Goldie’s Quick Answer: A short Bora Bora trip for two adults and a toddler cost us $5,510.29 in March 2019, and flights were most of it. You cannot fly straight to Bora Bora, you fly to Papeete, Tahiti first, then take a short island flight, then a boat to your resort. Prices have gone up since 2019, so treat our numbers as a starting point, not a quote.
Goldie’s Table: What We Actually Spent
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What we paid for |
Cost |
|---|---|
|
Round-trip flights for 2 adults and a toddler |
$4,598.29 |
|
One night at a Papeete airport motel (Tahiti Airport Motel) |
$156.00 |
|
Three nights at Bora Bora (St. Regis Hotel) with credit card points. Everything on the island: resort boat, lagoon tour, meals, tips after using American Express points. |
$1,056.00 |
|
Statement credit from a American Express Marriott credit card for 1 night |
−$300.00 |
|
Total for three people |
$5,510.29 |
A few details from inside that island number. The resort boat from the Bora Bora airport was $257 for two adults, our toddler rode free. The lagoon tour where you float with blacktip sharks and stingrays was $390 for the two of us, plus $20 in tips. Meals ran about $60 a day. We tipped our butler $50 at the end.
About that $300: it was a credit from a Marriott credit card benefit we had at the time. Card benefits change, so check your issuer’s current terms before counting on anything.
What Most Families Miss
- The trip has three legs, not one. Every flight from the U.S. lands in Papeete, on the island of Tahiti. Bora Bora is a separate island flight of roughly 50 minutes after that. And the Bora Bora airport sits on a small islet across the lagoon, a boat is the only way to your hotel. Budget all three legs before you book anything.
- Late arrivals can cost a resort night. Our international flight landed in Papeete at night, after the island flights were done. Instead of losing a paid night at the resort, we slept at an airport motel for $156 and flew over fresh in the morning. Calmer, cheaper, and much easier with a toddler or a grandparent.
- Gate-checked gear can disappear. United lost our stroller on this trip. Take photos of strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs before you hand them over, keep every claim tag, and file the report before you leave the airport. Pack a cheap folding backup so one lost bag doesn’t slow the whole trip.
- Passports, not visas. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for a tourist stay in French Polynesia, but you do need a valid passport and rules can change, check the U.S. State Department page (link in the table below) before you book.
If We’d Had Two Weeks
Four nights was not enough. If I did it again with grandparents along, I would slow it down to two weeks, long enough to rest, short enough that nobody gets bored.
- Fly out late Friday or Saturday morning. Land in Papeete, sleep near the airport (e.g. Tahiti Motel Airport)
- Nights 1–3: Tahiti. Rest and let the jet lag pass. Papeete market, one easy coastal drive. One activity a day, at most.
- Nights 4–7: Moorea, a short ferry from Tahiti. A lagoon boat tour one day, the Belvedere Lookout another.
- Nights 8–13: Bora Bora. The lagoon is the attraction. One tour, a lot of rest at the resort.
- Night 14: Tahiti. Back near the Papeete airport.
- Fly home Saturday morning, so caregivers get two full days to recover before work.
For hotels, look for step-free rooms, and a short walk from the boat dock, the wheelchair-accessible luxury hotels list in the table below is a good starting point for Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora.
Plan Your Trip: Our Top Links
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Why It Helps |
Link |
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Wheelchair-accessible luxury hotels (Amex Travel) |
Curated luxury stays with wheelchair-friendly access, a good starting point for Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora with grandparents. |
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|
French Polynesia entry rules (U.S. State Department) |
Valid passport required; no visa for short tourist stays. Rules can change, check before booking. |
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Getting to Bora Bora (Tahiti Tourisme) |
The official guide to the Papeete flight, the island hop, and the boat transfer. |
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Getting Here (Four Seasons Bora Bora) |
A hotel-brand walkthrough of flights and resort boat pickup. |
Goldie’s Table for Travel Products
For lagoon days and the flight-to-boat transfers, choose the products that fit your family. Baby and toddler items are optional for those ages; these are packing suggestions, not part of our 2019 spending total.
