Advice on timing first trip to Bora Bora

by Becky
(Minnesota)

We tried to take a trip of a lifetime to Bora Bora several years ago in Feburary and had to cancel literally on our way there because of a horrible tropical cyclone/hurricane...we were devastated, and barely were able to get our money back.

I am turning 40 in November and we are thinking about giving it another go....we would be travelling around Nov 10-17th....what do you think our chances are of having good weather!?!? I don't want to have a second near disaster this time...

Becky

Bora Bora Island Guide's response:
Hi Becky,

We appreciate how disappointing it must have been to have to cancel your vacation to this beautiful island. Hurricanes are extremely rare in Bora Bora. However, February is one of the wettest months so storms are more likely to occur.

As you will see from our weather pages, there is a pattern of a wet season and dry season in Bora Bora. However, in the tropics, there is no guarantee of when rain will fall. At any time of year, you can have a passing shower (often with rainbows), and then the sun comes out and makes everything sparkling. Or you can have an entire week with blue sky.

We have experienced sunny holidays in the wet season and we've know it to rain for five days in August, when it is not supposed to rain at all!

November is leading into the beginning of the wet season. But I have had 3 vacations in November (my birthday is in November too!) with beautiful weather. The earlier in November is generally better.

A good thing about this time of year is the trade winds aren't blowing like they do in the drier months of July and August. The air and the lagoon is warmer. There are less tourists and the costs of accommodation is lower. I personally love November in Bora Bora.

If you do decide to go, I wish you lovely November weather.

Exchanging money

by Neil
(Australia)

Hi,
Would I be better off exchanging money in Australia or wait until I get to Papeete for a better rate?

Bora Bora Island Guide's Response:

Hi Neil,
It's a great question, we went through that process ourselves. We have been advised that you will get a better rate exchanging in Tahiti, and this is the most practical thing to do also.

Finding a place to exchange for French Pacific Franks in Australia is a little difficult. And don't bother exchanging in New Zealand on the way through, as it will have to be changed through two currencies!

There are banks at Papeete Airport, but they may be closed if you arrive on a night flight. We have used the automatic exchange machine that is located in the Airport next to the pearl shop. It is available 24 hours. You simply feed it Australian dollars (or whatever currency you have) and it will give you Francs.

Probably the best way to get Pacific Franks is to use your ATM card to withdraw money from an ATM at the Airport. You can get out what you need as you go, don't have to worry about carrying around extra, or be left with Franks at the end. ATM withdrawal is the easiest way to get money throughout your entire trip in Tahiti and her islands.

We found our Australian debit cards always worked at the Banque de Tahiti (easily identified by the pretty blue flower) after we were unable to withdraw cash at two other banks.

Enjoy your time in paradise!

Is Bora Bora wheelchair accessible?

Bora Bora Island Guide's Response:

Yes, there's a variety of wheelchair accessible rooms available at the Bora Bora resorts. The newer, luxury resorts will have the best amenities for you. Their design includes immaculate, easy to navigate pathways, that link all buildings in the resort.

We visited a wheelchair accessible 'room' at Le Meridien on our last visit to Bora Bora. It was a beautiful over water bungalow room that was located closest to the shore line with well set up amenities.

Intercontinental Le Moana is a good choice if you are wanting to spend more time on the main island. They have wheelchair accessible beach bungalows. The Hilton Nui also has accessible rooms but its all day restaurant does have a sand floor. The Pearl beach Resort also offers accessible over water bungalows.

Flying into Tahiti, the international airlines have chair lifts they use to help you down the stairs of the plane. The small inter-island carrier, Air Tahiti also has a chair lift to board and disembark the plane.

Just be aware that to travel from the airport to the main island, and the resorts on a motu, you will have transport by shuttle boat. Boat is one of the main forms of transportation on Bora Bora.

If you visit the main town of Vaitape you will find the area fairly easy to get around. However many of the shops will not have wheelchair accessible ramps as this is a very small island. The facilities in town are not subject to the standards that have been implemented back home. In general, the roads do not have footpaths and paving surfaces can vary.

Getting a taxi around the main island may require a little more thought than usual as the type of vehicles they use varies from driver to driver. There are plenty of larger buses and shuttles that are wheelchair accessible and can be pre-booked by your resort when you need one.

If you want to visit some restaurants on the main island, try Fare Manuia or La Bounty or for casual dining Aloe cafe. Bloody Mary's and Kaina Hut have sand floors.

Tahiti Cruise lines have special provisions to get you on board and will prioritize your needs and comfort. Moving around the ship with be smooth and there are lifts between levels. This would be such an easy way for you to travel around the islands of Tahiti.

We hope to see you in Paradise soon :-)

Travel from Pakistan to Bora Bora

by Atif
(Pakistan)

Hi, I'm a Pakistani passport holder.Do I need visa to visit Bora Bora? And where can I apply for this visa? From where can I get a flight to Bora Bora?

Bora Bora Island Guide's Response:

Hi Atif,
A Tahiti tourist visa is required for citizens of Pakistan. Usually you would apply in person at the nearest Consulate of Tahiti. As there is not a Consulate of Tahiti in Pakistan, you will need to contact the Consulate of France in Pakistan to request specific entry requirements to French Polynesia. Here is the contact information for them:

Consulate of France in Pakistan
Diplomatic Enclave G5
GPO Box 1068
Islamabad
Pakistan
Phone:+92-51-201-1563
Fax:+92-51-201-1560
Email: visas.islamabad-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Website URL: http://www.ambafrance-pk.org/

To get to Bora Bora from Pakistan, you have a choice of flight itineraries. You can either fly to France and get a Air France flight to Tahiti via Los Angeles. Or you can fly to Japan and then take a Air Tahiti Nui flight to Tahiti. A third option is to fly to New Zealand and then take a Air Tahiti Nui or Air New Zealand flight to Tahiti.

From Tahiti you fly with Air Tahiti to Bora Bora.

Compare prices, flying hours and connection times to get your best way to come to Bora Bora.

Let us know which way works out best!
We hope to see you in Paradise in the future!

How much in advance can I reserve?

by Melissa
(USA)

If I reserve in 2011, would the prices increase in the upcoming year (2012)?
or would they stay the same?


Bora Bora Island Guide's reply:
Booking ahead is highly recommended as you get the 'advance purchase rate' at the resorts. If you find a good deal online, or book through a good travel agent, you should be able to have breakfast and maybe even dinner included in your room rate as a bonus for booking ahead! This is a big saving.

The resorts vary their room rates according to the season. If you are going during high season you will need to book further ahead (at least 6 months) and will pay higher rates than in low season. (You can find more about high/low and shoulder seasons on the weather page www.boraboraislandguide.com/bora-bora-weather.html)

On my last trip to Bora Bora the resort rate was actually less than some of my previous years trips. So the cost doesn't automatically go up each year. It fluctuates over the higher/lower demand times.

In saying that, I know that some of the pensions (small family-run guest houses) on Bora Bora are increasing their rates for 2012.

Bora Bora brochures by mail

by Khristina
(Texas)

Can I get some information and brochures by mail?

Bora Bora Island Guide's response:

Hi Khristina,

If you are wanting a brochure mailed out to you, Tahiti Tourism have a great Tahiti vacation guide that also includes Bora Bora information. If you fill out the form on this page they will mail you a copy.

Happy vacation planning!

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