10 days BI or 4 days BI + week in Tahiti?
Nov 27th, 2006, 05:10 PM
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10 days BI or 4 days BI + week in Tahiti?
aloha fodorites!
We've been to kauai, maui and oahu several times.... and this march-april I am a lucky girl and have a job on oahu. hubby is going to meet me out there and we plan to vacation for at least 10 days afterwards, possibly 2 weeks. we could spend a few nights on the north shore of oahu and then jump to the big island for 10 days - from what I've read there is plenty for us to explore, see and do, and we'll definitely want to just veg for a few days... Initially I thought we would stay on the Kohala coast for awhile and then then Volcano or vice versa. but then visions of an overwater bungalow and clear blue waters danced their way into my head. : )
We could stay a couple nights in Hawaii and then fly out to Tahiti or someplace else in the S. Pacific? Do you think 4 days is pushing it for the Big Island? Will we feel like we shorted the BI?
We've spent the last 4 years vacationing in Hawaii so I have this urge to go someplace a little further out... I know whatever we decide it will be wonderful and all, just would like to hear your opinions. If we go with Tahiti I will be sure to jump to those boards and look up Lord Balfor.
Blessings
We've been to kauai, maui and oahu several times.... and this march-april I am a lucky girl and have a job on oahu. hubby is going to meet me out there and we plan to vacation for at least 10 days afterwards, possibly 2 weeks. we could spend a few nights on the north shore of oahu and then jump to the big island for 10 days - from what I've read there is plenty for us to explore, see and do, and we'll definitely want to just veg for a few days... Initially I thought we would stay on the Kohala coast for awhile and then then Volcano or vice versa. but then visions of an overwater bungalow and clear blue waters danced their way into my head. : )
We could stay a couple nights in Hawaii and then fly out to Tahiti or someplace else in the S. Pacific? Do you think 4 days is pushing it for the Big Island? Will we feel like we shorted the BI?
We've spent the last 4 years vacationing in Hawaii so I have this urge to go someplace a little further out... I know whatever we decide it will be wonderful and all, just would like to hear your opinions. If we go with Tahiti I will be sure to jump to those boards and look up Lord Balfor.
Blessings
Nov 27th, 2006, 06:53 PM
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Definitely go for Tahiti. Do Moorea and Bora Bora. We went in 2004 for our honeymoon and loved it. Just returned from Maui... not at all the same!
Check out www.tahitiexplorer.com. Lord Balfor is actually not a frequent poster there-- I believe he's more of a fan of the Cooks. There are lots of knowledgeable people on the TahitiExplorer boards. Don't chat about travel agents/ websites other than the service offered by Tahitiexplorer.com-- it's not allowed and they'll freeze your user account if you do so (in the rules). You can book through them- they're competitively priced and you'll have an expertly planned vacation.
However, we saved $ by booking through www.tahitianvacations.com.
Lynne
Check out www.tahitiexplorer.com. Lord Balfor is actually not a frequent poster there-- I believe he's more of a fan of the Cooks. There are lots of knowledgeable people on the TahitiExplorer boards. Don't chat about travel agents/ websites other than the service offered by Tahitiexplorer.com-- it's not allowed and they'll freeze your user account if you do so (in the rules). You can book through them- they're competitively priced and you'll have an expertly planned vacation.
However, we saved $ by booking through www.tahitianvacations.com.
Lynne
Nov 27th, 2006, 08:03 PM
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ps- I think you can get some real airfare deals on Air Tahiti Nui during March/ April travel. I seem to remember getting email updates with fares as low as $348 RT/pp. HOwever, that was a couple of years ago before oil prices REALLY forced airfare up. I think this past year the deals looked more like $565 RT, which is a great fare! Ordinarily from LA it's $1000.
Nov 27th, 2006, 08:15 PM
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Take a look at Fiji. I've been researching it for a possible trip there next year. It seems more reasonably priced than Tahiti, but it is a bit further out. I've been impressed with how diverse Fiji is. I had no idea there were so many distinct areas and smaller island groups within Fiji.
