Gift ideas for Bora Bora travelers

Underwater Camera

Snorkeling and scuba are huge attractions in Bora Bora. If your newlyweds are planning to spend time in the water, give them a gift to capture the moment.

A point-and-shoot underwater camera can be lots of fun, even just for playing in the surf. And a GoPro makes it easy to get video of adventures both in and out of the water.

Here are some underwater camera suggestions from Amazon:

• GoPro
• FujiFilm FinePix
• Olympus Tough

Kindle e-reader

Put an entire library in the palm of their hand. A Kindle can hold thousands of books and it’s easy to add more on-the-go. Bora Bora has no bookstores and even if it did, the selection would likely be only in French.

Not sure if they’ve already got a Kindle? Give them an Amazon gift card instead. They can use the funds to buy more e-books, or get the e-reader they’ve always wanted.

Click here to shop Amazon Kindle

Packable backpack

Super handy, but taking up almost no luggage space, a packable backpack is a great gift for any Bora Bora traveler. A drawstring backpack is perfect for taking essentials to the beach or out on a tour boat for the day.

For a fun gift presentation, fill the backpack with reef-safe sunscreen, lip balm, and other beach essentials.

Here are some packable backpack suggestions from Amazon:

• Eddie Bauer Stowaway
• Notabag 3-in-1
• VenturePal Lightweight

Travel bluetooth speaker

Have you seen those amazing Bora Bora overwater bungalows? Your honeymooners need some tunes to go with that setting!

Look for something small and lightweight that produces decent sound. Since it’ll probably go to the beach, water-resistance is nice too.

Here are some travel bluetooth speaker suggestions from Amazon:

• EWA portable speaker
• Bose Soundlink Flex
• JBL Clip

French Polynesian currency

Of course one of the best honeymoon gifts you can give is cash. Take it up a notch by giving them the local French Polynesian currency. Check with your bank or your local AAA office, where you can order foreign currency for a small fee.

Want more travel gift ideas?

Don’t miss my list of top travel gadgets and gear! Great gifts for every traveler here.

Bora Bora Quick Guide

Want to know what it’s like to visit Bora Bora? Here’s a 60-second quick look:

Click here to listen to my Go Informed podcast episode about Bora Bora

More tropical travel tips from Go Informed

Considering a trip to the tropics? Be sure to check out my posts about these oceanic destinations:

• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Rangiroa, French Polynesia
• Wakatobi, Indonesia
• Big Island Hawaii, USA
• Bonaire, Caribbean

This post contains affiliate links

The post 5 Fabulous Wedding Gift Ideas for Bora Bora Honeymooners appeared first on Go Informed.

Quick note that this is NOT a paid post. As with everything on GoInformed.net, it’s my effort to help other travelers learn more about an amazing travel destination. Should you wish to support GoInformed, feel free to click an ad or check out one of the Amazon links. Thanks!

Exploring Wakatobi Dive Resort

Nestled against tropical wilderness, the resort comprises about 30 bungalows and villas. At the heart is the Long House, which holds the front desk and dive center. An excellent restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Out front is the bustling jetty pier, where the dive boats come and go all day and into the evening.

Like a luxury ocean-explorer summer camp

Since everyone stays in their own bungalow, the resort has the feel of a very luxurious summer camp. Even at full capacity, only about 60 guests visit at a time. Staff will know your name within a day, and you’ll know them and many other guests quickly too.

Flights arrive and depart at Wakatobi just twice a week, making the enclave feel even more secluded. The rhythm of the days – breakfast, dive, lunch, dive, dinner, bed – keep things simple and really help guests just be in the moment.

Shoes optional

Aside from the jetty, most of Wakatobi is packed sand. Shoes are totally optional here, and actually are not allowed inside the Long House, bungalows, or restaurant.

Sustainable luxury

Located on a remote island in Indonesia’s Sulawesi region, Wakatobi is a true desert island experience. The resort makes its own delicious fresh water, processes waste, and, up until a few years ago, even generated all the electricity for itself and the neighboring village.

Sustainability is the overriding mission here, and every system, activity, and staff member reflects this philosophy. The entire resort is built by local craftspeople from materials sourced on the island or nearby. It’s a lot like if Gilligan’s Island was a Four Seasons resort.

Immersed in nature

At Wakatobi Dive Resort, nature takes center stage. Not only in the ocean experiences but also on land. Bungalows are widely spaced, with natural flora and fauna in between. Be prepared to encounter a resident monitor lizard or exotic bug. If you’re a mosquito-magnet, be sure to pack lots of bug spray for evening hours.

Wakatobi staff speaks many languages, including excellent English

The team at Wakatobi is both hyper-local and international. The resort employs over three hundred Indonesian staff, most from nearby villages, as well as a contingent of live-in international workers.

The front desk, restaurant, and dive guides all speak excellent English. Many of the dive guides come from around the world, so on the boat you may also hear German, Spanish, or Japanese. Every member of the team – from the general manager to the landscape crew – are friendly and eager to make your vacation perfect.

Yes there is Wi-Fi

Although the resort has a very off-the-grid atmosphere, guests enjoy plenty of modern amenities including decent Wi-Fi, European-style bath fixtures, coffee makers in every room, and of course a minibar.

Wi-Fi is solid but I’d advise downloading the movies for your plane ride in advance from home. There is also cell service if you need it.

In the category of “they thought of everything”, you’ll find power strips with universal adapters in every bungalow. There are even a selection of local fish ID books for bedtime reading.

Diving and snorkeling at Wakatobi Dive Resort

Above water is delightful, but the number one reason to visit Wakatobi is the reef.

Surrounded by miles of pristine coral gardens, Wakatobi is a true scuba and snorkel paradise. Most guests spend almost as much time under water as above.

The reef in front of the resort is open for exploration anytime day or night, and there are three scheduled boat dives every day.

Diving so easy you just have to breathe

When you dive at Wakatobi, all you have to do is show up at the right time. The resort operates with Swiss efficiency.

Three boat dives are scheduled each day, and, if you’ve opted-in, your gear and personal dive guide will be on the boat and ready before you even arrive.

Dive helpers stand by to assist with tanks and gear, and even hand you a hot towel at the end of the dive.

The Wakatobi dive boats

Wakatobi’s beautiful wooden boats were built locally, specifically for scuba divers. Tank holders run the center of the interior, with plenty of bench seating along the sides.

When it’s time to jump in, divers and snorkelers splash through the side openings.

Wakatobi’s dive sites

There are dozens of dive sites within a short boat ride from the resort. Almost all are also excellent for snorkelers.

Drift dives are common, and sometimes happen on the fly. Wakatobi’s boats stand ready to pick divers up wherever the current may take them.

Dive guides (“Dive Experience Managers” in Wakatobi parlance) lead small groups, and will tailor the dive to the divers. For an extra charge, you can reserve your own DEM for just one or two divers. Guests staying in a one- or two-bedroom villa automatically get a private DEM.

Snorkeling is a good as diving at Wakatobi

For non-divers, or divers who want to take a day off, Wakatobi offers some of the best snorkeling in the world. Many of the reefs top out at just a few meters below the surface, making the view extraordinary for anyone willing to put on a mask and take a look.

My snorkeling experience at Wakatobi was beyond anything I’ve seen, even better than Bonaire or Bora Bora. The sheer amount and variation of corals is astounding, and of course this means anemones, sponges, and all types of fish and sea creatures.

Snorkelers experience the same reefs and the same service as divers

Snorkelers go to the same dive spots as the scuba divers, which means I was on the same boat with my diver husband and daughter. I had my own Dive Experience Manager too.

Just like the divers, my guide briefed me every time we prepared for a snorkel. She helped me learn about what we were seeing and was my navigator on the reef.

My usual experience is that snorkeling is seen as a second-best activity, but not at Wakatobi. In fact, five days passed before anyone even asked why I wasn’t diving. Many of the divers were doing both, since it’s hard to stay in those top few meters with a dive-tank on.

And the incredible house reef, right in front of the resort, was a fantastic snorkel almost everyone took the time for.

Wakatobi Dive Resort dining

Just like at summer camp, Wakatobi provides all the food for your stay. Dining and basic soft drinks are all included with the price of your accommodation.

There is one restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Snacks are provided on the dive boats and in the Long House lobby every afternoon.

A sunset bar is open every evening on the jetty – or in the Long House if weather doesn’t cooperate.

The food is fantastic

Meals are served buffet-style, which means lots of options and variety. Even after dozens of meals, we never got tired of the delightful offerings from Wakatobi’s kitchen.

