Tahiti

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Tahiti, is it really as good as it looks in the pictures?

This was the question I have always asked myself and I can honestly answer YES, in fact even better than what I had imagined Tahiti to be.  I have been lucky enough to visit many of the pacific islands and I have to say Tahiti touched me in a way I wasn’t expecting. It has so much to offer the traveler, the most amazing tranquil water that showcases so many shades of blue, truly spectacular and very hard to explain until you see it yourself, it just takes your breath away.

With this spectacular water comes a huge array of water sports; snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, canoeing and probably the most well known water activity is a boat trip geared around swimming and feeding of sharks and sting rays, which is a must do in Tahiti. I have to say I was a little hesitant at first but once you see how tame the sharks are I was put to ease and it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience I had to do and was so glad I did.

Not only is the scenery beautiful but all the people I met along the way were equally as beautiful. The level of service from the staff is exceptional, nothing is a problem and they are always smiling. (I think I would too if I got live in this beautiful part of the world.)  Forget 5 star service, a lot of these resorts are 6 star plus! The other stand out for me was the food and culture.  The perfect combination of French sophistication with the French Polynesian culture.

A lot of questions I get asked (not from the honeymooners) is there enough to do without getting bored?  Well if you like a lot of activity on your holidays and less relaxing time then I would recommend a visit to Moorea where they offer a lot of great hiking, there are so many majestic mountain peaks to explore, waterfalls, deep sea fishing and 4WD tours and much more!!  The best thing about Moorea is the easy access, only 30mins from the main island by high speed ferry. For families I would highly recommend staying at the Intercontinental Resort Moorea which is home to the Moorea Dolphin Centre. They offer educational and interactive experiences for guests that the kids love.  The other resorts that really stood out from the crowds was the Hilton Moorea Resort & Spa and the Sofitel Moorea La Ora Beach Resort - both stunning resorts with amazing facilities.  Moorea certainly does offer affordable luxury without the price-tag of Bora Bora.

Everyone knows Bora Bora and many have heard of Moorea but some of the lesser known islands that I was lucky enough to visit were Taha’a and Vahine Island. These islands tend to be less expensive, they can sometimes offer as much as 50% off the room at certain times of the year and are generally less crowded. Fantastic choice for second time or repeat visitors looking for something different, especially if it is privacy you are after.  Le Taha’a Resort and Spa was absolutely gorgeous. Other islands were noting Rarutu where you can swim with whales or Huahine that is famous for surfing.

As beautiful as all these islands are there is something magical about Bora Bora, not only once you arrive but the journey there is just as impressive. The flight over from the mainland in itself is exciting and the birds eye view just puts it all into prospective and it doesn’t stop there.  Once you arrive in Bora Bora you step out straight from the airport onto a boat and arrive at your resort by water. Straight away you are in holiday mode!  Bora Bora didn’t disappoint and was certainly a highlight.  There are so many gorgeous resorts it is really hard to have a favourite here.  But in order of personal preference is St Regis Bora Bora, Four Season Bora Bora and Intercontinental Thalassa Resort Bora Bora. Unfortunately, the Hilton and Le Meridien were closed for renovation but I have heard these are also amazing.

TRAVEL TIPS

  • Tahiti is a really popular destination from May – October because of the great weather, you can avoid paying peak prices and less crowds if you look at going Nov-April when the weather is still very good. I was there in March and the weather was perfect!

  • Keep in mind flights from Australia arrive into Papeete late at night so you will need to overnight before you can transfer to the islands of Tahiti. On the way back flights leave in the morning so again you are required to overnight in Papeete.  Flights from Australia go via Auckland (Qantas, Air New Zealand, Emirates ) and then connect with Air Tahiti Nue which was very good.

  • Papeete – best to place to buy pearls! For a great cultural experience, dine at the Roulotte’s, which are bustling food trucks with tables and chairs set out outdoors, great mix of food to choose from – French, Tahitian and much more.

  • Mix and Match Rooms – if you can’t afford to stay in an overwater bungalow the whole time keep this for a few nights treat at the end and stay in a garden room or beachfront room at the start.

  • When flying over to Bora Bora be sure to sit on the right-hand side of the aircraft (in front of the wing) for the most spectacular view of Bora Bora.

  • Book in advance!  There are a lot of great early bird deals available, so the earlier you book the better deal you will get and same goes for flights.  Because they do not offer daily flight connections from Australia flights do tend to fill up quickly, so I recommend booking at least 6 months in advance.

  • Savings can also be made if you stick to the same hotel chain when island hopping. E.g. Intercontinental, Sofitel & Le Meridien. They often will advertise multi-island discounts.