Hotel Maitai Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Welcome to paradise without the expensive price tag. French Polynesia and especially Bora Bora is known around the world for its luxury and romance, but that doesn’t mean it cant be affordable too. You can expect the 5-star location without the 5-star price at Hotel Maitai Bora Bora. Located on the southern tip of Bora Bora island, Maitai is positioned to receive gorgeous sunrises and stunning shades of blue across the lagoon. You also have the picturesque overwater bungalows everywhere you look, which pretty much confirms you are in paradise!
BEST TIME TO VISIT BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA
High Season falls between May and October. This is dry season in Bora Bora, which means a lot of sunshine. August is a very popular month especially with an influx of European travelers. You will want to make your reservations far in advance if you plan to travel during this time, but note that the hotel and resort prices are at their highest during high season. September and October are ideal months because the weather is great, and kids are back in school so resorts and beaches tend to be less crowded. Note: Humpback whale season also coincides with high season as whales will be in the area from August - October to give birth to their young in the calm lagoons of French Polynesia.
Low Season is from December to March. This is going to be the rainy season on Bora Bora (8-10 inches of rain per month on average, compared to the 3 inch-monthly average during dry season). This means more rainfall than the rest of the year, but still some opportunities for sunshine, it just becomes more of a gamble. Visiting during this time means lower rates and much less crowds,
Shoulder Season is during the months of November and April. These months will be the best time to visit Bora Bora. You won’t have to battle crowds or high season prices, but still be able to enjoy good weather and tranquil atmosphere without all the people.
AIRPORT TRANSFER / ARRIVAL
Only an 8-hour nonstop flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco, Faa’a International Airport (PPT) on the island of Tahiti, is where all international flights land upon arrival to French Polynesia. There are actually 118 different islands and atolls to explore, and you can see some of the other islands we visited here. But for this blog, we are focusing just on Bora Bora. After arriving to Pape’ete, you will need to board an additional flight to Bora Bora through the inter-island airline called Air Tahiti (not to be mixed up with ‘Air Tahiti Nui’ which provides international transit). You will want to sit on the left hand side of the plane in order to have the best views of Bora Bora as you prepare for landing. The plane boards from the back, so the left side will always be the left side 😉.
You fly over the barrier islands (‘Motu’) and then land at the airport, which itself is on an island. From there, you hop on the free 20 minute shuttle boat that takes you to the main island of Bora Bora.
A transfer car will be awaiting your arrival at the dock and will take you to Hotel Maitai from there!
ACCOMMODATION
With 74 rooms and bungalows available, Maitai offers a variety of options for your vacation stay in Bora Bora. We had the chance to stay in the luxurious overwater bungalow, and were so excited for this unique experience!
Ocean View Rooms – The best view of the bay and neighboring islands of Raiatea and Taha’a, these rooms sit a little bit up on the mountain providing some of the best views of the ocean you can ask for at Maitai. They also include a private balcony, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the vibrant azure waters.
Garden Room – Located only a few steps away from the main beach, the views are mostly jungle but these will be your lowest price. They are ideal for the budget-conscious traveler but still provide immediate access to the beautiful hotel amenities.
Beach Bungalow – Located only steps from Bora Bora’s famous blue water, these bungalows sit right on the serene shoreline. Each bungalow has a relaxing porch area to enjoy the sounds of the waves lapping up on the beach.
Overwater Bungalow – They are everything you could hope for when living out the Bora Bora overwater traditional Tahitian bungalow dream. Each one has a glass coffee table to see the ocean below. They recently renovated some of the terraces, allowing for more space and room to lounge in the sun after taking a dip in the blue ocean water.
RESTAURANTS
Le Restaurant Haere Mai - The main dinner restaurant is located in the heart of the resort. It features a mix of French and Polynesian cuisine with a special Polynesian barbecue and buffet once a week. All produce is cooked fresh on site creating very tasty flavors.
Tama’a Maitai – Located right on the lagoon, Tama’a Maitai is the best place to enjoy a meal anytime of day while soaking in the beautiful views of the blue lagoon. This is a less formal option than Haere Mai, but still quite delicious in its own right. They offer breakfast lunch and dinner, and also have a bar available during the day. If you want to order room service to your bungalow, they can bring it right over for you to eat on your porch.
BEACh
This private stretch of beach has a couple secluded coves surrounded and separated by overwater bungalows. The water is a shimmering blue color and there are enough loungers to enjoy your own spot on the beach. Because it is a smaller more intimate resort, you really feel the peaceful and serene atmosphere. They also planted a coral garden not far off the shore that you can snorkel around and enjoy the colorful fish.
Water Activities
There are kayaks, canoes and snorkel equipment you can rent at no charge for exploring the lagoon and nearby beaches. You can also book excursions around the island with help from the concierge to experience more of what the island has to offer.
Ammenities
The hotel is there to help you with anything you might need. They can assist you in booking any tours, renting bikes or even getting a traditional flower crown made from some of the local ladies on the island. Different from a larger city like Pape’ete, finding a flower crown on Bora Bora at a local market can be more of a challenge, so we found having the hotel to help arrange was actually our smoothest and cheapest option. And of course they made for amazing paradise photos. Plus If you keep it in a fridge at night the crown can last you a few days.
SERVICE
As it is a 3-star accommodation, the service was pretty inline with what we were expecting. It wasn’t over-bearing or over anticipatory, but it was enough for what was needed to make it an enjoyable stay. The staff were accommodating and attentive and we felt like we were apart of the Maitai family. The cook even started to remember our meals and could guess at our order by the end of it. They set the perfect laid back relaxing atmosphere, that really made you feel the “island life”.
All in all, It was the perfect yet affordable getaway spot with access to Bora Bora’s famous blue water and overwater bungalows. Hotel Matai is the ideal mix of raw good tropical vibes in a tranquil yet affordable setting. We were so glad we stayed here on our first trip to Bora Bora!