Recently, two very dear friends got engaged. After 16 years of a loving and inspiring relationship, wedding bells are in the air… and, of course, a honeymoon! Seeing the two exchange rings inspired me to write about what is in my mind the most romantic destination on our blue planet and one of the foremost honeymoon destinations: Bora Bora in French Polynesia.
When I first read about Bora Bora, I thought: It’s just another beach.. ok, well, a pretty beach? In a way, it is, but there are two things that make a visit to Bora Bora a once-in-a-lifetime experience: The exceptional natural beauty and the exclusivity of the resorts!
I have lots and lots of photos of beautiful beaches and sunsets over the ocean. The caribbean, Hawaii, the Maldives, the Philippines, Thailand – they all offer beautiful beaches and there are many I love visiting! What makes Bora Bora so special is the combination of the atolls with the mountainous island at the heart and the reefs and sandy motus surrounding it with a picture-perfect blue-green lagoon in between.
The other element is the exclusivity. French Polynesia is surrounded by the vast Pacific ocean and very, very far from the surrounding continents of Australia, Americas and Asia. Our first impression of the island was from the window of the little propeller plane taking us to Bora Bora and it is a stunning view! And while I rarely advise to go for the top accommodation at your destination, on Bora Bora your experience will be inevitably linked to the hotel you are staying at! The best views, best beaches and best lagoon access is provided by a handful of top-end resorts that secured the prized locations on the sandy motu facing the island! Many glowing reviews feature the overwater villas, built into the lagoon, providing some of the most lavish accommodations you can find! By keeping the number of villas small, their design affording privacy, plenty of beach for few people and lots of staff to cater to your every whim, that exclusivity is taken as far as I have ever experienced it!
If this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, like a honeymoon, I’d suggest to select on of those resorts on points or cash for at least part of your trip to experience everything Bora Bora has to offer!. You can check out my review and the photos from our stay at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa – it was one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed at and it made the Bora Bora a lifelong memory!
So, if you have a romantic getaway to plan and your budget (of cash and points) allows for it, Bora Bora should be top of your list – great relaxation, time with your loved one and a great deal of pampering is what Bora Bora does better than any island I’ve been to!