Bora Vaite Lodge

Vaite can make a lovely breakfast on the upper veranda, with a view, for just 1000xpf ($10). There’s more than we can eat, so we save the leftovers for lunch. That works out cheaper than buying groceries in town for breakfast, though bring a reusable shopping bag. The little outdoor drink stand a short walk away also has the cheapest prices we found. Everything is expensive on the archipelago for us. For lunch or dinner in viàtape, a food truck tuna sandwich on fresh French bread is about $6, while restaurants charge about $18 or more. There’s no pool, but you can cross the street to the warm lagoon. Bring water shoes, since most Bora Bora beaches have coral. We brought a rental scooter and could reach the other side of the island in 25 minutes. Alain can also drive you anywhere for a reasonable price. Parking is free and gated. The hosts, Alain and Vaite, are lovely and always around to help with rides, excursions, and local advice. The property is beautifully decorated and has room to spread out, and costs less than the big lodges. We tried the bedroom fans for the first night, then paid a small extra amount to switch to A/C. Wi-Fi was fast and free, good for YouTube and things like that. Pack your own inflatable float or raft if you want to lounge in the water. We checked a lot of shops and only found pool noodles.

Alain was nice and helped me. The house is big and beautiful, with a nicely done living room, a well-equipped kitchen, and a lovely terrace. Unfortunately, the bedroom was a different story: the bed was uncomfortable, there were ants and spiders everywhere, and the air conditioner didn’t work. There was no remote control either.

Vaite and Alain were extremely helpful and gave us useful information about possible excursions. It felt like a friendly family atmosphere. We had the first-floor room to ourselves, although it’s normally shared. It’s large, with a kitchen, living room, and big terrace.

The house is very spacious, with a great terrace and living room. It has two bathrooms and two toilets, so you don’t have to get in each other’s way. It’s very close to the manta ray spot. I highly recommend it.