The Island of Romance
Last week I attended a training conference with a group of travel agents. While I certainly had a great time and we shared many laughs and meals, I quickly realized that I have completely different expectations when I travel with Steve than when I am with a group of travel industry colleagues. Sometimes Steve and I are about the romance and beauty of a destination, other times we are about the culture or adventure of a destination. I would venture to say that Steve and I are never about the meeting schedule or facilities of a destination! Those of you that know Steve know this to be very true!
This week, I have booked several romance vacations so let’s take a look at one of my favorite romance and couples destinations, Bora Bora. Bora Bora is often referred to and considered to be the most romantic island in the world. Bora Bora is a very popular honeymoon destination and also a bucket list destination for many couples.
Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of Society Islands of French Polynesia. Bora Bora is surrounded by a lagoon and barrier reef. In the center of the island, rising high above the ground are 2 extinct volcanoes, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemaru. The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora and its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef, The surrounding islets include: Motu Tapu, Motu Ahuna, Tevairoa, Motu Tane, Motu Mute, Motu Tufari, Motu Pitiaau, Sofitel Motu, Motu Toopua and Toopuaiti.
French Polynesia basically has 2 seasons, the dry season and the humid season.
•The dry season -also called Austral winter- taking place between April and October brings an expected coolness, July and August being the coolest months of the year due to southeast trade winds called maraamu. As a consequence a cotton sweater will often be enjoyable in the evening (or early in the morning).
•The humid season -also called Rainy season- starts in November and ends in March. It brings mugginess, humidity as well as heavier and more frequent rains than in the dry season.
Bora-Bora has some micro-climates within these seasons due to the varying landscape and elevations on the island.
Bora Bora is less than a 1 hour flight from Tahiti. Air Tahiti flies out of LAX and in to Tahiti, you then connect to Bora Bora. Often this is an overnight process, remember – you have to get to LAX from your home airport. I always advise that people plan on 2 days travel to get there, and 2 days to get home.
Because of the lengthy travel (it can be 4 days of travel alone!), I rarely recommend anything less than 7 – 10 nights for your vacation to Bora Bora. A 7 night vacation really only means 3 or 4 at the resort; that is a long way to go for a short stay. Can it be done? Certainly! I just don’t recommend it if you are looking for a relaxing vacation.
Bora Bora is home of the famous over-water bungalows. Those private overwater bungalows that over-look the turquoise colored lagoon just scream romance! Imagine having your breakfast brought to your overwater bungalow private balcony by an outrigger canoe decorated with flowers everywhere.
How does a private sunset catamaran sail with a 4 course dinner sound? I can just hear the Polynesian music now…
Hopefully I’ve sparked your curiosity about this fabulous romance destination.
Kelley
