Short answer: Yes (and yes)! Bora Bora is a luxury vacation destination and while it’s not accessible for all, it is 100% worth the hype.

Long answer: It depends (and still 100% yes). If you are willing to take at least two flights and pay a pretty penny, you’ll get what you paid for in Bora Bora. However, if swimming in the turquoise waters of French Polynesia isn’t on your bucket list and you’re not the best flier, then Bora Bora may not be the right fit for you. At the end of the day, Bora Bora is a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity, but the core vacation is just like any other island beach trip—sun, sand, and sea. Below are two reasons that Bora Bora may not be worth the trip for you.

Flight time

Bora Bora—one of many French Polynesian islands—is located in the South Pacific Ocean and therefore, it is not easy to get to. If you live in Los Angeles, Seattle, Australia, or France, odds are you can find a nonstop flight to Papeete via Air Tahiti Nui but no matter what you’re looking at another flight on Air Tahiti to Bora Bora.

Note: Air Tahiti Nui is the international airline that gets you to Papeete but Air Tahiti is the inter-island airline that gets you from Papeete to Bora Bora so no matter what, you are looking at two flights: one 8+ hour flight from LAX (Los Angeles) to PPT (Papeete) and one ~1 hour flight from PPT (Papeete) to BOB (Bora Bora).

Price tag

A week-long vacation in Bora Bora does not come cheap. When we started pricing out our option, we found that one week in Bora Bora is easily the same price as two weeks in Hawaii, two to three weeks in Mexico (depending on destination), and even two weeks in the UK. That said, we had our heart set on diving into the water from the private deck of our overwater bungalow. To us, one week in Bora Bora is most definitely worth it. We will never have a beach vacation quite like this one ever again. Why? Because Bora Bora knows luxury.

Upon arrival to our resort—the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa—we were lead to a day room where we could shower and change after a long flight. When our overwater bungalow was ready, our bags were delivered there—in fact, from the moment we got off the plane at Bora Bora, we did not carry our bags ourselves until we got back to the airport. Our room was cleaned and restocked daily, including turndown service. Snorkeling, paddle-boarding, and kayaking was all included. Our package, which we purchased through Costco—even included breakfast and dinner so we didn’t have to look at prices on menus (unless we wanted to order alcohol) at all. Happy hour drinks and island fries—toasted strips of coconut—were delivered to us whether we lounged on the beach or by the pool. Additional amenities (for a price) included spa treatment, jet skis, and boat rides to the main island. We were in paradise. A luxury paradise.

Attention to detail

You probably know that you can expect exemplary service in Bora Bora but more than just great amenities and smiling faces, you will experience a vacation that is truly tailored to you. From accommodating dietary restrictions to going the extra mile to make your stay as relaxing as possible, we were definitely felt the phrase “you get what you paid for” while staying on the beautiful island of Bora Bora.

Upon arrival we were asked about any dietary restrictions. We mentioned that we were vegan. From there our servers offered variations on menu items when taking our order. Never before have we experienced such acute consideration.

In addition to our customizable menu, we were greeted with a lei upon arrival to both airports and a welcome drink upon arrival to our resort. We were given a tour of the resort grounds via a golf cart and provided a day room (which had a shower) to freshen up in while waiting for our villa. Each evening while at dinner, we received a turndown service, which included prepping the bed for sleep, (removing the decorative pillows and placing floor mats on each bedside), closing the blinds, turning on mood lighting, placing half-full glasses of water on each bedside, and generally sprucing up the villa: folding towels, replacing wilted flowers with fresh ones, and removing any trash. Now that’s what I call next-level luxury accommodation.

If not Bora Bora, then where?

If you are committed to visiting French Polynesia but are looking to cut down on the number of flights it takes to get there (or the overall cost as Bora Bora is the more expensive island to visit), consider visiting Tahiti and/or Moorea. From Papeete, where the international airport is located on the island of Tahiti, Moorea is a 30–60 minute ferry ride.

If you are not attached to the idea of visiting French Polynesia but looking for island vibes, consider Hawaii:

• Oahu, the most populated island, is generally the easiest to get to.
• Maui has the legendary Road to Hana.
• Kaui, my personal favorite, is home to the impressive Na Pali Coast.

If you are located in the U.S. and price is limiting factor for you, consider other luxury destinations such as Mexico, the Caribbean island, or Florida—notably the panhandle where you’ll find beautiful white-sand beaches.

While any of the mentioned destinations may not provide the same level of luxury accommodations or attention to detail as the #1 honeymoon destination of Bora Bora, you’ll likely still enjoy beautiful beaches, brilliant blue water, and have a relaxing experience!