Our Kids Travel: Bora Bora

Showing posts with label Bora Bora. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

What You Should Know Before Traveling to Bora Bora

Our trip to Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti

You do not need to bring shampoo, conditioner or body wash. Save the room in your luggage, especially since the weight restrictions on luggage is so carefully monitored on the smaller planes, like Air Tahiti. The resorts gave me new ones every day. I left a note for extra conditioner since my hair is so long, so everyday I also received multiple conditioners.

Bring your own water shoes. Most areas we encountered coral in the ocean. I have read way too many reviews where someone cut there foot on the coral and it ruined their trip. Apparently there is also a coral looking fish that will ruin your day if touched.

If you go in French Polynesia's summer season, be aware that a mossy seaweed can grow on the ladders from the bungalow to the lagoon. The resorts try to keep this to a minimum, but it's just the season for it. If you come in contact with it, it can cause an unpleasant rash. Be prepared and pack a lotion for the rash, or maybe benadryl. It happened to me on day 2. Luckily it went away on it's own and was never bothersome, just strange looking when I was trying to look all cute in my swimsuit.

If you cannot splurge on a spa treatment, ask about day pass rates. At the Intercontinental Thalasso you can get a day pass for $35 or $50 with the steam room. My husband was able to get the pass and spend the whole day at the spa with me using the many amenities. I would highly recommend spending one day at the spa. The views here are the best at the resort.

Use the correct credit cards! For instance, use the Chase IHG card at the Intercontinental Resorts, the American Express Hilton card at Hiltons, the SPG American Express at the Marriott properties. The amount of points earned when using the correct card are insane! Even on free reward nights, I earned thousands of points on everything I charged to the room, which was then charged to the coordinating card.

If staying at Intercontinental Resorts, pay the $200 to become an ambassador. You get a guaranteed upgrade whether you are staying on a points stay or you are paying. The difference in room categories are over $300 a night, so you would make your money back on the first night. After all, the view is why you are coming here. It also gets you other perks, like a fresh fruit plate every stay. We were able to snack on it throughout the evening then save the rest for breakfast. You never know what other perks it will bring. We also received a nice IC Thalasso beach bag and Tiare Monoi, valued at about $38. There is also a special area for Ambassadors to check in. A chic seating area with incredible views. We received welcome drinks and refreshing hand towels. The manager came out to welcome us at each resort as well, making us feel really special.

Another Ambassador perk is you get a Buy 1 Get 1 free on a weekend night stay. It could come in handy if you are paying for this trip and staying over a weekend. A free night in Bora Bora could save you over $1,000 easily!

If you are staying near Viatape, go off the resort and check out the snack shack on the beach! It has the most amazing view and on one of the best beaches in the world! It's called Snack Matira. It is also the perfect place to watch the sunset. They do not keep usual hours, so have your concierge call in advance to see if they are open. Also make sure they are serving fish that day, if that interests you.

Everywhere seemed to accept Visa and most of the time Mastercard. But other cards like Discover or American Express weren't always accepted. Be prepared. Also alert the credit card companies of your travel dates to prevent declines based on possible fraudulent charges. Ask the credit card company if they charge a foreign transaction fee.

Everywhere accepted American dollars, but you lost out on a few cents here and there. If an item was 1500 xpf, they would charge $15 instead of $13.84, if paid by American dollars.

Out of respect you should try to learn some basic French and Tahitian sayings. It only takes a few minutes to learn and it will make you feel comfortable to be able to speak greetings with locals and the staff.

To find hotels, apartments, and hostels in Bora Bora, click here.

How to Save Money in Bora Bora

Our trip to Bora Bora, Moorea & Tahiti

1. Bring your own food!

We brought our own granola bars and instant mocha coffee for breakfast. Most resorts include an electric hot water kettle that you can use to add instant coffee, tea or hot chocolate to. The Intercontinental Thalasso also offers a 50% discount on breakfast upon arrival at check in, if you haven't previously selected a dining plan.

We also brought GoPicnic meals with us. They are easy to store and do not need refrigeration, so perfect for travelling and replacing energy.

