Imagine landing at a small airport, you feel the warm breeze as you exit the plane. While you gather your luggage someone comes up to you with a lei and shows you to the boat you will be taking to your island. You jump on the boat with a few other people and set off into the bluest blue waters you have ever seen. (It must be noted that the sunglasses I wore made the sea look this crazy blue color and when I took them off to actually see the water for the first time there was this slight disappointment, but it immediately went away when I realized this was the prettiest water I had still ever seen.)
As we skipped across the water we passed many other hotels with over-the-water bungalows. This is when the excitement really starts to hit and you have to start pinching yourself because you think this must be a dream. As we glided up to the dock at the Private Island we were greeted with a fresh coconut, a cool towel and ukulele music. This was the moment we knew this was truly Paradise.
The Private Island is very small, like really small island. We walked up to the main lobby/restaurant and had some tropical drinks while we waited for our room. Once it was ready we were escorted down to the wooden paths that lead out to the over the water bungalows. While they do have an option to have a hut on land, if you are going to be taking a trip to Bora Bora, you made it this far and payed this much already, springing for the over-the-water bungalow really is a necessity. As we walked into our room it was apparent that this was going to be a relaxing time. First thing is first, one must test out the bed. Get ready to feel like your melting into a cloud. Next open up the slider door and let the sound of the water and the warm ocean breeze lull you to sleep. No really. We fell asleep for a few hours when we intended to just lay there for a moment. The room had everything you needed comfy bed, couch, port hole in the floor to see down into the water, and robes. Robes are always a must for total relaxation..
Lets just skip to the good stuff shall we. That water! That is the reason everyone comes here isn’t it? Having the over-the-water bungalow really allows you to be one with the ocean. First there is a port hole in the room so you can look down at the floor and see into the ocean or your husband snorkeling when you didn’t even know he was jumping in. Second, with a deck and a ladder you now have two ways to get into the water. Just jump on in! Trust me, the waters so warm!
Water activities are a must and really pretty much the only thing to do while staying at the Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island. Utilizing your bungalow is the easiest for snorkeling. Just take a dive off your deck and your ready to go explore the reef. The really good snorkeling is actually on the other side of the small island where there are no huts. But its an easy swim around the island. The hotel also offers kayaks which you can use to explore as well. The snorkeling though is to die for. Clearest water, the most colorful fishes, and someone wrote “I heart Bora” with rocks on the bottom of the ocean floor so one must take part in that photo opportunity. Oh, and bring your underwater camera or go-pro if that wasn’t clear enough.
Other activities can be booked while staying at the island. We did a photoshoot boat trip which enabled us to get beautiful shots of us and the blue waters without getting the selfie arm in the picture. Also jet ski adventures which take you out to the reef and other pretty areas. Lastly a snorkel day trip. Yes the snorkeling around the hotel is amazing, but if you are up for an adventure, like swimming with sharks and sting rays then a guided tour is the way to go. Yes you can touch the sting rays or they will still touch you even if you don’t want to touch them. On the snorkel trip we did we were able to get lunch at Bloody Mary’s which is a popular restaurant on the island that many celebrities have been to. The floor of the restaurant is all sand and right when you enter they have fresh fish laid out for you to choose for your meal. A tradition they have is near the restroom you take paper money, write your name and date on it and pin it to the wall. Highly recommend coming here.
While staying on the Sofitel Private Island you also get the benefits from the hotel on the island of Bora Bora, Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort. They have a small boat that will take you back and forth as you please whenever you want to. The only times we went over to the island of Bora Bora was to explore the Island one day and to eat at that hotels restaurant called Latitude 16 degrees. One day we rented a moped to explore the island. You can drive around the whole island in less than an hour. Being on the actual island kinda takes away from the magic of your over the water hut. The people on the island are poor, there is actually a good amount of trash on the island and there is nothing to really see. So if you are going to come here just stick to staying on the water. That is why you chose to come here right?
If you want to relax, not see any kids, enjoy swimming in the water and being adventurous then the Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island is the place to go.
Hotel: Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island