Once back in the U.S., GIs began to spread the word about how gorgeous French Polynesia was.

military packed up and left without warning, all these soldiers left the island, leaving behind many new single mothers. At the time, Bora Bora didn’t have an airport and there wasn’t ferry service between the islands so pretty much nobody was traveling there (now, numerous ferries are moving between different islands).īetween 19, approximately 5,000 American soldiers were stationed in Bora Bora. wanted to set up a refueling base in the Pacific for military convoys making their way from Panama to Australia and almost overnight, French Polynesia’s Teavanui Pass was dynamited and a base popped up on Bora Bora. Until 1941, visitors didn’t really go to French Polynesia, but this changed when Japan attacked Hawaii, and the U.S. French Polynesia was colonized by the French (surprise!) and covers the same approximate continental area as all of Europe. French Polynesia is smack dab in the middle of the triangle and consists of five archipelagos and 118 islands. The Polynesian triangle encompasses over 1,000 islands and 300,000 square miles, extending from Hawaii (the northern tip) to New Zealand (the southwestern tip) and over to Easter Island (the southeastern tip). Last June, the Hawaiian Islands received 265,157 visitors per day while the Islands of Tahiti received about 230,000 visitors throughout the year.įirst off, let’s break down the idea of French Polynesia for a second. This comparison seemed a bit far-fetched so I figured someone started a rumor on the islands that everyone picked up on so I decided to fact-check it. Where did I get this fun fact? From virtually every tour guide and hotel representative I met in French Polynesia, actually. Don’t get me wrong, I had a great time in Hawaii and it’s definitely one of the most beautiful places on earth, but the more I travel and the older I get, the less tolerant I am of crowds (and the more I begin sounding like my grandfather, apparently).Īs such, I jumped at the chance to visit French Polynesia, which receives fewer tourists in an entire year than Hawaii receives in a single day. Whether it’s beaches and bars or museums and mountaintops, large groups of tourists often make a visit more difficult, annoying, and expensive. Nothing will ruin a vacation quite like crowds. Offering traditionally designed rooms and villas that are nestled in a beautiful tropical garden, on the beach or suspended above the dazzling lagoon, you are only a 10-minute boat ride from the airport and 15 minutes across the lagoon from the mainland village of Vaitape.T his is the latest in our series on underrated destinations, It’s Still a Big World. Poised on Motu Tevairoa, Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts boasts authentic Polynesian style and architecture. Inspired by timeless traditional Polynesian architecture and style, Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa offers an intimate setting with thatched huts and overwater bungalows in the heart of a natural setting, where the scents of lush tropical vegetation and an enchanting vanilla fragrance fill the air. Set on the beautiful private islet Motu Tautau, this coral sand island is a five-minute boat ride away from Taha'a island, famous for its lush vanilla plantations and its black pearl farms. Tahiti: Le Taha'a and Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts Dinner PackageĪn exclusive member of the Relais & Châteaux hotel collection, the Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa is the ultimate Tahitian hideaway.

Costco vacation packages tahiti