Summary
The islands of Tahiti may be a honeymooners’ paradise, but family travel is increasingly on the upswing. Here are some tips and strategies if you plan to visit Tahiti, Moorea, or Bora Bora with your children.
Stick With the Major Islands
Aside from the threat of sunburn and mosquito bites, a Tahiti family vacation is generally safe for even very small children. However, since kids tend to get bored easily, can be finicky eaters, and get sick more often than adults, it makes sense to focus on the three major islands (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora) where there is easy access to activities, packaged foods, and medical care.
Should any major medical emergency arise, the main hospital is on Tahiti, and flights from outlying islands in the Tuamotus and Marquesas are less frequent.
Seek Value or Space in Rooms, Beach Bungalows, and Villas
While Tahiti is famous for its overwater bungalows, they are expensive and may not be the best choice for families. Numerous resorts provide rooms, suites, and villas that are better suited for travel with young children.
On Tahiti, options include the Garden Suites or Lagoon Suites (sleeps four and includes a kitchenette) at the Manava Suite Resort Tahiti, the Panoramic Rooms (with two queen-sized beds) or the Motu Overwater Bungalows (with a king bed and sleeper sofa) at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort, and the Garden View or Deluxe Lagoon View rooms (request two connecting rooms) at Le Meridien Tahiti.
On Moorea, consider the Garden View Duplexes (sleeps five) and Beach Bungalows (sleeps four) at Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa, the Lanai Suites (sleeps four) and Garden Pool Bungalows at the InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa, as well as the King Garden Bungalows (sleeps four) at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, along with the two- and three-bedroom villas (sleeps four to six) at Legends Resort Moorea.
On Bora Bora, the choices are notably pricier, with the best options for families being the Beach Suites (sleeps four) at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, the Motu Family Suites at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa (sleeps four), the Two Bedroom Beachfront Villas with Private Pool (sleeps six) at the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, and the Pool Beach One-Bedroom Villas (sleeps four) at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort.
Use Caution If You Do Book an Overwater Bungalow
Many overwater bungalows can accommodate up to four guests (typically featuring a king-sized bed and a sofa bed). Nevertheless, due to their unique location above the lagoon with easy access to the water via outdoor decks and steps, they may not always be the safest choice for families with small children or even older kids who aren’t strong swimmers.
Some resorts offer childproofing services for guests who wish to enjoy an overwater experience safely.
Kids Clubs and Babysitting are Available
If you envision having a few hours each day entirely to yourselves, consider staying at a resort with a kids program or a babysitting service. On Tahiti and Moorea, while there are no dedicated kids programs, major resorts generally offer babysitting services. However, on Bora Bora, the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora features a Kids Club, along with a dedicated Chill Island for teens and babysitting options.
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort boasts a Kids Creativity Club, bicycle rentals, and a calm Lagoonarium for snorkeling. Furthermore, both the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa and the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa offer babysitting services upon request.
