Tahiti, Maldives, Bora Bora, Fiji, ****et, Cook islands?

5,006 Views | 36 Replies | Last: 6 yr ago by GigemAgs31
ChoppinDs40
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AG
Starting to plan a week trip to a "secluded" beach destination abroad and was looking for reco's on places above.

Will have close to 125k starwood points, so using those is a priority.

Like to Scuba and would like to do a night or two in one of the overwater/private bungalow type set-ups.

No preference on airline because I fly southwest for work,

annnddd... GO!
M.C. Swag
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AG
Went to Fiji for my honeymoon last December. Stayed at LikuLiku Lagoon on one of the overwater bungalows. It was gorgeous.

Check out their site here: http://likulikulagoon.com/

Haven't been to any of the other destinations you've mentioned but obviously heard great things about all of them.

If you truly don't have a preference, my guess is that each of them is great and it just comes down to cost and travel time.
ChoppinDs40
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AG
right and those are things to consider - ****et is much cheaper but dirtier, Maldives is probably the farthest and most expensive.

We travel on a luxury budget so everything gets considered if you know what I mean (i.e., willing to do a 12 hour layover if it means saving $1k).
M.C. Swag
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AG
Yea it sounds like you have a good situation it's just a matter of doing some investigating and comparing pros/cons. If you think you're close to choosing Fiji, let me know and I'd be happy to provide more info.


Oh and you should add Whitsunday Islands to your research list. Been there and they're badass. You could snorkel/scuba the great barrier reef.
HeightsAg
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You should add Seychelles to your list and remove ****et if you are looking for secluded. Haven't been to French Polynesian but diving was amazing in Maldives and Seychelles. Out of those two, I preferred Seychelles as it was just as beautiful but you didn't feel trapped on a resort on an tiny sandbar island. Also, you probably already know this but 120K SPG points will only last you two nights at any Starwood over the water properties. Those rooms are considered suites and go typically for 60K+ when they are available.
reddog90
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AG
I am staying at the Hilton Moorea and Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island for my honeymoon in August. 8 nights in OWBs, I can let you know how they are. Both islands look incredible but offer different activities. Sofitel Private Island might be secluded enough for you. We are diving on both islands.
reddog90
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AG
Where did you stay in Seychelles, and did you do any flyfishing?
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ChoppinDs40
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AG
where'd you stay in Bora Bora?
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HeightsAg
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I'm a Starwood guy so we stayed at the Le Meridien Fisherman's Cove. Not Four Seasons quality but got upgraded to a villa and definitely more than nice enough. We also got a car so was able to explore the island. Wanted to take a charter but the wife opted to take a day trip to Praslin and Digue instead but I've heard it's incredible. Seychelles is far out there but you can easily connect in London, Paris or Dubai which actually helps break up the trip a bit if you take advantage of extended layovers.
HeightsAg
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SoupNazi2001 said:

AggieFanatic09 said:

where'd you stay in Bora Bora?


The majority of resorts on Bora Bora are on the surrounding motus surrounding the lagoon (St Regis, Four Seasons, etc.). Don't get me wrong they are really, really nice but you are kind of stuck out there and have to eat the vast majority of your meals at the resort which you can imagine is insanely expensive. Boat rides to the main island from there are really expensive and inconvenient. Let me know if you have other questions.


This x 100. If you are only going to be somewhere for a few days, then it probably doesn't matter. But when your choices are to spend several hundred dollars to leave your island or spend ridiculous money to eat on the resort, it is irritating even when in paradise. We are fairly active people and definitely felt bored and trapped when we were in the Maldives.
Potcake
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AG
As mentioned, the Hilton Moorea Lagoon has overwater bungalows. We spent five nights, in a beachside bungalow, after a week on a Moorings boat and two nights in overwater on Raiatea.

Also already mentioned, if you pick Bora Bora, you're pretty much grounded at the resort although dive trips are still possible. The Hilton Moorea would allow you to do other excursions on the island. It also has a fantastic crepe bar in the hub of the overwater bungalows.

Seychelles and Maldives are on our bucket list.
ChoppinDs40
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AG
Were you able to use points? Right now I don't see any rates that use points.

That's the one I've been eyeing.

