How Much Does a Bora Bora Vacation Cost for a Family? (2026 Cost Guide)
French Polynesia has a reputation for being hella expensive. Between the iconic overwater bungalows, luxury resorts, and its remote location in the South Pacific, many families assume a Bora Bora vacation is completely out of reach. The truth? A one-week Bora Bora vacation for a family of four can cost anywhere from under $10,000 to more than $55,000 depending on how you choose to travel. After living in French Polynesia with our family for the past 3 years and helping other families experience these islands firsthand, we’ve seen both ends of the cost spectrum. In this guide, we'll break down exactly what a one-week Bora Bora vacation costs for a family of four, including flights, accommodations, food, activities, and transportation.
Quick Answer: How Much Does a Bora Bora Family Vacation Cost?
| Family Vacation Cost | / week | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort Vacation | $25,800 | - | $55,500 |
| All-Inclusive Sailing Charter | $9,800 | - | $13,100 |
| Vacation Rental | $8,700 | - | $12,900 |
*Flights excluded. See below for flight costs by itinerary
Below we’ll explain exactly how we came up with these numbers and the dramatic effect your accommodation choice could have on your experience.
How much do Bora Bora hotels cost?
Most people will consider staying in one of the many resorts or one of the few vacation rentals (Airbnb or VRBO) available in Bora Bora. Here is the expected range of nightly rates for a family of 4:
| Accommodation Cost | / Day | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort | $3,000 | - | $7,000 |
| Vacation Rental | $600 | - | $1,000 |
Although French Polynesia has been a dream destination since the American WWII GIs returned home from Bora Bora, telling unimaginable stories of paradise in the South Pacific, there are still relatively few options when it comes to accommodations. If you are thinking of French Polynesia like a French speaking version of Hawaii - think again. The tourist industry here has developed slowly and with restraint over time. Outside of Tahiti there are few buildings more than 2 storeys tall and accommodations are relatively limited when compared to the demand.
The option most people never consider:
an all-inclusive sailing yacht.
Most travelers, and especially those with families never consider staying on a boat either because they’ve never done it before, they assume it will be cost prohibitive, or they don’t even know it exists. Here are some of the reasons you should consider a sailing charter for your family vacation to Bora Bora:
All food included
All water activities included (except SCUBA)
No local transportation needed - the boat is your taxi and hotel all in one!
Super knowledgeable hosts that will guide you to the absolute best experiences away from the crowds
An over water bungalow that moves with you
Fully customizable to your interests and needs
The reality is that in an expensive destination like French Polynesia where every aspect of your travel is paid for separately, an all-inclusive boating vacation may actually cost you less and offer you a better experience, especially for families.
How much does food cost in Bora Bora?
Just like you, most of the food you will be eating while in French Polynesia has travelled a very long distance. There is relatively little agriculture in the country and so most of what you eat will be imported making it pricier than you may be used to at home. Your food options will vary greatly by your accommodation choice.
| Daily Food Cost | / person | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort | $100 | - | $150 |
| Vacation Rental | $50 | - | $75 |
| All-Inclusive Sailing Charter | Included |
If you choose to rent a vacation home you can save a lot by self catering but part of the fun of travelling is sampling the local cuisine so we would always recommend budgeting for at least one meal out per day.
If you’re staying at a resort, food is almost always an extra charge and you will have few options but to dine in one of your resort's restaurants. If you do choose to leave the resort at meal time you will be charged a water taxi transfer fee. For example, the Conrad charges $60/person to shuttle guests to town at dinner time and it costs more if you want to go to other resorts…they really don't want you to leave.
On an all-inclusive sailing charter all food will be included in the all in fee. This includes all three meals, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Similar to a vacation rental most Sailing vacations will allow you to bring your own alcohol or you can preorder with them at a much better rate than what you’d be paying at a resort.
What about local transportation? How much to budget for
This will depend a lot on what type of accommodations you choose. Most people who stay at resorts only leave on planned excursions which will normally include any necessary transportation. People renting vacation properties however will benefit greatly from renting a car as there are typically few if any taxis available. Car rental options are limited but you can expect to pay around $100/day for a sedan.
| Transportation Cost | / day | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort | $0 | ||
| Vacation Rental | $100 | ||
| All-Inclusive Sailing Charter | Included |
It should also be said that many locals rely on hitchhiking to get around and for the more adventurous travelers who don’t mind putting a little extra effort into their travel this could be a way to save some money and meet local people. French would be an asset as most people speak very little English but there’s always the universal language of exaggerated hand and head gestures.
How much should I plan to spend on excursions while in Bora Bora?
French Polynesia is ALL ABOUT THE WATER and you are going to want to spend a significant amount of your vacation enjoying the pristine and dreamy lagoon wonderland from both above and below the surface. This is the one aspect of your vacation that you do not want to compromise on.
| Excursion Cost | / person | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort | $500 | - | $750 |
| Vacation Rental | $500 | ||
| All-Inclusive Sailing Charter | Included* |
*Excluding tours run by third parties like SCUBA
How much do flights to Tahiti cost?
All international flights arrive in Tahiti. There have always been a limited number of direct flights and since Covid, even fewer. These are the current international cities with direct service to French Polynesia and average flight costs:
| Roundtrip Flight to Tahiti Cost | / person | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, USA | $1,600 | ||
| San Francisco, USA | $850 | ||
| Paris, France | $1,700 | ||
| Auckland, New Zealand | $1,000 | ||
| Sydney, Australia | $1,300 |
For those coming via the United States, San Francisco is your cheapest option thanks to Air France’s budget airline French Bee stopping there on its long haul flight from Paris.
