Bora Bora - insider tips

I thought it would be a good idea to share a few of the local customs - they are unique and interesting! :)

In the late afternoons during the hotter season, you may see smoke on the motus (small islands surrounding Bora Bora) and on the island itself. Locals burn coconut shells to chase away the mosquitos at night.

While touring the island you may see palm trees with metal rings around them - it's to keep the rats from getting to the coconuts. :)


And probably the most interesting of all - tiare flowers. When a woman wears a flower behind:

• Her right ear - she is single, available and looking
  
• Her left ear - she is married, engaged or otherwise taken
  
  
• I don't endorse the following:
  
• Both ears - she is married but still available
  
• Backward behind both ears - anything goes
  

Bora Bora - feeding frenzy

One of my favorite parts of traveling is the FOOD! Oh how I love thee.

So, my top pick for good grub is Bloody Mary's. It's definitely the most frequented by Americans while on the island. Picture a thatch roof, white sandy floor and "chairs" made of coconut stumps - it's a one-of-a-kind. They offer (and I recommend ordering) a "catch of the day" everyday execpt Sunday (think monkfish, tuna, swordfish, lobster, etc.). The proudly display it on ice when you enter and it's very fresh and delicious. It comes with salad, rice and vegetables - it's a done deal! I would also highly recommend trying a Bloody Mary - the house specialty. If it's not your thing, go for a margarita. :) Be sure to inquire at your hotel about complimentary dinner transportation, they offer that to several hotels. I must say - it is on the pricier side but definitely worth the experience. I would say dinner for two with drinks is going to run somewhere in the realm of $100-$150. But if you can, definitely stop in and check it out! **PS - some of the packages offered by travel companies include vouchers for Bloody Mary's so if you book a package, be sure to ask what they have available because it could be free!

Since I'm not one to pass up sweets, I would suggest a stop at L'Appetisserie in Vaitape (the village on the island). This great little pastry shop offers cakes, sorbet, ice cream, homemade croissants and quiches. It's delicious and under $10. Additionally, there are fruit stands in the village that are just what you would picture - locals with fresh fruit at a very reasonable price (think pineapple, mango, papaya and melon).



Inquire at your hotel about the shows they may offer. This can be a very fun island experience and they are usually pretty intimate since the resorts are typically somewhat small and not everyone goes to a show every night. They include dinner and sometimes they even give guests a taste of their 15 minutes of fame by bringing them up on stage to participate! :)

Bora Bora - rest your head

This week I've been researching all of the fantastic places to stay on the island - what a rough life! ;)

Here are my picks for "affordable" (and I put that in quotes since it's very relative) and a touch of luxury. There are many in between that would be great options but I figured these will help to separate the pack. Since I always travel on a budget, my focus will always be on the more affordable options but it is fun to explore what the other half experiences!

Low-end but still very nice, Le Maitai - I'd say it's about 3 stars or so. It's definitely the most affordable option on the island. The overwater bungalows (what Bora Bora is famous for) are around $650. If you aren't heart-set on staying out in the lagoon, then the island rooms at the hotel are only about $250. They also have a nice compromise - beach bungalows (about $475), they are right on the beach and offer great views. They are the next best thing to an overwater bungalow and can be a bit more private. Any of these will provide a beautiful view so it's just a matter of weighing the type of experience you want. Personally, I would go for one of the bungalows (probably the overwater) since it's one of those things that is so unique that it warrants the extra spending (make sure to research that they are - in fact over the water, some are half on the land and what's the fun in that?!). If you choose the bungalow option too, I would recommend looking into markets near your hotel to stock up on bread, cheese, fruit, etc. and make your own little picnics. You can splurge on a delicious dinner or relaxing massage and know that you aren't breaking the bank. Another point of note - alcohol is not cheap there! Depending on how thrifty you want to be, you may want to pick up alcohol before you leave to bring on your trip with you for drinking in your room and purchase mixers when you arrive. To give an idea, a bottle of Jack Daniels is about $20-$25 here and is around $65 there. A six-pack of beer is around $5 or so here - around $20 there. Just something to prepare for. :)

On the luxury side, I'd recommend Hotel Bora Bora. Although you can also choose from St. Regis, Starwood and Le Meridien...I really love the amenities and beauty of Hotel Bora Bora. Seeing as how it's the high-end pick, the rate for the over water bungalows is around $1100.

