Where to Stay in Bora Bora: Main Island vs Overwater Bungalow
When you picture Bora Bora, chances are you picture an overwater bungalow floating above impossibly blue water. But that’s definitely not the only way to stay here.
We stayed on Bora Bora’s main island in Vaitape, and it allowed us to experience one of the world’s most expensive destinations without spending thousands on accommodation.
Should You Stay on Bora Bora's Main Island or at a Resort?
🏝 Best for budget travellers: Main island
🌊 Best for the iconic Bora Bora experience: Overwater bungalow
🍴 Best for affordable food: Main island
🚲 Best for exploring independently: Main island
💙 Best for a honeymoon/special occasion: Resort
⭐ What I'd do with a bigger budget: Split the stay between both
If you have the budget, absolutely take the opportunity to spend a few nights in one of Bora Bora's incredible overwater bungalows. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience and, if you can afford it, I think it's worth experiencing at least once.
But if an overwater bungalow is completely out of your budget, don't let that put you off visiting Bora Bora.
We stayed on the main island and still had an amazing time. You can find much more affordable accommodation through Booking.com or Airbnb, hire a car to explore the island and even hire your own little boat to get out onto that insanely blue lagoon.
You still get to experience the beauty of Bora Bora — just without the enormous resort price tag.
If I had the budget, I'd actually choose both: a few nights on the main island exploring independently, followed by a couple of nights in an overwater bungalow for the full Bora Bora experience.
Staying on Bora Bora's Main Island
Staying on Bora Bora's main island gives you a completely different experience from staying at one of the luxury resorts on the surrounding motus.
You have easy access to supermarkets, local restaurants and shops, and if your accommodation has a kitchen, you can cook some of your own meals rather than paying resort prices every day.
It's also much easier to explore independently. We hired a car and drove around the island, stopped at beaches, picked up food from local shops and explored at our own pace.
One of the things I loved most was getting to see a little more of everyday life in Bora Bora. Away from the luxury resorts, you see the local villages, homes, shops and families going about their day — a side of Bora Bora you don't always see in the glossy overwater bungalow photos.
And you can still get out onto that incredible lagoon. We even hired our own little boat for the day, which was one of our favourite experiences in Bora Bora.
If you're planning your trip, you can read our Best Things to Do in Bora Bora guide for everything we did while staying on the main island.
Staying in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora
We didn't stay in an overwater bungalow during our Bora Bora trip, so I can't personally review the resorts. But there's no denying that they're the experience Bora Bora is famous for — and they look every bit as dreamy as you'd imagine.
Many of Bora Bora's luxury resorts are located on the surrounding motus, with incredible views across the lagoon towards Mount Otemanu.
Staying here is a completely different experience from staying on the main island. Think stepping straight from your bungalow into that ridiculously blue water, snorkelling from your resort, relaxing by the pool and having restaurants, bars and activities right on your doorstep.
There's also something pretty special about waking up in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, honeymoon or special occasion — and you have the budget for it — I can absolutely see why you'd want to splurge for a few nights.
The Extra Costs of Staying at a Bora Bora Resort
One thing to keep in mind when booking a luxury resort in Bora Bora is that the nightly room rate isn't necessarily the full cost of your stay.
Many of the resorts are located on the surrounding motus, which means you'll be much more reliant on the resort for meals, drinks and activities. With fewer options to simply walk to a supermarket or grab something cheap to eat, those extra costs can quickly add up.
You'll also need to check airport transfers before you book.
Bora Bora Airport is located on its own motu. If you're staying on the main island, there is a free airport boat that takes passengers across to Vaitape.
If you're staying at a resort on one of the surrounding motus, transfers are generally arranged directly with the resort. Depending on where you're staying, these can come at an additional cost, so it's worth checking exactly what's included in your booking.
None of this means you shouldn't stay at a resort — if it's within your budget, what an incredible experience! Just make sure you factor in the total cost of your stay, rather than looking at the room price alone.
Food: Main Island vs Resort
Food is another thing worth thinking about when deciding where to stay in Bora Bora, especially if you're trying to keep costs down.
Staying on the main island gave us so much more freedom with food. We could pop into the supermarket, pick up snacks and drinks, grab something from a local restaurant or make our own meals at our accommodation. We also packed picnics to take with us while we explored the island.
If you're staying at a resort on one of the motus, it's a different experience. You're there to enjoy the resort, so you'll naturally be eating and drinking there much more often — just keep in mind that those extra costs can add up over a few days.
Neither option is better, they're just very different ways to experience Bora Bora. And if you're travelling on a budget like we were, having the freedom to shop, cook and eat locally can make a huge difference.
If I had the budget, would I stay in one? Absolutely! I mean, it's an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora — how amazing would that be!?
When you picture Bora Bora, chances are you picture an overwater bungalow floating above impossibly blue water. But that’s definitely not the only way to stay here.
We stayed on Bora Bora’s main island in Vaitape, and it allowed us to experience one of the world’s most expensive destinations without spending thousands on accommodation.
Should You Stay on Bora Bora's Main Island or at a Resort?
🏝 Best for budget travellers: Main island
🌊 Best for the iconic Bora Bora experience: Overwater bungalow
🍴 Best for affordable food: Main island
🚲 Best for exploring independently: Main island
💙 Best for a honeymoon/special occasion: Resort
⭐ What I'd do with a bigger budget: Split the stay between both
If you have the budget, absolutely take the opportunity to spend a few nights in one of Bora Bora's incredible overwater bungalows. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience and, if you can afford it, I think it's worth experiencing at least once.
But if an overwater bungalow is completely out of your budget, don't let that put you off visiting Bora Bora.
We stayed on the main island and still had an amazing time. You can find much more affordable accommodation through Booking.com or Airbnb, hire a car to explore the island and even hire your own little boat to get out onto that insanely blue lagoon.
