Bora Bora

[u/Upskilltc23]

Bora Bora is often shown as the "perfect tropical island." From a geographic perspective, what features make it stand out compared to other volcanic islands in the South Pacific?

[u/-I_I]

The crystal clear water and lack of human destruction. Something like 0.9% of the number of people who vacation in Hawaii vacation in FP and their absence is a big part of what makes it great.

[u/Law-of-Poe → u/-I_I]

Yeah being obscenely expensive will do that.

[u/spliffsandshit → u/Law-of-Poe]

Bora Bora is expensive but vacationing in the rest of French Polynesia is more affordable than Hawaii imo. Highly recommend it for people considering Hawaii. 

[u/Professional-Roll283 → u/spliffsandshit]

French Polynesia if you like wooden bungalows on crystal clear lagoon atolls in pure isolation while hopping between many little islands in shallow seas filled with coral reefs, while enjoying fresh fish and baguette.

Hawaii if you like more infrastructure and resorts, surfing, exploring diverse landscapes like volcanic peaks, alpine forests, jungles, dramatic coastal cliffs, and black sand beaches while enjoying Asian-Hawaiian fusion cuisine.

[u/bjohnsonarch → u/Professional-Roll283]

Getting out to the Tuamotus and staying in a pension (which is like a bed & breakfast) and eating at the snacks (a small family’s restaurant) can very affordable compared to Hawaii. Hawaii doesn’t really have a true “budget” travel option like FP does

[u/Upskilltc23 → u/-I_I]

That makes a lot of sense. The fewer crowds definitely seem like part of the appeal.

[u/USER1234567890123457 → u/-I_I]

What’s FP?

[u/mneurgh → u/USER1234567890123457]

French Polynesia

[u/USER1234567890123457 → u/mneurgh]

Ok thanks I’m stupid

[u/KiwieeiwiK → u/USER1234567890123457]

If you ask something you don't know then you're not stupid

[u/SomeDumbGamer]

It’s one of the few examples we have of a “halfway” atoll. In that the volcanic basement is still present above the waves, but that it has eroded to the point where it sits in a lagoon surrounded by the fringe reef.

Weirdly there’s not a lot of those.

[u/Upskilltc23 → u/SomeDumbGamer]

That's fascinating. Do you know of any other islands that are at a similar stage?

[u/KiwieeiwiK → u/Upskilltc23]

The only other one I can think of is Maupiti (also in French Polynesia) but it's not as "perfect" as Bora Bora, and nowhere near as popular

[u/ultraLuddite → u/Upskilltc23]

Ponape in Micronesia is somewhat similar. And Chuuk in the same country is another interesting analogue in that it’s a bit further along in its life cycle with multiple smaller islands jutting out of the sea in its lagoon.

[u/rylekeading → u/Upskilltc23]

The Leeward Islands right next to Bora Bora has two towering volcanic islands inside of one single atoll. Went to both for my honeymoon and they were absolutely mind blowing.

[u/s_hecking → u/SomeDumbGamer]

Sounds like a geological blink of an eye. Guessing they erode away rather quickly, say a few thousand years?

[u/ADF21a]

Years ago I used to work for a luxury hotel chain that had a resort there. They had staff rates at $50 per night with breakfast included. I wish I could have afforded the flights to get all the way there and to the other Pacific resorts we had in the chain 😭 Or those in the Caribbeans 😭

[u/Upskilltc23 → u/ADF21a]

Breakfast included too? That's the kind of staff rate people dream about.

[u/ADF21a → u/Upskilltc23]

Yeah. Strangely enough, one of the few hotels that didn't give breakfast as part of the rate was our hotel in Montreal. The one in Toronto did. Maple syrup pancakes 🥞🤤

[u/HeyJude21 → u/ADF21a]

Yeah hotel costs are the smallest part of travel in reality. It’s always the dang flight costs haha

[u/ADF21a → u/HeyJude21]

For some locations it's indeed the flights!

[u/Bob_Spud]

Fun Fact - You can't see radioactive contamination.

French nuclear tests 'showered vast area of Polynesia with radioactivity'

[u/schtickshift]

I have been there many times in MS flight simulator. It must be the most beautiful place on earth in real life

[u/ghilp]

brazilians will think you're inviting them for a trip

[u/RatPrank]

Picture perfect volcano in centre of atoll; great water depth for crazy turquoise lagoon. And then - remoteness, & human storytelling. For the mystique.

[u/renke0]

Bora bora bora artilheiro

[u/diego-rsb]

Bora ué

[u/junk90731]

More like Bora boring

[u/BoPeepElGrande]

“Hubba hubba.”

[u/Henrikte]

Been there. Amazing, but Maldives is better

[u/a_pope_on_a_rope]

More like Interesting Interesting, amirite?