Personally, because I'm not in a position to spend a fortune on vacations but love the idea of experiencing new places - I'd go with Le Maitai...the way I look at it, the money saved can pay for even better meals, wine and fun excursions like a catamaran or water safari. :)

Bora Bora - get out

While many people enjoy lounging (I'm definitely like that on some vacations), I know others are excited to try new activities and I thought it would be helpful to look into as many options as possible to make sure everyone can have the best trip at their own speed. :)
Here's the main activities to choose from:

• sun bathing (one of my personal faves) - try Matira Beach, it's the island's best sandy beach
  
• scuba diving - best lagoon spots are Too Pua, Anau (good for spotting rays), Toopua Iti and Mute Motu (near the airport); best ocean spots are Tapu, Tipitipiti and Muri Muri
  
• sailing - available for rent
  
• snorkeling - the marine reserve at Hotel Bora Bora is great for snorkeling
  
• windsurfing - quite a workout!
  
• jet skiing - available for rent
  
• waterskiing and wakeboarding - you'll need to rent a boat for these
  
• swimming - if you are staying in an over water bungalow...just climb down the stairs outside your door and slip right into the water!
  
• deep sea fishing - offering catches of marlin, wahoo, yellowfin, tuna, sailifish and mahi mahi
  
• glass bottom boat tours - available to book through your hotel
  
• safari mountain excursions and hiking - available to book through your hotel
  
• parasailing - provides an incredible view of the lagoon
  

The list goes on...But the most popular activity is shark feeding. Many may be a little aprehensive with this but it's a long-standing tradition and thousands of tourists experience it there every year. It's actually a very interesting technique - the guides use a rope to tie off an area for the guests in the water. Sometimes they will tie it to the boat, sometimes they will use the coral in the water and other times they will use rocks. The guides will get into the water alone with a good amount of (bloody) fish and once the fish are thrown into the water, it's seconds until the sharks arrive. The guide will signal you to get in when he knows it is safe and you are able to stay behind that rope in the water keeping a safe distance from the sharks but still close enough to see all of the action. There are also some guides that encourage you to swim with the sharks following the feeding. Although this usually doesn't last long since the sharks will typically swim away once they realize the food is gone. :) Additionally during this session you are also able to swim with, feed and pet rays. These rays are VERY large but very gentle and enjoy human contact. They are used to having people in the water with them and look forward to these feeding sessions. Your guides have developed "relationships" with both the sharks and the rays so you should feel very comfortable - focus on the incredible stories you'll have to tell when you get home! PS - definitely buy or rent an underwater camera, you'll be amazed at the pictures!

Bora Bora - yes yes!

My latest obsession has been Bora Bora and all of the islands of Tahiti. How can anyone not want to see this in person?! So this month, I will explore all of the fantastic opportunities that are available on this island paradise and share my new-found secrets with you!



First off, if you are planning a trip - I would highly recommend booking a package. As anyone can tell this isn't the cheapest of choices and when booking a package, it's much easier to save money when items are purchased together instead of individually bought. A few companies that specialize in packages are Tahiti Legends , Tahiti Travel Planners and e-Tahiti Travel but make sure to do some research before committing, many companies run deals and specials depending on the time of year!

It's also important to note that most people making this trip are on honeymoons or couples-only vacations. Although there are many activities that families can enjoy together, it's not a typical destination for kids. Additionally, if you are young and looking for nightlife...probably not the best choice. Since it's such a small island, there's not enough people to support bars/clubs. Travelers looking for a vibrant nightlife might have better luck on the island of Tahiti since it's bigger and more populated.