First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who shared their Bora Bora experiences! I was absolutely bricking it before we went, unsure whether to choose Bora Bora, the Maldives, or Mauritius. I haven’t been to the other two yet, but if they’re anything like this, I’ll count myself lucky to see them one day.
We’re a modest-income family from the UK, and truthfully, this was a holiday we couldn’t really afford — but we made it work. We went to Bora Bora for my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, and it truly was the trip of a lifetime.
We booked everything ourselves, no travel agent. If you’re booking the InterContinental, definitely sign up for IHG Rewards — it’s worth it. Flights from the UK were £8,000 each at the time we looked (which nearly made me faint), so we got creative. We took the Eurotunnel to France, flew French Bee to San Francisco, and then on to Tahiti/Bora Bora — a much longer route, but it saved us around £6,000 per person! French Bee is a budget airline, but clean, friendly, and completely fine for the journey.
The travel days were long — 24 hours in total — and San Francisco security was chaotic (but they were polite), so be firm when you need to move through queues. Tahiti airport, though, was such a welcome sight — greeted by dancers and music. But also just keep calm, you'll get through the lines in the end (keep your ears open for named announcements if its tight); it’s worth it.
We stayed 11 nights at the InterContinental Bora Bora and 1 night at Kon Tiki Tahiti. The bungalows are a little tired (hence the renovation so I’d recommend bringing an Amazon Fire Stick if you want TV options - I didn’t but wasn’t a big deal), but you’re not there for that. The views, the lagoon, the sky at night — it’s all beyond words.
Now, Bora Bora is expensive — no getting around it. It costs around £200 to get off the island (for town visits), lunches were £40 per person (ex drinks), dinners £100++ (ex drinks), and a can of Coke was £6.50. Even the disposable knickers at the spa were £20 each (yes, really!). But somehow, it didn’t matter. We couldn’t afford excursions, so we swam, read, and watched rays glide past our bungalow every morning at sunrise — absolute magic.
The staff are what truly make this place special. Every single person we met was kind, warm, and genuine. Christophe, the Executive Assistant Manager, was extraordinary. He took time to talk to us, shared stories about the island’s history, and made us feel like family. I’ve honestly (personally) never experienced that level of care and warmth anywhere.
They surprised my parents with three separate anniversary gestures — champagne and sweets on arrival, champagne and cake after dinner, and champagne with macarons on another night. Before we left, Christophe even arranged drinks for us at the bar as a farewell. It’s small things like that that make memories you’ll never forget.
The restaurant and housekeeping teams were just as wonderful — greeting us by name, remembering our orders, and genuinely sad to see us go. Rooms were cleaned and restocked three times a day, including fresh bedding and snacks.
Renovations were happening during our stay, but honestly, they didn’t affect us at all. In fact, with part of the resort closed, it was quieter and even more peaceful. Yes, the spa was shut, but that probably saved us from another £200 we didn’t have anyway!
We brought food from home (Digestives, Haribo, malt loaf — the essentials you know) which turned out to be a smart move for snacking between meals. You also get daily water, soft drinks, and sweets in your room fridge. Although embarrassing to admit, the end we ate 3 main meals and 2 lunch throughout the 11days. For the rest we took advantage of the good breakfasts (and the breakfasts were good!) and giggled to ourselves with the rationed digestive and a cup of tea in the evenings. In the end we realised we all probably ate too much anyways and it did our bowels a rest!. Im telling you this, because again, if we are going off our collective house hold income, we probably shouldn’t have been there.
If you’re planning to visit, take blow-up floats and a bit of rope to tie them off — there’s a gentle current in the lagoon, and it makes drifting under the sun so easy and relaxing.
Bora Bora is truly paradise. It’s not cheap, and it’s not perfect, but it’s unlike anywhere else on earth. We went thinking we’d never be able to afford something like this — and somehow, we did. And now I know, every bit of saving, planning, and worrying was worth it.
So, if you’re on the fence: go. Go for the experience, the people, the calm, the beauty — and the reminder that sometimes, dreams really can be done on a budget (with a bit of creativity and a lot of patience!).
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