Bora Bora on Points, And How French Polynesia Stacks Up

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With its idyllic islands, crystal-clear lagoons, stunning overwater bungalows, and vibrant marine life, French Polynesia easily earns its place on travellers’ bucket lists worldwide.

TL;DR, this stunning destination doesn’t have to be just a romantic, luxurious couples getaway; it can also be perfect for families if you choose your islands and accommodations accordingly.

Bora Bora, and More

French Polynesia is made up of over 120 islands and atolls and split into roughly five groups of islands (Society, Tuamotu, Gambier, Marquesas and the Austral Islands), which together span a distance roughly the size of continental Europe. The three islands that most often come to mind when talking about French Polynesia as a tourist destination are Bora Bora, Tahiti, and Moorea, all of which are part of the Society Islands (specifically the Leeward Islands).

Deciding on where to go and what to do can be a tough thing to nail down especially if time is limited. Tahiti and Bora Bora will almost certainly be the first places travellers would consider though it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are many more potential destinations amongst the various island chains. With that said, I’d still recommend going to a combination of Bora Bora, Tahiti or Moorea for an initial trip.

Tahiti

While being the gateway to the other islands in French Polynesia, Tahiti is also the largest and most populous island and serves as the cultural and economic hub of the region. Easy to overlook if you’re laser-focused on your upcoming nights in Bora Bora, but you shouldn’t.

Tahiti has black-sand beaches, wonderful lagoons for water sports, and a bustling city vibe that sets it apart from the IG scenes of Bora Bora and Moorea. In Tahiti, you also have the opportunity to take in the region’s history, heritage and culture. This island alone is a worthy vacation destination and a great trip for families. If you spend a couple of days here, I’d strongly recommend renting a car, as the island is easy to drive around and many sites are a short drive away.

Moorea

Like countless other French Polynesian islands, Moorea is absolutely gorgeous and offers a more rugged, natural beauty compared to Bora Bora. The island’s jagged peaks and lush green valleys provide an unreal backdrop for all the activities you would typically imagine in an island paradise, and it’s no surprise that many think it inspired the fictional island of Motunui in Disney’s Moana.

Similar to Tahiti, I’d strongly recommend having a car here as well. Driving is very easy, and car rentals are available on the island, or you can take one over on the ferry from Tahiti. While taxis are easy to flag at your hotel, your spending could creep up, especially if you head out for meals. Many fantastic restaurants are on the island’s western peninsula, away from the Hilton and the Sofitel (more on hotels further below).

Overall, Moorea’s laid-back atmosphere and stunning beauty make it an ideal destination for couples and families seeking an authentic Polynesian experience without paying the nosebleed prices that Bora Bora or Taha’a command.

Bora Bora

Luxurious overwater villas… crystal-clear lagoon… the magnificent Mt. Otemanu hanging out nonchalantly in the background of every single photo you pose for… it really does feel like you’ve been dropped into paradise. Similar to Moorea, the island’s vibrant coral reefs and abundance of marine life make it a worthy destination for snorkelling enthusiasts. The “coral gardens” and swimming with giant manta rays are must-do experiences when visiting.

Despite being an expensive destination, activities and excursions are much more affordable here than in the Maldives. Similarly, there are great off-resort dining options that can be a bit easier on the pocketbook if that’s a consideration. While Bora Bora is the postcard image of an adults-only retreat, I’d argue its appeal is much broader than that. The gentle lagoon (and therefore calm waters), low-gradient soft-sand beaches, and affordable excursion options amply cater to families of all sizes and ages.

Even visiting with a 1.5-year-old never felt awkward or out of place.

How Does French Polynesia Compare to Hawaii or the Maldives?

In the travel world, this is a very popular question. All three destinations are dream destinations for most people so understandably people are curious about which one would be best suited for them.

