Just Back From ...

Club Med, Bora Bora

By Linzi Orr

I think I've found Paradise!

I've just returned from an amazing few days at Club Med Bora Bora, Tahiti. It isn't the easiest or fastest place to get to but it sure is worth it.

We flew Air New Zealand from Sydney to Papeete via Auckland and then Air Tahiti to Bora Bora, an average journey time of 18-20 hours.

Bora Bora is surrounded by a ring of smaller islands, the airport is located on one of these outer islands, making flying over the area a beautiful experience. The colours of the lagoon are amazing, better than any postcard or photo. Two towering peaks of sheer black rock dominate the center of the island and make an impressive backdrop to the blue waters of the lagoon.

Upon arrival at the prettiest airport I have ever visited, we were met by a Club Med representative (also know as a 'G.O.'), who accompanied us on the Air Tahiti operated catamaran to the main island and then a short drive to the Club Med Village on the south coast. We were met by a group of G.O.'s (Gentil Organisateur or gracious organiser in english) who welcomed us with refreshing fruit cocktails as we were checked in.

The Village has 150 polynesian style fares with either garden views or beach front locations. Although I was in a garden view room I still had a prefect view of the beach and lagoon across the garden, which was the best of both worlds.

If you're not familiar with Club Med concept I'll briefly explain it to you. Club Med offers an all-inclusive package, so all meals, activities & entertainment were included. The only extras were drinks & snacks outside meal times, some motorized watersports and optional excursions such as scuba diving, shark feeding, helicopter flights, horseriding & fishing. Considering Tahiti can be a very expensive destination, the all-inclusive Club Med package is an easy to budget for option and good value for money.

For the duration of my stay I ate (from the huge buffets on offer for breakfast, lunch & dinner), drank (the complimentary wine, beer & soft drinks with my huge meals), relaxed on the beach by the turquoise lagoon and went snorkeling surrounded by amazing corals & fish including manta rays and stingrays. I could have played volleyball, basketball, tennis, gone kayaking, learnt to windsurf, learn to sail and jetski 'the list goes on, but it was all too much like hard work in such a relaxing, tranquil place.

The G.O.'s kept us amused with optional activities and with evening entertainment including a musical show, comedy night, karaoke, and a Tahitian fire show featuring local dancers & singers. The G.O.'s have their meals with guests so this was a great chance to brush up on my French and for them to improve their English.

Bora bora is a truly romantic, tropical island. With the beautiful landscape, crystal clear water, and excellent Tahitian hospitality I'd recommend at least 7 days to fully unwind, try the activities, and sample every dish on the buffet menu! It's a wonderfully relaxing destination, and even though it does take a while to get there, your Bora Bora experience will be unforgettable, I know mine was.