How Much Does it Cost to go to Bora Bora
Bora Bora is associated with high-end luxury travel. The overwater bungalows, lush landscapes, and crystal clear lagoons framed by soft, white sand beaches make this island a dream destination for many individuals, especially couples on their honeymoon. But how much does it cost to go to Bora Bora? Is it as expensive as everyone thinks? Read on to find out.
For the purpose of this article, I’m going to suggest a one-week itinerary in Bora Bora (seven days, six nights). This will give you plenty of time to explore and relax, depending on the type of vacation you prefer. If you have more time, I suggest adding another island or two to your itinerary to see more of French Polynesia.
Keep in mind that this itinerary is aimed at luxury travel, but I will be sharing tips for more budget-conscious travellers as well. Also, this guide is based on the cost of a single person. If you are travelling as a couple, you will need to double up on all costs except for hotels.
| Estimated cost | |
|---|---|
| Airfare | $1,600 |
| Accommodations | $12,000 |
| Transportation | $25 |
| Attractions | $300 |
| Food and drink | $1,400 |
| Random spending | $300 |
| Total | $15,625 |
The above estimate is in American dollars, so please use xe.com to find out the average costs in your home currency.
If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a generous welcome bonus that’s often worth more than $900 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees, and it comes with airport lounge access.
Airfare
Bora Bora is located in the South Pacific, which means it’s pretty far and expensive to get to, no matter where you come from. North Americans can find the best deals flying from the west coast (often LA, San Francisco or Vancouver), so depending on where you start, it might be best to break up your flight into two different legs. For example, Toronto to LA and then LA to French Polynesia rather than Toronto straight to French Polynesia. This is beneficial since you can often get a free stopover, and you can avoid a long travel day.
Note that you won’t be able to fly direct to Bora Bora. You will need to stop in Tahiti. You can use this as an opportunity to explore Tahiti for a day or two. Or, you can continue straight onto Bora Bora once you arrive from your international flight.
From LA or San Francisco, the average flight cost is $800 to Pape’ete, the capital of Tahiti. From Pape’ete you can expect to spend another $375 to fly to Bora Bora which will put you at $1,175 total. However, you will need to add more to get to LA if you don’t live in the area, so you should budget at least $1,600 total for airfare from North America to Bora Bora.
Insider tip: If you are visiting more than one island in French Polynesia, look at the Tahiti Air Pass for better prices on domestic flights.
Accommodations
Most people who go to Bora Bora are there for a luxury vacation. You will likely want to stay in an overwater bungalow which is the most popular type of luxury hotel in this part of the world. It’s an incredible experience, but they are expensive. That said, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Bora Bora has several high-end luxury resorts offering overwater bungalows. Prices depend on the resort and the time of year you visit, but you can expect to pay at least $2,000 per night to stay in an overwater bungalow.
Looking for some recommendations? Try:
- The Four Seasons Bora Bora
- The St. Regis Bora Bora
- Conrad Bora Bora Nui
- InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso Spa
Most people who go to Bora Bora are there for a luxury vacation. You will likely want to stay in an overwater bungalow which is the most popular type of luxury hotel in this part of the world. It’s an incredible experience, but they are expensive. That said, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Bora Bora has several high-end luxury resorts offering overwater bungalows. Prices depend on the resort and the time of year you visit, but you can expect to pay at least $2,000 per night to stay in an overwater bungalow.
If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $300 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.
Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, which gives you up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels, which could easily have a value of over $500.
Local transportation
Bora Bora is a tiny island. In fact, it’s so small that you could technically walk around it if you so desired. Most people cycle instead because it’s faster but still allows you a lot of freedom. You can rent a bike for about US $25 a day from most car rental locations.
If you choose to rent a car, be aware that you must be able to drive a standard. A car rental will cost about $100 for a day. To be honest, you really don’t need to rent a car. There aren’t many places to stop and see/do things on the main island. If you really want to circle it, get a bike or join an ATV tour.