From Faa’a International Airport in Tahiti you will have a choice to hop on a local flight to your final island destination or take a ferry if you’re staying within the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Taha’a, Huahine, Maupiti). Here are the average summer rates for both:
| Inter-Island Transportation Cost | / person | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Flight (Air Tahiti or Air Moana) | $200 | ||
| Ferry (Apetahi Express) | $140 |
So What Is the Total Bora Bora Vacation Cost for a Family of 4?
The most important decision to consider from a cost perspective is your accommodations because they will greatly affect your other expenses, such as food and local transportation. To make comparing these vacation styles easier, we've summarized the estimated costs for a one-week Bora Bora family vacation below.
| Resort Vacation for a Family of 4 | / week | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodations | $21,000 | - | $49,000 |
| Food | $2,800 | - | $3,500 |
| Transportation | $0 | - | $300 |
| Excursions | $2,000 | - | $3,000 |
| Total | $25,800 | - | $55,800 |
| All-Inclusive Sailing Vacation for a Family of 4 | / week | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodations | $9,800 | - | $13,100 |
| Food | Included | ||
| Transportation | Included | ||
| Excursions | Included | ||
| Total | $9,800 | - | $13,100 |
| Vacation Rental Vacation for a Family of 4 | / week | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodations | $4,200 | - | $7,000 |
| Food | $1,800 | - | $2,500 |
| Transportation | $700 | - | $1,400 |
| Excursions | $2,000 | - | $3,000 |
| Total | $8,700 | - | $13,500 |
*Totals exclude international flights which depend on departure city
Conclusion
It’s easy to see from this guide that your choice of accommodation type will have the biggest effect on how much your vacation to Bora Bora will cost. And while most of us have a pretty clear understanding of the differences between a luxury resort vacation where every service is at your fingertips and a vacation rental where you are responsible for taking care of yourself, most people have little to no idea what a private sailing charter experience is like.
A good all-inclusive sailing charter typically involves hosts that create an itinerary based on your needs and interests, develop a meal plan for your dietary preferences and guide you to the best experiences away from other tourists. Best of all, you get the opportunity to experience life on the water. This is a complete package requiring little to no research or planning on your part beyond what to pack, which your hosts can also help you with. The ultimate benefit is that you have immediate and constant access to French Polynesia’s epic water. Picture it like an over-water bungalow that can travel around the lagoon with you, or even to different islands.
If you're looking for a way to combine the convenience of a resort with a more unique and adventurous experience at a much more affordable price consider an all-inclusive sailing charter.
FAQs
Is Bora Bora expensive for families?
In a word, Yes… and No. While a typical resort vacation will cost anywhere between $25,000 and $55,000 what most people don’t know is that you can get the same level of convenience at a much cheaper price of around $10,000 by booking a private all-inclusive sailing charter. And while this is not the cheapest vacation you could choose for your family, the value lies in the bucket list level experience you will have.
What is the cheapest month to visit Bora Bora?
November to April is considered the low season and this is because it’s also the rainy season. The exception is the holiday season between Christmas and New Years where prices surge again. While the rainy season is wetter in Bora Bora it doesn’t mean it rains constantly. You may come during this time and not see a drop of rain or it could rain for the majority of your vacation. Because of this uncertainty we recommend visiting the Tuamotus archipelago in French Polynesia during the rainy season. You’ll benefit from the same low season prices but with much less likelihood of rain. Good all-inclusive sailing charters move their boats to the Tuamotus during the rainy season for exactly this reason.
How much spending money do I need in Bora Bora?
Aside from money for essentials like food and activities covered in the guide above you will not need much extra money in your pocket. Unlike most highly touristed destinations in the world you will not encounter a barrage of ways to spend money that you had no intention of spending. You will not be hounded, pressured or even presented with souvenirs by pushy sales people. On the contrary, if you’d like to buy mementos, like handicrafts or the iconic black pearls of French Polynesia you will have to seek them out yourself. That being said $100-$200 should be enough for most but if you’re looking for the finest peacock pearl necklace bring your credit card.
Are there all-inclusive resorts in Bora Bora?
Not really. At least not in the style of all-inclusive resorts found in the Caribbean or Mexico. Most resorts will offer several meal packages you can purchase when booking, with the top tier usually including all meals, but drinks will not typically be included. If you’re looking for a clear all-in vacation where you can leave your wallet in your suitcase, consider an all-inclusive sailing charter. All meals are included and while alcohol is not, most providers will allow you to bring your own bottles or allow you to preorder what you’d like to drink aboard at a fraction of the cost charged by resorts. In addition all the off-the-boat activities, like snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, beach visits and more are also included.
How many days do you need in Bora Bora?
Most families should plan for a 7-10 day trip to comfortably experience the best of what Bora Bora has to offer.
Is Bora Bora worth the money?
In our opinion, yes, but it depends on how you decide to experience it. What makes Bora Bora stand apart from anywhere else on earth is the combination of an incredible lagoon with crystal clear water in every shade of blue imagineable, amazing marine life and a stunningly beautiful mountainscape backdrop that you will not be able to stop taking pictures of. Seriously, it’s unreal. This last point may seem trivial but it’s largely what makes Bora Bora different from the other society islands in French Polynesia, all of which boast stunning lagoons. Virtually all the resorts exist on the islands that form the exterior edge of the lagoon so that they can look back towards the magnificent inner island landscape. The downside of staying at a vacation rental is that they are almost all located on the central island where you don’t get to see the postcard views you’ve been dreaming about. So if you don’t have or don’t want to spend the big bucks for a resort consider an all-inclusive sailing charter which might just give you the best of all worlds at a much more reasonable price.
About the Authors
Our family has lived in French Polynesia full time for the past three years. We create tailored experiences that help others explore the islands and atolls that make up this remote paradise.
