Here we come, French Polynesia

We made it to LA.

But it’s only 5pm and we have to wait till midnight.

Thank goodness we get to loiter in an airline lounge (thanks, Chase Reserve for the Priority Lounge access!) My bud and I settle into our seats.

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From our seats we have a vantage point to our departure gate. It’s sort of fun, sitting up here and spying on other guests.

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My bud and I kill time by people watching. Pokin decides to kill time by helping herself to pieces of sushi and celery sticks, one piece at a time. How inefficient, I think. “I’m killing time,” Pokin reminds us.

Eventually midnight rolls around and finally we get to board!

How do I know we’re going to a french destination?

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Red wine? Cheese? Mini baguette? Dead. Giveway. Anyway, it’s a red-eye, so time for some sleep.

At 5am in the morning we roll into the Pape’ete, Tahiti. Flight 1, Flight 2 done. We collect our luggage and are greeted with leis. They didn’t count right and forgot my bud’s. I think my bud’s too sleepy to notice. Time to loiter again in an airport. I’m like a pro now at this.

The Pape’ete airport was unexpected. For how many tourists come through and how expensive Bora Bora is, I was expecting the airport to be nicer. But it feels a little older, a little worn down. Only later did I learn that French Polynesia is still a pretty poor country.

Around 7:30am, it’s time to board Flight 3 to Bora Bora! We did not realize it was open seating so it’s first on, first pick of where you sit. Lucky for us, we sat on the side of the plane where we got a first view of the island. I had to climb over Nicholas so I could get a good view, but a view I got! Looks like the video games I play!

The Bora Bora airport, built in 1943, was actually the first airport in French Polynesia. It was built by the US Army during World War II and all international flights used to route through this airport first. It wasn’t until 1960 that the Fa’a’ā International Airport opened in Pape’ete.

The Bora Bora airport is located on the fringes on its own island, and so from here, you have to get on a boat. Inside the airport were different booths set up by the hotels. At the same time we saw where we had to be, a fellow approached us (creepy a little ?)

“Mr. Scheri?” he says. “La ora na. Please show us your luggage and we’ll be glad to help you onto your boat.”

So we find our luggage and head out to the docks. I expected some sort of big boat. Our host points to the tiniest boat in the dock.

“Please, this way into the boat.” Turns out we were the only guests they were picking up at that time. Nice!! Our own private boat ride!

“I hope you don’t mind we chose this boat.” Our guide says as we start our journey. “It’s small, but it’s fast.” Off we go!

Our journey takes us from one corner of the lagoon eastwards. It takes about 15 minutes.

And then we are here! And were greeted by a whole entourage and some fresh mango juice.

Lucky for us, our room was available right away. But first, a tour. Every room at St Regis comes with your own personal butler, and it was time for our butler to give us a tour of the facilities. By golf cart! I hope to use our butler a lot. I want to order plenty of hot cocoa!

St Regis Bora Bora is a 44-acre property so it’s quite spread out! To get around the resort you can either call for a golf cart ride, or else you can take any of the bikes that are scattered across the property and cycle on the bike paths. The resort features two pools, several beaches, a tennis court, gym, spa, multiple restaurants, a couple baby sharks and a lagoonarium stocked full of fish that you can snorkel with. There are also paddle boards, kayaks and other equipment that’s free to use.

Photo courtesy of St Regis Bora Bora

But I want to see our room! And so, after our tour our little golf cart pulls up to our room. We were given room 118. Nicholas told me we had gotten a Deluxe Overwater Bungalow, but it looks like they upgraded us to one with a Mt Otemanu view. Sweet!