The buffet always featured common Western dishes and a few Indonesian specialties. It was a fabulous way to try the local cuisine without a big commitment. TIP: try all the Indonesian offerings.

Fish fresh from the sea

Especially stellar were the fish dishes, featuring seafood caught in the waters right off the resort. Fishing is the main industry in the area, and Wakatobi sources almost 100% of its seafood from the village next door.

Sushi was offered a couple of times, and my husband and daughter probably could’ve eaten it for hours!

Excellent attention for special dietary needs

I, however, cannot eat sushi or any other seafood due to a severe allergy. This can be an issue when traveling, especially overseas. The team at Wakatobi was incredibly attentive to my needs.

Before we even arrived, Wakatobi sent a questionnaire to find out about allergies and other dietary restrictions. Restaurant manager Ibram introduced himself as soon as I walked into the restaurant and gave me a tour of the buffet.

For every single meal, Ibram or another staff member showed me which items had seafood so I’d know what was safe. Often Ibram offered to have the kitchen make me a special version of a dish so I could try it. TIP: If Ibram offers to make you something, say yes!

Even on the dive boat I had my own special snack, clearly marked.

Wonderful staff

The team in the restaurant, as throughout the entire Wakatobi experience, was incredibly warm and welcoming. We really felt like we were dining with friends in their extraordinary home.

The restaurant staff lives at Wakatobi, just like the guests, and they are there for every single meal. Seeing the same smiling faces and chatting at every meal, we really made a connection with Ibram and his team. It was really hard to say goodbye at the end of the trip.

A typical day at Wakatobi Dive Resort

Wakatobi’s days are very structured, making it easy to get into the flow. The mealtimes are scheduled to best support divers heading out on the boats.

Breakfast: 6:30-9:00am

Breakfast is early, before the dive boats leave at 7:30am. Don’t worry – you won’t need to take time to collect your gear and get it to the boat. The dive support team is up early to make sure everything is in its place ready to go. All you need to do is show up.

The day before diving you’ll be assigned a boat with your guide. Want to skip one? Just note it on the white board so your gear stays on land.

Dive/snorkel boats leave at 7:30am

Boats leave at precisely 7:30am. No waiting for stragglers, who are assumed to be taking the morning off.

Depending on the dive sites, the boats will return to the dock for up-time before heading out again around 10am. On some days the boats will stay away until lunchtime.

Lunch: 12:30-2:30pm

After diving there’s just enough time to head back to your bungalow for a quick shower, then off to the restaurant for a hearty lunch.

Afternoon or night dive/snorkel

The third boat dive/snorkel of the day alternates between afternoon and night. Afternoon boats leave around 3:00, night dives around 5:30. Many guests dive all three boat dives every day, we did this on some days.

Jetty bar: opens 4:30pm

Most evenings we stopped for a drink on the jetty before heading to dinner. It was a great place to chat with other guests and share stories from our time at Wakatobi, and other world-wide dive destinations.

Once the sun set around 6:00, it was fascinating to look in the water off the pier for flashlight fish and other bioluminescent creatures. Everyone at Wakatobi is excited about the reef – even the security guard who happily pointed out a flathead crocodilefish with his powerful torch.

Dinner: 7:00-9:00pm

Dinner was always a delight, with a highlighted dish like Indonesian Soto, pasta, or carved roast beef, plus a buffet full of options. The restaurant also has a robust wine list,offering selections from around the world.

Early bedtime

Even though the jetty bar is technically open until 10pm, there is basically no nightlife at Wakatobi. Most everyone is getting up early to dive the next morning, and we were all really tired.

Plus the beds are super comfortable.

Things to do besides dive and snorkel at Wakatobi

There actually are a few other things to do at Wakatobi outside of the ocean.

Wakatobi Dive Resort Spa

I highly recommend paying a visit to the spa for a massage or other body treatment. Housed in a one-room bungalow, the spa is exactly as it should be at Wakatobi. I indulged in several treatments and all were really therapeutic and relaxing.

Because the spa is so tiny, be sure to plan your treatment in advance, maybe even booking before you arrive.

Resort tours

A few times a week, the Wakatobi staff offers a behind-the-scenes tour of the resort. It’s amazing how self-sustaining and eco-conscious the operation really is. You’ll get a sense of the place and the people who built the resort and keep it running.

Village tours

Do not miss the opportunity to visit the village on Wakatobi’s island, where the bulk of the resort staff lives.

Home to about 1500 people, a few hundred of whom work at the resort, the village of Lamanggau is just a quick boat ride away. Your tour is led by Wakatobi staff who live in the town and are happy to introduce guests to their Indonesian fishing village.

Don’t be surprised if the local kids create a parade behind you. Visitors from the resort are an exciting event, especially after over two years with no guests at all.

When we were there some of the village moms had set up tables selling Indonesian handicrafts like jewelry and sarongs. There was no pressure to buy but of course we picked up a few things. Bring small bills, 100,000 Rupiah and under, if you want to buy something.

Educational presentations

Wakatobi’s dive guides are a wealth of information about ocean life. Several times a week they give short talks about what’s happening on the reef. It’s a great time to learn more about what we see in the water and to ask questions from these in-house experts.

Getting to Wakatobi Dive Resort

Getting to and from the Wakatobi Dive Resort is a journey, no matter where you come from. Luckily the resort provides a ton of support to help make the trip as easy as possible.

Wakatobi Dive Resort is located on a remote island in the Sulawesi region of Indonesia. To get there you must first arrive on Bali, then take a charter flight to the Wakatobi airstrip.

Arriving at Bali DPS airport

Since every guest goes through Bali, the resort has a whole team of people available to make your arrival, and stay, there as easy as possible. We took advantage of all the help that was offered.

Immediately after stepping off the plane we were met by a Wakatobi rep who helped us through passport control, the Covid checkpoint, and customs. At baggage claim he enlisted a porter to help with luggage, then we were whisked off to the pre-arranged ride to our hotel.

After two days of travel just to get to Bali, this assistance was invaluable. Plus we arrived at close to midnight, not knowing a word of Bahasa or Balinese. Our driver, Suka, spoke excellent English – in fact, he was also our Bali tour guide a couple of days later.

Departing Bali to Wakatobi

There are no commercial flights to Wakatobi’s airport. The resort charters a plane twice a week to transport guests, staff, and supplies to the resort.

The flights leave Bali early in the morning, so guests must arrive at least the day before heading to Wakatobi. We chose to arrive three days ahead.

After an early shuttle ride from our familiar driver, we were met at the airport entrance by more helpful Wakatobi assistants. They took care of our bags and got us through security, taking us directly to the check-in counter. In moments we were ushered to a private lounge for breakfast and coffee.

At the lounge we met some other guests, and a few staff members who were making their way to Wakatobi too. When it was time to go, the team escorted us directly out to the tarmac and onto the flight.

The flight from Bali to Wakatobi is about 2.5 hours and is very scenic. It’s also full of anticipation as we wonder what meets us there.

Arriving at Wakatobi

The Wakatobi airport is about as simple as it gets. Just an airstrip, a small waiting room, and a control tower.

There’s no baggage claim or even anywhere to go indoors. Guests basically walk straight off the plane, across the tarmac and grass, and into the gracious hands of Wakatobi hosts.

The airport isn’t on the same island as Wakatobi, so this is not quite the end of the trip. There is still a quick car ride, then about a ten-minute boat ride to the resort. It can all be a bit disorienting, but Wakatobi staff is there the entire way.

Once on the boat, we were handed cool towels and even cooler drinks. Our hosts explained the check-in process – which is entirely handled in your bungalow – and gave us a sense of the schedule for our first day.

Our luggage was collected from the plane and delivered directly to our villa within a couple of hours.

Departing Wakatobi

Departure day starts early with luggage collection around 6:30am. Final check-out is handled at the desk in the Long House while waiting for the boat back to the airport around 9:30am.

On arrival in Bali we were once again greeted by Wakatobi reps who helped us collect our luggage and get out of the airport.

Our flight from Bali wasn’t for many hours so Wakatobi reserved a day-stay for us at the Novotel right at the Bali airport. The Wakatobi rep helped us get our luggage there and made sure hotel check-in went smoothly.

Here are six simple tips to make all that air travel easier, from my newsletter.

What to bring to Wakatobi Dive Resort

Kindle e-reader

There is a library in the resort’s Long House with lots of books left behind by past guests (mostly in English). However, if you’d like to bring your own beachside reading, the best option is a Kindle.

You can load dozens of books on your lightweight Kindle before even leaving home, then add more using the resort’s wifi. Take a look at Amazon’s Kindle options here.

