Bora Bora bungalow stay

[floridababa]

Cruising to Bora Bora in April 2021 it does an overnight so want to spend the night in an over water bungalow. Don't know anything so need help. We tender and would like it not be too far from where ship is. 

Any ideas?

[pjules]

The Intercontinental  Le Moana is very easy to get to from the cruise ship dock. You can take the beach shuttle $5 p.p. each way, or take a private taxi. The other Intercontinental resort Bora Bora Thalasso can be accessed by a boat ride from Le Moana.  

[floridababa]

What about the Sofitel? 
I think intercontinental was booked

[Fletcher]

On 5/7/2020 at 10:58 PM, floridababa said:

What about the Sofitel? 
I think intercontinental was booked

 

The Sofitel Marara was undergoing badly needed renovations last year and it's uncertain if the refurb is complete.  Anyway, the hotel is old and cramped and lacks a decent view.  The Sofitel's offshore annexe, the so-called Private Island, is a better option because it has a nice view of the volcano and also has reasonable snorkelling.

 

If you really insist on venturing off the ship for just one night then consider the Pearl because it has the finest view and is slightly less of a rip-off than the Four Seasons and St Regis. 

 

Considering the time you will spend leaving the ship, checking in and out of the hotel, organising transfers, and considering the money you might spend (maybe $1500 for just one night inc. meals) it's probably better just to stay on the ship. 

[Petoonya]

On 5/11/2020 at 2:24 AM, Fletcher said:

Considering the time you will spend leaving the ship, checking in and out of the hotel, organising transfers, and considering the money you might spend (maybe $1500 for just one night inc. meals) it's probably better just to stay on the ship. 

 

If by chance you decide stay on the ship you can do a day visit stay at the Intercontinental Le Moana with lunch. It's on Matira Beach which is beautiful, and as Pjules has said it's only 5 min from Vaitape where the ship docks.

[Fletcher]

Consider the time you will spend at a resort.  Check-in will be at 3pm or later - efficiency is not a hallmark in French Polynesia.  Check-out will be at 10am and they are often efficient when they want you gone.  Getting to the hotel from the ship will take time and getting back ditto.  I just don't think it's worth it, especially if your OWB overlooks another OWB unless you pay top dollar for an end of pontoon suite.  And consider this - it rains a lot here, especially in the late afternoon, and April is still the wet season, so you go through all that hassle and expense and it just pours with rain all the time.   A no-brainer if you ask me.

Edited May 13, 2020 by Fletcher

[floridababa]

Now I'm confused what to do. We always talked about spending a night in a bungalow. I guess we have a lot to think about.

Thank you

[FlightMedic555]

Which cruise are you on?  

[Petoonya]

22 hours ago, floridababa said:

Now I'm confused what to do. We always talked about spending a night in a bungalow. I guess we have a lot to think about.

Thank you

FYI- I think if you had your heart set on staying in an overwater bungalow you should just do it so you can cross it off the bucket list. If you happen to be on the same Tahiti cruise I am in April 2021 (Oceania Regatta?) the ship's in BB on 4/5-6. Expedia has rates for OWB's that date from about $600-1000 depending on location at the Intercontinental Le Moana. Read reviews on Tripadvisor to get a flavor but think for a decent price it would have everything you want including a delightful beach and proximity to the pier. If you don't do it you'll always wonder.....

[Fletcher]

People need to consider the origins, economic purpose and the environmental consequences of the overwater bungalow.   I believe the first OWBs were constructed in 1961 at the Bali Hai Hotel on Moorea, closely followed by the OWBs at the legendary Hotel Bora Bora (where I stayed quite often in the 1980s and 1990s).  In both cases the OWBs were sensitively constructed and were no more than 10 in number.  

