Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - Mandatory overnight stay at Papeete

I am planning to go to Bora Bora in September and was looking to book flight tickets. The TN flight from LAX reaches Papeete at aroung 7 PM but the last flight to Bora Bora is at 5 PM. Unless you want to take a red eye from LAX, you dont reach there on time to catch a flight to Bora Bora. Is this common for all the visitors travelling from LAX? Do you suggest any activities at Papeete that night? Is it better to stay at Moorea that night instead of Papeete? I am not sure if there are any boats that take you to Moorea at that time. I am planning a 5 night trip to Bora Bora and I am a little disappointed that it will only be a 4 night trip. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

You can charter your own plane, though it is a bit pricey.

I am planning to go to Bora Bora in September and was looking to book flight tickets. The TN flight from LAX reaches Papeete at aroung 7 PM but the last flight to Bora Bora is at 5 PM. Unless you want to take a red eye from LAX, you dont reach there on time to catch a flight to Bora Bora. Is this common for all the visitors travelling from LAX? Do you suggest any activities at Papeete that night? Is it better to stay at Moorea that night instead of Papeete? I am not sure if there are any boats that take you to Moorea at that time. I am planning a 5 night trip to Bora Bora and I am a little disappointed that it will only be a 4 night trip. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

The ferries to Moorea to do not run that late either. See www.aremiti.net for schedule. Unfortunately, the international airline schedules are inconvenient to interisland travel. You might consider taking the TN redeye which arrives in early morning (5 a.m. or so), from which you could connect to a flight to Bora Bora starting around 6:45 a.m. (Air Tahiti schedule is at www.airtahiti.com) TN 101 leaves LAX at 23:40 on Tuesdays and Fridays, and arrives in PPT at 5:00 a.m next day. Otherwise, you are pretty much left to find a room for the first night in PPT.

The Air France schedule has a similar problem on the return to LAX, because it leaves so early in the morning that folks must fly back to Papeete from the outer islands the night before.

There are several hotels on Tahiti, so you will need to book one of them. I've stayed at Le Meridien, which is acceptable, albeit caters to large tour groups. The Intercontinental Tahiti seems to get the highest praises for any hotel on the island. There are some interesting things to do on Papeete, such as visit the home of the author of Mutiny on the Bounty (James Norman Hall), but nothing you can do with that arrival time.

You'll be able to fly out at 7am or so, so you won't miss much of your Bora Bora holiday.

I too recommend the Tahiti Intercontinental for an overnight stay. Close to the airport, wonderful staff, great view of Moorea across the sea, and on PC points they will upgrade you to a panaroma lagoon room.