PART ONE
If you want your bank balance to scream at you, then go ahead and plan a vacation in Bora Bora. Trust me, it’ll give your wallet a heart attack!
The past couple of years have been eventful for my husband and me as we both hit some milestone birthdays that called for celebration. When my big birthday, let’s call it “the important decade,” came around, we decided to spend two weeks in Bali. But my husband had his heart set on Bora Bora for his birthday because it was on his bucket list.
I was initially on board with the idea until I discovered the astronomical cost involved. So, being the sensible person that I am, I tried my best to talk him out of it. I suggested destinations like Thailand or Fiji because they were more “friendly” to our bank balance. But no, he was stubbornly determined to go to Bora Bora. So, I took on my husbandly duty and started planning. We settled for just 4 nights in Bora Bora after realizing that a “modest” overwater bungalow at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa was going to set us back a whopping $2500 AUD per night. The rest of our time would be spent in different areas of Tahiti.
Bora Bora travel facts from Melbourne
Now, let’s dive into some amusing Bora Bora travel facts from Melbourne.
Bora Bora is an island in French Polynesia, a collection of 118 islands spread over 2,000 kilometers. All flights to French Polynesia land in the most famous and largest island, Tahiti. Our flight from Melbourne to Tahiti took approximately 9 hours, with a ‘short’ transit in Auckland. We opted for Qantas because they had code-share flights with Air Tahiti, and let me tell you, their flight times were more “child-friendly” compared to the options offered by Air New Zealand (and much cheaper too!).
Our flight was scheduled to depart at 9:20 am, aiming to land in Auckland at 12:55 pm Melbourne time. But of course, life had other plans, and the flight was delayed. Now, that wouldn’t have been a problem if we didn’t have a tight 30-minute transfer for our next flight. With only 15 minutes to spare, we hustled our way onto the plane and took the walk of shame to our seats located at the back. Regardless, I highly recommend flying with Qantas because not only were the flights $4000 cheaper, but the departure times were also much more convenient. Believe me, arriving in Tahiti at 12:40 am with a sleepy child was not my idea of a good time!
Luggage misadventures and swimwear rescues
Hey, guess what? When you fly from Auckland to Tahiti, you get a sweet bonus: most people hop onto another flight to LA, leaving you with a shorter line at passport control and customs. Woohoo! But hold your excitement because our little victory dance was cut short when we discovered our luggage had taken a detour to who-knows-where, delaying our hotel check-in. Not cool, universe.
The good news was Air Tahiti, went above and beyond to reunite us with our wayward suitcases. They even played fairy godmother and sprinkled some nightwear “gift-bag”magic on us. And get this: they pumped $400 AUD into our credit card, giving us a license to shop for new clothes. Fortunately, I had the foresight to pack swimming gear and some spare underpants, so we could swim.
Te Mona Tahiti Resort: Where Balcony Views and Breakfast Bill Shocks Collide!
Let me tell you about our stay at Te Mona Tahiti Resort. First off, it’s just a short 9-minute taxi ride from the airport, which was a lifesaver for us parents with a little one. And speaking of lifesavers, the kitchenette in our room turned out to be a hero too.
But let me tell you about the view from our balcony. It was simply breathtaking! Picture this: I step out in the morning, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and voila! I’m greeted by the glorious sight of Tahiti’s neighboring island, Moorea. It was like having a postcard-worthy view just a few steps away. But the view was quickly spoilt as stomach growled, and let’s be honest, hunger always wins.
Off we went to the resort’s restaurant for breakfast. Now, I hate to burst your bubble, but it wasn’t anything to write home about. Last year’s breakfast spread in Ubud had me spoiled rotten. Here, it was all basic cereal, fruit, and a few cooked items like eggs. Not exactly a vegan paradise, if you catch my drift. And then came the moment of truth when the bill arrived. Brace yourselves. It was a staggering $136 AUD for breakfast! I had to double-check if they served golden eggs or something.
That’s when Google maps became my best friend. I embarked on a mission to find the nearest supermarket to stock up our kitchenette. It was like a culinary treasure hunt. Close to the resort, we stumbled upon a little store selling baguettes for a mere .60 cents AUD. Bargain! They had other imported goodies too, and let me tell you, it was a paradise for our wallets compared to the resort prices.
