This was the PERFECT honeymoon! We had the best time… it really was the ideal mix of relaxation and activities. It’s going to be hard to describe the beauty of the islands in French Polynesia but here goes…
Our Itinerary:1 night Tahiti
4 nights Moorea
5 nights Bora Bora
Our Resorts: Tahiti Intercontinental Resort-garden view room #120
Moorea Pearl Resort -beach bungalow #302
Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort -first 2 nights garden bungalow w/ pool #72
-last 3 nights overwater bungalow #13
Transportation:Air Tahiti Nui – 12 hours non-stop from NY
Air Tahiti – Moorea to Bora Bora and BB back to Tahiti (40 mins)
Aremeti Ferry – Tahiti to Moorea (25 mins)
Activities: Car Rental – Moorea
Shark & Ray Feeding – Moorea
Couples Massage – Bora Bora
Parasailing – Bora Bora
4x4 Jeep Tour – Bora Bora
Tattoos (Fati) – Bora Bora
*** We wanted to do jet skiing and had it booked for wednesday in bora bora, but there was an oil/gas strike and they couldn't confirm it till that day. Well, then it rained all day wednesday and they cancelled it anyway. We heard it was awesome though!!! ***
Restaurants: Mahana Café – Moorea (lunch)
Alfredo’s – Moorea (dinner)
Allo Pizza – Moorea (dinner)
Bloody Mary’s – Bora Bora (dinner)
Ok, now here’s the recap! I’m warning you it’s going to be REALLY long… I’m leaving nothing out!!!
DAY 1 - Monday June 12th *Air Tahiti Nui flight from NY
*Tahiti Intercontinental Resort
Our wedding was Saturday (June 10th) and we left for Tahiti Monday (June 12th). We’re SO glad we had the whole day Sunday to spend with family and most of Monday to finish packing and clean the apartment a little. We got to the Air Tahiti Nui terminal a little before 3pm. Our flight wasn’t until 5:15pm so we checked in and got something to eat.
The flight felt really long because we were too excited to sleep. We were both up most of the 12 hours. We each had our own TV with 7 movies playing continuously… I watched most of them… some twice. There were also games like solitaire, golf, chess & tetris which helped pass the time. We sat in coach and thought the seats were normal size, not too comfy and didn’t recline very much (we had a different plane on the way home and the seats reclined MUCH more and it was much more roomy)! We got 2 meals… the first was fish so they gave me a salad instead and you get a few sides and bread with it. They come around and ask you if you want water throughout the flight if you’re awake too. I forget what the 2nd meal was… but the food was okay. LIW-er Pigs222seal and her new hubby sat right behind us so we talked a little and she got me this awesome pink sweatshirt with our names and wedding date on it… so sweet!
After a verrry looong 12 hour non-stop flight WE WERE IN TAHITI!!! It was about midnight in Tahiti (6am NY time).
We waited on a very long line once we arrived at the airport and then found our transfer to the Tahiti Intercontinental Resort. Once we got to the Intercontinental, we waited on another long line to check in. We finally go to our room at about 2am and went right to bed.
The room was okay. We had a regular garden view hotel room that kinda smelled like mildew. Glad we were only there 1 night.
DAY 2 – Tuesday June 13th*Ferry to Moorea
*Moorea Pearl Resort
*Fire show at M Pearl
We were up at 7am that morning so we didn’t get much sleep… we walked around the resort and had a great buffet breakfast. The pool was gorgeous and the view was too.
We checked out around 11am and got our transfer to the Arameti ferry to Moorea! It was only 25 mins, indoor, air-conditioned and you could get food/drinks if you wanted.
We got off the ferry and found our transfer that took us to the Moorea Pearl Resort!
We checked in at the Moorea Pearl and filled out some paperwork. They gave us a cold fruit drink and then our room was ready right away. We had beach bungalow #302, which was amazing!!!!! It was huge and the bathroom was awesome... no shower doors. LOL! There were only 3 beach bungalows (6 premiums on the other side of the resort) and ours was in the middle. The one to the left of us was the dive center. We didn’t mind it AT ALL since there was hardly anyone over there anyway and we actually had an amazing view of the sunset on that side of the resort!
Hanging out on our deck!
We hung out in our bungalow for the rest of the day and then went to the restaurant at the Moorea Pearl. I had a great salad with lots of veggies as an appetizer and then had a lasagna for dinner… little did I know it was made with goat cheese and I didn’t like it at all. Thank god the bread was good! Len had the salmon and loved it. That night there was also a fire show, which was awesome!
By 9pm we were ready for bed.
DAY 3 – Wednesday June 14th *Rented car in Moorea
*Dinner at Alfredo’s
We went to the activities desk early when we woke up and were able to rent a car for 8 hours. We were going to rent the open air buggy, but it was rainy that morning so we went for the regular car.