 

The OWB is not a traditional Polynesia living structure - regular cyclones make them unviable.  You only start to get OWB-style structures in Melanesia and SE Asia, never in Polynesia.  In places like Moorea and Bora Bora the idea was to increase the number of rooms and therefore the income of a hotel because most hotels occupy tiny parcels of land.  And because beaches on Moorea and Bora Bora are few and far between and not of world class quality the OWB allows people to simply drop into the ocean from your own private deck, bypassing the need for a beach.  Staying in one is really no big deal except for your bank balance.  (Take note, the most exclusive and expensive resort in FP, the Brando, does not have any OWBs because that keeps out the riff-raff). 

 

For many years the French Polynesian authorities banned hotel developments out on the motus where there were pristine reef systems as well as fine beaches.  Some of my most cherished travel memories are of taking a small boat out from the Hotel Bora Bora across the lagoon to spend the day idling around the motus.  Then hotels were suddenly allowed and the ghastly ranks of OWBs appeared, destroying much of the marine environment and compromising the beaches.  It has been an environmental disaster but a money-spinner. 

 

Until now.  The immediate to mid-future here is distinctly dubious - bad for cruise lines, bad for chain hotels, bad for local employment, great for the environment.  

Edited May 17, 2020 by Fletcher

[floridababa]

We are suppose to go on the Star Princess

Our beautiful trip on the Ruby Princess went bye bye

I'm not even excited since who knows what will happen

Thank you all for the advice.

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

For what it's worth the easiest access to a resort on Bora Bora with a nice OWB is the Conrad Hilton. You can get off the tender, ealk about 75 feet and get on the private boat shuttle to the Hilton. 

 

Not even going to go into argument about the OWB's but the fact is they are part of the make up of Bora Bora. 

 

The Le Moana is a nice option as well ... have been to both. Live your dream  ... just do it 😉

 

FYI ... the OWB was first introduced in 1967 by the Bali Hai Boys on the island of Raiatea.

Edited May 22, 2020 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[Fletcher]

5 hours ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

FYI ... the OWB was first introduced in 1967 by the Bali Hai Boys on the island of Raiatea.

 Oh yes, I had forgotten about the Bali Hai on Raiatea.  That hotel has undergone several ownership changes, a major fire and I think it's now closed - well before the Covid crisis.  Raiatea is a wonderful island to visit with a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  I append a screenshot which shows the most recent layout of the Pearl with 9 OWBs and also the 3 original OWBs which are really adjoining the land and hanging over the water.   They are not on a pontoon which was first developed at the Bali Hai Moorea.

 

Edited May 22, 2020 by Fletcher

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

6 hours ago, Fletcher said:

 

 

From Tahiti Tourisme:

 

"The overwater bungalow was invented by three Californian men, Hugh Kelley, Muk McCallum and Jay Carlisle, known as the Bali Hai Boys, who had moved to The Islands of Tahiti in the 1960s. They opened hotels on both Moorea and Raiatea, and the fact that Raiatea had no sandy beach inspired them to build bungalows over the water to give guests direct access to the reef-protected lagoon. In 1967, the first three overwater bungalows were built at the Bali Hai Hotel on Raiatea, followed by the overwater bungalows on Moorea and at Hotel Bora Bora."

 

I might add that Muk told me himself that the first OWB was on Raiatea 😉

 

I was fortunate to have enjoyed the Bali Hai on Moorea ... a memorable Saturday night. I was saddened when the land was cleared for the Pearl Beach ... 

[flamingo lover]

We are suppose to go on the Star Princess
Our beautiful trip on the Ruby Princess went bye bye
I'm not even excited since who knows what will happen
Thank you all for the advice.

I feel the same way about our Aegean Adriatic cruise that was cancelled
My heart not in it anymore
Planning South Pacific now
Hope it is a go



Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Petoonya]

43 minutes ago, flamingo lover said:

I feel the same way about our Aegean Adriatic cruise that was cancelled
My heart not in it anymore
Planning South Pacific now
Hope it is a go.

Hope you're checking Windstar Wind Spirit if you can tolerate a small ship without the shows, casino etc. Dining and service and the beauty of sailing is their hallmark. The prices right now are sooooo fantastic but due to that they're selling out quickly.

