Moorea and Bora Bora

[taemo]

I finally finished scanning and editing the pictures from our vacation in Moorea and Bora Bora and have decided to make a mini-guide for those planning on going there.
These islands are definitely one of the most beautiful places we've been to, Moorea has a Hawaii vibe to it but Bora Bora is on another level, just jaw-dropping water and resorts.

All the flights that goes to Tahiti from LA leaves at night, this is great if you can sleep on an economy seat as it's an 8 hour flight and when you land in Papeete it's 5AM.
As soon as we landed, we changed some of our canadian dollars, grabbed our small car rental (manual!) and drove to catch our ferry to Moorea.
Don't get Polynesian money in Canada or LA, better rate there, use credit card when you can.
There are car rentals in Moorea too but Papeete has more cars and cheaper rates.
You don't need a big expensive car to drive around, plus gas is incredibly expensive, it was around 300xpf/L which is around 4$/L. ($50 for half tank)
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our tiny Peaugot car

For the ferry to Moorea, you can't buy tickets until that day, not a problem for passengers but if you have a car, obviously space is limited
We arrived at 6am hoping to catch the 7am ferry but it was all full so we ended up taking the 9am instead.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5593/14070054413_b35542b807_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nrjGZ4)
our car on standby waiting for the ferry

We were planning on staying at the Legends Resort in Moorea but 2 months prior to our trip they emailed me saying that they were changing from hotel to time share business so I had to cancel the reservation and book with the InterContinental Hotel Resort & Spa which was across the Legends Resort.
No regrets though as the ICH Resort was great, we arrived at 11am, they welcomed us with cold pineapple juice and since I was an IHG member and our room was ready, they were able to check us in right away.
We decided not to stay at one of the over the water bungalow here since we were going to do that in Bora Bora already so we just grabbed one of the beach front rooms, handy since it was close to the reception/parking lot and restaurant.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14050668784_7a6692a981_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/npBmj5)
we stayed at one of the huts on the right, the huts that you see on the mountain behind is the Legends Resort.

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the resort pool

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the resort at dusk

We booked an ATV tour but they never came to pick us up, I saw where they were riding anyway, mostly public road
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up to the Belvedere Lookout to see this
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2929/14047006301_7c1c5cc5d7.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nphzzP)
and some of the pineapple plantation nearby, we accidentally drove there with our rental anyway, bumpy but free lol. It was raining and getting dark too making when we were driving around making it extra exciting.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2923/14046789612_82b0c0b91e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/npgtaN)
Opunohu Bay

We went to the Moorea Lagoonarium as it was rated highly on Tripavisor, even more than the Bora Bora lagoonarium
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/14046737651_f5c623960d.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/npgcHV)
amazing experience, lunch can be included for extra (delicious curry), you get your own resting hut and tons of fish, stingrays and shark to swim with
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nice view of Tahiti
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/14046774242_2425435889.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/npgoAN)
and Moorea too
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5241/14046778801_0c58a1cbc4.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/npgpXp)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/13921792862_530e180586.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nddPZq)

We drove around and checked out some of the public beaches where there were locals enjoying their sunday
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for our last sunrise, I decided to sneak into the Hilton hotel and take some shots from their over the water bungalows
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[SilverGS]

Sweet. May I ask how much your total cost was? 2 people?

[taemo]

We spent one night in Tahiti, wife stayed at the hotel most of the time, me on the other hand went for a walk checking out the streets but it was so hot that I didn't feel like taking pictures.
We went to check out the food trucks at night, lots of selection.. mostly chinese, pizza or french cuisine but it was inexpensive compared to restaurants, we ended up chatting with 2 older ladies from Colorado that were flying back home after 3 weeks (it was nice to converse in english after a couple of days of throwing random french words)

Then in the morning it was time to fly to Bora Bora, definitely a couples island as most people on the plane were couples.
Take note that flight to Bora Bora stops in Raiatea first, we made the mistake of unboarding the plane and chasing it afterwards lol
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us thinking we were in Bora Bora

The airport in Bora Bora is on a small island, so boats picks you up and take you to your resort which gives you a nice 30min scenic view of Bora Bora and the blue lagoon
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/14070108683_b6238fa4c2.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nrjZ7K)