Despite their obvious similarities, each has unique aspects. The Maldives are all about luxury, privacy, and isolation. Objectively, that comes with downsides. For one, you don’t really get to experience Maldivian culture. The Maldives is a predominantly Muslim country, but many resorts sit on self-contained private islands, so local culture can feel less visible than it does in Hawaii or French Polynesia.

Also, the Maldivian islands are mostly sandbars with some vegetation. Hawaii and French Polynesia, on the other hand, have much more dramatic landscapes with volcanic islands, black sand beaches, mountains, waterfalls, lagoons, etc., but also at the same time tend to be much larger islands, and with that you trade off some of the privacy that you might otherwise enjoy in the Maldives.

French Polynesia feels like the perfect mix of Hawaii and the Maldives. It still keeps the Maldives’ remoteness and exoticness, but it also has all the elements of Hawaii we know and love (landscape, Polynesian culture), just without the crowds and “Corporate Americanness” (I’m looking at you, Dunkin Doughnuts).

Flights

When flying to French Polynesia, you need to first fly into Faa’a International Airport (PPT) in Papeete, the capital city of Tahiti, before connecting to other islands.

There are no direct flights from Canada to PPT, but United Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, French Bee, and Alaska all operate direct flights from the mainland USA to PPT.

United flies from San Francisco, while Air France and Air Tahiti Nui fly from Los Angeles. Hawaiian Airlines, now part of Alaska Air Group, flies from Honolulu, while a new three-times-weekly Seattle–Papeete route begins June 11, 2027. Notably, the Seattle schedule is timed to allow same-day onward connections to Bora Bora and Moorea.

French Bee is a low-cost carrier serving the route and usually the most cash-efficient option if you don’t find award space on points.

Any subsequent flights to other islands would be on domestic carriers like Air Tahiti (not to be confused with Air Tahiti Nui) or Air Moana. Both these carriers fly from Tahiti (PPT) to Bora Bora (BOB), whereas going to Moorea is most convenient via a 30-40 minute ferry ride from the Port of Papeete, given Moorea’s close proximity to Tahiti and the frequency of the ferry schedule (mostly during the daytime).

Booking United Using Points

On the direct flight from San Francisco to Papeete, the best way to book United is with Aeroplan. United is now a “Select Partner”, meaning awards price higher than the standard rate, but expect to pay at least 55,000 points (the saver price). I assume it’s around 75,000 points one-way in business class, but there was no award space when I published this article.

Adding a positioning flight will likely keep the price at 85,000 points one-way in business class because adding a partner to a United flight tends to use Aeroplan’s fixed partner price.

Booking directly with United MileagePlus costs 85,000 (10% less if you have a co-branded card) miles one-way per person in business class. However, that same 85,000 miles applies no matter where you fly from in North America, so it’s quite decent pricing. Most importantly, United has much more award space when you book directly with MileagePlus if you hold a co-branded credit card and/or have Elite status.

Like in typical United award space patterns, there is more space close in.

Booking Air Tahiti Nui & Alaska Using Points

Both Air Tahiti Nui & Alaska Airlines are best booked through Alaska Mileage Plan or American AAdvantage. A one-way flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti costs 60,000 Atmos Rewards on Air Tahiti Nui. American charges 80,000 miles.

Booking Alaska metal is the opposite: it costs 80,000 miles on American, but likely 95,000 Atmos Rewards points. I say “likely” because that’s the general going rate for transpacific flights, and the Seattle flight just went on sale with only 150,000-point awards available.

Booking Air France Using Points

Booking directly with Flying Blue, Los Angeles to Papeete costs 91,000-100,000 miles one-way in business class per person. The good news is Air France will open many seats at this price, and I’ve seen up to 9 seats on one flight.

What Mohammed Booked 2024-2025

To show how award booking works, below is what Mohammed booked in 2024-2025. The actual miles required have since changed, but the concepts still apply when thinking about the long-haul and positioning flights.

On both of Mohammed’s trips, he spent a night in Tahiti after the flight from North America because of the timing.