Your heart will be back into cruising when you plan a Tahiti cruise. Best wishes.

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

Or there is the M/S Paul Gauguin .... small enough to be very personal and friendly but large enough for a few shows especially Polynesian nights, a small casino, small pool and everything is inclusive on-board. 320 lucky passengers ......

 

You fall in love with the small ship because of the crew  .... but the food is great as well plus your enjoying paradise. 

Edited June 7, 2020 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[Petoonya]

@Tahitianbigkahuna

We should be paid for our commercials for Windstar and Paul Gauguin.

 

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

HA HA HA HA .... I just wanted people to know there is a better choice than Windstar 😁

The M/S Paul Gauguin .... sits on the top of the list .... nobody does FP like PG.

 

I wouldn't want to go to FP knowing I could of had the best but settled for 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th  ... you know I'm just having fun .... or am I 🙄

Edited June 7, 2020 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[Petoonya]

@Tahitianbigkahuna

Well......going to differ with you as much as I enjoy your company!`

You haven't done Wind Spirit yet. When you do come back here and tell me "nobody does FP like PG".

I've done PG- now's your time to belly up to the bar!

And you know I'm just having fun too....or am I?

😇

 

[Fletcher]

The PG and Windstar cruises don't interest me that much, although I'd rather sail with them than with people like Princess and Oceania.  This is the sort of cruise that I would take if I felt it had the slightest chance of sailing -

 

https://uk.ponant.com/oceania-pacific-islands-polynesia-the-austral-islands-bora-bora-b101020-11

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

11 hours ago, Fletcher said:

The PG and Windstar cruises don't interest me that much, although I'd rather sail with them than with people like Princess and Oceania.  This is the sort of cruise that I would take if I felt it had the slightest chance of sailing -

 

https://uk.ponant.com/oceania-pacific-islands-polynesia-the-austral-islands-bora-bora-b101020-11

 

Fletch  .... there will be many more new itineraries offered by Paul Gauguin once the 2 new ships are built (2022). They are the explorer class ship that Ponant uses, around 250 passengers. I would think the PG will be used for the 'bread and butter' itineraries (Society, Atolls, Cooks) and the new ships will be used for higher end  .... off the beaten trek itineraries  ... haven't been told that directly but it would make sense.

 

But for many Windstar and Paul Gauguin are great choices. Prices are good, and smaller ships. 

 

 

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

16 hours ago, Petoonya said:

@Tahitianbigkahuna

Well......going to differ with you as much as I enjoy your company!`

You haven't done Wind Spirit yet. When you do come back here and tell me "nobody does FP like PG".

I've done PG- now's your time to belly up to the bar!

And you know I'm just having fun too....or am I?

😇

 

 

I simply say what is well known  ... The PG routinely wins the best small ship award, all inclusive and the largest percentage of crew members who have been on-board for more than 10 years. The PG crew is tops .... no one comes close.  

[Petoonya]

32 minutes ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

I simply say what is well known  ... The PG routinely wins the best small ship award, all inclusive and the largest percentage of crew members who have been on-board for more than 10 years. The PG crew is tops .... no one comes close.  

 

Whatever. I've been on both lines and prefer WS. Maybe someday you'll do WS too. My friend has sailed both WS, PG and also Crystal Tahiti. She far prefers Crystal. Maybe you and I would too. You don't know till you try something. WS suits the person I am as PG suits the person you are. Only as far as we know.

 

Who knows- you might become a WS person too if you tried it😉

 

 

Edited June 11, 2020 by Petoonya

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

10 minutes ago, Petoonya said:

 

Whatever. I've been on both lines and prefer WS. Maybe someday you'll do WS too. My friend has sailed both WS, PG and also Crystal Tahiti. She far prefers Crystal. Maybe you and I would too. You don't know till you try something. WS suits the person I am as PG suits the person you are. Only as far as we know.

 

Who knows- you might become a WS person too if you tried it😉

 

 

 

View the attachments ... all from last year ... need I say more 😉