Eat a late breakfast and an early dinner. Sometimes we would split a $30 resort pizza for an early dinner, then eat the chocolate we had brought, in bed as a late night snack.

2. Bring ziplock bags.

All different sizes and more than you think you would need. I used them for all different reasons. I put beach sand in some, seashells and coral in others. After a trip to the local market to purchase snacks, we split them into ziplocks for easy transfer to other resorts and so they would fit in the ice bucket to keep cool. I also kept the daily toiletries and put them away in the ziplocks. When I got home I had a month supply (at least) of some really luxurious brands of shampoo, conditioner and body wash!

3. Check for complimentary activities.

Everyday at noon at the Intercontinental Resorts, there is a "Cultural Events" demonstration. Basically someone would be cutting down actual palm branches off the trees and turning them into hats and purses, then give them to the people attending. Perfect (FREE) souvenir to bring home to the children!

4. When leaving, some resorts give you a shell necklace. If you are staying at a Hilton do not purchase them during the trip as you get one on departure. You also get a flower lei upon arrival from all resorts. But it only lasts a day.

5. Save money by booking your excursions with the tour companies directly. Skip booking it with the resort as their prices are higher since they want to be paid as well. A quick google search and you can find many options, as well as on Trip Advisor.

6. Utilize the complimentary activities offered at the resort. Included were paddleboarding, windsurfing, paddleboats, outrigger canoes, snorkeling gear and I am sure there are ones I am missing.

7. Skip the sting ray excursion.

Check with the resort to see if they have daily sting ray feedings. We were able to interact with the rays and feed them for free. Many guests were swimming with them and playing with them, for free. You are able to get great photos and videos of this, as it is in a picturesque spot at the IC Thalasso, with the bungalows and motu in the background.

8. Use hotel loyalty rewards points!

We stayed every night for free by redeeming our IHG points. 50-60,000 gets you a free night in Bora Bora, with Intercontinental.

9. Use a credit card where you can redeem points to pay off your travel expenses that are not hotel related, such as the Barclays Arrival card. You need to be using the hotel's branded credit card at the hotel itself to maximize points for the stay.

10. Share a taxi. When the hotel emails you regarding pickup at the airport or ferry station, (for Moorea & Tahiti) ask about shared taxi options. We saved over $100 each ride by sharing with other couples heading to the same resort!

Deep Ocean Spa at Intercontinental Thalasso Bora Bora Review

Our trip to Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti

This spa inside Intercontinental Thalasso is the most peaceful, luxurious spa I have ever been to. I cannot imagine there being a spa where I am more impressed. I feel like it might have made the whole trip! I booked the Bora Bora Bliss Massage. 90 minutes of paradise while watching the fish swim below me through the glass bottom floor. Insane! It also included a foot massage using the black sand from Tahiti. After the services, we spent hours enjoying the spa facilities. The whole spa is 43,000 square feet! The Mr purchased a day pass for $50 that gave him access to the facilities. There is also a $35 option that does not include use of the steam room.

stock photo of where my massage was!

The outdoor jacuzzi has, in my opinion, the best view in the whole resort. It overlooked the motu and lagoon. The jacuzzi water itself was actually cool and refreshing on the HOT and humid day. I also enjoyed a pool with strong jets to swim against for strength training, a walk in the Deep Chiller walk which has leg jets to blast fascia and eliminate cellulite and improve circulation (this was not overly cold to me, just felt refreshing), a tea room (with my chilled tiare tea and huge assortments of hot teas!) a relaxation room which I took an hour nap in while listening to crashing waves, a steam room and ended with a plunge into a polar pool. Freeeeezzzzziiiinnnnggggg. I jumped in and ran right out. Brian tried to stay in for the recommended two minutes, but he could not breathe, it was too cold.

We found at the end of our day there is a recommended order to follow for all of the spa activities. I would suggest reading that before starting. It is posted near the cold water plunge and steam room. Or simply ask them. Unfortunately I did not get a picture of the order.

