Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa VS.Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort

[manni-yunk]

Looking for advice. We (wife and I ) have an opportunity to go away on a trip that we usually would not be able to afford (not while raising three little girls!!). I am in sales for a great organization and usually end up in the top 5% of the group. That being said - we often have incentive trips and have visited several beautiful places as award and incentive trips. This year - I won a trip that instead of being a specific resort or destination - we get a credit with a travel agency and the dollar value is higher than usual. We had the travel agency quote several places including Bora Bora, Fiji, Hawaii, Italy and a few others.

We usually go to the carribean but we are looking at something different. The Southern Pacific looks beautiful and the idea of an over water bungalow is kind of a once in a lifetime type trip. I dive a lot at home........to much (according to her....) and she dives when we are either preparing for a vacation, or on vacation. That being said - this wont be exclusively a DIVE TRIP...but rather a vacation that will include 2-4 days of diving, but diving is not the sole focus.


OK - enough background. Anyone have feedback or advice on the two named resorts in the title? One has diving onsite and the Hilton Bora Bora would likely include diving with an offsite group (there are 2 and both seem reasonable).

 

[yogibeanie]

I stayed at the Hilton in 2010. It's the nicest place I have been. The rooms are great with large bathrooms. And there is great snorkeling to do from their beach. It was like swimming in an aquarium. Top Dive will pick you up at the Hilton. I did 2 dives there. One was ouside the lagoon where the lemon sharks are and the other inside the lagoon. I was just doing the discover scuba course, so I really can't say how good the diving is there since I only went to 2 spots, but the lemon sharks were very cool. I highly recommend the Hilton.

 

[jake11]

Going to throw out another idea... the Paul Gauguin cruise ship! We took their Tahiti cruise and it was amazing! The back of the ship opens up and it is a huge dive deck. Loved it. While on a land excursion we stopped in at the Hilton and it looked fabulous if you decide to go land based! Have fun!

 

[Shasta_man]

The overwater bungalows were worth every cent to my wife and I. We did them in Bora Bora and Rangiroa. There's a few not so obvious advantages: no walking in the sand/coral to go swimming, you just swim back to the water level deck you have and get a sip of your drink and go back to snorkeling the surrounding area. Basically no bugs in the evening unlike the land where they abound. Nice to just relax outside and watch the endless stars. It's cooler temperature wise because you are out getting the ocean breezes. Usually an unobstructed view of the ocean and sunsets due to it's position out in the water. Incredible view: the whole wall of the bungalow we had could accordion open out of the way so the whole wall was gone. Easy swim ladder in and out of the water: easy access to the water and back again. More privacy because not so many people wandering around the walkways as are on the hotel property itself, and the top level louvered window coverings can be opened since nobody but a boat can see in from the ocean side.

Really all of Tahiti is going to be about ocean related activities. There isn't much else to do, but it is the whole reason to go and enjoy. Incredible beauty.

 

[t-mac]

We were in Bora Bora a couple of years ago. Didn't stay in a resort because we sailed there and just stayed on our boat. That said, you absolutely must dive there even if it's not a dive vacation. We dove with Gilles Petre from Blue Nui. Their shop is based at the Bora Bora Pearl. I didn't visit because Gilles actually picked us up on our boat to go diving. There's a reliable cleaning station inside the reef where you will see mantas and many other critters. And there's whatever you want on the outside of the reef. Though we didn't do it on Bora Bora, we did spend some time in one of those huts over the water in Moorea (the Hilton, in fact) and it is everything it seems to be. I am sure no matter which one you pick, it will be fabulous. One thing you want to consider is that many of the resorts are out on the motus, which are the little islands that make up the reef. That means they are little worlds unto themselves. If you want the ability to get out freely and do other things you might consider staying on Bora Bora and not a motu. Bloody Mary's is obligatory and there's a cute town on the south end of the island for some local flavor. The Polynesians are great, but it is harder to see if you don't get away from the resort -- the folks at the resort are too affected by their patrons. Jeep tours and other excursions are available to see relics of WW2 and the maraes. Lots to do off the reservation. Again, you cannot go wrong. Just pick one and go. I'm so envious. WHEN you decide to go back for diving (yes, you will) go to Rangiroa. Incredible diving and a real opportunity to meet the locals.