Holidays with children in Bora Bora: flights, resorts, hotels, tips

With its white beaches, crystal clear waters and breathtaking views, Bora Bora is ideal for a romantic getaway for lovers. However, this tropical paradise also offers unforgettable experiences for a family trip.

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Flight with children to Bora Bora

The route to Bora Bora lies via Tahiti. All international flights to French Polynesia arrive at Tahiti International Airport in Papeete. There are no direct international flights to Bora Bora itself. In Tahiti, you will have to make a transfer at the airport of Air Tahiti, which operates all domestic flights in French Polynesia. The flight lasts less than an hour. If you are flying from the neighboring island of Moorea to Bora Bora, then you will have a quick 45-minute flight on a small plane.

• If you are arriving on an international flight, you are generally entitled to 23 kg of checked baggage. Your carry-on baggage allowance is no more than 5 kg. A baby stroller is not free and will be deducted from your weight. Don't take too much and check your airline's requirements: domestic flights strictly enforce baggage weight limits.
• The transfer process is quite quick: about 20 minutes to disembark from an international flight, go through customs, collect your baggage and check in for your domestic flight.
• On the plane, you will be provided with a special cot for babies under 2 years old. Ideally, arrive a few hours before departure and request one at check-in.
• On domestic flights, you are entitled to a diaper bag - it is never weighed, so you can put heavy items in it.
• Flights may be delayed depending on weather conditions.
• Take a blanket for your baby, as the planes are air-conditioned.
• Don't forget to bring everything you need to change your baby.
• Take medications and a medical record on board.
• Consider purchasing an Air Tahiti Company Family Card, which will allow you to take advantage of discounted rates (birth certificate and ID are usually required).

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Resorts with children in Bora Bora

Unlike the Maldives, where some resorts do not allow children under a certain age in overwater bungalows, Bora Bora (or anywhere in French Polynesia) does not have such a policy. But when you check in, you just need to sign a declaration that the hotel is not responsible for your child if you are staying in a bungalow.

• Bora Bora is often plagued by strong currents, and even if you stay in an overwater bungalow, you may not be able to enter the water from the deck.
• Some resorts only offer overwater bungalows: think about this before you book.
• Resorts offer a children's menu with hamburgers, grilled chicken, spaghetti, chicken nuggets, fries, hot dogs and mini pizzas, and children are given souvenirs such as ukuleles.
• You don't have to rent a mega-villa or two bungalows for a family. Bungalows can accommodate a family with three children. If online booking for a family bungalow is not available, call the resort. In some places, it is enough to put 3 people in the reservation and inform them at check-in that you have another child. Sometimes they can accommodate 5 people in one bungalow.
• Bora Bora bungalows are less private than in the Maldives, but you will still feel secluded.
• Resorts offer babysitting services so you can relax.
• Resorts greet you with traditional leis, snacks with the children's names, gifts such as children's robes, which makes the whole family very happy.

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Best Bora Bora Resorts for Kids

The key to choosing a Bora Bora resort for kids is to make sure the resort has plenty of kid-friendly amenities! Here are the best resorts for families in Bora Bora.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

Four Seasons is a great brand, especially for traveling with kids! This luxury resort offers family villas with separate bedrooms for kids, providing comfort and privacy for the whole family. The resort offers a variety of programs and activities for children of all ages, including arts and crafts, sports, and more. Often named the most family-friendly resort in Bora Bora, there is a family pool for you to enjoy with your kids.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

Conrad Bora Bora Nui

Despite being a luxury brand, Conrad Bora Bora Nui is one of the most family-friendly resorts in Bora Bora! The hotel offers family villas and bungalows with stunning views of the ocean and the island's natural surroundings. A variety of activities, including activities and games, are organized for children, allowing them to have a varied time in a pleasant atmosphere.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

The hotel offers family bungalows and villas with stunning views of the lagoon and ocean. For children, there is a kids' club with fun, games and activities, allowing adults to relax knowing that their children are in good hands. There is a playground and a swimming pool on site, where little ones can have a safe and fun time.

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

Things to do in Bora Bora with kids

Bora Bora is known as a honeymoon destination, but there are plenty of family-friendly activities here. Almost all tours are kid-friendly and pick you up right from your resort. Perhaps the only activity with age restrictions is quad biking around the island.

