On December 25, 2013, my parents surprised my sister and I with a scavenger hunt. At the end of the puzzle, we screamed with excitement. The pot of gold at the end of the maze was a trip to Bora Bora. We would leave on February, 14, 2014 (yes, Valentines Day). With so much excitement for what was ahead, none of us could have predicted the intimate memories that would accompany us long after we landed back in California.
For those of you who have already watched our YouTube video, you know that we stayed at both the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa and the St. Regis Bora Bora. They are both owned by the same person and both gave us an incredible experience that we will never forget. I know that many of you will be traveling and are looking for an explanation of which one we enjoyed better, so here we go...
The Hilton Bora Bora was magical. Nothing wrong about it. An amazingly friendly staff and plenty of activities. Later in our trip we decided to take a visit to the St. Regis for lunch. Upon our arrival, we were shocked by the ambiance of this resort. It was vibrant yet relaxed. The amenities at this resort go above and beyond. That night, we made the decision to move to the St. Regis the following morning. The Lagoonarium at the St. Regis is like swimming in a packed aquarium - perfect for those who are looking to go snorkeling. However, the rooms at the Hilton Bora Bora provide great snorkeling beneath your own bungalow, whereas the St. Regis waters are deeper and more suitable for jumping and diving. The food at the St. Regis is absolutely mouth-watering. I wish I could say the same about the Hilton. All in all, if I had to choose one, it would have to be the St. Regis.
Along the way, at both hotels, we met some of the most welcoming and sweetest people. The Hilton Bora Bora had such a friendly staff who would great us every morning, afternoon, and night. By the end of our stay, we were pretty much friends with everyone there. With much more people at the St. Regis we made a few friends that we know we will keep forever. In town, we ate at restaurants with fun waiters and even made friends with our go-to taxi driver - Teddy! We went to Bora Bora with the intention of relaxing and enjoying the serenity and vibrancy of French Polynesia. When we left, we realized that Bora Bora is more than what you see on magazine covers or Instagram. Bora Bora is immersed with culture and heritage. The people are proud of where they live and everyone is happy because, as they say, they live "simple lives". It is electrifying being around people who are always joyful.
Now as for my tips of advice to those who plan on traveling to Bora Bora...
- 1) Bring sunblock - the sun in Bora Bora is very strong and even on cloudy days, you will get burned.
- 2) Bring bugspray - we neglected this one night as we had cocktails next to a creek (a mosquitos hervana) and woke up the next morning with 25 bites that looked like welts.
- 3) Take the time to talk to locals and see what is like to live in Tahiti.
- 4) Learn a few words of French and Tahitian before your trip. We learned phrases while we were on vacation which not only allowed us to communicate with people much better, but it made them feel more comfortable as well. You will noticed that you will commonly be greeted with these words. For example:
In Tahitian: Ia Orana (yorana), Na na, and Maeva
For our favorite restaurants and activities...
- Bora Bora Yacht Club
- Te Pahu Restaurant at St. Regis Bora Bora
- Food Trucks in Vaitape
- Matira Jet Tours
- The Lagoonarium at St. Regis Bora Bora
- Hobie Catting with Tini at Hilton Bora Bora
- Tour around the main island with Teddy the taxi driver
For our photo compilation from our trip, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7vjW5GdELA
If you have any other questions please leave them down below and I will get back to them immediately. For those of you who have travel plans in the near future, have a safe flight and get ready for the time of your life!
All the best,
Kiana
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