Back in February when Alex proposed, we started planning a honeymoon to French Polynesia, an area neither of us had visited. Turns out the universe had other plans for 2020…so we changed course a bit, too. We kept the plans, changed the name and flew to Tahiti for a babymoon instead. We’re incredibly grateful to have had the chance to get away, just the two of us, one last time…

Location

Language: French, Tahitian, and English widely spoken

Population: 275,000

Currency: CFP franc

Climate: Tropical, oceanic, hot and humid

Location: Oceania; Southern hemisphere. If you were to throw a dart between Australia and South America, it would hit French Polynesia…if you’re lucky 😉 The collection of over 100 islands in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean belongs to France!

How to get there

From the check-in process to hotel arrival, I felt extremely safe due to all measures we had to move through in order to get to our final destination. Since July 15^th, 2020, quarantine measures have been lifted and French Polynesia’s borders are open to travelers from all countries if they abide by the following mandatory conditions which include registering the trip with the government of French Polynesia, showing proof of negative RT-PCR test results within a 72 hour period upon boarding alongside another COVID test 4 days into the trip in French Polynesia. 

From SFO to PPT with United, flying time totaled just under 8 hours to Tahiti, the archipelago’s largest island and only international airport. From Tahiti, we boarded an Air Tahiti flight for the 45-minute journey to Bora Bora. Pro tip: sit on the left side of the plane upon arrival and the right side of the plane during departure for unreal views of the island. The beautiful Four Seasons boat was waiting our arrival, and after a short 15-minute boat ride from the Bora Bora Airport to the private motu (islet), the fairytale began…

Four Seasons Bora Bora

Overview

“Put time on your calendar to truly connect.” That’s the tagline on the Four Seasons Bora Bora website, and that’s exactly what we did. Taking my first proper break from social media since the beginning, I was excited to be more present inside this destination, a true relax-and-restore resort. No time constraints to post, no pressure to edit until the wee hours of the morning, no engaging inside my DMs. Just me and my Baby Daddy on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

The Bungalow

Unless you’re staying in the Presidential Suite or beachfront villa estates, almost all lodging is via overwater bungalow here. I don’t know about other guests, but I didn’t travel to the middle of the South Pacific to stay on land! Private bungalows over turquoise waters are synonymous when hearing the words “Bora Bora.” Coming in at over 1,000 sq ft, this bungalow was more spacious than the house we just moved out of in LA! With teak-wood furnishings and Polynesian artwork, the design absolutely exuded the sense of place that I’m always seeking inside a property. The standout here, however, was the view of  Mount Otemanu and the terrace leading to it.

Cuisine

Nobody does sweets quite like the French. I was living for every single breakfast item on the menu each morning at Tere Nui, complete with a new smoothie of the day, coconut bread and a sea breeze. My mouth is watering just thinking back on these meals in the sunshine overlooking that saturated blue water.

For true Polynesia cuisine tied with culture, we were treated to a fire dance our very first night. An art in its own right, the traditional custom celebrates the heritage in rhythmic movements and rotations with breathtaking agility and speed. Even though it was pouring rain, they performed anyway with jaw-dropped guests watching in awe.

From more French fare at Arii Moana to Asian cuisine at Vaimiti to casual toes-in-the-sand lunch spot at the Beach Bar to La Roulotte for homemade ice cream, guests are spoiled for choice here. Pregnancy cravings hit me hard one night, and I even ordered a peanut butter & jelly sandwich off the kid’s menu for room service. Hey, the heart wants what the heart wants…or is it the baby wants what the baby wants? For a real over-the-top experience, board a canoe to the private white-sand motu where a romanic dinner for two awaits as the sun sets into the water. You only live once! We sadly didn’t partake, but we did happen to see a beautiful engagement here one night.

Amenities

We quickly learned that while the infinity pool and bar were the place to be for mocktail after mocktail, we were taken with a few other spots on property – namely the private Lagoon Sanctuary, home to over 100 species of marine life that I’m still swooning over! I love that the resident marine biologist offers complimentary tours here so guests can learn more about coral grafting and Polynesian ecology. I visited this exact spot more than any other during our time here, and can you blame me? I’ll let the photos do the talking 🙂

When a resort is this sprawling, simply exploring the grounds is an activity in itself. The spa was intoxicating, surrounded by tropical groves and pristine Pacific waters. The chapel beckoned us in…prematurely planning our nuptials for next year. The tennis courts and fitness center were tempting, but I chose to get my movement in via complimentary kayaks, SUPs and snorkeling. The boutique was by far the best I’ve ever seen at a resort…calling me in to purchase *slightly larger* bikinis than the ones I brought. Ohhh, pregnancy. It’s a beautiful, albeit confusing, time!

To Dos

All of the above? It doesn’t even cover what lies beyond property borders. Don’t forget to go ON and UNDER the waters. The concierge is waiting at the ready to book anything your heart desires from scuba diving to skydiving to parasailing to snorkeling tours to boat days and beyond. The underwater adventures are limitless! One of our unforgettable memories involves a boat day with friends who were also on their babymoon. We swam with sharks, rays and other marine life soaking up what would be our final days as families of two. Special thanks to Tahiti Tourisme for the tip!

Final Thoughts

I haven’t even touched on what makes this property truly tick: the staff! Sending out a massive thank you to each and every beautiful soul we came across. Thank you for making it possible to safely enjoy this paradise, thank you for your generosity and kindness, thank you for your unbeatable service.

For a few years now, I’ve heard murmurings of Bora Bora’s nickname: Boring Boring. After finally visiting, I can’t help but to laugh. Whenever I hear it again, I’ll just send them this blog post and leave it at that. Boring? You’re doing it wrong!