You still get to experience the beauty of Bora Bora — just without the enormous resort price tag.
If I had the budget, I'd actually choose both: a few nights on the main island exploring independently, followed by a couple of nights in an overwater bungalow for the full Bora Bora experience.
Staying on Bora Bora's Main Island
Staying on Bora Bora's main island gives you a completely different experience from staying at one of the luxury resorts on the surrounding motus.
You have easy access to supermarkets, local restaurants and shops, and if your accommodation has a kitchen, you can cook some of your own meals rather than paying resort prices every day.
It's also much easier to explore independently. We hired a car and drove around the island, stopped at beaches, picked up food from local shops and explored at our own pace.
One of the things I loved most was getting to see a little more of everyday life in Bora Bora. Away from the luxury resorts, you see the local villages, homes, shops and families going about their day — a side of Bora Bora you don't always see in the glossy overwater bungalow photos.
And you can still get out onto that incredible lagoon. We even hired our own little boat for the day, which was one of our favourite experiences in Bora Bora.
If you're planning your trip, you can read our Best Things to Do in Bora Bora guide for everything we did while staying on the main island.
Staying in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora
We didn't stay in an overwater bungalow during our Bora Bora trip, so I can't personally review the resorts. But there's no denying that they're the experience Bora Bora is famous for — and they look every bit as dreamy as you'd imagine.
Many of Bora Bora's luxury resorts are located on the surrounding motus, with incredible views across the lagoon towards Mount Otemanu.
Staying here is a completely different experience from staying on the main island. Think stepping straight from your bungalow into that ridiculously blue water, snorkelling from your resort, relaxing by the pool and having restaurants, bars and activities right on your doorstep.
There's also something pretty special about waking up in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, honeymoon or special occasion — and you have the budget for it — I can absolutely see why you'd want to splurge for a few nights.
The Extra Costs of Staying at a Bora Bora Resort
One thing to keep in mind when booking a luxury resort in Bora Bora is that the nightly room rate isn't necessarily the full cost of your stay.
Many of the resorts are located on the surrounding motus, which means you'll be much more reliant on the resort for meals, drinks and activities. With fewer options to simply walk to a supermarket or grab something cheap to eat, those extra costs can quickly add up.
You'll also need to check airport transfers before you book.
Bora Bora Airport is located on its own motu. If you're staying on the main island, there is a free airport boat that takes passengers across to Vaitape.
If you're staying at a resort on one of the surrounding motus, transfers are generally arranged directly with the resort. Depending on where you're staying, these can come at an additional cost, so it's worth checking exactly what's included in your booking.
None of this means you shouldn't stay at a resort — if it's within your budget, what an incredible experience! Just make sure you factor in the total cost of your stay, rather than looking at the room price alone.
Food: Main Island vs Resort
Food is another thing worth thinking about when deciding where to stay in Bora Bora, especially if you're trying to keep costs down.
Staying on the main island gave us so much more freedom with food. We could pop into the supermarket, pick up snacks and drinks, grab something from a local restaurant or make our own meals at our accommodation. We also packed picnics to take with us while we explored the island.
If you're staying at a resort on one of the motus, it's a different experience. You're there to enjoy the resort, so you'll naturally be eating and drinking there much more often — just keep in mind that those extra costs can add up over a few days.
Neither option is better, they're just very different ways to experience Bora Bora. And if you're travelling on a budget like we were, having the freedom to shop, cook and eat locally can make a huge difference.
Would I Stay in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora?
If I had the budget, would I stay in one? Absolutely! I mean, it's an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora — how amazing would that be?!
But spending thousands of dollars a night simply wasn't in our budget on this trip. And honestly, we never felt like we missed out because of it.
That's probably the biggest thing we learnt: you don't need to stay in an overwater bungalow to experience Bora Bora.
We loved staying on the main island and exploring independently. But if I ever go back with a much bigger budget, you can bet I'll be spending a few nights over the water!
The Best Option: Split Your Stay
If your budget allows, I think the perfect way to experience Bora Bora would be to split your stay between the main island and one of the resorts.
I'd spend around 3 nights on the main island, giving yourself time to hire a car, explore the beaches, eat locally and get out on the lagoon.
Then, finish with 2 nights in an overwater bungalow and completely indulge. Enjoy the resort, swim straight from your bungalow, order the cocktails and soak up that dreamy Bora Bora experience you've probably travelled all this way for.
You don't need to pay resort prices for your entire trip, but you still get those couple of incredible nights over the water.
If we went back to Bora Bora with a bigger budget, this is exactly how I'd do it.
Planning a Bora Bora trip?
These posts will help you plan your trip and hopefully inspire a few more French Polynesia adventures!
This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog - it helps us keep sharing family travel inspiration
We loved staying on the main island and exploring independently. But if I ever go back with a much bigger budget, you can bet I'll be spending a few nights over the water!
The Best Option: Split Your Stay
If your budget allows, I think the perfect way to experience Bora Bora would be to split your stay between the main island and one of the resorts.
I'd spend around 3 nights on the main island, giving yourself time to hire a car, explore the beaches, eat locally and get out on the lagoon.
Then, finish with 2 nights in an overwater bungalow and completely indulge. Enjoy the resort, swim straight from your bungalow, order the cocktails and soak up that dreamy Bora Bora experience you've probably travelled all this way for.
You don't need to pay resort prices for your entire trip, but you still get those couple of incredible nights over the water.
If we went back to Bora Bora with a bigger budget, this is exactly how I'd do it.
Planning a Bora Bora trip?
These posts will help you plan your trip and hopefully inspire a few more French Polynesia adventures!
This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog - it helps us keep sharing family travel inspiration
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