All the water in the pools and jacuzzis are pumped straight out of the ocean from 3,000 feet below! The water is definitely salty but packed with minerals. They claim the minerals are similar to those that are in our plasma! It has a lot of great benefits for the skin.

View from massage table of fish below

In my opinion, the best view in the resort, from the spa's jacuzzi

Tea room in the spa

Relaxation room where I took an hour nap

Deep Chiller Walk

Pool with strong currents for strength training

The locker room was also remarkable. There were private shower rooms that each looked out to the outside. They provided the spa's line Algotherm for the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion & their divine cream. Hair dryers, a vanity area, q-tips and makeup remover and makeup remover pads are provided complimentary!

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa Review

Our trip to Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti

We checked out of IC Le Moana feeling sad to leave. The staff completely wow'ed us and I was a little anxious that Intercontinental Thalasso wouldn't be able to give the same level of recognition and service that Le Moana showed us. We also had a perfect view of the motu and had only booked into the Emerald villa at Thalasso. How was I supposed to give up that view?

We took the free shuttle boat that goes in between both Intercontinental resorts. For me it is like an excursion itself. It goes halfway around the island, and you go through so many shades of blue water.

Complimentary boat shuttle between IC Resorts

Upon arrival there was a golf cart waiting for us. It whisked us away to the Ambassador check in area, which was beachfront and jaw dropping gorgeous. It looks exactly as it does in photos, there is no photoshop to make the waters look better. We were brought chilled Tiare tea and face towels with Tiare water.

Ambassador welcome area + Tiare tea & cold towels

This fragrance is now my favorite in the whole world!! We were thanked for our loyalty to IHG several times. The manager came out and thanked us and wished us a great stay. He was from France and we chatted about France for a bit. He was very personable and I felt he really cared how our stay went. We saw him later on in our stay and he made sure everything was going great.

At check in we were offered 50% off breakfast if we paid it for all nights, so we accepted. We got back on the golf cart for a tour of the resort. IC Thalasso is larger than IC Le Moana. After getting our hearts racing with gorgeous views, we were driven to our bungalow, #118. We were upgraded from an Emerald to Sapphire bungalow. There was a fresh fruit plate on the table awaiting our arrival. The room is much more spacious and chic/luxurious than IC Le Moana. By no means is Le Moana roughing it, just a different style.

View from deck of sapphire bungalow #118

I had brought a huge adult pink flamingo pool float all the way here with the hopes of getting an amazing picture of me riding it in the lagoon with the picturesque aqua backdrop. I called concierge and asked if they had an air pump. They sent a pool boy to our villa to get it. Soon after, I received a call in the room and the man on the phone exclaimed "I see a flamingo headed your way!" It had to be brought to me on the top of the golf cart. I also brought 100 feet of rope. I quickly tied the handle of my flamingo to the ladder of my deck and belly flopped on it and sailed off (100 feet) into the lagoon. It was pretty relaxing just floating around atop the flamingo. If I had to do it again, I'd bring 200-300ft rope so I could go a little further out in the lagoon.

Pool boy delivering my flamingo float

Being a kid again

That night we split a pizza for $30. There was a $5 fee to take it away from the restaurant and back to your room, but it was at least double that to have it delivered through room service. While we waited for the pizza, we relaxed in a hammock and watched the sunset.

After a bath with a view, I turned in early as I had booked an early spa day. Even at night, the way the bungalows are lit, it is gorgeous outside!

I awoke eager to try out the breakfast. There was absolutely everything you could ever want to eat for breakfast available. The kiwi was seriously the best fruit I have ever ate. It was so fresh and it tasted so different than the kiwi at home. There were an abundance of breads and pastries, muffins, cheeses, yogurts, crepes (Nutella jars are next to them!) waffles and pancakes, fruits, potatoes and an assortment of other hot dishes. I was always too full after one plate to try any more. But breakfast was a great add on at this resort. Especially at the half off rate we selected upon check in.