|
Product |
Why it helps this trip |
Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
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Helps locate luggage or a gate-checked stroller during the Papeete and Bora Bora transfers. Choose a secure holder. AirTag is for belongings, not monitoring people. |
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A folding option for airports and paved resort paths when a toddler needs a break. Confirm airline handling and boat storage before bringing it. |
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Useful for a baby on outings where a stroller is awkward. Adjust it to the child’s size and keep the face visible and airway clear. |
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Vilebrequin UPF rashguards for adults and kids |
Cover shoulders and arms during beach and boat days. Check each style’s UPF rating, and use sunscreen on exposed skin. |
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Sun protection for exposed skin during outdoor outings. Reapply as labeled, especially after swimming or sweating; check local sunscreen requirements. |
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A sunscreen option for children 6 months and older. Check the exact formula and label, reapply as directed, and combine with shade and clothing. |
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Folding toddler toilet seat |
Makes unfamiliar toilets easier for a toilet-training child. Check that it fits securely, stay close, and clean it before packing it away. |
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Huggies diapers or Pull-Ups |
Pack the child’s usual size in the day bag, with extras for delays. Choose diapers or training pants to match the child’s stage. |
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Huggies baby wipes |
Keep a small pack handy for diaper changes and messy hands during outings. Baby wipes do not disinfect surfaces. |
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Huggies Little Swimmers swim diapers |
For children who need diapers at the pool or beach. Follow the pool’s policy, check frequently, and change promptly; swim diapers are not leakproof. |
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SWIMLINE swim-training suit |
Optional for supervised pool practice only. This training aid does not replace a life jacket; use an appropriately approved life jacket for boating and keep children within reach. |
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BAND-AID flexible bandages and rolled gauze |
Small additions to a travel first-aid kit for minor scrapes. Pack clean dressings and the family’s usual first-aid supplies. |
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Waterproof phone pouch |
Keeps a phone protected from splashes during lagoon tours and boat transfers. Check fit and depth limits, then test the empty pouch before use. |
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Maui Jim polarized sunglasses |
Reduce reflected glare during bright outdoor days, especially around water. Choose a frame that fits comfortably and stays secure. |
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Travel mosquito net |
An optional backup for an adult bed in unscreened lodging. Confirm hanging space and keep loose netting away from babies and young children. |
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Useful for buggy outdoor stops. Follow the exact product’s age and application directions, and keep repellent away from children’s hands, eyes, and mouths. |
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Keeps compatible devices charged abroad. Check the destination’s socket type and your device’s voltage rating; this adapter does not convert voltage. |
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Apple EarPods with USB-C |
Wired audio for a compatible USB-C phone, with no headphone charging required. These do not plug directly into a standard airplane headphone socket. |
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Carrier international daily or monthly plan |
Keeps maps and family calls available abroad. Confirm destination coverage, data limits, call charges, and activation with your carrier before departure. |
Memories Are Priceless
Now the mistake. We went without the grandparents.
It was our first Bora Bora trip, and the people we love most saw it in photos instead of from the dock. Memories are priceless. Go while everyone can still go, travel only gets harder as parents age and walking gets tougher. You worked hard. You earned it. Put three generations in the same picture.
Bottom Line
Bora Bora with a toddler cost us $5,510.29 in 2019, and it was worth every dollar. Plan the three legs, sleep in Papeete if you land late, guard your gate-checked gear if traveling with toddler(s), and bring the grandparents. The lagoon will do the rest.
Disclaimer: GoldieCircle may recommend third-party products and services based on internal evaluation. Such recommendations do not constitute a warranty or guarantee of performance, suitability, or lifespan. All products and services are subject to their respective providers’ terms and conditions. GoldieCircle assumes no liability for any claims or damages arising from the use of any recommended product or service.
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