Optimize with Jacqueline

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It was my dream to go to Bora Bora and stay in an overwater bungalow for my honeymoon. We originally planned to leave the day after our wedding reception—but then the Air Tahiti Nui staff went on strike. People were stranded in Tahiti trying to find ways home through New Zealand. I’d saved credit card points for years, and had to pull off a last-minute pivot to Riviera Maya. We love Mexico, and checking Tulum off our list made it an easy Plan B. Still, I cried.

Finally, 20 months later, we made it to Bora Bora. I almost cried again—this time happy tears—when we opened the door to our lagoon bungalow. It was perfect.

Here’s the breakdown of what we spent:

• Dog sitter: $750
• Hotel charges (credit card): $2,113.16
• Additional hotel charges after points: $2,330.14
• Credit card expenses: $952.04
• Pearls: $591.46
• Airport parking: $164.69
• Cash: $300
• Flights: $2,756

Total: $9,957.49

Why It Was Worth It

We stayed at Le Bora Bora, a Tahitian-owned resort that only hires locals. It felt like real Tahiti—not Hawaii with a touch of Polynesian culture. Le Bora Bora gave us authentic island vibes, incredible service, and a gorgeous overwater bungalow.

We picked the lagoon-view room—the cheapest overwater bungalow—and it was still magical. If you’re trying to cut costs even more, skip the overwater room and get a garden bungalow or mainland room. But for us? Non-negotiable.

Next time, I want the Otemanu view (the mountain). Worth the upgrade.

Tips to Travel Smart

• Go in the off-season (March): Our rebooked March trip was almost half the cost of our original July trip. March had ideal weather—partly cloudy, some rain, and perfect temps.
• Use points strategically: I used credit card points to book the hotel. I book flights directly through airlines for better communication (I once missed a cancellation because I booked through points).
• Book late: I tracked prices until the week before. Rooms were $100 cheaper in August, but by waiting I could’ve saved more points.
• Chase Sapphire card: I get 3x points on travel, so I put everything—even pearls and souvenirs—on the room bill.

Ways We Saved Money

• Included breakfast buffet: We made sandwiches with the French rolls and meats, grabbed bananas and yogurts, and had snacks for lunch. Free chips in the room helped too.
• BYOB: We brought vodka and champagne. Mixed the vodka with the free pineapple soda in the room.
• Activity schedule: Mornings were for snorkeling or scuba. Then lunch, nap, and dress for dinner. We’re not big on sunbathing, so this schedule was perfect.
• Free stuff: Le Bora Bora had amazing kayaking, paddleboarding, and a house reef—where I found an octopus!

Activities Worth Paying For

• Sunset cruise: A must. We’ll do this every time.
• Dinner at Villa Mahana: About $250 with a free taxi, and totally worth it.
• Snorkel/Scuba tour: Around $100 pp. Tip your guides—$20 per person is appreciated.

Skip next time:

• Lagoon Restaurant at The St. Regis
• Bora Bora Yacht Club
• 4×4 tour

How to Do It for $5,000 or Less

• Use points to cover the entire hotel cost
• Don’t buy pearls or souvenirs
• Stick to free activities
• Only do 1–2 excursions
• Eat from the breakfast buffet and bring snacks
• Fly during off-peak times and use overnight flights

If you budget ~$2,800 for flights and ~$2,200 for everything else, it can be done. Travel Sunday to Saturday with overnight flights to optimize your vacation days.

Final Thoughts

I don’t usually go back to places until I’ve checked off my entire travel list, but Bora Bora might be the exception. It was more stunning than I imagined. The pictures don’t capture the calm, the color, the culture—or the French food! I know I might have cried in Riviera Maya because I wasn’t in Bora Bora, but in hindsight… totally justified.

Doing Bora Bora under $10K—dog sitter, pearls, activities and all—was a win. But next time? I’ll aim for under $5K. You got this!