October 10, 2019
What is it like to go on a dreamy French Polynesian Vacation?
Imagine this:
A beautiful fresh flower lei and the lovely sounds of a ukulele playing traditional songs from the South Pacific welcome you to the island of Tahiti!
That was the welcome that my mother in law and I received when we spent the most amazing 10 days in scenic French Polynesia to celebrate her birthday.
I picked French Polynesia as a surprise vacation destination for her because I knew she loved the islands just as much as I do! A dreamy South Pacific getaway has been on my travel wishlist for a while and this was the perfect opportunity to check it off the list while creating memories with my mother in law. On top of my list, I especially couldn’t wait to visit the famous islands of Bora Bora and Mo’orea where the Birthday celebrations took place!
The Cruise
We embarked on a Paul Gauguin cruise which departed from Tahiti, where we had previously spent a couple of nights before the cruise set sail. We then set out to sea for the Society Islands (which are made up of Huahine, Taha’a, Bora Bora and Mo’orea).
To be totally honest, I am not a big fan of cruises! But, our Paul Gauguin cruise experience was really amazing!!! – Everything was unimaginably perfect, and the best part of the cruise was the experience that we received through the service of the crew members! The crew members were all so friendly, happy and helpful. The Paul Gauguin cruise is an intimate experience, with only 339 guests and 200 crew members.
Onboard the cruise, we also had the opportunity to partake in many of the fun activities! My personal favorite cruise activity was making fresh flower leis. While my mother in law, Jeanne’s favorite activity was making handcrafted banana daiquiris, which we both enjoyed plenty of! Aboard the cruise, we also met many of the other guests and found that there were so many repeat guests who were setting sail with us. We met a group who has taken this cruise a total of 14 times!!! You can always tell that the experience and the destination are going to be unimaginable by the number of repeat guests. I would love to sail on this cruise again, but next time I would love to bring my hubby along. French Polynesia is such a romantic place that it would be great for a couples getaway and perfect for a honeymoon!
The Excursions
The idea of traveling to the South Pacific conjures up the images of the beautiful pristine beaches, but there is more to the South Pacific than just the gorgeous beaches!
Although the beaches are breathtaking, and you could easily lay in the sand by a different crystal water beach each day, (and, if you’re on your honeymoon, it’s the perfect spot to unwind after planning a wedding!) But, you can also enjoy many off-road adventures!! Some of those adventures include riding ATV’s to the top of mountains to enjoy the views, exploring the island, educational cultural tours, canoe trips, and trips to sacred sites. Some of the more legendary places to visit are the vanilla and black pearl farms (the vanilla smells were unreal!) aquaplane tours, blue lagoon excursions, diving, learning traditional Tahitian dance, learning how to make leis (my personal favorite), and every water activity you could possibly imagine, the list is endless!
The Islands
When we visited Mo’orea we went snorkeling and swimming with sharks and stingrays, which seemed pretty scary at first but the experience was nothing short of amazing, we still can’t believe we did it! We also went on an off-road adventure to Belvedere, to take in the magnificent views.
We did a site inspection at The Four Seasons Bora Bora, which, of course, is everything you could possibly expect of visiting a gorgeous world-class property! The Four Seasons Bora Bora is about 25 minutes by boat from the main island. The property is pretty secluded, very quiet and relaxing. They offer beautiful over-the-water bungalows, amazing views, and remarkable dining.
We also visited Conrad Bora Bora Nui, another unique property! Conrad Bora Bora Nui offers over the water bungalows for couples and over-the-water villas for families. They also offer rooms on the hilltop with beautiful gardens all around and the most amazing views of the ocean. I recommend couples planning to stay at Conrad Bora Bora Nui to divide their stay between over-the-water-bungalows and a hilltop room, in order to have a little taste of both worlds.
If you are also embarking on a cruise, some cruises will overnight in Bora Bora and Moorea, so you have the option to get off the ship and spend the night in one of the over-the-water bungalows if you wish!
My Takeaway
If you’re still on the search for an awesome destination for your honeymoon, or any other special occasion, look no further. I highly recommend a resort stay in Bora Bora and Mo’orea. If you are looking for the enjoyment and experience of an intimate cruise, then you will also love Paul Gauguin. Our entire trip to French Polynesia was a dream come true for both of us!
Lilian’s Personal Travel tip:
If you are planning a dream getaway to French Polynesia, I would recommend reserving at least 10 days to visit the islands and doing a mix of taking a cruise with some time spent at a resort! By doing this, you’ll get to enjoy a little bit of both worlds. Bora Bora and Moorea are great for couples and for families with children!
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