JimJohnson
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Thinking about hitting up Bora Bora next year. Any of you ever been? Worth the money?
Bora Bora
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vincentvega
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Went to French Polynesia for two and a half weeks on my honeymoon. Spent the first half of the trip in Moorea and the second half of the trip in Bora-Bora. Very expensive but one of the greatest experiences of my life (except for having my children of course). If you really enjoy traveling and beach vacations then definitely check it out. If you do go, spend the extra and stay in the over water bungalow. Also there's an excursion where you can ride a JetSki around the entire island of Bora-Bora. I highly recommend it!
What's the occasion? Just going for the heck of it?
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I once made love.to a set of twins on Bora Bora. Well I guess one qualified as more of a parasite.
JimJohnson
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Good deal. Just going for the heck of it. Mentioned it to my gf and she was game. I've been talking about going for the past 10 years and I've got a little extra cash right now so figured might as well do it. I've got some points in my Intercontinental Account which I can redeem at their Thalasso Bora Bora property which converts to an overwater bungalow. Worth about $1,000 per night in the summer.
vincentvega
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If you have the means to go then definitely do it. The intercontinental has a spectacular property out there. I stayed in the Hilton Bora Bora. It was really nice. Yes the overwater bungalow is pricey. I think mine was somewhere between $1100 and $1200 a night if I remember correctly. But it was amazing. Every morning just grab snorkel gear and jump right into the water. The first day we got there was a huge spotted manta ray swimming right under my bungalow. it was HUGE. It looked like a big polka dotted car going by. We had the glass viewing windows in the floor and in the tables so we watched all ther ocean life right under us, you could slide them open and fed the fish from the couch. Just jumping in the water and swimming around was some of the best snorkeling I have ever seen. The water under my hut in Bora Bora was deep probably 30 -40 feet or so so the fish were much bigger on average. Under my hut in Moorea it was a lot more shallow like 8-10 feet so the fish were typicially much smaller there. So be sure that if your GF likes the more shallow water you look into that. My wife was nervous in the deeper water and wishes our Bora Bora hut was in more shallow water. I cant figure out how to post pics otherwise I would put some (if you are interested) If so perhaps you could help me figure out how post images.
Also , You can have breakfast rowed out to you by boat and delivered by a very pretty tahitian women (at leaset in the Hilton) She would come in traditional French Polynesian garb and set it up on your sundeck. You could literally stay in your bungalow the whole vacation if you want privacy. If you want to interact with people you can go to the beach and the restaurants of course.
We actually ate at one restaurant not sure of the name (might have been Bloody Mary's) but when you walk in there is a big cooler in the front and it has all the fish they caught that day. When you walk in you choose the exact fish you want and how you want it prepared. Then when the cooler is empty the restaurant closes. It really opitomizes the term "fresh" fish. You should check it out if you go.
JimJohnson
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Sounds amazing brother. I think I'm 99% doing it. I can't take my money with me so may as well.
I can understand the shallow vs. deep water debate. It looks peaceful but I've seen some areas where sharks are swimming freely around? So I guess they don't care about people?
Sunbiz1
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How bout' a 1 way ticket to Midway island?...I'll buy.
vincentvega
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I agree 100%. I got married and spent a week in Aruba so people thought I was nuts for then going to Tahiti for 18 days. But it was well worth it just for the memories.
There was a place we went called sting ray alley (don't remember if it was in Bora Bora or Moorea) it is a sand bar out in the middle of the water. There were about 50 stingrays swimming with us and right on the side of the sandbar there were about 200 black tip sharks swimming around because of the food we were feeding the stingrays. They didn't seem scared at all but they also didn't really come close or interact with the people like the rays. It was wild being so close to so many sharks at once!!
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JimJohnson
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7th most dangerous shark in the world - http://www.top10stop.com/world/top-...illing-sharks-oceans-most-agressive-predators
Did you see any sharks/rays near your overwater bungalow?
FatBabiesHaveNoPride
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Everything he said.
We did the reverse. First 5 in Bora Bora, second 5 in Moorea.
Stayed in the overwater bungalows with the glass floors at the Le Meridian. Literally the most beautiful thing you will see on this planet
But also very expensive!
