Congratulations, you’re married!! Now comes the fun part: the honeymoon! If you’re the kind of couple who loves iconic luxury brands like St. Regis and Conrad, and you want a honeymoon that feels like a true milestone, French Polynesia is where I’d send you. I’m a certified Tahiti Specialist, I’ve been to French Polynesia twice (including my own honeymoon!), and planning first trips to Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora for couples is my absolute favorite part of this job. Most of the Tahiti honeymoons I plan start around $17,000, and here’s how I’d approach yours.
Why Tahiti and Bora Bora for a honeymoon?
If you’ve ever searched “Is Bora Bora good for a honeymoon?” the answer is a resounding yes! Bora Bora is what most people picture when they imagine a honeymoon, with overwater bungalows, a lagoon so blue it almost doesn’t look real, and Mount Otemanu rising right out of the middle of it. But Bora Bora is only part of the story. Tahiti is the island you fly into, and it’s the perfect place to rest after a long international flight, and Moorea, just a 30-minute ferry ride away, is lush, dramatic, and full of adventure. On my own honeymoon, we swam with sharks and stingrays, watched dolphins leap right next to our boat, and ate a Polynesian BBQ lunch at tables set in the water on a private motu, all before we ever got to Bora Bora! For couples who want privacy, incredible service, and a trip that feels personal from start to finish, it’s hard to beat.
When is the best time to go?
The dry season, roughly May through October, is the most reliable window for weather. The shoulder months, like April and November, can be lovely too, with fewer crowds, though the weather can be a little less predictable. June through August is peak season, so expect higher rates and more competition for the best bungalows, which means the earlier we start planning, the better your options will be! Timing also affects things beyond the weather, like which bungalows are available and which private experiences (a private boat or a helicopter tour, for example) are still open, so I look at all of it together when I’m building your trip.
How long should you stay?
French Polynesia is a long way to go, so you want enough time to rest, explore, and really enjoy it! For most of my honeymooners, I recommend at least 8 to 10 nights, and more if you can swing it. Here’s how I usually build it. First, I always book a night on Tahiti after you land, because I’ll never send you from the airport at PPT straight to a 4am ferry! You get off the plane, go straight to bed, and catch your ferry or interisland flight the next day well rested. From there, I build the trip from the bottom to the top, so each property tops the last one. You do the action and adventure first, on an island like Moorea, and then Bora Bora always goes last, with fewer nights than the other islands, so you can unwind before the long flight home and end with a bang in your overwater bungalow. (The one exception: if you’re going to The Brando, The Brando is your finale!) This is exactly how I planned my own honeymoon, from Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea to The Westin Bora Bora to The St. Regis Bora Bora, and I’d do it the same way again.
How much will it cost?
Most Tahiti honeymoons I plan start around $17,000, and plenty land closer to $35,000 or more. The biggest factors are how many nights you stay and which rooms you choose, plus things couples often forget to count, like interisland flights, transfers, excursions, and travel protection (and please, not just the one that comes with your credit card!). I wrote a whole post breaking down what a Tahiti honeymoon actually costs if you want the details. Your real number depends on the 2 of you, which is why I don’t send sample itineraries or quotes before we’ve started working together.
Getting there
You’ll fly into Faa’a International Airport (PPT) on Tahiti, usually from LAX or San Francisco. From there, you’ll take a ferry to Moorea or a short Air Tahiti flight to Bora Bora, and in Bora Bora, most resorts pick you up by boat right at the tiny airport. I book every single transfer for you, so you never have to wonder how you’re getting from the plane to your bungalow!
My favorite honeymoon experiences
Your overwater bungalow is going to be amazing, but some of the best moments happen outside of it! The shark and stingray snorkel is at the top of my list. I did it on my first trip and couldn’t wait to do it again on my honeymoon, and my husband took over our waterproof camera and kept swimming off to film everything! Swimming with manta rays in Bora Bora felt magical, and feeding bananas to the fish in the coral garden had me laughing so hard because they kept nibbling my ring instead. A jet ski tour around Bora Bora was one of the most fun things we did, with stops for fresh coconut and sweet grapefruit along the way. On Moorea, a small-group nature and culture tour took us to the top of Magic Mountain and to ancient temple ruins, and a private beach breakfast at our resort turned into one of the most romantic mornings of the whole trip. Then there’s sunset. Sitting on the deck at the bar at The St. Regis Bora Bora, my husband with a cocktail and me with a mocktail, talking about everything we were excited for before we had to go home, is one of my favorite memories of the entire honeymoon. For couples who want something extra special, a private sunset cruise, a helicopter tour over the lagoon, or a couples’ massage overlooking the water are all wonderful, too!
Common questions I hear
Do we need a travel advisor? You could ABSOLUTELY book this online! But for a trip this far from home, with ferries, interisland flights, and boat transfers that all have to line up, having someone who knows the resorts, the logistics, and the VIP perks makes a huge difference. Because we’re a Virtuoso agency, my clients get VIP treatment at the hotels I book them into, and if your international flight is delayed, I make sure your transfer company knows, since you can’t call them from the air. I’m your advocate, and I take care of the little details you wouldn’t even know to look for.
Should we pick Tahiti or Bora Bora? For most honeymooners, I’d say both, plus Moorea! Tahiti is your landing spot and your first night of rest, Moorea is where you explore, and Bora Bora is where you relax at the end. Bora Bora is the wrong base for couples who want a trip packed with activity, so splitting your time gives you the best of everything.
What about weather and crowds? The dry season is the safest bet, shoulder months are a nice balance, and the wet season comes with more chance of rain and humidity. High season means more competition for the best bungalows, so the earlier we start, the better!
What should we pack? Swimsuits and cover-ups, resort sandals, and a few nicer outfits for dinner, plus a light layer for the evenings. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, bug spray, and a waterproof camera or GoPro for the lagoon (trust me on this one!). If you’re staying at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea, pack water shoes, because the beach there can be rocky until you get out a little deeper.
How do we get the most out of it? Start planning early so you get the best bungalows and views, and let me request honeymoon touches for you. When we got to The St. Regis, the staff had printed and framed one of our wedding photos and set it on our table, and I still think about it! Split your time between islands to mix up the scenery, choose experiences over extra nights if time is tight, and plan a little room in your budget for drinks, excursions, and extras.
If you’re dreaming about a Tahiti and Bora Bora honeymoon and you’re not sure where to start, that’s where I come in! Book a complimentary consultation with me! We’ll get to know each other, I’ll walk you through how Susan’s Travel Services works (including what being a Virtuoso agency means for you), and we’ll talk about next steps.