Packable backpack

One of the best things about Wakatobi’s dive service is that you don’t have to carry your stuff. Dive assistants handle all the gear for you.

But if you want to bring an extra layer, or your phone, or sunscreen, onto the boat, it’s handy to have a lightweight bag along. I always toss a packable drawstring backpack into my suitcase.

Here’s an Amazon link to the type of backpack I suggest

Lots of swimwear

Wakatobi is definitely in the tropics, which means lots of rain and humidity. You’ll have space to hang wet swimwear outside, but it still may take a long time to get completely dry. Be sure to bring enough options so you won’t have to put on a damp suit.

Underwater camera

At Wakatobi you’ll see photographers of every persuasion, from pro rigs to GoPros. Even if you don’t usually dive or snorkel with a camera, now is the time to bring along something to at least capture a view of the house reef.

Sunscreen and bug-repellent

While there is a shop at the resort, that sells a fabulous mix of Wakatobi souvenirs, the selection of things like sunscreen is super-limited. You’ll likely just find one type on hand.

Bring a healthy supply of your favorite reef-safe sunscreen. And, if mosquitos are typically a problem for you, you’ll want to bring bug-repellent and bite cream too.

Extra medication and toiletries

Do not expect to pick up an extra tube of your American toothpaste, or any other sundries you’d find at home. The resort supplies a nice amenity kit in each room but if you’ve got your go-to product, be sure to pack plenty.

In our post-2020 world we should all remember that plans can change and trips can get waylaid on absolutely no notice. Make sure you bring a couple of weeks’ worth of extra medication and anything else you absolutely must have (like disposable contact lenses), just in case you get “stranded” on the island.

A modest outfit for the village tour

In general you’ll find the Indonesian culture dresses more conservatively than the US or Europe. If you intend to visit the village, or tour in Bali, you’ll want to have a shirt that covers the tops of your arms, and pants or a skirt that cover your knees.

Supplies for the village school

If you can find a little room in your luggage, bring a few supplies for the local school. The resort collects notepaper, pencils, crayons, and coloring books to distribute to the kids.

What not to bring to Wakatobi Dive Resort

Shoes

Wakatobi is not kidding when they say shoes aren’t allowed in the restaurant. Or the Long House, or on the boats, or in the bungalows.

This is one vacation where you literally only need a pair of flip-flops the entire time. Many guests go completely barefoot everywhere.

Dressy clothes

Wet swimwear is not welcome in the restaurant, but there is definitely a casual island-vibe, day and night, at Wakatobi. Most guests wore tees or polos at dinner, or easy sundresses.

Make-up

Everybody is there to play in the ocean, which means you won’t run into a fancy wedding party or someone from another resort, just other Wakatobi guests.

Tinted sunscreen and a little lip gloss is the most you need at Wakatobi. Since it’s only a matter of hours before getting wet again, make-up and hair dryers are superfluous.

Water bottle

As part of Wakatobi’s many sustainability efforts, a reusable water bottle is assigned to each diver/snorkeler from the first dive. You don’t need to bring water or even your own bottle to the island.

Your cup will be filled with fresh water, ready for you when you step onto the boat, then topped off with hot tea or cocoa after each dive. No need to keep track of it, the dive team has this covered.

Fresh water is always close at hand, both in pitchers delivered to your bungalow, and in common areas like the Long House lobby.

Cash

At Wakatobi, there is no tipping during your stay. Tipping is not really a thing in Indonesia, at least not the way it is in the US. 

You really don’t need cash at all on the island, unless you plan to buy something in the village. Even this can be added to your bill if you wish.

When you check out, you can add an optional shared tip to your final bill, but this is totally up to you. There are two shared tip pools you may contribute to – one for the dive team, and one for the local staff. This is where you can show extra appreciation to the guys who carried your gear, the bartender, the chef, and even the landscaper.

Other Wakatobi tips

This is not the ideal vacation if you’re not interested in getting in the ocean

As much as I’d like to say this is a destination for everyone, and I do believe everyone should see a reef like this for themselves, Wakatobi is not ideal for some travelers.

If you aren’t interested in getting into the water, you will likely feel left out of the fun here. It’s not a deliberate exclusion, just know that this place is a Mecca for divers and ocean enthusiasts. Pretty much all the talk at dinner and everywhere else will be about what everyone saw on the reef that day.

There are other activities, including just reading a book in a hammock, but this is not the type of resort that offers parasailing and taquila tastings, or even a pool. The playground is the incredible ocean. If this doesn’t flip your switch, you’ll probably want to consider a different destination.

By the way, kids are absolutely welcome at Wakatobi. A kids’ club is available, and kids can snorkel – and of course dive too if they’re certified.

Diving happens rain or shine

Rain is hard and heavy, often accompanied by lightning. This does not stop the dive schedule.

The good news is that the rain is warm, just like the ocean, and it doesn’t usually last too long. You always have to option to skip a dive if you don’t want to go out, but really you’re just going to get wet anyway so it’s not a big deal.

Be ready to follow a schedule

This is not the sort of vacation where you wake up whenever you want and then decide what to do for the day. You definitely have the option to opt in/out of activities, but will need to follow the set schedule.

It does take a few days to get used to the system, but then it’s really nice not making any decisions about what to do when. The dive guides are great at helping guests get the hang of it. But if you really bristle at being on a schedule, this is not for you.

There is no nightlife

Once dinner’s over, everybody goes to bed. Even night dives are done by 7:30pm. Expect early nights and early mornings at Wakatobi.

Spend a few days on Bali before Wakatobi

Getting to Wakatobi involves a morning flight from Bali, twice a week. Every guest has to arrive on Bali at least the day before.

Try to arrange a few days in Bali before heading to Wakatobi. It’ll give you time to adjust to the time zone and the culture.

After the idyllic pace on Wakatobi, Bali could be quite jarring. If you’re going to add Bali to your trip, plan to do it before rather than after your time at the resort.

See below for some quick Bali tips

Use the Wakatobi office to book your Bali transfers and tour

Wakatobi’s team is happy to help get you around on Bali, and can also arrange tours and hotels. We had a great experience using their help.

The Pelagian dive yacht

If you want an even more intensive dive experience, consider the Pelagian Dive Yacht. The yacht sails from Wakatobi resort and visits more far-flung reefs on a one-week itinerary.

Featuring twelve crew for ten guests, the Pelagian does four dives a day. Snorkelers are equally welcome and get their own guide. Since the boat is small, plan to book far in advance, probably at least a year out if you have specific dates in mind.

Quick Bali tips

Use the airport Novotel for a day stay or short overnight

If you’ve got a long layover in Bali, or are flying in the night before leaving for Wakatobi, book a room at the Bali airport Novotel. It’s right across from the airport entrance and has a decent restaurant, pool, and gym. You can reserve a night or just a few hours there.

Here’s a TripAdvisor link to the Bali airport Novotel.

For a longer stay, try the Westin Nusa Dua

We stayed three nights at the lovely Westin Nusa Dua. The location is great, right on the beach, not too far from the Bali DPS airport.

The pool is huge and is the perfect place to fight off jetlag. Plus the hotel has multiple restaurants, including a fantastic breakfast buffet, so you don’t have to worry about finding food as you adjust to the new place and time. There’s a beach path to explore neighboring resorts and their restaurants too.

Here’s a TripAdvisor link to the Westin Nusa Dua.

Take a day tour with a Wakatobi guide

If you have a couple of days on Bali, be sure to have the Wakatobi office book a tour for you. We had a fantastic day with our guide Suka.

With his excellent English, great humor, and local knowledge of Bali’s terrain and traditions, Suka helped us experience Bali in a way we never could’ve on our own. Wakatobi’s Bali office offers several standard day-tour options, but you can feel free to customize as you wish.

I highly recommend requesting a stop at a coffee plantation. It was a big highlight of our day.

Pin this post for later

Click here to save this post on Pinterest for future reference

More tropical destination tips from Go Informed

Want to learn about other world-class scuba and snorkel destinations? Be sure to check out my posts about:

• Bora Bora
• Rangiroa
• Bonaire
• Big Island Hawaii

Learn more about Wakatobi on the resort’s official website here.

Bora Bora quick guide

Comment below

Please leave a question or comment below.

This post contains affiliate links

The post Wakatobi Dive Resort: So Easy You Just Have to Breathe appeared first on Go Informed.

Hawaii is a spectacular vacation destination anytime, but as an antidote to the stress of the past couple of years it’s especially hard to beat. Restaurants, activities, and even hotel lobbies are outdoors and there is plenty of tropical atmosphere to clear away all your quarantine blues.

