SherryStay Destination Guide
French Polynesia
118 islands of turquoise lagoons and overwater bungalows — Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, the South Pacific at its most iconic.
About French Polynesia
French Polynesia is not one island but 118, scattered across an expanse of Pacific the size of Europe, each a green peak or a ring of coral around impossibly clear lagoons. Almost everyone arrives through Tahiti, the largest island, with its black-sand beaches, waterfalls and the lively market of Papeete — but the dream lives just offshore. Half an hour by ferry, Moorea rises in jagged emerald ridges above a turquoise bay, still affordable and, to many, more beautiful than its famous neighbour. And that neighbour is Bora Bora, the lagoon that launched a thousand honeymoons, where thatched overwater bungalows stand on stilts above water so clear the fish cast shadows on the sand. Beyond them lie quieter worlds: the vanilla plantations of Taha'a, the vast diving atolls of the Tuamotus. This is Polynesian culture at its source — the tattoos, the dances, the gentle rhythm caught in the local phrase aita pea pea, "no worries." Expensive and gloriously remote, it remains the South Pacific at its most iconic.
Everyone flies into Papeete (Tahiti), then hops onward. Bora Bora is the postcard, but Moorea is 30 minutes from Tahiti by ferry, nearly as beautiful, and a fraction of the price — pair it with a Bora Bora splurge for the best value honeymoon.
Best For
Where to Stay
Tahiti (Papeete)
Arrival hub, markets, black-sand beaches
Moorea
Dramatic peaks, easy ferry, great value
Bora Bora
The iconic lagoon and overwater villas
Taha'a / Raiatea
Vanilla island, quiet, sailing base
Money-Saving Tips
- 1Stay in a family pension instead of a resort on one island to offset a Bora Bora overwater splurge on another.
- 2An Air Tahiti multi-island air pass is far cheaper than booking inter-island flights one by one.
Getting Around
- 1International flights land at Papeete (PPT); Air Tahiti turboprops connect onward to Bora Bora, Moorea and the rest.
- 2The Tahiti–Moorea ferry takes about 30 minutes and is a cheap, scenic alternative to the short flight.
Most Common Mistake
Blowing the whole budget on Bora Bora alone — spreading nights across Moorea and Tahiti gives more beauty for less.
7–9 nights
- • Moorea (30 min ferry from Tahiti)
- • Bora Bora (50 min flight)
- • Rangiroa (diving atoll)
