dealt with limits maximum credit you can put on your card. I have never encountered this anywhere. The limit ranged from $700 for one card to $1600 for another. We stayed within our Visa limit (the room was already voucher paid, but food and excursions would have gotten us close to the limit.) if we had stayed longer, we would have to split between Visa and Amex. Hope this is no longer the case. <BR> <BR>Don't spend much time in Tahiti as many others have posted. It is just a place to land and take off, lots of traffic, so so beaches and lagoons. <BR> <BR>If you plan to take underwater snorkeling picture and taking a disposable camera, bring one with you. It was ~$11 here, $48 there, yes the joy of captive audience. <BR> <BR>The seatings were unassigned between islands so you can choose after you get on board. This allows you to have breathtaking view of the lagoons at Bora Bora and Raiatea from the air and the towering mountains of Moorea, if you sit at the correct side of the plane. Wind direction dictates island approaches, however.

We were in the islands in February. The hotels can be expensive but food was not nearly as expensive as we expected. It costs us about $30 each to have a nice dinner with a glass of wine at a local restaurant Moorea (at the hotel it would have been about $45 each). The meal plans are a definite "no no" for Moorea and probably for Bora Bora. The hotel restaurants are more expensvie than the local restaurants and we definitely save money by going out to dinner and trying some of the local food. Several people at our hotel (Sofitel on Moorea) said they regretted getting the meal plan. <BR> <BR>I think 9 nights is a good mix for doing Bora Bora and Moorea. I would spend 5 on Moorea (larger island with more things to do) and 4 on Bora Bora. <BR> <BR>The best hotels we saw on bora Bora were the Parkroyal, the Hotel Bora Bora (which was closed for renovation), Le Meridien and Pearl Beach. We saw most of them but we stayed at the Parkroyal on Bora Bora (very nice). The Sofitel overwater bungalow we had on Moorea was very nice as well. <BR> <BR>We booked our trip through Tahiti Travel Planners and they were very helpful and very responsive. My sister had used them for her honeymoon. We called several companies and Tahiti Travel Planners had the best price but also did a great job of staying in touch with us and returning our calls and e-mails promptly. That meant a lot to me because I hate travel companies that leave you feeling lost about what is going on. I have had some horrible experiences with travel agents in the past who would not call me back or keep me "up to date" on how my trip and reservations were progressing. <BR> <BR> I would definitely not try to make all of the reservations on your own because it could get very complicated in Tahiti. <BR> <BR>Have a great anniversary. <BR> <BR>

Just got back 3 days ago. Nice trip! <BR> <BR>1. Prices are high, but we were prepared for that. What I wasn't ready for is that Bora Bora was much higher than Moorea.(M: $75 for 2 with wine; BB $100 for 2 with wine) Definitely, do NOT get a meal plan. Hotel food was not very good, and expensive. Top Dive at BB; Cocotier, Le Pecher, and Linareva are good at Moorea. <BR> <BR>2. We viewed the nicer hotels on both islands. Our opinion was that on Moorea Beachcomber was nicer than Sofitel (we were at Sofitel); and on BB, Pearl Beach was very nice ( we also saw Hotel BB and BB Lagoon Resort); motu is definitely the way on BB. Also don't miss Shark feeding/Ray tour-highlight of our trip! <BR> <BR>3. We stayed 4 nights on each, but could've done one more night on BB. <BR> <BR>4. Highly recommend Camille at Tahiti Legends-very friendly,and efficient. (800-200-1213) <BR> <BR>E-mail for more info; just back and full of tips. Also mosquitos are killers if in Garden Bungalows on Pearl Beach -go for Overwater further out on piers. We only got 2 bites the entire trip and that was when we toured a Garden unit on Pearl Beach in evening!

1-it depends how pickey about food you are! <BR>2-Moorea Sofitel or Beachcomber <BR> Bora Bora Pearl Beach <BR>3-2 weeks is plenty-10 days is perfect <BR>4-Use Tahiti Legands and do the Turquoise Gems Tour-Trust me, I just got back and if i had to do it all over again, this is what I'd do!!!