Traveling to Hawaii during COVID-19 does present some unique challenges however. Here are eight simple tips to know before you go to Hawaii in 2022.

This post was last updated on March 10, 2022.

1 – Reserve your rental car first

No kidding – your rental car might be the hardest thing to book in Hawaii. Before you even buy your plane ticket or reserve your lodging, be sure to take a look at rental car rates and availability.

In order to survive the COVID shutdown, the rental car companies sold off a large chunk of their fleets. Now that demand is bouncing back, there just aren’t enough cars for Hawaii’s eager visitors.

Add in a labor shortage as staffing continues to ramp up, and you have the recipe for sold-out rental cars, high prices, and long lines at the counter. Even if you have Gold service, or similar, you will probably have to talk to a clerk to get your car keys. Hawaii wants rental car agencies to verify that travelers are exempt from quarantine before handing over the keys. (See the Hawaii Safe Travels info below).

Pack your patience and be ready to pay a higher price than last time. And be sure to lock in your rental car reservation ASAP. If you want to wait and see if the price will come down, make a refundable reservation right now but don’t pre-pay. This way you can cancel and re-book if the price drops, but you’ll have the car locked in if it doesn’t.

Make reservations for everything in advance

Same goes for reservations for excursions and even dining. Travel is ramping up faster than staffing can keep up, plus Hawaii is limiting capacity for almost everything. Make sure you make your reservations as far in advance as possible. If you wait until you get there to decide what to do, you will likely miss out.

If you’re heading to the Big Island be sure to check out my posts about tours at the Greenwell Farms coffee plantation and the amazing Ocean Rider Seahorse farm.

2 – Register on the Hawaii Safe Travels website

Note that beginning March 26, 2022, there will be no COVID-related requirements for arriving domestic passengers to Hawaii. If you are traveling earlier in March 2022, be sure to read the info below – otherwise you can skip right over to tip #3.

The state of Hawaii has strict rules for travelers during COVID-19. In order to avoid a mandatory quarantine, visitors are currently required to show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arrival in the islands.

The best resource for current requirements is at https://www.gohawaii.com/travel-requirements Be sure to keep eye on this site as your trip approaches since requirements can change at any time.

Regardless of the requirements, all travelers will need to register with the state on the Hawaii Safe Travels website. This is where you’ll upload a photo of your vaccination card or your negative test results, and answer a health questionnaire.

Every Hawaii traveler needs a Hawaii Safe Travels login, but kids under 18 can be listed as an “additional traveler” on an adult’s account. You can set up this registration even before you have a trip fully booked.

Bring your vaccination card and your Hawaii Safe Travels login info with you

Be sure to write down your Hawaii Safe Travels login and password, and carry it with your travel documents. You may be asked to log in to the website at your departure and/or arrival airport.

Once you’ve uploaded your proof of vaccination or negative COVID test result to your Hawaii Safe Travels account, you’ll receive a QR code that will be scanned at the airport. The code changes once the airline scans it in, which is why you may need to log out and log back in to get that updated code. So be sure you’re phone is charged too.

Get your Hawaii pre-clear wristband at your departing airport

As a traveler to Hawaii, you’ll have at least one extra airport checkpoint to clear. Your airline will likely ask to see your Hawaii Safe Travels QR code, and may ask you to login to the website too. This will happen either at the main check-in counter for your flight or at the gate. Make sure you allow a little extra time for this.

Once the airline is assured that Hawaii has you cleared to visit, you’ll get a wristband to wear on the flight. Keep it on all the way until you check-in for your lodging. The wristband acts as a signal that you’ve been cleared to travel, but you may still be asked to show your Hawaii Safe Travels QR code at your hotel or even to the rental car agent.

If you don’t get this wristband before boarding your flight, you’ll have an extra line to wait in once you get to Hawaii. So be sure to look for the special Hawaii check-in counter at your departure airport, or ask the agent at your gate for the Hawaii flight.

3 – Expect a modified flight experience

Everything from your check-in interactions, to waiting at the gate, to in-flight service will likely be different than the last time you flew. Following directions and being patient will go a long way to improving your in-transit experience.

Limited service on board flights to Hawaii during COVID-19 operations

At a minimum, a flight to Hawaii will be around six hours. Be aware that your airline may have limited food and beverage service on board. Ordering your food choice ahead is strongly advised. You’ll probably also notice only a couple of beverage services, even on a six-hour flight.

A big reason for the limited service is to keep interactions on board to a minimum. You are required to wear a mask throughout the flight, except briefly to eat or drink. Airlines aren’t giving a lot of opportunities to take those masks off.

Appreciate that flight crew

It should go without saying that every airline flight crew has had a rough year. Make their life easier by keeping that mask on and following the rules.

If you want to do something extra special, bring a treat for your flight attendants. I brought some fancy chocolate bars, enough for the pilots too, as a thank you. It’s easy to do and makes a big impression.

Be patient with your fellow travelers

The airport may seem a bit more chaotic than you remember. That’s because many of us haven’t been in one for a long time. Those road-warrior business travelers still aren’t flying, so expect it to take a little longer to load the flight and get everything into the overhead bins.

4 – Bring a variety of PPE

Expect Hawaii to take a little longer than most places to remove mask and distancing mandates. Remember, this island chain is the most remote center of population in the world. Medical facilities on most of the islands are very limited and it’s just not good if an epidemic breaks out here.

You’ll want a robust supply of PPE for your stay. Bring antibacterial wipes for your airplane seat, and pretty much everywhere else.

Useful masks and accessories for your Hawaii vacation

Expect to be required to wear a mask indoors, and possibly also outdoors when on resort property and at the airport. Bring a selection of lightweight masks so you can rotate to whatever’s most comfortable.

I also recommend using a mask frame like this, which really helps with comfort, especially for the extended time on the plane.

The other thing I really suggest is a lanyard for your mask. There’s a lot of on-and-off with masks, especially at the pool or beach. Wearing it around your neck on a lanyard makes it a little harder to forget to put back on.

5 – Plan for the unexpected

Even though things seem to be returning to normal, 2020 taught us that we should always expect the unexpected. Pack enough medication and essentials to get you through a two week stay, in case you find yourself in quarantine or caught in an unexpected travel delay.

Keep an eye on travel guidance from the State of Hawaii, the CDC, and your home state. Policies can change overnight so don’t assume the rules will be the same when you fly home.

Buy travel insurance

Now more than ever, it’s really important to have a safety net in case something goes wrong. Travel insurance can cover extra expenses if your trip gets delayed or cancelled, and include medical benefits, not just for COVID.

If you’re on one of the less-populated islands like Kauai or the Big Island, anything that requires a hospital visit might mean a flight to Honolulu, or beyond. Providers like Allianz and TravelGuard offer policies to cover these expenses.

You can buy travel insurance online, or through a travel agent. If you don’t have an agent, call your local AAA office, which should have an expert in-house. Check the fine print before you buy the insurance from your airline. These plans usually just insure the tickets and don’t include medical transportation or care.

6 – Show your gratitude

Once you’re in paradise, be sure to show your gratitude to everyone that’s making your vacation possible. A huge portion of Hawaii’s population works in tourism and these families really had a difficult 2020.

Bring tip money

One of the best ways you can say thank you is to tip generously. Bring cash with you so you’ll be ready for the airport car rental van driver, the shuttle driver, the bellhop, you get the idea. These folks work for tips and for many there were none for almost a year.

A lot of Hawaii’s hospitality workers are still not working full-time either, so your generosity really goes a long way.

7 – Not everything is back to normal

The beaches are still there, the tropical breeze, the mai tais, and the sunshine are all still there. But not everything is quite back to normal in Hawaii yet. Expect restaurant hours to be more limited than before COVID. Staffing is still ramping up, and capacity may also be limited when you visit.

The same goes for excursions and other tourist destinations. Hawaii is just beginning to recover from the complete shutdown of the travel economy. Space will be limited for just about any activity you’ll want to book. Plan ahead and get your reservations as far in advance as possible.

Hawaii’s supply chain has been severely disrupted

Almost everything on the Hawaiian islands gets there by boat. During the COVID shutdown, shipping declined significantly. Tourism has resumed at a rate much faster than the shipping companies can match, which means lots of shortages.

It’s going to be awhile before supplies catch up to meet demand in Hawaii. Be flexible and don’t expect to find your favorite brand of rum or sunscreen. Merchandise in small local shops may be limited to whatever inventory was in stock way back in early 2020.

