Tahiti Honeymoon Sept. 2000
 

hello, <BR> <BR>My fiance and I are planning a 2 week honeymoon to Moorea and Bora Bora during the first 2 weeks of Sept. 2000. We are staying at the Moorea Parkroyal and the Hotel Bora Bora. We have booked overwater bungalows at both resorts. Can anyone give us advise regarding where to eat outside of the resorts, what excusrions to go on, what the weather is like during that time of year, etc. Also, any helpful hints or shared experiences regarding the two resorts where we will be staying would be greatly appreciated!!!

On both Moorea & Bora Bora, snorkeling and diving are excellent. We rented a car on Bora Bora and drove around the island with a guide book - it was fun, but there's not much there. We ate at our hotel - the Mai Tai Polynesia which was very nice, but pricey. On Moorea we did a circle island tour with Albert Tours - recommend. Also, on either Moorea or Bora Bora, go on a shark feeding excursion. While on Moorea, you could take a short plane hop to Tahiti & check it out.

We stayed at the Moorea Parkroyal - loved it! We rented a car at both the islands - good thing to do. We actually had the car 2 days in Moorea because we wanted to drive to some restaurants. You can rent the car right at the hotel. There were several excellent restaurants on both those islands. I'm really bad at names, but on Moorea, you can just ask at the front desk for the good Italian restaurant and also a really good seafood restaurant (actually on a boat). There is a tour - set up through hotels again - that goes up into the mountains of Moorea - fabulous! Also, at the hotel we did the snorkeling excursion - they take you to a great site. In Bora Bora, one day for a car is plenty - VERY small island. At Le Meridien (I'm sure they all have it), we took the snorkeling/Sunset Cruise trip - highlight of our stay on BB. It was on a beautiful big Cat. Also, the tour up the mountain - gives Land Rover a boost in my estimation on how cars can go up 90 degree hills!! In Bora Bora, we went to several different restaurants. Of course, I can't remember any of their names (helpful, yes?) - but we asked for recommendations at the desk - plus I read all these forums and the websites for the islands. Next to the motu that the Le Meridien is on there is a place where you can swim with sharks, turtles, wrays, etc - that was pretty cool. Have a GREAT time - it was, for us, a vacation of a life time.

ihi i am looking to honeymoon there for 2 weeks also in june 2000. if you dont mind, how much are you spending on this trip? it seems to be rather pricey but a exotic destination? <BR>thanks

I honeymooned on Moorea and Bora Bora. Both my wife and I liked Moorea better. <BR> <BR>We did a lot of slow bike rides on Moorea stopping at various small food places and local artist homes. We found several artist who will set up displays in front of their homes. <BR> <BR>There are many shows at night the best one was at the a historic village??? <BR> <BR>Snorkeling is great. <BR>There are tours of the belvedere area in Moorea. <BR> <BR>I would suggest taking the ferry from Moorea to Papeatte for a day. Rent a car and do a circle tour. We parked at several parks and took short hikes to great waterfalls. Go to the market in town. At night go to a resurant called the belvedere. You can catch a bus that takes you high into the mountians for dinner. The ride alone is worth the trip. <BR>

we honeymooned on same two islands in sept 99. stayed at beachcomber parkroyal on moorea, lovely hotel. if you are interested in great snorkling e-mail us and we will tell you where to go on both islands. the hotel motu is ok at best for snorkling, there are much better spots. pick up a copy of "hidden tahiti & french polynesia" it is a terrific resource and their restaurant recommendations were very accurate. weather was a little up and down last year but we expected that. we had a wonderful trip and if we can be of further help e-mail us.

The parkroyal in moorea is the best. We went last november. There is a italian rest. walking distance from the hotel. We stayed in a beachside bungalow in Moorea and overwater in Bora Bora. We liked Moorea the best. Go on the shark feeding and the mountain tour in Moorea. We didn't do any tours in Bora Bora. Weather is 90's but a nice breeze all the time. Bring snacks for the room it will help on your budget. It also rains a litte so be prepared for a "summer" shower <BR> <BR>Have a great time

Sharon, <BR> <BR>I spent a week on Bora Bora just hanging out. I stayed at Pension Chez Nono on Pointe Matira. The owner runs a great outrigger tour of the island all day. It was $50/person, but worth it. We went around the lagoon, snorkeling, feeding sharks, looking at the mantas and the little rays, and enjoyed the most delicious Tahitian Luau ever with a view just breathtaking. I considered doing it more than once. They provide the snorkel gear. I know it is your honeymoon, but I had to laugh at the newlyweds spending so much money on these mopeds and electric cars. Let your hair down, rent a bike and take a tour of the island. Sure you'll be hot and dirty afterwards, but all the better to skinny dip off your overwater bungalow to clean up. I lived in my bathing suit. On my tours I met the natives and bought fresh fruit and hand-dyed sarapis, you know those colorful dress things. They made great xmas gifts for my family. I made friends with some French families, I'm fluent so maybe that helped, and was invited to dinner several times. La Bounty, Hotel Bora Bora, and some others near Pointe Matira all offered excellent Mahi Mahi in a vanilla sauce with some veggies. If you eat Pizza and burgers while in Tahiti, then you'll be missing out on all the exotic French Polynesian cuising. There was a little grocery store which had fresh baguettes and that was my breakfast along with some pineapple and papaya. Of course I roughed it in my little $50/night grass shack, but I had a sunset on the best beach in Bora Bora, and I'm not complaining. Walk even hitchhike, get to know the people and relax, this is truly a paradise I want to bring my fiancee to one day, but I think will go to the Seychelles/Indian Ocean for this trip. Enjoy! Ciao

Greg, does this Pension Chez Nono have a website? I tried my usual search engines to no avail, or they were in French.

REGARDING WHAT TO DO: <BR>BORA BORA, SHARK DIVE: Take Chez No-No's Shark feeding/stingray tour. Best on the island. Plus the owner's son is a amateur (professional quality) videographer. Our video of the day was excellent, with a great mix of music. Plus you get a lot of entertainment and a tour around the whole lagoon. Your hotel will arrange it for you. <BR> <BR>BORA BORA FOOD: Best restaurant on Bora Bora is not Bloody Mary's, but La Linareva (which is the boat restaurant mentioned above). Definitely go to both restaurants though. Get there at 5:30, and watch the sunset at 5:50, while drinking cocktails on the deck. As a bonus, as the chef prepares his dishes for the evening, he throws scraps of fish overboard. Reef sharks are waiting for it below. It's interesting to watch. <BR> <BR>SAFARI: I would suggest doing only one safari, as they are very similar on both BB and Moorea. The drivers are very nice, but the jokes are remarkably similar on both islands. A lot of the experience (coconut splitting, pineapple and banana stuff, islander living experience)is duplicated. If you accept this recommendation, then Moorea is by far the more interesting island for Safari. (BB is the best lagoon).

In Bora Bora: See the Lagoonarium. It's really pretty interesting snorkling and swimming with the sea turtles, reef sharks and other large fish. You can plan about 1/2 day around it. Take a snorkling trip to the coral gardens. They are amazing. Take a sunset cruise on a Catamaran. It will leave a long lasting impression. <BR> <BR>Bora Bora Food: I didn't think Bloody Mary's was nearly as good as La Linareva, but it's one of those places that you may want to try anyway. <BR> <BR>Safari: We went on both and found them to be different enough. If time is a constraint, Moorea may have the edge. <BR> <BR>Moorea is a prettier island, but the lagoon in Bora Bora will stay in my memory hopefully forever. <BR> <BR>You definitely picked the right hotels. <BR> <BR>No matter what you choose to do, it will be right. Have fun.