If you ever get the chance the to go to the French Polynesian islands – DO IT! The air is warm, the sand is white, the ocean is always 80 degrees and stunning shades of blue.  Two plane rides and one final boat ride to the islands and you are in paradise…

Where to stay:

• Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa | This resort is mesmerizing even from miles away while you are approaching on board the boat. The excitement builds as the over-water bungalows appear and you disembark to a fresh-blended tropical drink and the keys to your new pad that you will never want to leave. Cross a few bridges and you arrive to your bungalow where you are surrounded by breath-taking fews in all directions. Inside, the glass tables and night stands open to the water below where you can feed the fish swimming in the reef. Out on the balcony you have a couple of lounge chairs for sun-soaking with an outdoor table and seating. Climb down a short ladder that leads straight into the 80 degree, crystal clear water. For about a mile out, you see light blue water – which is knee-deep. Then the water changes to a dark blue where the ocean floor dips off into greater depths and marine life.
• Sofitel Moorea la Ora Beach Resort | Same deal as above except with a modern twist. Here we had an outdoor shower to rinse off when we swam back to the bungalow. And we had a glass bottom window in the center of the room but it didn’t open up.

My highlight of the trip was the jet ski tour around Moorea. Part of the tour was stopping in the home of giant, 3 x 4 ft stingrays. They were accustomed to being fed by tourists so as soon as we jumped off our jet skis – into waist deep water, in the middle of the ocean – they flocked straight to us. Which was kinda scary at first, but then, they brush onto you with their soft, filmy bodies – it kinda tickles. Occasionally, a black-tip shark would swim by because 15 yards away the ocean floor would drop again and would be the home to these friendly (but still scary) sharks.

Another activity I loved was renting a buggy for a few hours where we drove around the entire island through roads lined with plush, green trees. We went up to the top of a mountain that overlooked different bays and forests. And seeing the French road signs were fun to decipher.

What to eat:

Don’t forget to say: “ia oroana” and “mauruuru” while you get seated at the resort’s buffets and restaurants. Every morning at these two resorts we had a breakfast buffet which always had the freshest ingredients and always had rice as a side. Add in the French pastries with Nutella and you are good to go. For lunch, dinner and drinks the resorts have plenty to offer including fresh fish, rosemary bread and fun concoctions to keep the party going.

Side note: there are a lot of French tourists that visit the French Polynesian islands. I like to describe it as the U.S. having the Hawaiian Islands. We all go there to vacation from the mainland and the Hawaiians they have their own language and culture. Same goes for the French. The Polynesians have their own language and culture and have a lot French tourists. When we were there we were the only Americans – Californians at that – and would go to eat in our Rainbows and casual outfits cause we were on an island! But because of that, we got plenty of dirty looks from the other tourists. Not a big deal but something to keep in mind when you go!