At first, our family’s trip to Bora Bora felt like the ultimate tropical escape — there’s nothing quite like relaxing in a beautiful overwater bungalow above crystal-clear water at a resort in French Polynesia.
About three days into our vacation, though, we were over it.
Much to our surprise, we weren’t enjoying ourselves as much as we expected. Instead of feeling relaxed and pleasantly disconnected, we felt restless and isolated.
Our group of two adults and two teens found ourselves craving more — more restaurants, activities, people, and nearby places to explore.
So, we cut our five-day trip short and flew somewhere else. I still think it’s the best decision we could’ve made for our family.
We craved a higher-energy environment with more to see and do
Abby Price
We knew Bora Bora was remote, but we underestimated just how little there’d be to do at our final destination.
It took multiple flights, a layover in Tahiti, and a boat ride to get to our resort. Although it was gorgeous, it was also off the mainland.
Once we were there, we felt frustrated that we couldn’t be spontaneous or easily go exploring on our own.
If we wanted to experience something new, like scuba-diving or riding a boat, we had to book a pricey excursion in advance. To go to Bora Bora’s main village, we’d have to book our resort’s shuttle and pay for and plan our ride back.
In terms of dining options, we felt limited to the resort’s handful of restaurants and bars. If we wanted to leave the property to eat, we would’ve had to spend more time and money traveling to restaurants nearby (most of which were at other resorts). It didn’t feel worth it for us.
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Our meals, while beautifully presented, didn’t feel particularly memorable. Evenings mostly consisted of sunset drinks and maybe a Polynesian dance show on the resort property.
We started feeling isolated. We found ourselves missing the energy of a vibrant destination where we could explore, make last-minute plans, or simply grab a late-night snack somewhere outside the resort.
Rather than spend the rest of our vacation feeling stuck, we pivoted by booking last-minute flights to Los Angeles. It was one of the layover spots on our trip home, so we figured we might as well get the first leg of our long journey over with to save time later.
And, convenience aside, the city had been on our bucket list for a long time with its incredible restaurants and lively beaches. Plus, the city had that faster pace we now knew we were looking for.
Next time, we’ll make sure our destination is a better fit for our travel preferences
Abby Price
Leaving the island early might sound drastic — especially since we lost money on our original booking and spent more changing our plans — but it was a great decision for our family.
Bora Bora is the ultimate dreamy destination for the right type of traveler. However, it wasn’t a perfect match for our energetic group of two adults and two teenagers.
If you’re considering a trip there, my biggest advice is to know yourself as a traveler. We realized a bit too late that we crave more variety, action, and impromptu outings on vacation.
If you love pure relaxation, seclusion, and breathtaking scenery (or you’re on your honeymoon), Bora Bora might be perfect for you.
However, if you’re like us, you may be better off trying somewhere else.