All we'll really do is dive, maybe fish, and hang out at the resort.
maldivesag
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AG
The Maldives is an unspoiled beauty. Great diving and seclusion. The downside its a LONG trip (over 24 hrs total) to get there and can be expensive based on resort choice. Also the NYT just posted an article about growing Islamic Radicalism in the county which definitely a scary though because there is little to no security on the islands.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/18/world/asia/maldives-islamic-radicalism.html
The Chicken Ranch
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AG
French Polynesia is on our bucket list. But I've read that the diving in Bora Bora is just kind of ok. I've heard that the best diving is up in Rangiora (sp) and the atolls near it.

Anyone?
ChoppinDs40
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AG
maldivesag said:

The Maldives is an unspoiled beauty. Great diving and seclusion. The downside its a LONG trip (over 24 hrs total) to get there and can be expensive based on resort choice. Also the NYT just posted an article about growing Islamic Radicalism in the county which definitely a scary though because there is little to no security on the islands.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/18/world/asia/maldives-islamic-radicalism.html



Mark that off the list then.
HeightsAg
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Yeah, I was able to use points and and that time, it was category 6. Just checked and points option is coming up for me. As a category 5, it is a steal - especially if you have status.
ChoppinDs40
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AG
Hmmm. Maybe I have to have status for it to show up? I have about 55k at the moment.
HeightsAg
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It's definitely not status dependent but you have to be logged in to your account for the points option to show. What range of dates are you looking at? I can do a quick search for you if you'd like just to confirm.
KALALL
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AG
I'm heading to the Maldives in October for my honeymoon. If you do some searching there are good deals to be had on OWB. I don't know about the Starwood properties though. That Times article read like sensationalism to me. Yeah there's a risk, but major European capitals have had lots more terror activity than the Maldives.
reddog90
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AG
We're at the sofitel private island in bora bora this August. IIRC, i get free transportation to the sofitel marara on the main island whenever I want. It made me feel better about choosing the tiny secluded resort for 5 nights. We're getting the big resort experience at the Hilton Moorea, so this seemed to work for us.

I Play With Guns
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S
I for sure wouldn't mark it off the list by any means.

We went last April and it was unbelievable. The islands you go to are completely fine but for some reason when we went into Male, we were strongly advised to not go alone and to get an escort so our hotel provided one for us.

I just wasn't going to go all that way and not see Male.

Once we got there and we were walking around, I'm not sure why we needed the escort. Nobody even paid attention to us.

We are going to *****et in December so I can't give any input on that but I will say the Maldives had a sunset that brought me to tears.

Also, we had an overwater bungalow and slept outside one night and woke up to the sun rising and it was a once in a lifetime moment.

I feel so lucky to have been able to experience the Maldives. <3
ChoppinDs40
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AG
Next June.
HeightsAg
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Just checked 6/15 to 6/17 of next year and both points and cash and points options popped up. Keep in mind though that cash rooms are only available 12 months out so depending on the dates that you were searching, that might have been why.
ChoppinDs40
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AG
Really weird. I signed up for the SPG card 2 months ago for the bonus just for this trip. Maybe I have to get stays first? I'm logged in when searching.

Maybe I just have to call and check rates.

If you don't mind, what are the over-water-bungalows going for?
HeightsAg
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That is odd. As far as over the water bungalows, unless things have changed, Seychelles prohibits them because they are supposed to be bad for the environment. So if that is a must have, it might be a deal breaker.
ChoppinDs40
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AG
DId you stay at le meridien in Seychelles or bora bora?
reddog90
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AG
Anyone that's been to French Polynesia:

Did you take cigars with you?
htxag09
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AG
Probably about to book 6 nights at the Conrad Maldives. Overwater Villa is same price ($ and points) as the standard beach villa.....
Ag CPA
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AG
We are doing the FS in Bora Bora next June, really looking forward to this trip.
Aggie1205
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AG
Potcake said:

As mentioned, the Hilton Moorea Lagoon has overwater bungalows. We spent five nights, in a beachside bungalow, after a week on a Moorings boat and two nights in overwater on Raiatea.

Also already mentioned, if you pick Bora Bora, you're pretty much grounded at the resort although dive trips are still possible. The Hilton Moorea would allow you to do other excursions on the island. It also has a fantastic crepe bar in the hub of the overwater bungalows.

Seychelles and Maldives are on our bucket list.


Did you use points for the bungalows?
Potcake
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AG
No, but we earned a bunch of Hilton points though.
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