Bars and restaurants are getting creative with ingredients as everyone waits for a more steady supply. You may find a certain wine available by the glass but not the bottle at your resort, because there just aren’t many bottles left, and the next shipment is months away.

Consider 2023 instead

If this is your first time visiting Hawaii, or you have a very specific plan in mind, this may not be the best time to visit. It’s important to recognize that travel to Hawaii during COVID is not quite business as usual. Consider planning for the end of 2022 or beyond if you really want the complete experience.

8 – Unplug

Hawaii really is a great place to hit the reset button. The warm sun and beautiful natural environment is truly therapeutic. Give yourself permission to really lean into the moment and experience the world again.

If you’ve been in a cycle of constantly checking the news or social media, make a real effort to unplug. Avoid the TV and read a book instead. Get out for a walk and actually talk to strangers – it’s OK, they’re learning how to do this again too.

Give yourself the break you deserve

How many times have you unloaded the dishwasher in the past year? Even if you usually rent a condo, consider booking a full-service resort for at least part of your stay. You won’t believe how good it feels to let someone else do the cooking and cleaning for days in a row.

On our vacation we stayed at the beautiful Fairmont Orchid resort. Between the attentive staff, gorgeous grounds, and wonderful dining options, it was just what we needed. Did I mention the sea turtles that swim in the lagoon? And the champagne bar? Absolute heaven!

Before you even get there, schedule a massage for your first day. I guarantee it will help get all that mainland stress right out of your system.

Please don’t bring your office on my vacation

If you’re bringing work along, do it away from others. Especially if it involves anything out loud. There is nothing worse than finally getting into vacation mode only to overhear someone’s keyboard or business meeting.

Or better yet, put your phone on do-not-disturb and go play in the ocean for awhile. You won’t believe how good it feels, especially in 2022.

More Hawaii travel tips

Here on Go Informed, you’ll find more tips for visiting the Big Island of Hawaii including:

• Exploring the world of seahorses at Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
• See where Kona coffee comes from at the Greenwell Farms tour

This post contains affiliate links.

The post 8 Simple Things to Know about Visiting Hawaii During COVID-19 appeared first on Go Informed.

On our recent trip to French Polynesia, we had the tremendous pleasure of spending a few days on Rangiroa. The warm Polynesian hospitality and laid-back island vibe, added with the incredible wonders of the sea, made this a vacation we’ll never forget.

Before we go any further, I want to let you know that this is NOT a sponsored post. None of the businesses mentioned here were aware of my website or podcast when we visited.

Visiting Rangiroa

Rangiroa is an atoll in French Polynesia. Located about an hour’s flight from Tahiti, this ring of islands covers an area of over 500 square miles, but only about 31 square miles is above water.

Imagine your favorite lake. Now fill it with 85 degree salt water and endless species of sea life. This is the lagoon encircled by Rangiroa’s islands.

Incidentally, these islands are called motu.

Desert Island Life

Because it is so remote and sparsely populated, Rangiroa provides a real desert island experience. Housing and services are only located on two of the 415 motus.

When it comes to guest lodging, Rangiroa offers a variety of options including a couple of resorts, small pensions, guesthouses, and even bunkhouses.

No matter where you stay, Rangiroa’s laid-back atmosphere will transport you far from city life.

Booking.com

Kia Ora Resort

For our stay on Rangiroa, our family choose the Kia Ora resort. The location and services fit our needs, and we expected a limited resort experience since the island is basically in the middle of nowhere, the resort has one restaurant, and the price was much less expensive than our hotel on Bora Bora.

But what we thought were limiting factors were really the essence of what made Kia Ora so enchanting.

Bungalow Living

All the guest rooms at Kia Ora are bungalows. While a handful are located on a pier over the water, most of the bungalows are situated on the hotel’s lushly landscaped property.

Although the resort was at or near capacity during our stay, after a few days I realized that I frequently felt like we were the only guests there. And I think the reason for this sense of solitude was because we all had our own little cabins. It was like the best summer camp ever.

Since there were three of us, we stayed in a two-story bungalow. From the outside, our little house looked like something from Gilligan’s Island. Inside we had loads of space.

The bungalow had two levels – a large bedroom on the top floor, and on the main level we had a sitting room, bedroom, and a bathroom with a huge shower (perfect for rinsing off all our snorkel and dive gear). The bungalow sat basically on the beach, so we could just sit on the little lanai and gaze at the beautiful lagoon.

Dining at Kia Ora

One of our worries about Kia Ora was the lack of dining options. Kia Ora resort just has one restaurant and one bar. And I’m super-allergic to seafood, which makes things even more limiting.

We stayed for four nights and ate in the restaurant for all but one meal, and we were completely satisfied.

Breakfast at Kia Ora is a hearty buffet that offers all the usual options we Americans expect, including bacon, pastries, fruit, and eggs made to order.

The lunch and dinner offerings included fresh local fish, pasta, steak, burgers, salads, and sandwiches. Even though the restaurant is small, the menu was extensive enough that we never duplicated a meal. And the food was great.

Being part of French Polynesia, Rangiroa’s culinary style is French. That means fresh bread with basically every meal, french cooking techniques, and an excellent wine list.

The Bar at Kia Ora Resort

Kia Ora’s bar sits over the water and offers exquisite sunset views. The floor has glass panels so even if you don’t sit next to the water you can still watch the fish swimming by.

And many of the drinks come with spectacular over-the-top-tropical flower garnishes.

Staff Made Us Feel Like Family

After a day we started seeing familiar faces around the resort. We made friends with other travelers and the Kia Ora staff made us feel like family.

The food service team was especially convivial. Their jovial manner created connection despite our occasional language barrier. And it only took a few visits before they had us set up with “our” table.

What To Do on Rangiroa

Rangiroa Scuba Diving

The main reason we went to Rangiroa was for the world-class scuba diving. My husband and daughter are the divers in the family, and they dove with Rangiroa Top Dive.

Several of the world’s best drift-dive sites are located just five minutes from the dock at Kia Ora. On their four dives, Luna and Frank saw countless reef sharks, a school of barracuda, huge bumphead wrasses, dolphins, and a hammerhead shark. Both agreed that just for the diving alone it was worth the trip to Rangiroa.

More about Rangiroa on Page 2 >>>

The post Rangiroa: French Polynesian Paradise appeared first on Go Informed.

Above almost any other location on earth, Bora Bora is a top bucket-list travel destination. I recently had the amazing experience of traveling to Bora Bora, and I took my mic along to record some tips live from the island. This post is the show notes from that podcast episode, episode 25 of the Go Informed Podcast. And I’ve added a lot of other travel tips beyond just what I discuss in the episode.

You can listen to me talk about Bora Bora, LIVE from the Intercontinental Thalasso Resort, here:

Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.

Six things to know about visiting Bora Bora

Traveling to Bora Bora

Bora Bora is an island surrounded by an atoll, located in French Polynesia. This is in the southern hemisphere, very close to the equator.

To get there from the U.S. Mainland, visitors fly about 8 hours from LAX to Tahiti, then take another plane to Bora Bora. The flight between Tahiti and Bora Bora takes about an hour and is really scenic.

Traveling to Bora Bora is a big deal. Unless you’re from France, you’ll be going to a foreign country, so you’ll need a valid passport. The flight from LA to Tahiti’s a long one, usually overnight, and French is the official language.

Air Tahiti and Air Tahiti Nui

There are two different Air Tahiti airlines: Air Tahiti and Air Tahiti Nui. Each airline has its own website and its own ticketing.

Air Tahiti flies the small planes between all the French Polynesian islands. So this will be your airline when you fly to Bora Bora from Tahiti.

Air Tahiti Nui is the airline that flies overseas from Tahiti. (I found out that “Nui” means “Big” in the Tahitian language. So Air Tahiti Nui = Big Air Tahiti = they fly the big long-haul jets over the ocean).

You can also fly from LAX to Tahiti on Air France. But if you’re like us, you’ll be buying tickets on both Air Tahiti Nui and Air Tahiti.

Bora Bora flight tips

The airport code for Tahiti is PPT. This stands for Papeete, the name of the main city on the island of Tahiti. It’s pronounced like pop-ee-et-ay.

The flights between LAX and PPT are long and usually overnight. This is a very good time to try to find a deal or use air miles to upgrade to business class. It will really help you adjust, especially when you arrive in Tahiti and still have to wait around and fly another hour to Bora Bora.

Consider using a travel agent to book your trip. Between the multiple airlines, the foreign language, and all the different lodging options, your itinerary can be really complicated. And if anything goes wrong, you’ll be glad to have someone to call for help.