• Town tour. A free boat can run from your hotel to the main town of Vaitape. Vaitape is small, so three hours in town is plenty. The town sells pearl jewelry, and there is a craft market with carvings and jewelry made from shells and pearls.
• Lagoon ride. Bora Bora's bright blue lagoon is teeming with marine life, from blacktip reef sharks to stingrays, sea turtles and coral reefs. Most lagoon tours start with a ride into the shallows, where little ones don't have to dive deep to enjoy the beautiful views of the reef. Kids will love going on a canoe, catamaran or motorboat ride.
• Bora Bora is best enjoyed with your own snorkeling gear. Rental gear varies in quality and sizes are often limited. Plus, having this gear will turn any beach you visit into a makeshift snorkeling spot for the duration of your stay.
• ATV Tours: Ride Bora Bora’s dirt roads to breathtaking viewpoints, WWII cannons and tropical gardens. Stop at the top of Mount Popti for panoramic views. Kids are allowed to co-drive as long as their feet can reach the footrests. For a full day of adventure, combine a half-day ATV tour with a jet ski tour of the lagoon. It’s an adrenaline-fueled day of exploring Bora Bora on land and at sea.
• Boat Tour.The calming sound of the water lapping, the wind caressing your face, the warmth – all of this is best experienced on a sailing trip through the tranquil lagoon of Bora Bora. A sailing excursion will give you a tranquility you won’t find on a motorboat excursion, and you’ll be able to stop and swim, snorkel and relax on sandy beaches with no one else around. These trips typically last around six hours and can accommodate up to 12 family members. Child seats are available.
• The waters of Bora Bora are one of the best places to learn to scuba dive, thanks to the clarity of the water and the many shallow dive sites, including Arue, where manta rays are often spotted. Children aged 10 and up can earn their PADI Junior Open Water certification, which can then be upgraded to a full Open Water certification when they turn 15.

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Practical tips for traveling to Bora Bora with children

If you are going to Bora Bora with a baby or toddler, you should definitely bring everything you might need with you, and not rely on buying it on the island. In Bora Bora, you can’t just go to a supermarket like in Moorea or Tahiti. In Vaitape, there is a very limited selection of baby items, and everything is also much more expensive. You can call the hotel concierge to bring the necessary items, but this is a pack of diapers for $55. Take all the necessary supplies for your baby or toddler with you.

• Laundry at hotels can be expensive, check in advance. Sometimes it is cheaper with a child to stay in a boarding house, where you can use the washing machine for free.
• Bring water shoes for children and for yourself. Entering the water can be quite dangerous due to corals, as well as some marine life.
• Bring a small stroller, because the descent along the pontoon is long. Bring baby food and snacks. Bora Bora is a pretty secluded place and everything is imported, so prices are higher.
• Bring inflatable rings for the kids. There will be nowhere to buy them for the little ones.
• Bring mosquito nets for the stroller! The hotel will give you one for the crib, but if you go to dinner with a baby in a stroller, the mosquitoes may “eat” it.
• Buy mosquito repellent: it is necessary in dengue fever zones.
• Scuba masks and fins. You can rent snorkeling equipment on the island and at your hotel, but the cost of this equipment can be high, so we recommend bringing your own.
• Bring sunscreen and after-sun lotion.
• Camera, GoPro, drone: Polynesia is simply fantastically beautiful, and you will want to capture it in the air, on land and underwater.
• In Bora Bora, you will need light, loose and comfortable clothing. Forget about evening dresses and stilettos. Opt for materials like cotton and linen when traveling to tropical paradise islands like Bora Bora. You will practically live in swimsuits, shorts, and sarongs during the day and evening. Sleep on the islands is early, after 9 p.m.
• Buy children's swimsuits with UV protection.
• You need a beach hat, caps.
• Bora Bora offers yoga classes for parents and children, and if you are going to attend them, bring sportswear.
• Bring swim diapers and nappies.
• Bring medications.

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A vacation to Bora Bora with children is a unique opportunity to combine the beauty of nature, fun on the beach and discoveries in a new culture in one trip. The family memories you create on this island will stay with you forever, filling your life with brightness and happiness. By going on this incredible journey, you will give yourself and your family an experience that will remain in your hearts forever.