TRAVELINMAN

My wife and I are looking at either Moorea or Fiji for our 5 yr. anniversary. We would love to stay in an overwater bungalow in Tahiti. We are wondering if it is worth the expense to do so or to just stay in an ocean view room? Your comments are appreciated!

LordBalfor

It's certainly an amazing experience (one you'll never forget). Whether it's worth it or not - I tend to think it is. However, keep in mind that you do not have to book your entire stay in the OW units. You can book most of your stay in beach or garden bungalow and end your vacation with a couple of nights out in an OW unit.

Much cheaper that way.

Ken

bmcc

For our honeymoon, my husband and I stayed 6 nights in a garden bungalow with a private pool in Moorea. The hotel offered to upgrade us for free due to space issues on the last 2 nts, and we turned it down. The private plunge pool was so romantic and just plain neat. We stayed 3 nts in an OWB in Bora Bora though and it too was unbelievable. If you can do a combination - I recommend it. Feeding the fish every morning off the deck was fun, and the view was fantastic.

travellin

We are headed to NZ next (our) winter and are thinking about a couple of Island stops enroute. I would love to stay even a couple of nights in an otw in Bora Bora but they are so expensive. Because we take extended trips we try to keep a pretty tight budget but it would be a great splurge. Which resort did you stay at in Bora Bora, bmcc?Perhaps we can squeeze a few extra bucks at the end!

wlzmatilida

Travelinman,

I just returned last week from a famil trip (familiarization trip for travel agents) with the tourist boards of Tahiti and the Cook Islands. (the other group of us did Fiji and then we met up in the Cooks for an exchange of information).

Coming back from NZ the Cooks would be a great stopover (just 3 hours away) and more cost effective than Tahiti.

The tourism board is really trying to promote the area, and we learned of many combinations of specials (the sort of "stay 4 nights, pay for 3" type of deal).

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Kiwi Specialist

traveljen

We did an over-water bungalow at the Sofitel Marara in Bora Bora and the Beachcomber Parkroyal in Moorea (that was the name then). That was 9 years ago and I remember the over-water bungalow and feeding the fish and not the price - even though it was hefty at the time for us. SO make the plunge even if it is only for a night or 2.

hpn

It depends on which resort you stay at.

For example, we wouldn't recommend the overwater bungalows at the Beachcomber in Tahiti. They're under the airport's flight path. The water is shallow and murky like a pond.

However, if you stay at the Pearl Resort in Moorea, it's worth it to splurge for a night or two in their OW bungalows. The water there is very deep and full of colorful marine life. Those who travel with small children seem to get assigned to OW bungalows on the shallow end of the dock. For safety reasons, perhaps? Ask for an OW bungalow as far at the end of the dock as possible. You'll feel like you're just floating on the ocean, with no humanity around. We had hours of fun feeding the fish outside our OW bungalow there.

If possible, perhaps you can check in at your resort, check out the OW bungalows, and if you like what you see, ask for an upgrade, if possible.

We also stayed at the Sofitel in Moorea, but didn't get an OW bungalow. The further at the end of the dock, the better for viewing underwater life and privacy.

The Sofitel beach is the best for swimming in Moorea. That was why we were happy with just an ocean view bungalow. You can snorkel and feed colorful fish in knee deep water.

Moorea is very quiet. Not much entertainment, other than the performance at the Tiki Village. Not worth a tour around the island, either.

If your wife enjoys shopping, do stay in Papeete for a few days of shopping. The ferry from Moorea to Papeete is not cheap for a day of shopping in Papeete.