-Bill
-Bill
Nov 27th, 2006, 08:38 PM
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Hey Bill..
There is a travel warning to Fiji..
I believe there is a coup going on..
plus, I hate all the sea snakes in Fiji..maybe it is a girl thing but to snorkel in pristine waters with the most dangerous creature slithering by you is to me not fun..lived there for over a month on the coast near Suva..
Best curry I have had ever and they are such wonderful people though!
All my guy friends love Fiji..
There is a travel warning to Fiji..
I believe there is a coup going on..
plus, I hate all the sea snakes in Fiji..maybe it is a girl thing but to snorkel in pristine waters with the most dangerous creature slithering by you is to me not fun..lived there for over a month on the coast near Suva..
Best curry I have had ever and they are such wonderful people though!
All my guy friends love Fiji..
Nov 28th, 2006, 03:51 AM
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Thanks for all the info everyone!
Yeah, I had no idea how expensive the flights would be... best deals from LA but I will already be in Hawaii so we may try our luck with Hawaiian Airlines.
I think that if we go...we will go all out (skip the BI entirely) and split time between either Bora Bora or Moorea and one of the Cook Islands. Does that sound feasible?
Yeah, I had no idea how expensive the flights would be... best deals from LA but I will already be in Hawaii so we may try our luck with Hawaiian Airlines.
I think that if we go...we will go all out (skip the BI entirely) and split time between either Bora Bora or Moorea and one of the Cook Islands. Does that sound feasible?
Nov 28th, 2006, 05:22 AM
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TT,
If we go we'll be going to the Yasawas and the Mamanucas. I may be wrong, but I've not read about sea snakes being a nuiusance or a hinderance there like in other parts.
We are planning to go in 2008 and will make the arrangements sometime this summer so I'm hoping that the coup will have come and gone by then. I have a friend who is from Naviti Island and when I asked her about the coup she said, "we in the west don't care about those things at all".
-Bill
If we go we'll be going to the Yasawas and the Mamanucas. I may be wrong, but I've not read about sea snakes being a nuiusance or a hinderance there like in other parts.
We are planning to go in 2008 and will make the arrangements sometime this summer so I'm hoping that the coup will have come and gone by then. I have a friend who is from Naviti Island and when I asked her about the coup she said, "we in the west don't care about those things at all".
-Bill
Nov 28th, 2006, 08:29 AM
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HI Bill..
I hear that the small islands are stunning and maybe the sea snakes like the city life..they are called three strokers in Fiji because you literally have 3 swim strokes and your toast..
I just didn't like to have to swim with them and at night they would come up to land till dawn..
LOL..sistahlou..
I hear that the small islands are stunning and maybe the sea snakes like the city life..they are called three strokers in Fiji because you literally have 3 swim strokes and your toast..
I just didn't like to have to swim with them and at night they would come up to land till dawn..
LOL..sistahlou..
Nov 28th, 2006, 05:24 PM
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hi kerikeri-
I don't mind at all...I am a yoga & pilates teacher and will be helping a friend manage her business (a surf spa for women) for a couple months, while also teaching yoga & pilates. It's a pretty sweet deal, I feel fortunate and am quite excited. : )
I don't mind at all...I am a yoga & pilates teacher and will be helping a friend manage her business (a surf spa for women) for a couple months, while also teaching yoga & pilates. It's a pretty sweet deal, I feel fortunate and am quite excited. : )
Nov 28th, 2006, 06:13 PM
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You're going to have a great time, no matter what combo you choose! I think a trip over two weeks to Moorea, Bora Bora, and the Cooks (Aitutaki and Rarotonga are the main islands I believe) would be BEYOND amazing!!
And you MUST report back to these forums
And you MUST report back to these forums
Nov 28th, 2006, 06:43 PM
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Hi acaigirl,
I've been to Tahiti (Moorea and Bora Bora) and Cook Islands (Raratonga) and the islands are beautiful.
I would recommend staying in Tahiti and splitting your time on Moorea and Bora Bora to really soak in the Tahitian scenery and lifestyle.