We got a map from the car company and drove around a little then saw the sign for Belvedere Mountain Lookout. So we turned off the main road and followed it alllll the way up. On the way up there is a little parking spot to go into the woods to a small temple and read some info.
Then we got back in the car and continued going up a very windy road to Belvedere lookout. WOW, what a view! The pics don’t do it justice.
After that we drove around the entire island… took us about 3 hours since we stopped along the way for pics. There is only 1 road going around the island, no stop signs, no street lights and if you rent a car just know that it is manual. Len knew how to drive stick, not me. Then we stopped for lunch near the Pearl. It was called the Mahana Café and I had a greek salad that was to die for! Len had a chicken panini that was also amazing. Highly recommend this place for lunch. The owner also spoke Spanish so it was easy for Len to communicate w/ her since he’s fluent.
Construction on Sofitel Moorea
In Town
We returned the car later that day and made reservations for Alfredo’s Restaurant. They pick you up and take you home for free, but there is a sign on the window that says tips appreciated. There was a live singer with a guitar… he kinda sucked but it was nice to hear some Billy Joel, etc. I had the fettuccini alfredo with chicken and Len had a seafood platter or something like that. I also had a Caesar salad to start and Len had mussels. Everything was really good and not too expensive!!
DAY 4 – Thursday June 15th*Pool
*Rented canoe
This was a pretty uneventful day except that I woke up and had a pain in my ear. I got this once before when I went away w/ my mom and sis and we were in the water for 3 days straight. So I knew it was swimmers ear or something like it since Len & I had been in the water snorkeling for hours each day! So we got up and had breakfast then walked into town to the pharmacy. The pharmacist knew exactly what it was and gave me ear drops and ear plugs so I could go in the water without getting the inside of my ear wet. On the walk back we saw a really cute store with nice sunglasses. We both really needed a new pair so we looked around and both found nice ones! A gift to ourselves. Everyone in all the stores are SO nice so we ended up being at the sunglass store for about 2 hours!
When we got back we hit the infinity pool for a few hours and did some snorkeling.
Lots of coral!
Can you see the fish in the sand??
Then we rented a canoe at our resort (free)!!
Moorea Pearl (view from out in the lagoon)
We skipped dinner and went to bed by 6pm and slept through till the next morning! I think we needed that to get used to the time change.
DAY 5 – Friday June 16th*Shark & Ray Feeding
*Allo Pizza for dinner
We had the breakfast buffet and then went to the pool area to get fins and meet our tour guide for the Shark & Ray Feeding Tour! This is a MUST DO!!! We booked through the Moorea Pearl and I think it was only $60 each for 6 hours! It was through Hiro’s Tours and our tour guide was Bruno. He was funny and made it so fun!
So we met at the pool and walked over to the dock and got on an open air boat. There were probably about 10-12 couples with us. We drove a while in the lagoon and Bruno told us some facts about the island and showed us a few mountains, etc. He also said that every October/November humpback whales come right into the lagoon! So those of you going then, maybe you’ll see some whales!!!
Our first stop was across from the Sheraton. They put a rope out from the back of the boat and everyone jumps in the water and hangs onto the rope so you don’t float away. Then Bruno gets in the water with fish heads and all kinds of food and the sharks start arriving!!! With TONS of beautiful fish! Swimming with sharks was an amazing experience! At first I was a little scared when they came so close (I could literally reach out and touch them if I wanted) but you get used to it and know they aren’t interested in you… just the food the tour guide has.
Our next stop was a few mins down the lagoon (near the Intercontinental Moorea) where the stingrays were. This was so much fun because the water is shallow… maybe waist high and perfectly clear so you could see the stingrays perfectly. They are huge! And slimy. They come right up to you and rub against your stomach & legs! Awesome experience!!!
After the stingrays the boat took us to a private island. We pulled up right onto the beach and onto this little tiny private island with only a few bbq’s, stray cats, chickens and a beautiful beach! It’s bizarre seeing water all around you and the main island in the distance. They served us bbq chicken, fish, noodles and rice. Great food! After we ate we hung around on the island and snorkeled for a while… there were stingrays right along the shore! Then Bruno showed us how to open a coconut and how to shave it and get the coconut milk. After a few hours on the island we headed back.
When we got back to our bungalow we realized it was our last night there... so I was taking it ALL in!
Since we were tired from our all day shark excursion and had to get up early to get our flight to Bora Bora, we ordered pizza from Allo Pizza. We got the primavera pizza, sodas and dessert. It was REALLY good, not too expensive and delivered fast! Definitely get the homemade chocolate mousse for dessert, yum!
***** continued below *****
