After Visiting 40+ Countries, This Is One of the Most Beautiful Places I’ve Ever Seen
I’ve been lucky enough to travel to over 40 countries. I’ve had breakfast overlooking the stunning cliffs of Positano on the Amalfi Coast. I’ve wandered the souks and spice markets of vibrant Marrakech. Last year I made the trek to the remote and breathtaking Alphonse Island in the Seychelles.
I thought I had a pretty good sense of what “breathtaking” looked like.
And then I went to Bora Bora.
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Why Bora Bora Is Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Seen
Nothing fully prepares you for it. Not the photos, not the travel blogs. The moment your plane descends and that lagoon comes into view — that impossible shade of turquoise against the volcanic peaks of Mount Otemanu — you just go quiet.
Even after several days, I would stop just to soak it all in.
Where To Stay
Getting to Bora Bora is part of the experience. You fly into Tahiti first, then board Air Moana for a short inter-island flight. But here’s where it gets magical — the Bora Bora airport sits right at the water’s edge. There’s no bus, no taxi line. You step off the plane onto a dock, where a boat is waiting to take you directly to your resort.
And here’s something that might surprise you — if you’re traveling from the Western US, Bora Bora is far more manageable than you’d think. The time difference is only four hours, which means you arrive feeling human rather than completely wrecked. No two-week recovery. Just step off the plane and into paradise.
We stayed at the Westin Bora Bora, recently renovated and absolutely beautiful, with overwater bungalows and a family special for around $3,500 per night for a two-bedroom. Yes, it’s an investment. But consider this — the Four Seasons next door runs around $12,000 per night. The St. Regis is also supposed to be stunning and worth considering.
Bora Bora is going to be costly. But, in my opinion, worth every penny!
As your boat pulls up to the Westin dock, a man dressed in traditional Polynesian clothing, playing the ukulele, greets you in song and escorts you via golf cart to reception. Between the warm breeze, the joyful sounds, and the beauty of the turquoise water stretching out in every direction, I was so awestruck, I felt a little emotional.
I’m not exaggerating when I say it feels like arriving in heaven.
What To Do
Sometimes the best thing you can do in one of the most beautiful places on earth is absolutely nothing. I spent a lot of time simply sitting on our private bungalow deck, watching the water change color, the sun rise or set and the endless parade of boats glide by. No agenda. No guilt. That alone was worth the trip.
But there’s plenty to do if you want it.
The snorkeling is extraordinary — on a great day the lagoon is so clear you can see everything. We saw beautiful neon-colored coral, stingrays, tons of vibrant tropical fish. We even swam with a dozen or more black tipped sharks surrounding us. That creeped me out a little, but it was definitely thrilling.
My husband Chris and daughter Elizabeth went diving and loved every minute of it. I opted out — I’ve had difficulty equalizing my right ear ever since we all got our open water PADI certifications in Roatan, Honduras, and I wasn’t about to spend my time in paradise worried about my hearing.
One of my favorite unexpected surprises? The glass floor panels in our bungalow. You can literally watch fish swimming beneath you while you’re having your morning coffee. Gage took it a step further and caught a trumpetfish right off the bungalow deck — then threw it back, of course.
Chris and Gage also did a lot of saltwater fly fishing (they are both avid fisherman). And when we weren’t on the water, we were in it — jumping off the deck, lounging at the beach, floating in the pool.
There is no wrong way to spend a day here.
One thing I never would have expected — there are virtually no bugs. At night when you’re dining outside and the lights are on, you notice it immediately. No swarm, no buzz, nothing. Being so far out in the middle of the Pacific means insects simply aren’t part of the equation. For anyone who’s ever eaten dinner in the tropics swatting mosquitoes all night — this alone feels like a miracle.
What to Pack for Bora Bora
Because the weather stays in the 80s all day — and all night — packing actually becomes a breeze. Resort wear only. No layers, no “just in case” anything. Just the good stuff.
Daytime is all about swimsuits, coverups, and the Miramar Skirt by Rag & Bone — looks completely polished, feels like sweatpants, and takes you from the bungalow deck to lunch without a second thought. One of my favorite travel pieces right now.
For evenings, you want pieces that feel as special as the setting — and these deliver. This Saylor dress in that gorgeous blue is giving full vacation energy. It’s one of those pieces that stops you in your tracks and is perfect for warm nights and beachside dinners. And this Blithe halter top and wide leg pants might be the smartest thing you pack. Wear them separately for two totally different looks, pair them together and they read like a dress, or throw the pants over a bikini as the chicest cover-up. Three outfits, one set. That’s the kind of packing math I can get behind.
And… Can we talk about this polka dot blouse and skirt set for a second? Because while polka dots are having a major fashion moment right now, let’s be clear — they never actually go out of style. This is one of those timeless prints that works in every season, every decade, and every wardrobe.
For more resort wear and warm weather essentials, check out my beach capsule wardrobe in this post.
Because no Bora Bora packing list is complete without the perfect swimsuit — these ones are sexy and flattering.
Is Bora Bora Worth It?
I’ll leave you with this. I love the mountains. Living in Telluride, Colorado, I’m surrounded by peaks so imposing, so enormous, that everywhere you turn the view takes your breath away. They make you feel beautifully, wonderfully small.
Bora Bora does something different. It doesn’t overwhelm you — it undoes you. It’s everything — the cheerful locals who smile and shout “Ia Orana” (Yo-rah-nah) as they pass by, the water so blue my daughter Elizabeth described it as the color of Gatorade 😉 and the 3,000-foot peak of Mount Otemanu jutting dramatically out of the sea. It’s a scene so stunning you don’t believe it’s real while you’re looking at it.
I kept thinking — why do so many talk about heaven when places like this actually exist now?
It felt like heaven. It looked like heaven.
Go. Just go.
If I’ve convinced you to book the trip, here are the packing tips I swear by.
