kids fly nearly free ... to Tahiti

Now's the time to plan your family's next vacation... Where? in Bora Bora! Air Tahiti Nui's Kids Fly Nearly Free promotion offers exceptional values for families. Up to two children up to the age of 15 pay only the taxes when flying with their parents. Round-trip fares from LAX start from $1,649 per adult and $101 per child from Los Angeles to Papeete, and the kids fare from LAX to BOB is only $131 round-trip.

Why Bora Bora? It's one of the most idyllic destinations on earth with the most beautiful lagoon anywhere. Imagine a week in your own private overwater bungalow with nothing but gorgeous shades of aqua-blue-green out your window. Slip off your own private deck into the warm, clear waters...

Picture Yourself Here! (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

We can make this so easy peasy for you... Our trusted partners will put together a complete package that includes "kids fly nearly free" on Air Tahiti Nui and our exclusive amenities at resorts throughout Tahiti. Is there any reason not to book that trip to Bora Bora today?

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

overwater or beach bungalow?

view from beach bungalow at Velaa Private Island, the Maldives

Clients frequently ask me about overwater bungalows at ocean resorts in the South Pacific — at destinations like Bora Bora, Fiji, and the Maldives. There's something romantic about the notion, and American tourists in particular really want to stay overwater.

The concept was invented by Hotel Bora Bora. Blessed with the best natural beach on the atoll, the resort built a limited number of bungalows along the beach. But because there's only so much beach frontage, the resort created additional guestrooms by constructing boardwalks out over the water leading to bungalows on stilts.

overwater bungalows at Six Senses Laamu, the Maldives

Overwater bungalows were an instant hit, and everyone started copying them. Most of the rooms in Bora Bora are overwater, and I observed the same phenomenon during my recent trip to the Maldives. The advantage to living overwater is that you can slip from your private deck directly into the warm ocean water to swim, snorkel, or lounge.

I'm a contrarian on the matter. Given the choice, I'd prefer to stay in a beach bungalow. Why? The photo at the top of this article says it all. Guests in this beach bungalow at Velaa Private Reserve walk out their back door to a private pool, their own little stretch of beach, and the clear, turquoise ocean water. Besides, I'd rather get into the ocean from the beach where the water is shallow.

Given a choice, I'd choose a beach bungalow every time!

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Bora Bora | overwater honeymoon bungalows

view from the beach at FS Bora Bora  — (c) 2015 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Where to stay in Bora Bora? I've enjoyed two different visits to this idyllic atoll with its incredible blue-green water, and while there's a resort for most every budget, here are my impressions of the three resorts I visited during my December trip to Bora Bora.


Four Seasons Bora Bora is by far the resort I am most frequently asked about, so I was glad to be able to spend a day last December. Only 5 years old, the resort is beautiful and will only become more impressive as the extensive landscaping matures. FS Bora Bora has a warm, informal elegance with a contemporary Polynesian feel.

There are 100 overwater bungalows and 7 beach bungalows. The OWB we were shown was spacious with separate bedroom and living room.  Rooms are decorated using natural light woods on the walls, darker wood floors, and bamboo ceilings. Connecting bungalows are available for families.

But the best part was the beach — large and uncrowded — and you can swim and snorkel in the various inlets and the coral garden. We spent the afternoon between the beach and the spa — heaven!

Other features are an impressive spa, complimentary laundry facilities, free programs for children and teens, and a wonderful Relaxation Room that guests can use if their bungalow is not ready in the early morning when their flight arrives.

Book through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner to get even more value for the same price!


InterContinental Thalasso is a five star "trendy" option on Bora Bora (with a bar designed by Philippe Starke). Public buildings are constructed with coral rock, providing a sense of place, and natural woods are used extensively in the interiors. The spacious guest rooms have a contemporary feel with a cool color scheme using quiet, subtle shades of blue and grey. The best part of the design: your bed directly faces a floor-to-ceiling glass window with a dramatic view of Bora Bora's incredible lagoon. Book an Otemanu Diamond room for the most breathtaking views when you wake up each morning.

Why consider IC Thalasso? The top reason is the spa! The Thalasso Spa uses sea water for treatments, and if you book a treatment, you get the use of the innovative spa facilities for the entire day. (Or you can buy a day pass, but a treatment is just slightly more).

The food is wonderful (we enjoyed our lunch), and prebook one of the 14 tables at Corail, Thalasso's new signature restaurant with Michelin-starred chef.


InterContinental Moana is a good choice for price conscious honeymooners on a four star budget. IC Moana is an intimate four star resort with a family ambiance and a traditional Polynesian feel, more relaxed and "comfortable" than Thalasso's "trendy" styling. It is located on Bora Bora's central motu, great if you'd like to explore the island and eat dinner at Bloody Mary's or the exquisite La Villa Mahana.

