I'm thinking about a 10 day Tahiti (5 days) and Bora Bora (5 days) vacation in a year or two.

What's the best hotel program to rack up points in now to claim free nights in those locations? (i.e. what are the nicest hotels there which falls under one of the common programs).

Currently I use Starwood, Marriott, and Priority Club, but i'm not sure which hotels are best both quality as well as points redemption value in those locations.

Thank u!

Intercontinental is popular out there. As far as I remember, there aren't any Marriott properties. Also, many would advise against staying in Tahiti for more than a night. Moorea is just a few minute flight or 30 minute ferry ride away and much nicer.

Priority club, hands down.
Agree with ksf45632 on going to Moorea instead of staying in Tahiti!

No Marriotts in French Polynesia. Starwood has Le Meridien and St. Regis on Bora Bora but costs LOTS of points. The Hiltons on Moorea and Bora Bora jacked up their award rates, so... that leaves you with the Intercontinentals. I stayed at the IC Moorea and Bora Bora Le Moana, both fine hotels. IC Thalasso in Bora Bora is much more luxurious.

Cool.. perfect thank you.

so Tahiti 1 night
Moorea for a few
then Bora Bora for a few?

off the main topic now. but is getting around those islands easy? expensive?

Cheers!

You'll want to get an island hopper airpass from Air Tahiti, the domestic carrier - not to be confused with Air Tahiti Nui, the international carrier.

A flight to/from Bora Bora only will run you about $450 per person. An airpass in 2012 will run you about $500 per person. The airpass allows you to travel within a select group of islands an unlimited amount of times within 28 days. You could also take the ferry but by the time everything is said and done the flight will cost about the same and a flight will be more convenient.

In case you haven't researched much, be aware that French Polynesia extremely expensive. You'll have to have quite a large budget set aside even if you're staying on points.

I haven't done much research, but the budget is around $10K per person, $20K total for 10 days (2 weeks less travel days lost). This includes flight from US, food, hotel, island hoping, etc). if using points, i'm hoping to cut down that cost.

Is that unreasonable low? If so, i might have to reconsider going at all..

That's plenty. We flew on points from home to PPT, used points for half of the trip and are staying 10 nights in OWB which we paid to upgrade. We're looking at about $14k total for 2 people for 11 days. So you'll be just fine with that budget! It seems quite similar to ours given that you will likely be paying for your flights from home to PPT, which will run you about $4k from Seattle.

Our budget will give us nice dining options, tons of activities, lots of diving, spa time, and luxury. Of course, we could always have a higher budget but I don't think we're going to miss out on much. We have activities planned every single day, in fact.

I just mentioned it because some people are surprised by how much things will cost and of course one persons' view of a large budget can be very different than anothers'. Dinner will run you a minimum of $100 (more likely $200 with drinks and a 3 course meal) and breakfast is $75 per day. If you happen to have status and points at Hilton, they offer free breakfast for gold members which saves you a cool $750 but you have to book far, far in advance now that they have their litlle premium award scheme going.

??????????????????

WOW
this is straight up robbery..

Thanks so much.. a few more follow up Qs..

Which island did you stay at?
What room did you get with points and how much was upgrade to OWB (overwater bungalow?)
We aren't spa people but love to dive..

IC's Priority Club just reduced the point redemption at the Tahiti and Moorea ICs from 40K to 30K a night. However, the point redemption at the Bora Bora IC properties, Thalasso and Le Moana, has just increased from 40K a night to 50K a night.

Forget to spend 5 nights in PPT, 1 nights is OK, spend 3 or 4 nights in RGI Rangiroa, Atoll of Tuamotu Island. there is a direct flight from BOB.

I just spent mid january 10 days in the hotel KIA ORA RESORT, 4star, friendly staff, excellent food - good diving /snorkeling opportunities - SPA

For breakfast - yes it is very expensive. I hope it was implied that the $75 rate was for two.

However, you will find that there are many people who report that if you stop at a little grocery store at the beginning of your trip - you can stock up on things like snacks, water, liquor, wine, champage, and beer - and I bet you could get some sort of breakfast items as well. It will save you a ton of $$. We, luckily don't have to worry about the breakfast portion since we're staying at Hilton and have gold status which gets us free breakfast. We are staying at the Hilton Moorea for 5 nights which we paid for in full. Because we got caught right in the middle of Hilton's premium award mess in September, the hotel felt bad for us and gave us an awesome rate of $2700 for 5 nights in an OWB. For the Hilton BBN, we used points and then paid $170 (although the upgrade rate is now $200) per night to upgrade to the deluxe over water bungalow. I have heard that you have a decent chance of getting upgraded to an OWB for free with IC - but you would want to read up on the threads specifically for those resorts for more information.

As far as diving, we are using Top Dive. We bought a 10-dive package in advance and we can split it between the two of us. It was about $1k but we also upgraded one dive for each of us to the shark dive, which was an additional $115 I believe. They also offer free Nitrox if you're certified for it. The package can be used across multiple islands. If you start the package in Moorea it is a little cheaper.

It is recommended that you visit Moorea first, then Bora Bora. Moorea is extremely beautiful, but some people say that it seems less awe inspiring if you visit Bora Bora first - because BB has very dramatic scenery. The big benefit of Moorea is that there are many more activities. It's the only island where you can go horseback riding (I believe). I have also heard that diving is better at Moorea. As far as the more remote islands - they look beautiful and secluded but you will run into trouble if you are looking for activities and variety. Also, on a ten-day trip I would not recommend staying at more than 2 islands (plus the required night in Tahiti). Too much moving around would waste valuable time considering you have to be at the airport a couple hours early and then it takes time to settle into the new resort - thus wasting a half day or more of your precious time in paradise!

The night in Tahiti is only necessary if your flight schedule requires it. If you can get away with not staying there - by all means, do not stay there. A RT cab ride to and from the airport to the hotel will cost you at least $40. However, most of the flight schedules are designed so that you at least have to stay one night either at the beginning or at the end.

Many breakfast items require refrigeration (and some reheating). But do the non-Hilton points properties (such as the ICs) have fridges (or minibar fridges with enough space for storage of breakfast groceries)? In the US, for example, it's only midscale and lower hotels (not full service) that tend to have fridges in rooms. In other parts of the world, I often find minibars which are packed to the hilt, at hotels which freak out if you unload them, and not enough room to store breakfast groceries.

I would recommend looking at the thread for the specific hotel you are looking to stay at for the answer to your question, as it will vary from resort to resort. I have seen reports that some of the FP hotels have mini-bar fridges but that they don't have sensors so you can remove all of the items and then put in your own things. Also, I have heard that if you email the resort and request that your mini-fridge be emptied of all liquor items before arrival - that might work as well. However, as I have not stayed at any of these resorts, I can't comment specifically on each and every resort. I can only repeat what I have read on this forum.

Others have mentioned that you can bring a soft cooler in your luggage and replace the ice on a daily basis.

All of these things do require some work but if you are really looking to save $$, it's a very viable option! If you don't want to do the work, you could consider skipping breakfast and having an early lunch. On the same note, you could pay for the breakfast buffet and eat it at the latest time available, and then skip lunch! There are also some items like breakfast bars, dry cereal, pop tarts, etc that don't require refridgeration (you could even pack these in your suitcase from home).

Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone know if there is any advantage to buy intra-island airline tickets directly from http://www.airtahiti.aero? Like easier to change or cancel? I can buy directly from priceline.com a bit cheaper ($130 total for 4 people) but priceline tickets cannot be cancelled/changed. Thanks.