Here are six simple tips that can help make any flight easier.

Arriving on Bora Bora

Bora Bora is more than just one island. It’s actually a main island surrounded by an atoll. The atoll is a series of narrow islands that ring a lagoon with the main island in the center. This is all because Bora Bora was once a huge volcano that has now sunk into the ocean. That ring of islands are the footprint of the volcano’s crater.

The islands that make up Bora Bora’s atoll are called motus (say “moh-too). And some of the best hotels in the world are located here.

Bora Bora’s airport (airport code BOB for you travel nerds) is also located on a motu. Which means that when you land here you are landing on a little island. And all that’s on this island is the airport!

As you might expect, the airport at Bora Bora is tiny. There aren’t really even any exterior walls. And to get anywhere from the airport you need a boat.

Bora Bora airport boat shuttles

No matter where you’re staying on Bora Bora, there are boat shuttles to take you there. If you’re staying on the main island, there is a free water taxi that goes from the airport to the main town of Vaitape (vie-top-ay). Collect your luggage at the baggage claim, then hand it over to the water taxi crew. They’ll wheel it onto the boat on a big cart and store it for the short ride. When you arrive in Vaitape they just wheel the cart off onto the dock for you to collect it.

By the way: Tipping is not a custom in French Polynesia. So don’t worry about tipping the crew.

If you are staying in any of the resorts located on a motu, those hotels have their own boats that will pick you up at the airport. Let your hotel know which flight you’re on and they will send a boat just for you.

In the airport each resort has a kiosk. When you arrive, look for your hotel’s kiosk and they will take care of you from there. There will probably be a charge for the boat transportation, even though your hotel is already crazy-expensive.

Taking a boat from the airport across the incredible blue lagoon is definitely the best airport shuttle experience I’ve ever had!

Where to stay on Bora Bora

As I discuss in the podcast episode, there are two main options for where to stay when you visit Bora Bora. You can choose to stay on the main island or on one of the motus. For our trip, we split our stay and did both. I think it was a great way to experience more of the island culture, and we kept our costs down by only staying at a resort for part of the time.

Staying on the main island

The main island of Bora Bora is small. There’s only one road, that rings the island, and it’s about 18 miles long. Most of Bora Bora’s population resides on the main island so this is where you’ll have more chance to see how typical people live.

There are lots of options for staying on the main island. You can choose from several luxury resorts, including the full overwater bungalow experience. You can stay in a smaller, European-style hotel or B&B. Or you can rent a place on your own through a service like VRBO.

We rented this house through VRBO for the first half of our Bora Bora stay. It was one of the original overwater bungalows, located on the main island across from the airport motu. Staying on our own, we rented a car, shopped at the grocery store in Vaitape, and explored a lot of Bora Bora independently.

Staying on the island, we noticed how the locals all wave to each other as they pass on the road. And we saw the (apparently impromptu) Polynesian band hanging out playing and singing in front of the grocery store. And the shoppers who stopped and sang along. We heard the neighbor’s dogs and roosters, but also their ukelele and singing in the evening.

Being literally on the water, we snorkeled off our deck and really got into the island vibe. And one day we hired a snorkel guide who picked us up in his boat right from our house!

Staying on a motu in Bora Bora

For the second half of our vacation, we splurged and stayed at the Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa. This was a dream vacation for me and it exceeded my high expectations.

(This seems like a good time to mention that none of the places/services/anything discussed here paid anything for my trip. This was a family vacation and nobody mentioned in this post even knew I have a blog or podcast. But if Intercontinental wants to send me on vacation I wouldn’t say no. Hint, hint).

I could either write a huge post about the Intercontinental Thalasso or I could just tell you that it really is as good as it looks on the website. It is absolutely beautiful, with every detail impeccably executed. To get there from the main island, we took a shuttle boat from the other Intercontinental (yes, there are two of them here – the other is the Intercontinental Le Moana) to the Thalasso.

When we arrived at the Intercontinental Thalasso, a reception manager met us at the boat with a golf cart, whisking us off to a table on the beach where we drank cold juice and filled out the registration paperwork. And the hotel manager came by to personally welcome us. This was basically the level of service we experienced the entire time.

By day 2, most of the restaurant staff knew our name. These hotels are small and the staff is like a family (or actually is family, as we found in many cases). If you dive, the Top Dive shop and dock is on the property. And the spa is absolutely amazing.

Of course our “room” was pretty spectacular too. It was an overwater bungalow with a view of the main island’s Mount Otemanu. The water at the bungalows is about 85 degrees, around 4 feet deep, with a sandy bottom. So when you feel like a dip, just climb down the ladder and wade around. It was pretty much the best swimming pool ever.

I can really see why Bora Bora is such a popular honeymoon destination. It’s super-isolated, you can literally just do nothing all day and feel good about it, and staying in a bungalow offers a ton of privacy.

What to bring to Bora Bora

There are a few things I suggest to bring that will make your trip better. If you’re traveling to Bora Bora for your honeymoon, consider adding these to your wedding registry.

Create an Amazon Wedding Registry Here

Looking for a wedding gift for Bora Bora honeymooners? Click here for my Bora Bora gift guide.

Kindle E-Reader

If you plan to do any reading on your trip, bring an e-reader. Because of their small planes and the short runways in these islands, Air Tahiti has weight restrictions on luggage – including carry-on bags. Hauling a bunch of books with you just isn’t practical. Plus, the few books we saw for sale, other than souvenirs, were in French.

A Kindle is lightweight and can hold as many books as you want. And if you want something new, you can easily download it at any time. We invested in Kindles before our trip and we used them constantly.

Underwater camera

If you go to Bora Bora, you have got to go in the water. Even if you don’t swim. Even if you’ve never snorkeled. Put on the snorkel gear and give it a try.

Bora Bora has some of the most amazing coral and sea creatures in the world. And if you get out there in the big blue, I guarantee you’re going to want to get some pictures or some video of the experience.

Especially if this is a honeymoon, having a nice camera along is really a must. I like having a small point-and-shoot that does everything. A Go-Pro is another way to capture your underwater experiences.

No matter what you choose, I highly recommend you bring something other than just your phone on this trip.

What else to bring to Bora Bora

You don’t need much else for your Bora Bora vacation, besides lots of swimwear and sunscreen. This is a very laid-back tropical destination. I brought some sundresses to wear when I wasn’t in my swimsuit and virtually never wore makeup.

Mosquitoes and no-see-ums can be pretty common in the evening. So if you tend to get bit, bring your favorite repellent and any other tactic that works for you. Bugs think my daughter is delicious, so she brought some leggings, socks, and a long-sleeve shirt for evenings. We soaked these clothes in Permethrin before we left which seems to help cut down on the bites.

Click here to find out how to make your packing easier and your trip more comfortable with my top 33 travel gadgets and gear.

Adventures on Bora Bora

While we were on Bora Bora, we had some great adventures with a couple of tour companies.

Top Dive

My husband and daughter are expert divers, and scuba diving was the main reason we went to Bora Bora. They spent multiple days diving with the local Top Dive team and had a great experience.

Part of the reason we chose the Intercontinental Thalasso was because Top Dive is located on the property. This was super-convenient and the service was great.

Hire a snorkel guide

This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip so we splurged and hired a snorkel boat and guide from Pure Snorkeling. Our guide Nui picked us up directly from our bungalow and took us to four different snorkel sites.

We saw manta rays, spotted eagle rays, tons of fish, and a coral garden that felt like it was part of “Finding Nemo”. Every one of these snorkel spots was only accessible by boat, and Nui’s local knowledge and sunny personality made the day even better.

We’re experienced snorkelers, but having a guide along helped us better understand what we’d see and where to go. And if you’re new to snorkeling, bringing your own guide means you’ll have an expert with you who can help out if you need it.

Plus Nui took us all the way around the island and told us about the history and culture. So not only did we have the best snorkeling day ever, we also got a boat ride and private Bora Bora island tour.

By the way, if you’re a coral lover, you need to add Wakatobi to your bucket list. Click here to see pictures and read my post about this incredible Indonesian resort.

More fun facts about Bora Bora

Although the official language is French, Tahitian is the more common language among locals. When sounding out a Tahitian word, a good rule of thumb is to pronounce every letter. For instance, Papeete in Tahiti is pronounced Pop-ee-et-ay.

Tahiti can refer to the island of Tahiti and to the entire French Polynesian chain. The indigenous population of the islands are Tahitians.

Bora Bora is in the same time zone as Hawaii.