Overall, you probably don’t need to worry about local transportation if you plan on doing some tours and exploring that way. Just make sure that, if you stay on the main island instead of a resort, you stay within walking distance of restaurants and local grocery stores.
Attractions
How much you spend in Bora Bora will depend on what you want to see and do. If your dream vacation is hanging out at your luxury resort, swimming off the deck of your overwater bungalow, and relaxing by the pool. Well, then, you aren’t going to have to worry about spending much on attractions and excursions.
However, if you like to explore and want to join an ATV tour, go snorkelling in the lagoon reefs, scuba dive, or hire a local to take you on a hike, that will add up pretty quickly. As a general estimate, you can expect to spend $100 per tour in Bora Bora. So, for this budget, I’m going to suggest allocating $300 to attractions, but this is definitely an area where you can increase or decrease your spending allowance.
Insider tip: if you plan on enjoying the resort life, do your research and choose a resort with lots of inclusions and amenities. For example, some offer free SUP rentals, snorkel gear, and yoga classes.
Food and Drink
Food and drink in Bora Bora can add up really quickly. Even if you stay at a resort, these aren’t all-inclusive resorts, so your meals will add up very quickly. Especially since most resorts are located on private motus meaning the only option, unless you choose to hire a boat to take you to the mainland, is to dine at the resort restaurants.
Here is a sample budget of what you can expect to pay for a day of dining at a resort:
- Hot Breakfast – $50
- Lunch – $50
- Dinner – $70
Those prices may seem insane, but that’s standard for most hotels. Plus, don’t forget about alcoholic drinks. A cocktail will set you back easily $25 or more. That means you can easily be spending about $200 per day just on food.
So, how can you cut that down? Bring your own alcohol and mixers to keep in your fridge in your room (this is allowed). If you visit the mainland, you can also do a bit of grocery shopping and pick up some essentials. For example, not a big breakfast person? Grab some fruit and yogurt and eat in your room instead of at a restaurant.
For those staying on land, meals can be equally expensive at restaurants. For a more budget-friendly option, look for the food trucks in Vaitape. They come out around 5pm and stay open until 10pm. Meals here are around the $20 mark. Or, stay somewhere with a kitchen and grocery shop so you can cook.
Random Spending
It’s always good to have some extra cash on hand for random spending. Maybe for souvenirs (French Polynesia is famous for its pearls), some extra cocktails by the pool, or an additional day trip. Since Bora Bora is so pricey, I suggest having an extra $300 on hand in case of any random spending.
Cost to go to Bora Bora
So how much does it cost to go to Bora Bora? For one week of luxury travel, you can expect to pay about $15,625. Keep in mind this is a luxury trip that includes staying in one of the top-of-the-line resorts. If you are looking to be a bit more frugal, keep in mind the tips and advice I shared above, and you can knock that price down. That being said, if you have the money to spend on a luxury trip, then Bora Bora is the place to do it.
If you’re looking for more luxury destination inspiration, check out my guides to the Maldives, Dubai, and Japan.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to go to Bora Bora?
Bora Bora has two seasons, wet season and dry season. The dry season is between May and October and tends to be the most popular because of clear skies, picture perfect sunsets, and lower humidity. However, it’s also the most expensive time to visit. For this reason, many suggest visiting during the wet season, which is the low season between November and April. Keep in mind wet doesn’t mean it rains all day, but usually a little bit every day.
Why is Bora Bora so famous?
Bora Bora has made a name for itself as a tropical paradise. It’s a popular destination, especially for honeymooners. High-end resorts like the Intercontinental Bora Bora and the Four Seasons have incredible over-water bungalows as well that add to the luxury vacation allure.
Is Bora Bora cheaper than the Maldives?
This depends on the type of vacation you are planning. Both have luxury vacations and affordable options as well. You can take a look at my guide at how much does it cost to go to the Maldives for some more information.
Always wanted this for me and the woman in my life. It’s a one time thing, and at 70 plus who needs to wait. Thanks for the tips.