Tahiti Travel Forum

We are getting married in early April and are going to be spending our honeymoon in Tahiti. We are currently reviewing packages and had a quick question for the group. We can either do:

1. 2 nights in Tahiti (Intercontinental), 2 nights in Moorea (Pearl), and 5 nights in Bora Bora (Lagoon)...

or

2. 1 night in Tahiti, 3 nights in Moorea, and 5 nights in Bora Bora (same hotels).

We enjoy being active and exploring the absolute must-dos of the island. We are not scuba certified, and probably will not be at the time of the trip.

Should we spend two days in Tahiti? Thanks for your feedback!

It's been a long time since I went there and I can't imagine that Tahiti has gotten any better in the meantime. Definitely spend more time on Moorea and Bora Bora!

You don't tell us where you are from, so we don't know what time your flight would arrive in Tahiti. If it's in the middle of the night (common), then your single night would be spent without seeing anything. Without knowing this, I'd say spend 2 nights in Tahiti, add on an extra day to do 3 nights in Moorea, and then 5 nights in BB (or only do 4 nights in BB).

Tahiti is a mass traffic-jam in the downtown center of Papeete, although the open-air market is well worth visiting. You can take "les trucks" (open-air van-like vehicles) all over the island, although the further you go, the less their frequency. Worth seeing on Tahiti: lots, once outside Papeete. On the leeward west coast, there's the Lagoonarium, the Museum de Tahiti et ses Iles (good basic background on the islands), and the Gauguin Museum and Botanical Gardens down south. On the east side of the island, the wilder windward shore, there are great fresh water streams and waterfalls, and the monument to Captain Cook near the Intercontinental. A rental car would get you around the island in a full, long day.

Moorea has less to see, but is exceptionally beautiful with its high peaks, fine snorkeling along its reefs, an excellent drive up into the higher terrain above Cook's Bay and Oponuhu Bay, but also lots of tourist-junk shops.

Bora Bora is that classic postcard photo you see everywhere. You can have a nice over-the-water bungalow with a "glass" floor at an exorbitant price, but for a honeymoon, it's worth the splurge. Great snorkeling (try the reef pass if you are adventurous and want really BIG fish), a nice beach at Matira Point, good 4-WD drives up into the mountains, and bicycles for rent, which is a pleasant way to explore. Have a great time!

We have been to Tahiti twice and are currently planning our third trip. The first two times we went to Moorea, Bora Bora and spent a day in Tahiti. This time we are spending all of our time on Bora Bora. Papeete is a big city. Maybe outside the city is nice, but I think you get a better feel for Tahiti by spending more of your time on one of the smaller islands. Our favorite is Bora Bora and we are planning a wedding ceremony this time on Bora Bora. We have stayed both times and are planning this time to stay at Sofitel Motu in Bora Bora! It is truly Paradise.
Enjoy yourselves.
Nancy

I would spend less time on Tahiti as much as possible. There is not much to see on the island of Tahiti. If you arrive before to Papeete before 6PM, you can fly to Moorea so you can skip on night stay in Tahiti. If money is not a concern then stay in over-water bungalow. You would love it since you can snorkel straight from your bungalow. I have stayed at the Bora Bora Lagoon resort before and I love it. You don't have to buy their meal plan since it's expensive. The BBLR is on a motu, but you can take their ferry to the main island for more restaurant (although the restaurant on the main island is not as nice as on the resort but they are much cheaper). If you have a budget then you would want to stay on beach bungalow or hotel room on Moorea and then spend a few nights on a over-water bungalow on Bora Bora.

I have been to both Moorea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, and the island of Tahiti (drove around Tahiti for half a day), I love Rangiroa the most because of the its beauty and remoteness.

Enyoy your honeymoon. You will love French Polynesia.

I just came back from my honeymoon there. I made the Tahitian Princess cruise and was just great!! with enough time on each island stop to get to know most of it and snorkel, feed the sharks and rays! It is really a good option.

From there I spent 3 nights at the Intercontinental in Tahiti and it was awesome, but 3 nights was too much. Would have reduced to 2 nights if I knew.

2 nights in Moorea might be too much as well, maybe one night. 5 nights in Bora Bora would probably be better in 3 nights as the most.

Hope this helps.