It is very slow pace compared to Hawaii.
We went to Tahiti twice - first time was to Moorea and second time was to Bora Bora.
Moorea is very easy to get around by car. We loved going for bike rides as the roads were relatively flat and very little traffic on the road. The scenery is beautiful there.
When you fly to Bora Bora you will land at the airport on it's own motu (little island). Some of the resorts are on their own motu.
The main island which the locals (if I remember correctly) called it the Big Island. The main center is Vaitape Village. You would have to take a short boat ride over to Vaitape if you stay at one of the resorts surrounding the Big Island. However, you probably won't need to leave your resort as they will have many activities to keep you busy. We stayed at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and stayed in one of their over the water bungalows. The breath taking view from our bungalow was of Otemanu. The restaurants at the resort were wonderful. We loved every minute there on our own little motu.
You will have a fabulous time in paradise. Have fun!
I've been to Tahiti (Moorea and Bora Bora) and Cook Islands (Raratonga) and the islands are beautiful.
I would recommend staying in Tahiti and splitting your time on Moorea and Bora Bora to really soak in the Tahitian scenery and lifestyle.
It is very slow pace compared to Hawaii.
We went to Tahiti twice - first time was to Moorea and second time was to Bora Bora.
Moorea is very easy to get around by car. We loved going for bike rides as the roads were relatively flat and very little traffic on the road. The scenery is beautiful there.
When you fly to Bora Bora you will land at the airport on it's own motu (little island). Some of the resorts are on their own motu.
The main island which the locals (if I remember correctly) called it the Big Island. The main center is Vaitape Village. You would have to take a short boat ride over to Vaitape if you stay at one of the resorts surrounding the Big Island. However, you probably won't need to leave your resort as they will have many activities to keep you busy. We stayed at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and stayed in one of their over the water bungalows. The breath taking view from our bungalow was of Otemanu. The restaurants at the resort were wonderful. We loved every minute there on our own little motu.
You will have a fabulous time in paradise. Have fun!
Nov 28th, 2006, 07:45 PM
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Hi acaigirl:
I had the same thoughts about combining a Hawaii and Bora Bora vacation as I have a free OWB reserved on points at the Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso Spa Resort, but I could not find any kind of airfare from say, Honolulu to Bora Bora at all, and Honolulu to Papeete is about $1,500 and goes via LAX!
Have you looked into any of the logistics of this trip yet? I would be interested in how you plan to get to the South Pacific islands you are talking about visiting.
I had the same thoughts about combining a Hawaii and Bora Bora vacation as I have a free OWB reserved on points at the Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso Spa Resort, but I could not find any kind of airfare from say, Honolulu to Bora Bora at all, and Honolulu to Papeete is about $1,500 and goes via LAX!
Have you looked into any of the logistics of this trip yet? I would be interested in how you plan to get to the South Pacific islands you are talking about visiting.
Nov 28th, 2006, 08:01 PM
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Happy-
I found a non-stop flight from Honolulu to Papeete on Hawaiian for $800 - had to try a few different dates to get it. Still pretty pricey but better than $1500 plus layover in LAX. yuck!
good luck with your travel~
I found a non-stop flight from Honolulu to Papeete on Hawaiian for $800 - had to try a few different dates to get it. Still pretty pricey but better than $1500 plus layover in LAX. yuck!
good luck with your travel~
Nov 28th, 2006, 08:19 PM
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hi again,
i JUST got an email from air tahiti nui, and they're having a sale right now. you might want to check their website.
though it sounds like you want to fly hawaiian, which is a great airline from what i hear. hopefully they'll go on sale too!
if you haven't already, i would search on kayak.com and possibly place an "alert" so you get an email when there's a sale.
L
i JUST got an email from air tahiti nui, and they're having a sale right now. you might want to check their website.
though it sounds like you want to fly hawaiian, which is a great airline from what i hear. hopefully they'll go on sale too!
if you haven't already, i would search on kayak.com and possibly place an "alert" so you get an email when there's a sale.
L