Breads, muffins, tartes, pastries

Meats and cheeses

Juices, yogurts, cereals and milks

My favorite, fruit tarte

Hot breakfast dishes

We spent the rest of the day after breakfast at the Deep Ocean Spa. There will be no other spa in the world that will live up to the standard that has been set for me. Incredible doesn't begin to describe.

In my opinion, the best view in the resort, from the spa's jacuzzi

Stacy at sunset

When the spa day had come to an end, we spent what was left of the day swimming in the lagoon with new friends, for hours. We had music playing and the husbands were doing crazy stunts off the deck into the water. Brian was climbing up the ladder to the bungalow to jump again as a giant ray jumped out of the water about 20 feet behind him. I was so surprised, (ok I was terrified) I had no idea they jumped! I think he scared it. My other theory was a shark was chasing it! The mister and I drank a bottle of champagne while sitting on the life jackets (provided in bungalow) and floating in the lagoon at sunset, in awe of the motu and all of it's majesty. Such an incredible memory!

For lunch and dinner we ate our GoPicnic meals on the deck of the bungalow. We take these with us every trip in case there is no food I like.

At one point, I totally felt like I was on "Couples Retreat." Sitting on the deck listening to the resort across the way playing some awesome music. I wanted to swim over to Le Meridien and party with them! Our resort looked much nicer. But I wish we had a DJ at our pool.

The deck of the bungalow was amazing and private. There is actually a deck off the deck that has a shower to rinse the salt water off. The upper deck has a nice sized table and two chairs, as well as two lounge chairs with nice thick cushions. I always see that hotels photograph their rooms with the cushions, but upon arrival they aren't there or are measly. That is not the case here. They are very comfortable cushions. There is a door off the deck that goes straight into the bedroom. The floor to ceiling window in front of the bed also has two secret doors on either side. There is also a sliding glass door that opens the whole wall into the living room from the deck.

The bed was very comfortable and large. The bathtub had an amazing view as well. It looked out to two different windows across the lagoon. I was worried that it would not be able to get as hot as I like it, but there was always hot water. The rain shower was nice and spacious with a wooden bench. I loved the scent of the bath amenities as well. They were the same brand from their spa, Algotherm. There were two nice, new looking robes and two pairs of slippers provided that were really comfortable for my hurting feet.

Living room view from front door

View from deck door

Looking straight out to the deck from living room

view from sapphire bungalow #118

bedroom

View of tub through bedroom from deck bedroom door

Bathroom vanities

Rainshower

Amazing bathtub

Spacious closet

Ambassador waters were replaced daily, as well as several small bottles of Evian water in the bedroom. The living room had complimentary teas and coffee as well as a minibar for purchase. There was an electric kettle that we used and added our instant mocha coffee that we brought for our morning drinks. There is also a Nespresso machine but I believe the pods were around $5 each. Nice glasses, wine glasses, champagne glasses, tea, coffee and espresso cups were available.

Nespresso machine

Complimentary coffee & tea and cups

I was very pleased with everything that was available in room.

There were two tv channels in English, one being CNN. Not an issue because I didn't come here for tv.

The internet speed was great! We FaceTime'd with the kids back home a lot with zero issues. It worked out on the deck, but not the bottom deck near the water.

This was by far the best resort I have ever stayed at. From the view, to accommodation, to the recognition, everything was flawless.

Every day we were called to see if there was anything we needed or if they could help us with anything and some nights they came to the bungalow and asked if we needed anything stocked.

The morning we had to check out to catch our flight to Moorea, we received a wake up call without having to ask.

One of the nights they left a gift on my bed for being an ambassador. I received a nice canvas beach bag and Tiare oil. The gift shop had them for $38 total, so I was pretty pleased with the gift!

Ambassador gifts

We donated the pink flamingo to the resort instead of trying to take it back home. They took it to the pool. So if you see him please take a picture and let me know he is enjoying his life in Bora Bora!

This resort is handicap accessible. Wheelchairs fit everywhere and there is a wheelchair lift in places they don't. But you can also ask for a ride via golf cart anywhere.

The only negative thing I can think of is that there were no USB outlets and very few outlets in general.