How We Planned the Trip to Moorea and Bora Bora

TAKE ME BACK. Moorea & Bora Bora…I’ve had a few people asking me for the details, and it was just too long to put all in one Instagram caption. So if you’ve been wanting the info, this post is for you! Here’s a quick trip recap of our amazing vacation and how we planned the trip to Moorea and Bora Bora, what we did, what we ate, etc…

How We Planned the Trip: 

We’ve never used a travel agent, but I’ve heard that’s a great way to do it! Instead, we booked our trip through Costco Travel. We just can’t find the time to figure out all of the details ourselves, so using Costco Travel made it so much easier. Lots of customizing in one efficient phone call. They gave us a few hotel options with some packages that included dinners and some that didn’t. They figure out all the random legs of travel. No headache.

The General Plan: 

Our general itinerary was three nights on Moorea and four on Bora Bora. Absolutely loved both. I was actually worried we’d get bored on Bora Bora from some of the things we had heard, but we LOVED EVERY SECOND.

The package we chose included breakfast every day at the Sofitel on Moorea. While we were in Bora Bora, we had breakfast and a three-course dinner every night at the St. Regis. The breakfasts were both beautiful.😍

What We Did in Moorea: 

We stayed at the Sofitel in a bungalow (not over water). It was beautiful and had great AC, which was really important to me

…because outside it was HOT AND HUMID. I wasn’t fully prepared for just how hot it was going to be. Next time we’d go closer to our summer, which is their winter when it’s a little cooler and dryer. 

We did do a full-day snorkel tour with @captaintaina and loved it. We ESPECIALLY loved the lunch they make you off on a little private island. It was our first Poisson Cru and our favorite of all we tried!

When it comes to getting around the island, we didn’t plan to rent a car and it’s certainly not necessary. But it’s super affordable and easy.

It’s about $100 a day, which is about what a taxi would add up to if we went to the other side of the island, so we grabbed one the last full day. It allowed us to explore a little more. We checked out the Belvedere Lookout, did a very sweaty hike, found a new beach, and ate a yummy lunch at @snackmahana. It was definitely worth it for us. 

Where We Stayed in Bora Bora: 

In Bora Bora, we stayed at the St. Regis which was NEXT LEVEL. 

We’ve never stayed somewhere so nice with such amazing service! They have a special “butler” assigned to every villa who greets you off the boat taxi, gives you a tour of the property, and takes care of you the entire time. Like she’d find us on the beach or at breakfast to make sure we didn’t need anything. She saw that we hadn’t made any dinner reservations and made them all for us. 😱 Every single member of the staff was just SO warm and nice. We were blown away.

When it comes to the room, the over water bungalow is EVERYTHING. As gorgeous as Moorea was, it’s hardly fair to compare because we weren’t over the water there. This was HEAVEN. Ours was a one-bedroom deluxe room with a view of the mountain and the sunset. Room 227. I’d choose it every time. 😍😍😍 

And the water on Bora Bora is incredible because of the huge lagoon that’s protected by the reef. It’s an older island than Moorea, which means the island is slowly sinking while the coral reef is slowing rising, which creates this magnificent calm BLUEST OF BLUE water. The most clear, blue, pristine water to jump into every day with views that stop your heart. So dreamy. 

Getting Around in Bora Bora: 

St. Regis also has bikes outside of your villa for you to use all week. And it’s not just a cute little idea because they’re TOTALLY functional and everyone rides them everywhere. But you can also call for a ride to dinner (or anywhere) and they come pick you up in their golf carts. 🥰

In Moorea, you drive to experience local restaurants, but in Bora Bora, that’s only possible via a water taxi of some sort?? It’s definitely more difficult. There was a boat that went to the town once a day, but you had to go at 10:30 am and come back at 2:30 pm. It sounded like most people went to shop, which we weren’t interested in, so we didn’t make that one fit. 

What We Ate in Bora Bora: 

When it comes to what we ate in Bora Bora, we did eat dinner at the resort. It would’ve been pricey for sure if it wasn’t included in our price through Costco Travel! So keep that it mind if you’re planning on staying at St. Regis. 

We got a lot of recommendations to go to Bloody Mary for a meal, but it was closed! I was a little relieved since we had so much food available for us already at the resort. 😆

For a few of the restaurants that we did get to try, we really loved Bamboo. Bamboo was our favorite, followed by the Italian Place, and then the Basic Grill. Lagoon was beautiful, but too fancy and small for us. 🤷🏼‍♀️👍🏼

Activities in Bora Bora: 

For excursions, we did a half day snorkel tour with Reef Discovery. We loved the guides and charming lunch on the full day in Moorea, but the snorkeling in Bora Bora was WAY better IMO. A lot more freedom to explore and the MOST gorgeous coral garden with vibrant colorful clams and coral (other worldly!) I’ll dream of it. 

There were so many gorgeous fish, Eagle rays, and giant Manta rays. It was magical.

Ross also did a quick hour of jet boarding which he loved, and I’ll actually be craving the boat snack of fresh tropical bananas, grapefruit, and coconut 😍.

The excursions pick you up right at the resort boat dock. Everything feels so easy and luxurious. Zero stress. I’m gonna live ten more years now.

Trip Recap: How We Planned a Trip To Moorea and Bora Bora 

The only two negatives that I have to confess is that it was SUPER hot and humid. And I did get a ton of mosquito bites that drove me crazy. 

When we go back, I think we will go closer to our summer/their winter, when it should be a little cooler and dryer. 

It wasn’t the kind of vacation where I felt beautiful haha. You’re constantly in and out of the water and it wasn’t worth it to blow dry or do my hair for dinner when it would just get hit with hot, humid air. But I embraced the wet hair and no makeup and loved how the heat makes you LIVE in the water with no reservations 😂

… and even if it were always that hot, we cannot WAIT to go back.This might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. 

I hope that answers of all your questions–don’t hesitate to ask if I forgot something. Meanwhile, I’ll be dreaming of those beautiful blue waters!