Just 50 overwater bungalows and 12 beach bungalows, each is 36 square meters in size. Rooms are very pleasant with rattan walls and bamboo ceiling beams. Bathrooms have an open-air shower that may appeal to some! A sliding door can close between the living room and dining room, and the sofabed can accommodate one child in an OWB or two children in the beach bungalows.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Mt. Mouaroa, Moorea

Mt. Mouroa, Moorea (c) 2014 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Just back from my Paul Gauguin cruise around the Society Islands of French Polynesia, so I'll begin with this shot from the last day of my trip. Our group enjoyed a 4x4 excursion around the island, viewing some of the spectacular scenery — Moorea's jagged mountain peaks and panoramic views of Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay from high above the sea. It was a misty and sometimes rainy December day, but the weather made the scenery even more dramatic. See above my picture of Mt. Mouroa taken from a pineapple field.

Moorea is a destination for adventure travelers, and the especially daring can take these tours on an individual ATV for a thrill-filled outing. Other activities include snorkeling or SCUBA diving over reefs abundant with colorful coral and tropical fish.

Also great for a romantic holiday, Moorea has overwater bungalows and white sand beaches. Contact me if you'd like specific resort information or would like to plan a complete honeymoon package.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Bora Bora Nui | Bachelorette finale

I stayed at Bora Bora Nui Resort several years ago, and I actually watched a portion of last night's finale of ABC's The Bachelorette to catch some glimpses of the property. It was a fun homecoming!

A large resort with nearly a mile of beach, Bora Bora Nui is located in an isolated portion of the lagoon. With no other resorts in sight, you'll get a real sense of seclusion for a romantic holiday. Rooms are large and very attractive with some of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in. Bathrooms are also grand in scale; there are two marble counters and sinks, and you can arrange to have the large soaking tub filled with rose petals to set the mood.

Overwater bungalows are the rooms of choice here. Walk down the steps outside the back door of your bungalow to your own private dock where you can put on your snorkeling equipment and slip into the wonderfully warm water. Bora Bora is a place to relax, swim among the colorful topical fish, or simply gaze out over the incredible aquamarine waters of the atoll. Ask about special Bachelorette packages that include breakfast for two every morning, an island gourmet picnic, and special round-trip boat transfers from the airport.


Bora Bora Nui (search here on Google)

Bachelorette Package | Le Taha'a Resort

There should be a surge of interest in Le Taha'a Island Resort, located on a private island just off Bora Bora. Why? Because the resort will be featured in the next episode of The Bachelorette to be shown on ABC on July 19. According to publicity I have received, "America will witness how Le Taha'a Island Resort was able to play matchmaker in creating such sacred and pivotal moments for Ali." Sacred? Reality TV? But I digress...

A special Bachelorette Package has been created to help couples experience their own romantic escape in French Polynesia. The package includes:

• Four nights in a Raiatea Overwater Bungalow
  
• Complimentary daily American breakfast for two
  
• Flower bed and half bottle of champagne upon arrival
  
• Private 3-course dinner for two (with wine) under the stars on the terrace of your bungalow

Price of the four-night package is 265,050 XPF (about $2800) plus taxes. Your vacation can also include some of the other experiences shown on The Bachelorette: a moonlit dinner on the beach and a scenic helicopter flight over Tupai and Bora Bora.

Le Taha'a Island Resort is a member of Relais & Chateaux and part of the Virtuoso network. Book through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant for the best values and complimentary amenities at over 850 romantic resorts and hotels around the world.

Le Taha'a Island Resort (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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the best time to visit Bora Bora

Bora Bora is an atoll in French Polynesia, a South Pacific atoll of breathtaking beauty. Being in the Southern Hemishpere, however, its seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere. In other words, when it's winter at home (Dec - Jan - Feb), it's summer in the Southern Hemisphere. This means hot weather and humid, rainy conditions in Bora Bora.

While the best weather is during the winter months -- June, July, and August -- the very best time to visit Bora Bora is during April or May. The weather is more comfortable than during the height of summer, the humidity is reduced, and the summer rains are over. Best of all, as the crowds have not yet arrived, you'll enjoy uncrowded resorts, low season rates, with an excellent chance of an upgrade!

Bora Bora's hotels are among the world's most unique luxury properties. Featuring overwater bungalows, guests can slip out of their private bungalow directly into the warm clear lagoon waters and enjoy some of the best snorkeling anywhere. Honeymooners and couples seeking romantic getaways will love the luxury and secluded tranquility of Bora Bora, just 8 hours from LAX. Where to stay? Check out this blog for my hotel reviews, and then contact me for the best possible rates along with exclusive Virtuoso amenities that include daily breakfasts, upgrades, and other valuable perks.

visit Bora Bora (search here on google)



copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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