Yes it lives up to the hype

Our experience in Bora Bora was absolutely magical, and I can unequivocally say it was worth every penny. If you’re looking for an exotic vacation with plenty of adventure and contentment, this truly is your ideal destination.

Visiting the atoll of Rangiroa

Besides Bora Bora, we also visited the amazing Tahitian atoll of Rangiroa.

Read all about our Rangiroa visit in this post: Rangiroa: French Polynesian Paradise

More tropical travel tips from Go Informed

Interested in other tropical destinations? Be sure to check out my tips for:

• Wakatobi, Indonesia
• Hawaii
• Bonaire

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Bora Bora Travel Tips for the Ultimate Vacation appeared first on Go Informed.

A Kona coffee farm tour is one of my favorite ways to explore the history of Hawaii’s Big Island. Greenwell Farms, located about 30 minutes south of Kailua-Kona town, offers the perfect introduction to Kona’s coffee growing culture. Not only does Greenwell offer a highly informative free guided tour, you’ll also get to sample to your heart’s content in a heavenly tropical landscape.

You’ll find the farm south of Kona on Highway 11, between mile markers 112 and 111.

Touring the Kona Coffee region

About 30 minutes south of Hawaii’s Kailua-Kona town is the home of the USA’s coffee country. The Kona coffee region covers about 2200 acres and produces some of the most prized coffee in the world.

Cool, lush, and steamy, the Kona coffee region is a wonderful retreat from the Big Island’s hot lava plains.

Free Kona coffee farm tours at Greenwell Farms

Greenwell Farms runs free guided Kona coffee tours continuously every day beginning at 9:00am. The tours last about 60 minutes and include a walk through the coffee trees, a look at the cherry drying operations, and samples of the many roasts produced by Greenwell.

The farm is not just home to coffee trees, but also a wide variety of tropical fruits – from bananas to mangos to avocados.

Kona coffee since 1850

The Greenwell family was among the first to plant coffee trees in the shady hills above Kona Town. Establishing the plantation in 1850, Henry and Elizabeth Greenwell helped found an industry that would soon produce some of the best coffee on earth, a tradition that continues to this day.

Coffee production at Greenwell today is still much the same as the Victorian era. Coffee cherries are still picked by hand at maximum ripeness and beans are dried in the sun.

On the tour, you’ll see the operations at work and learn why these old techniques still result in the best beans for your morning cup of joe.

True made-In-Hawaii souvenirs

A coffee plantation is the perfect place to find authentic Hawaiian souvenirs. Greenwell offers about a dozen different roasts of their 100% Kona Coffee. Plus you can also purchase the best chocolate-covered macadamia nuts I’ve ever tasted, Big Island jams and honey, and even natural skincare products made from coffee cherries.

If you can’t get to the Big Island, you can order Greenwell coffee online, to bring Aloha to your breakfast anytime.

Kona coffee farm tour tips

Coffee trees are shade-lovers, which means you may find a wet, cloudy environment up in the Kona hills. Mornings are usually a better bet if you like sunshine, afternoons for overcast and maybe even rain. Greenwell provides umbrellas for shade or rain protection.

You won’t cover a ton of ground on the tour, but you will be walking through a working farm, and standing throughout. Be ready for mud and wear whatever footwear will be most comfortable for you. And don’t forget the sunscreen.

Taste the coffee and meet the local wildlife

Much like at a winery, guests have the opportunity to taste the full variety of Greenwell’s Kona Coffee roasts.

Next to the tasting space you might be lucky enough to spot a family of chameleons napping in an orange tree. Of course they are hard to spot – ask one of the tour guides to help you get a glimpse.

Kona coffee region nearby diversions

Make a day of it and head over to City of Refuge National Park, about 20 minutes or so south of the farm. Besides the awe-inspiring history of the site, this is one of the best snorkeling bays on the island.

Get my tips for what to bring when you go snorkeling here.

More Big Island tips from goinformed.net

Here are some more posts to help you have a fantastic vacation in Hawaii:

• 8 simple tips for travel to Hawaii during COVID-19
• The Big Island seahorse farm where you can hold a seahorse!
• What to bring when you go snorkeling or shore diving

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Aloha Grows on Trees: Kona Coffee Farm Tour at Greenwell Farms appeared first on Go Informed.

Driving to the dive site on Bonaire one morning, I spotted a rare phenomenon along the road. It looked like a farmer harvesting a field of sparkly snow. The machine was a cross between a bulldozer and a snowplow, and the crop was glimmering white.

Where a shallow pink pond lay just days before, the plow was scooping up pristine salt from the exposed sea floor and loading it into a never-ending parade of huge dump trucks. After the dive I grabbed my camera and hastened back to the action. This is something you’ve really got to see to believe.

Bonaire Sea Salt Harvest

The southern end of the island of Bonaire is dedicated to solar sea salt production. Water is pumped into shallow ponds and allowed to evaporate, leaving a dry layer of salt. The ponds are home to many birds, including pink flamingos.

That’s not snow

As the ponds dry, an undulating border of what looks like bubble bath forms. These bubbles are sticky and salty, and they look a lot like snow that’s been plowed to the side of the road.

Near the pier where ships carry the salt away, huge piles of salt rise beside the road. Even though the weather is very hot and dry, I cannot stop thinking these are mountains of snow.

The salt piles are snowy white and twinkle in the sun like ice. I’ve always wondered how the salt ends up in those piles. Lucky for me (and you), I got to witness the salt harvest first-hand.

Sea Salt Harvest Video

Here’s my video showing the big machines at work. What do you think? Can you believe this is salt, not snow?

I’d love to hear what you think about this. Please leave a comment below.

Booking.com

Thank you to these websites for your valuable information on Bonaire’s salt ponds and harvest:

bonaire-travelguide.com

geographia.com

tourismbonaire.com

gonomad.com

goinformed.net tips for visiting Bonaire

Click here for more of my tips about what to see and do on Bonaire.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Sea Salt Harvest on the Island of Bonaire appeared first on Go Informed.

Just 20 minutes from the town of Kralendijk, Bonaire’s Hang Out Beach Bar offers the quintessential Caribbean feet-in-the-sand, beer-in-your-hand experience. Sited against the warm, gentle waters of Lac Bay, this true beach bar is built right on the sand, with a castaway vibe that perfectly reflects desert island living.

Lac Bay, Windsurfer’s Paradise

The Hang Out Beach Bar is part of Jibe City, home-base for windsurfers who come from around the world to sail in Lac Bay. Even Disney couldn’t create a more perfect spot for windsurfing. Not only does a steady wind blow into the bay all day long, but the water is like a bathtub – 82 degrees and only around knee-deep with a soft sandy bottom.

The conditions in the bay make Jibe City a great place to try out windsurfing, even if you’ve never been on a board before. Rentals and lessons are offered all day long, usually with no advance appointment needed. Or just wade out and watch the sails go by.

Jibe City also has a great little surf shop, if you want to pick up a souvenir or need basics like sunglasses or sunscreen.

Booking.com

The Hang Out Beach Bar

The bar is just what you’d picture – slightly ramshackle, with few walls and lots of sand. The Dutch staff at Hang Out Beach Bar speaks excellent English, and probably Spanish and Portuguese too. (Bonaire gets lots of South American tourists. Most restaurant workers seem to be able to switch between languages with no hesitation).

Amstel Bright, brewed on Curacao, is the house beer, just order a “Bright”. Or try another local favorite, Polar, from neighboring Venezuela. It’s pronounced pole-arr. We suggest ordering your beer in an ice-filled bucket.

Another house-favorite at Hang Out Beach Bar is the sangria. So refreshing on a hot day (and what day isn’t hot on Bonaire?). Your sangria will arrive in a big beer pitcher with a very big straw. I do recommend sharing, but you’re on vacation so that’s up to you.

Food at Hang Out Beach Bar

On most days, the bar is open during the day until around sunset. The menu features sandwiches, salads, and always a delicious burger of the day.

On Thursday nights, the bar stays open for a very special dinner event. It’s called the Table BBQ and it is not to be missed.

Cook Your Own Dinner at Hang Out Beach Bar Table BBQ

At the Table BBQ, each table receives a hibachi-style charcoal grill hot and ready to go. An all-you-care-to-eat meal, the Table BBQ includes steak, ribs, hamburgers, and fish, for you to grill at your table. Salad, rolls, and baked potatoes complete the dinner.

We have enjoyed the Table BBQ several times, and have found the quality to be consistently good. The ribs are especially delicious, and the fish is fresh – usually it’s fabulous fresh tuna. Everything is served family-style, meaning a big plate of meat arrives and everybody can cook whatever they want. It is also truly all-you-can-eat, servers will keep offering food until you ask them to stop.

