Index
Day 1: Flying
Day 2: Arrival
Day 3: Lagoon
Day 4: Polynesian Night
Day 5: Sun and rain
Day 6: Beach morning
Day 7: Sunsets
Bora Bora
Early morning arrival at Faa'a International Airport in Tahiti meant decent temperatures and great views of the tarmac via air stairs, since they don't use jetbridges here. Then had the cheapest meal of the entire trip, the very meh McMuffin Massive meal, which I think adds a second very thin beef patty as well as a single very thin piece of ham to the regular McMuffin. This sure beat the airport's domestic terminal food options at least, not to mention the minor detail that I had completely skipped food on the flight over.
Another tarmac boarding, sighted what I think was a French Air Force Airbus CN-235 not too far from the Air Tahiti ATR 72-600 I was boarding, and then it was off to Raiatea. A 135 mile flight from PPT-RFP, then a very quick layover at Raiatea's downright tiny airport, and a final 27 mile hop over to Bora Bora. All the hotels on the island have little stands and greeters ready as you wait for your luggage, and their boats are tied to the dock right outside the door. Combined with cold scented towels as you pull away from the dock and flower leis, plus a horn blower on arrival in traditional dress, it's very much an experience from the moment you arrive.
To my surprise breakfast was offered the first day, and in what would be an ongoing theme, it was adequate enough to not disappoint, yet still decidedly meh considering just how much you pay for everything in Bora Bora. Daily items would include various fruits, breads, pastries, french toast, salad, cheese, smoked fish, tuna sashimi, Tahitian poisson cru, made-to-order eggs and made-to-order porridge, plus a selection of hot food items. Apparently there were only two variations of hot food, the first with pork dumplings, pork sausage, I think it was crepes and also steamed veggies. The other was veggie dumplings, chicken sausage, and I think glass noodles? Maybe a few other things, but not much.
Around lunch our overwater villa was finally ready. The Overwater Deluxe villas have an island view rather than a lagoon view of the cheaper Overwater Superior villas, which was worth the minor price difference. If you walked all the way out onto the deck you could actually get a view of Mount Otemanu, which is Bora Bora's claim to fame as far as backdrops, and villas are well-designed for privacy while you sunbathe. The bathroom is also massive and the glass viewing windows in the floor are kind of cool.
Lunch at the bar was pretty undistinguished, with the shrimp in the salad being (unexpectedly) deep fried, the coconut and papaya dessert was a dessert and not a fruit plate (oops)... and dinner was similar in its disappointment. Bamboo, the Asian-style restaurant at the St. Regis, was around $65 or $70 a plate for disappointingly small amounts of food. I think we assessed the steak at around 4oz. Despite being warned how expensive food was, this was still a serious what the heck.
To be fair, you are here for the views, and we immediately started appreciating just how awesome they are here.