We decided to stay at the Sofitel Private island because we wanted an over the water bungalow but still not too expensive ($600 vs $1000+), from what I've heard from others, the perks of those luxury restors are worth it, especially the guaranteed late check-out and other ammenities.
we had to fork at extra $200 so that we could stay at one of the garden rooms on our last day since our flight was at 7pm.
when booking, try to get one with meal or breakfast package, it will save you money.
it was nice that the hotel would restock up our fridge every day (water and fruit juice), there was a Heineken and Hinano beer can too, I drank them but they didn't restock it :(

the sofitel over the water bungalows at sunrise
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/13921907866_7b3f8a73bd.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ndeqbf)

view of the Bora Bora island from the Sofitel private island beach
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wilky way at 4am
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we rented a car in Bora Bora to drive around and check the only public beach in Bora Bora, Matira Beach which I thought was ok
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/14027534996_d4a25c2829.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nnyMrE)

since we didn't get windows seat on our flight to Bora Bora, I decided to book a 15min helicopter ride
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we also booked a snorkel tour which brought us to 4 spots.
Coral Garden - funny enough it's right behind the Sofitel Private island so I was able to go back to this whenever I felt like it
Swim with black tip sharks - small 3-4ft sharks
Reef - where small young corals were still growing
Manta/Eagle ray - very majestic seeing them fly under water
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THe over the water bungalow of ICH La Moana
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We had our last dinner at Bloody Mary which we thought was ok, when you first arrive, there's this lady that shows you what meat/fish/vegetable they have on a table and then you decide right there what you want to eat
http://s22.postimg.org/51pbjcfdp/photo.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/51pbjcfdp/)

[taemo]

Originally posted by SilverGS
Sweet. May I ask how much your total cost was? 2 people?

all in all for 2 nights in Moorea, 1 night in Papeete, 3 nights in Bora Bora, all activities, food (we tried not to eat out as much) our trip was around 12k I think

[flipstah]

DAMN IT, EARL.

Now I want to go there. :love:

[msommers]

Damn dude. Those are all fucking sweet shots.

[jdmXSI]

Damn, that place is beautiful!

[Mitsu3000gt]

Great shots. I especially like the ones from the bungalows and the helicopter.

[xnvy]

I was jelly when you put these on Instagram, now it hurts even more lol. Hurts so good.

[Eride]

Fantastic shots Earl, seriously great work!

[AudiPWR]

$6k/head for a 6 night vacation..

Wowzers!

Beautiful shots though.

[taemo]

thanks all
I ended up shooting more film than digital on this trip and I think on our next vacation it will be 70% film and 30% digital
the Xpan is just a perfect camera for travelling with the panoramic view


Originally posted by AudiPWR
$6k/head for a 6 night vacation..

Wowzers!

Beautiful shots though.
1/3 of that cost was the flight
at first I didn't want to go either but I ended up loving the place, very relaxed and polynesian lifestyle and locals were super friendly.
we also spent 3 nights in LA

[AndrewMZ3]

Amazing shots. Did Moorea and Bora Bora last year and these shots brought back some good memories. Thanks for sharing!

[max_boost]

Oh damn. Thanks for sharing. Paradise.

[kvg]

After seeing all your pictures and how much you said you liked it, it's on my bucket list:thumbsup:

[nickyh]

Wow, amazing pictures. Thanks for sharing.
I love the shot of the milky way and the helicopter ride.

Now on my bucket list.

[shakalaka]

Wow Bora Bora is one of my dream places to visit. I've always said that's where I am going for my honeymoon. Now we'll see if that actually happens when the time comes. Awesome pictures!

[GQBalla]

Nice pictures earl. Thanks for the invite. I could have carried your bags.

[SilverGS]

Originally posted by taemo


all in all for 2 nights in Moorea, 1 night in Papeete, 3 nights in Bora Bora, all activities, food (we tried not to eat out as much) our trip was around 12k I think

Thanks.

Those pics make me so want to go there. But I am thinking I am a long way from being able to go unless I leave the kids at home and tell them no more college fund lol.

[Tik-Tok]

There must be something wrong with me, all I can think of is...


http://www.gamerzguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/dead-island-packshot-ps3-2D-esrb1.jpg

[taemo]

Originally posted by SilverGS


Thanks.

Those pics make me so want to go there. But I am thinking I am a long way from being able to go unless I leave the kids at home and tell them no more college fund lol.

yeah lol, only reason why we went know before we decide on having kids

you could go fiji, raratonga, samoa though, cheaper than french polynesia, especially bora bora
we are thinking of doing fiji next


Originally posted by Tik-Tok
There must be something wrong with me, all I can think of is...
http://www.gamerzguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/dead-island-packshot-ps3-2D-esrb1.jpg
lol dead island is more Caribbean, Mexico to me with those resort places.