Bora Bora: The Paradise You Can't Miss
If you are anything like me, you have definitely heard of Bora Bora. Luscious tropics, overwater bungalows, that turquoise lagoon, and an astonishing view of Mt. Otemanu. In a nutshell: PARADISE. A few glances at some photos of the island ingrained in my brain that Bora Bora was a "must-see." Back then, I didn't even know where Bora Bora was, much less if I could realistically visit one day.
I believed that only one type of person was privileged enough to visit French Polynesia. Okay, two types: affluent honeymooners and millionaires. I am not part of that demographic (yet), lol, but I am an ambitious woman. My life motto is more along the lines of "let's live in the moment, "but Sam, my love, an accountant by day and poet by night, is more frugal than I. It would be a challenge to convince him that French Polynesia is worth the extra penny.
The Dilemma: How to Convince Your Significant Other
I knew I needed a strategy to get Sam on board with "pulling the trigger." And I do not mean the wedding trigger but rather the Bora Bora trigger. 😉
Ladies, you might find yourself experiencing the same dilemma, wondering how to sway your significant other. You understand it is worth every penny, even if your partner doesn't know it - yet.
Traditional Repertoire of Women's Ammunition to Persuade
The traditional repertoire of women's ammunition to persuade includes emotional pressures, anywhere from tears to flattery or from annoyance to seduction. Some may use guilt: contrasting the chores he has yet to do with all the effort you put into making him happy, such as cooking, laundry, shopping, etc. Some might simply leave gorgeous Bora Bora photos around the house as a hint or appeal to his logical side. If all else fails, there is always the excuse of an anniversary or birthday that needs to be celebrated.
With Sam's milestone birthday and our anniversary approaching, it was perfect timing and an excuse for us to go to Bora Bora. For my motivational tool, I opted for showing Sam documentaries about the fantastic coral reefs and marine life of Bora Bora, including the colorful fishes he would be able to swim with and crabs he'd be able to chase. Since October marked the end of the high season, the prices were also reasonable. All in all, my keen planning helped to seal the deal with Sam, and we were off to Bora Bora.
Help me out here; could this be a man vs. woman problem or only a Sam vs. Viktoria problem? Sam is not big on luxury resorts. He would be happy with a sleeping bag under the stars. As romantic as that sounds, I already had my fair share of camping experiences in my teens. Now in my forties, I like to treat myself to something more than a tent.
The Solution: The InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa
After my initial research, it was clear that the best cost per value resort to have the perfect Bora Bora experience would be the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa. You may be looking for an adventure kind of vacation or one to relax and get spoiled. I like a little bit of both. And if you want to know why going to Thalasso Bora Bora will give you both adventure and relaxation in addition to that 'happily ever after,' then please read on.
1. Location:
You have a front-row seat to Mt. Otemanu, immersed in a one-of-a-kind lagoon. Some say the resort is a sailing oasis in the South Pacific, given that it's located on a private motu. If you need a change of scenery, a frequent shuttle to the main island is also available.
2. Overwater Bungalows:
When we first stepped into our overwater bungalow, our jaws dropped to the floor. No joke. I also had tears in my eyes. Neither of us had ever seen such an extravagant and stunning place. Every room at this pristine resort is a large overwater villa. We stayed in one called "Diamond Overwater," and it was twice the size of an average apartment in California. Plus, it had a two-level deck for us to enjoy a dip in the water whenever we wanted. Although the bungalows are five stars, they blend unassumingly with the surrounding nature. Each room is stylishly decorated with natural elements and top of the line appliances, furniture, and bedding. A bonus was also the Bluetooth entertainment system, which we tuned to an upbeat beach bar lounge channel.
3. THAT Turquoise Lagoon:
That's why you came here: to experience the turquoise beauty of the lagoon for yourself. How many times in your life have you woken up in the middle of a blue lagoon and started the day with a lovely morning swim? The lagoon is usually as warm as the air, calm, and safe to swim, even for an inexperienced swimmer like me.
4. Relaxation, Indulgence, and Adventure:
You can lounge on the oversized terrace all day and relax, soaking in the beauty of your surroundings. Or go to the beautiful resort spa for a massage. But it is always nice to squeeze in a little adventure. The resort has paddleboards and kayaks that can be used free of charge. You can also sign up for a snorkeling or scuba diving tour for a fee.
5. Amazing Food!
Reef Restaurant served a delicious breakfast with your choice of fresh crepes topped with a homemade hazelnut spread (think crunchy Nutella), warm croissants, a Poisson cru (a local fish delicacy), and much, much more. You are treated to the freshest fruits and juices (my favorites were mango, guava, and pineapple). We also had several meals in the Sands Restaurant – and each plate was better than the last. Sam's favorite was the grilled tuna served with vanilla coconut sauce. I fell in love with the delicious coconut and caramel ice cream sundae.
6. Heavenly Beach and Pool:
The French Polynesian beaches speak for themselves, with their white sands and clear waters. And the large infinity pool was comfortably warm, never crowded, and offered a view to die for.
7. Privacy and Romance:
The bungalows are well spaced out, and the dividers provide maximum privacy. The entire place exudes romance. All you'll want to do is cuddle up and spend time together. Let's leave it at that. 😉
8. Attentive Staff:
The service at Thalasso was professional and friendly. We felt well looked after. The service in the restaurant, as well as the overall hospitality, was exceptional.
9. Spotless, Clean, and New:
The resort was recently built, and it shows. The entire property is top-of-the-line. The Thalasso grounds are impressive, with plenty of room to enjoy privacy and relaxation in the public areas. Everything was kept exceptionally clean at the resort. All COVID-safety protocols made us feel safe and comfortable. This is truly a little piece of heaven on Earth!
10. Day Rooms:
If your flight is later in the day, as ours was, you are offered a day room to enjoy free of charge. It had a bathroom, shower, and couch - a very convenient and thoughtful extra touch. I wish more hotels offered this feature.
Even though our trip is just a beautiful memory now, while looking through our photos and videos, they take us right back to that relaxed mood we experienced at Thalasso. The trip refueled our passion for adventure, one another, appreciation for nature and was a well-deserved treat for all the hard work we do back home.
So, if Bora Bora is on your bucket list, I'm here to tell you: stop dreaming and go. All you have to do is to "pull his trigger." Treating yourself to Thalasso is a must, even if it is just for a few days. As Sam later admitted, he was soooooo glad we went – and you will be too. For Sam and I, it really marked our "happily ever after." How can I put it...after the trip, we went shopping for an engagement ring. But that's a whole other story. 😊
~ Written by: Viktoria Rusnakova & Samuele Bagnai, authors of Enthusiastic All the Way & Tuscan Who Sold His Fiat to the Pope, respectively.
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