Bora Bora is an expensive island vacation destination but the scenery and activities it offers is well worth it. As the place for Black Pearls, there are many hotels in Bora Bora you can choose from, depending on your budget.

Bora Bora belongs to French Polynesia's archipelago of Society Islands. This volcanic island is regarded as a high class resort, wherein, you can spend your lifetime savings in a span of a few days. Although the island is popular amongst the upper classes, with some planning, even those with a tight budget can enjoy this pricey destination. However, be prepared because the price of everything here from activities to catering ranges from expensive to extremely expensive. Matter of fact, the cost of everything here will definitely defy your imagination.

Amidst the high cost of living here, rains are very common in this island. Even so, many still think that it's a great vacation destination. Aside from the frequent rains, this volcanic caldera has a stunningly beautiful lagoon that is well protected from outside waters by a surrounding motus. The island's breathtaking scenery come from Mount Otemanu's unusual shape blended with Mount Pahia, its smaller neighbor and the lagoon's fascinating water color variations.

The major attraction is the lagoon's rich tropical underwater life. To fully enjoy it, you would need a snorkel, mask and two fins. Don't worry because most hotels give these for free. Aside from the lagoon, most people visit Bora Bora for its historic relics. There are some archeological Polynesian relics and WWII remains scattered through the island.

Bora Bora Activities
As compared to other beautiful islands of French Polynesia, Bora Bora has enough to keep you busy. The place is quite remote so don't expect to find a cinema, museum or library; so the best things you can do here is to enjoy the great outdoors.

Water activities in Bora Bora include swimming in the beautiful, warm water lagoon or to go sun bathing at its most popular beach - Matira Beach which is located at the main island's southern tip.

Another activity to enjoy is snorkeling. Enjoy a breathtaking sight of being surrounded by schools of multicolor tropical fish in shallow waters. You may also sign up for snorkeling tours through the lagoon. The most popular tour which takes you farther off coast by boat is the Shark & Ray Snorkel Safari Tour. With this tour, you'll be able to experience feeding about 15 rays and 20 sharks via a boat over at the lagoon's shallow waters.

Another option is touring through Meridian Hotel's aquarium. You'll be able to tour the marine life in pens. Afterwards, you need to swim back towards an area full of sharks and fish.

Scuba Diving is also a great option, wherein, you can swim with the Manta rays, turtles, shark and Napoleon fishes. Just sign up at Matira's Nemo World or Vaitape's TopDive. There are also clubs that offer scuba courses and initiations. Those who don't have a diving license yet, head on to Aquasafari. Here, even children aged 8 yrs old and above are accepted.

Jet Ski Tours as well as kiteboarding activities are also fast becoming popular in Bora Bora, particularly by Matira's southern tip. Other activities are biking, horseback riding and jeep tours.

Shopping in Bora Bora can be overwhelming, particularly once you've seen the price tags even of the grocery items. It's wiser to shop for groceries and commodities before going to this island. If you do need to buy something, just find a medium-sized grocery store called Chin Lee in Vaitape or a small grocery store close to Matira Beach.

For souvenirs, Bora Bora is famous for its Black Pearls.

Hotels in Bora Bora
As mentioned earlier about the cost of almost everything in Bora Bora, the best way to save when it comes to accommodations is to opt for family pension homes or by camping at Chez Henriette or Village Pauline. Other lodging options range from mid-range to Bora Bora luxury hotels.
For mid-range accommodations, consider the following:

Manureva House - This is an affordable yet luxurious two-bedroom, one-bathroom rental home suitable for 5 people. It is situated by the residential but still peaceful section of Bora Bora. It is by the mountainside, along a tropically manicured garden with a private sandy beach and rooms guaranteeing charming views of the lagoon.

Novotel Bora Bora Beach Resort - This hotel offers affordable rooms, excellent services and a great location. Although they don't have an overwater bungalow, they have rooms with tranquil garden views. The beach is not more than 10 meters away.