Originally Posted by dsmntlr
So far, I'm a little concerned with the wet monsoon season at the Maldives so that is sliding down the list.
Bear in mind that you won't be able to reserve an OWB at the Hilton Maldives property. You might get upgraded, perhaps just for part of your stay. But you can reserve an OWB at the Bora Bora Nui (is that where you're looking, as opposed to the new and even more expensive St Regis that opens in April?).
The Moorea property allows you to book a beachfront bungalow, but no guaranteed OWB there. TK-421 got upgraded to an OWB there based on his SPG Plat status but noted that he ran into another Plat member on property who was not upgraded.
Moorea/Bora Bora looks pretty ideal. I'm not sure what route/partner is going to get me there on CO yet, but I'm working on that. (I've yet to call them)
With CO your only option to use miles is Air France, which flies LAX-PPT. (And you're still going to have to buy your intra-island flights... you can take the ferry or fly between PPT and MOZ, and your flights to BOB will be on Air Tahiti -- VT, the local carrier as opposed to Air Tahiti Nui or TN the international carrer.)
My main question (sorry for the mega-prologue!) relates to the food/entertainment budget. I know food is expensive. I've seen the references to the $12 burger, etc. Could someone enlighten me on more specifics relating to costs for typical breakfast/lunch/dinner? I've e-mailed the properties and asked for menus via fax but there's been no response, which really wasn't much of a surprise.
Roughly speaking on Bora Bora you can assume $20 appetizers and $30 entrees for dinner.
When I was at Bora Bora Nui the breakfast buffet was complimentary for all guests. I'm not sure if it still is. I imagine it would be ~ $30pp.
Room service burgers were ~ $20 IIRC, so $12 would be a value.
mrs. gleff and I went for hot stones massages, 50 minutes for the 2 of us cost 19000CFP apiece, 38000 total which when we were there meant ~ US$415.
But truth is that (1) while expensive it's not that much more than top resorts elsewhere in the world e.g. a Ritz-Carlton in the Carribean (2) Bora Bora is more expensive than other islands (3) you can watch your $$ there if need be, eating at BBN's Tamure Grille for a light lunch is less pricey than room service and less pricey than dinner at Iritai at the Bora Bora Nui.
But I echo checking out the Tahiti-Explorer.com forums.
FWIW
here's my honeymoon trip report which included a stay and pictures of Bora Bora Nui.