The flights I managed to book on our most recent trip were as follows:

• Ottawa (YOW) to Toronto (YYZ) to San Francisco (SFO) on Air Canada with a final connection to Papeete (PPT) on United Polaris business class
  • 75,000 Aeroplan points + CAD $170 per person one way in business class all the way through except for YOW-YYZ
  • 2,500 Aeroplan points for lap infant
• Papeete (PPT) to Los Angeles (LAX) direct on Air France
  • 40,000 Flying Blue miles + CAD $272 per person one way in premium economy.
  • A lap infant was added for 10% of the revenue cost of the fare, which on the day of departure came to about CAD $221
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Toronto (YYZ) to Ottawa (YOW) on Air Canada
  • 52,400 + CAD $50.75
  • 2,500 Aeroplan points for lap infant

On his first trip, the family flew Air Tahiti Nui in both business class and premium economy, booked with the Alaska Mileage Plan for 60,000 and 40,000 miles, respectively, plus nominal taxes and fees.

Air France & Air Tahiti Nui Review

Overall, Mohammed was impressed with Air France Premium Economy, flown on the return from PPT to LAX. The seats were terrific, and it’s a perfectly acceptable alternative to business class on a daytime segment.

His experience on Air Tahiti Nui was very good as well, and it remains a great option for getting back and forth between PPT and the United States.

Hotels

As for hotels in French Polynesia, there are a couple of options. Points options usually book you into a standard garden suite, and you can sometimes apply upgrade instruments or pay cash to upgrade to an overwater bungalow.

The InterContinental Bora Bora is currently closed for renovation and will reopen in late 2027 as the Regent Bora Bora.

Hilton

In Moorea, the Hilton Moorea starts at 95,000 points per night for a Garden Bungalow.

In Bora Bora, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui starts at 200,000 points per night for a Lagoon View Suite.

Keep in mind Hilton offers 5th-night-free on reward redemptions for Elite members, making 5 nights the sweet spot if you’re travelling all the way to Bora Bora. Free Night Certificates also work for any award night as long as standard space is available, and using it at the Conrad offers particularly outsized value.

Hilton also makes it easy to top up your account by buying Hilton points with a 120% bonus at 0.45 cents USD per point.

Marriott

Marriott uses dynamic pricing for all properties, so expect cheaper prices in the rainy season and significantly higher prices in the summertime. But, you are able to book an overwater villa directly, paying a points or cash premium.

The screenshot below is from mid-January, when prices tend to be low.

Mohammed’s Hotel Bookings 2024-2025

Again, the pricing has changed, but we can take a look at what Mohammed booked as inspiration for your next trip.

• 2x 1-night stays at the Hilton Tahiti bookended our trip (cash)
• 4 nights at Hilton Moorea, with 3 nights booked using Hilton Honours points at a total cost of 285,000 points (95,000 points per night) + 1 night booked on a Hilton Free Night Award
• 3x 6-night stays at Conrad Bora Bora. For this segment of our trip, two families joined us as well. We booked all 3 rooms as a continuous block of 5 nights at a points rate of 120,000 Hilton points per night to take advantage of Hilton’s 5th night free promotion. The remaining 1 night was booked using Hilton Free Night Awards.

Takeaway

French Polynesia doesn’t have to be a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon destination reserved for couples staying in overwater bungalows. Bora Bora certainly delivers that experience, but Tahiti and Moorea offer plenty of natural beauty, local culture, and activities at a more approachable price point. For a first visit, I’d recommend combining at least two islands to experience what makes each one different.

Getting there on points takes some planning, especially if you’re travelling as a family and need multiple award seats. Aeroplan, Atmos Rewards, and Flying Blue all offer worthwhile options, but flexibility with dates, cabins, and positioning flights can make a big difference. On the hotel side, Hilton Free Night Certificates and fifth-night-free awards can help offset some otherwise eye-watering prices.