And did I mention the price? The Table BBQ is just $27.50 for adults, $15 for kids (up to 14).

If You Go To Hang Out Beach Bar Table BBQ

The Table BBQ is only on Thursday nights, it’s best to make a reservation. Also, be aware the BBQ can be canceled if the weather gets too windy. The open grills tend to throw sparks around in the wind – an issue even on relatively calm evenings – so I’d advise you to seat your toddler at the upwind end of the table. The upside of the grill in the breeze: the smoke seems to keep mosquitoes away.

And bring your appetite, there is a lot of good food!

Virtual vacation

We Share Bonaire has created this enticing video about the Hang Out Beach Bar. I guarantee you will want to visit when you see this.

And you can see what’s going on right this moment at Jibe City with this live webcam. That’s the bar in the left-hand corner of the screen.

Contact Hang Out Beach Bar

Here’s the link to the Hang Out Beach Bar’s website.

More Bonaire Tips

Click here to read all my posts about the island of Bonaire, including other restaurant reviews and shore diving tips.

Curated information from all over the web can be found on my Bonaire Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/goinformednet/bonaire/

The Fujifilm XP90 is my new favorite travel camera. Find out why here: Why I Love My New Fujifilm XP90 Waterproof Camera

This post contains affiliate links. What are affiliate links?

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Jibe City Hang Out Beach Bar Bonaire appeared first on Go Informed.

I have a confession to make. On my last trip to Bonaire I fell in love. With my camera.

I didn’t expect it to happen. I just wanted to take some pictures underwater. But after a few days I knew we had something special. That this camera is destined to preserve memories in a way I never imagined.

Product reviews aren’t the usual purview of this blog, but after just a few sessions with the XP90 it became clear that this is probably a camera a lot of you guys would love too. Shockproof and waterproof, it’s ideal for theme parks, beach vacations, and everything in between.

Editor’s Note: This post was written in 2016. And I still really do love this camera. The latest model from Fujifilm is the XP130 – you can find it on Amazon here.

Beautiful point-and-shoot pictures

I am far from a technical photographer, but I do like to take a lot of photos and look for the shot to capture a place or time. The XP90 has about 20 shooting modes, ranging from underwater to snow to sports. Or you can just leave it in its automatic Scene Recognition (SR) mode and let it choose the best way to shoot. Most of the time I shot in SR mode with great results.

Access to the shooting mode options is just a click away in the main menu, I found it was easy and quick to change modes, even when I was already in the ocean snorkeling.

Fabulous Underwater Images

In the water, the camera’s display is easy to see. I shot a lot of photos of Bonaire’s incredible undersea world. Here are just a few.

Incidentally, these photos have been sized-down from their original resolution so it doesn’t take all day to load this website. If you’d like to see them, and more, in their full glory, visit my Bonaire Flickr album.

Booking.com

Sunset Mode

I think it was the first few sunsets we spent together that really sealed our fate. I’m always frustrated shooting sunsets – with most cameras the colors just don’t look as vivid as my eye sees. Or maybe I just don’t know how to take sunset pictures to get that perfect shot. Luckily the XP90 does.

Maybe my old camera had a sunset mode and I never figured how to get to it. Getting into sunset mode on the XP90 couldn’t be easier, which is probably why I decided to try it. I will never take another sunset photo with my phone again, not if the XP90 is around. Forget about running your photo through a filter afterwards to try to get the colors right. With the XP90’s Sunset mode, you’ll get the picture you want in real time.

None of the photos in this post have been touched, except to size down the resolution. This is how the camera captured them. (Except for the shots of the camera itself, which were taken with my iphone and needed a little doctoring up).

Easy to Use

A bunch of other factors sealed the deal for me. For one thing, the XP90 turns on fast. I tend to keep my camera turned off to save the battery, which can sometimes mean missing the perfect shot. With this camera, I found I could hit the power button and shoot with no hesitation.

The menu is straightforward, making it easy to change modes or other settings on the fly. And the menu options are in plain English, so you don’t have to guess what it is that’s being changed. For me, this gave more freedom to try something new, like shooting in 16:9 ratio.

I may never go back to 4:3. But if I want to, it’s just a couple of clicks.

Video

Speaking of simple, switching to video is literally a one-button job. The record button is right next to the power button on top of the camera. Just hit this, then the shutter, and you’re shooting video.

Here’s what snorkeling in Bonaire looks and sounds like. (Or View on YouTube).

And here’s video of the amazing sea salt harvest on Bonaire.

Super-Easy to transfer photos from the camera to your smartphone or tablet

One of the usual drawbacks to shooting with a stand-alone camera instead of a phone is accessing and sharing the pictures. Not with this camera.

I loaded the Fujifilm Camera Remote app on my ipad and my phone. The camera makes its own wifi network between itself and the phone or tablet. (Don’t ask me how this works, it just does. You do not need to be near any other wifi for it to work, really!) Just select the photos you want to transfer from the camera and boom, they’re on your device.

Great camera for theme park trips

Besides being the perfect camera for my Bonaire snorkeling adventures, I can’t wait to take the XP90 on my next theme park trip. No more worrying about getting it wet at Universal! Plus Fujifilm says this camera can survive a 5.8 foot drop (a claim I thankfully have not tested), so I will be less worried about banging it around on a bumpy ride like Kilimanjaro Safaris.

More info and stats

Amazon is a good resource for all the details about the XP90. Here’s a link to their FujiFilm XP90 page.

Here’s the Amazon link for the newest model of this camera, the XP130.

To see an album of some of my favorite photos from Bonaire, all taken with the Fujifilm XP90, visit Flickr here.

Comment below: Where would you like to take your XP90?

This article contains affiliate links. What’s that?

Save

Save

The post Review: Why I Love My New FujiFilm XP90 Waterproof Camera appeared first on Go Informed.

After dozens of shore dives on Bonaire, we’ve come up with a standard bag of supplies to bring for every dive. No matter where you dive, or if you snorkel, everything on this list will make your outing more comfortable.

Don’t tempt thieves

In our excursions on Bonaire and in Hawaii we’ve never had anything taken from shore, but we also don’t leave anything of value behind. If you’re not taking it in the water with you, and you’ll be sad for more than 5 minutes if you lose it, don’t bring it along.

Leave car doors unlocked when you go into the water and take the keys with you.

Trucks make the best dive vehicles

If it’s an option, choose a pickup truck for your island vehicle. Wet gear rides perfectly in back, and the tailgate makes an ideal loading shelf for your tank and BCD.

On Bonaire, we recommend AB rentals, for their friendly service and competitive rates. Unlike at some other destinations, we always pay for full insurance coverage. We drive the truck straight out to the dive site and like having the peace of mind in case something goes wrong.

Booking.com

What to pack in your beach bag

Here’s a look at our typical shore dive supply bag

Water

Bring at least one bottle of water for each diver/snorkeler. We buy bottled water at the beginning of the trip, write our names on the bottles, and refill them. I keep them in the fridge so they’re cold when they go into the bag.

A waterproof container for keys

At the very least, you’ll have car keys and a room key or house key to keep safe while you dive. We use a small container like this one. I carry it around my neck in the water (under my rash guard so it stays out of the way). It keeps things safe and dry, and can hold several keys and cash or a credit card too.

First aid kit

At the very least, you should have some bandaids and neosporin along. Even though it’s taboo to touch anything on the reef, it can be easy to get scratched up on entry or exit.

Another good thing to have along is a small container of vinegar. Vinegar counteracts the sting from a jellyfish or coral much better than seawater can. (Of course if you have a serious sting you should consult a doctor).

Sunscreen

Don’t get burned when you’re out of the water. Bring some sunscreen so you can re-apply when you get back to shore.

Towels

Drip-dry works pretty well in warm climate but it’s always nice to be able to dry your face and cover the car seat when you’re wet.

Cheap sunglasses

Don’t worry about losing your favorite Maui Jim’s (my favorite too!). Bring a pair of cheap sunglasses to wear to the dive site. You can leave them in the car care-free.

Essential equipment: dive booties

What to bring scuba equipment-wise is a whole other topic. But we do recommend that you use open-heeled fins so you can wear booties. Almost anywhere you go, you’ll be walking over rocks or coral, or at least hot sand, to get to the water. Booties are a real foot-saver for shore diving and snorkeling.

Are you planning a trip to the island of Bonaire?

Consider a coral restoration dive! Here’s my post about diving with Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire.

Save

The post Six Things to Bring When You Go Shore Diving and Snorkeling appeared first on Go Informed.