Moorea was a let down after Bora Bora.
Just so know, it's zero nightlife. All about nature and water sports. You'll be up at 6, asleep by 9:30!
We met a couple that did a cool trip - 5 days in bora bora and then 4 in Maui on the way back. Great 'best of both worlds'
FatBabiesHaveNoPride
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We didn't see sharks but tons of fish. If you know fish, think raccoon butterflies, yellow and blue hepatus tanga and tons of anthias and trumpetfish
Also, you MUST do the Lagoonarium
Google it. Incredible experience. The Tahitian guides literally hook you under the arm and hold your wrist. Then they dive straight down and 'catch' a black tip reef shark. You literally pet a damn reef shark 10 feet under water!
Incredible!
Oh and do not eat out every meal. You'll go broke! For lunches when you are out on excursion, hit the 'magasins' - stores - and get some cheese, fruit and a baguette
JimJohnson
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Gonna need my Go Pro cam for that!!!
vincentvega
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My wife actually liked Moorea better but solely because of how deep the water was under our bungalow. She really wouldn't swim off the deck. She would only go in at on the beach. But agree bora bora was the better island.
Forgot to mention about the night life, probably because there isn't one. It's excursions swimming and food.
That's a great idea on the way back. I did two nights in Beverley hills on the way out (otherwise it's really far from NY) and we did all our "partying" there...
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vincentvega
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Definitely! If you have an underwater camera you will film stuff that is the most amazing underwater footage you have ever seen...
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FatBabiesHaveNoPride
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P
Every bar in every tropical location tells that same story!
Bloodys is also the one with the sand floors and you put your shoes in the cubby.
When we were there, Tara Reid (pre crazy) was eating two tables over from us.
Like every 'tropical restaurant' Bloodys is owned by a former NY stockbroker who came down on vacation and 'decided not to leave'
Every bar in every tropical location tells that same story!
Bloodys is also the one with the sand floors and you put your shoes in the cubby.
When we were there, Tara Reid (pre crazy) was eating two tables over from us.
FatBabiesHaveNoPride
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We went before go pro existed. Just the disposable underwater cameras. Couldn't imagine the pics we'd get with go pros
Oh and for the people there. It's French Polynesia so you get equal mix of French tourists (we went in August when Europe shuts down), Japanese and American honeymooners
The Tahitian guides are the best. They spend equal amounts of time playfully hitting on the female honeymooners and making fun of the Japanese people doing a 'camera' motion thing
Just go. You'll take the memories with you to your deathbed. In addition to the water stufff, do the island 4x4 excursion. You will see all the homes and how Tahitians really live and the most amazing colors of birds and plants. Shit like the movie 'Up'.
But must stay on a resort on the motu. Not on the main island.
JimJohnson
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Did you ever see any of the female honeymooners sneaking off in the middle of the night?
vincentvega
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Agreed 100%. on all counts.
The 4X4 excursion was amazing! When you went did they take you up to the little hut where they hand paint the wraps? On the whole ride up our driver kept stopping to grab different fruit off of the trees and when we got up to the hut he picked a palm leaf off a tree and cut up all the fruit and made the most amazing fruit salad I ever had. The grapefruit is literally green and so sweet that the natives sometime sprinkle salt on it to take the sweetness out. Because of the nutrient rich volcanic soil the fruits on the entire island were unbelievable.
It is literally the garden of eden and there are very few places on the planet as unspoiled as Bora Bora.
Fatbabies did you do the jetski around the island?
The 4X4 excursion was amazing! When you went did they take you up to the little hut where they hand paint the wraps? On the whole ride up our driver kept stopping to grab different fruit off of the trees and when we got up to the hut he picked a palm leaf off a tree and cut up all the fruit and made the most amazing fruit salad I ever had. The grapefruit is literally green and so sweet that the natives sometime sprinkle salt on it to take the sweetness out. Because of the nutrient rich volcanic soil the fruits on the entire island were unbelievable.
It is literally the garden of eden and there are very few places on the planet as unspoiled as Bora Bora.
Fatbabies did you do the jetski around the island?