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Bora Bora All-Inclusive: The Honest Guide

Bora Bora isn't a classic Caribbean-style all-inclusive destination - it's a lagoon ringed by luxury overwater-bungalow resorts, most of which offer optional meal plans rather than everything-in one price. Here's exactly how all-inclusive works here, what it costs, and how to book the right resort.

See Bora Bora resortsFilter for all-inclusive and check dates
By Emma4 min readPublished
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Bora Bora's green peaks above the lagoon with boats moored off the shore
Photo: dacowi · CC BY 2.0

In Brief

Does Bora Bora have all-inclusive resorts?

Not in the classic sense. Bora Bora's resorts are luxury overwater and beach properties on small islets (motu) around the lagoon, and most sell room-only rates with optional meal plans - half-board, full-board or all-inclusive food-and-drink packages you add on. A true 'all-inclusive' Bora Bora trip usually means booking one of these resorts and adding its full meal-and-drinks plan, which is well worth it because there are almost no restaurants outside the resorts.

Key takeaways

  • Most resorts sit on their own motu, reached by a boat transfer from the airport - you'll mostly eat where you stay, so a meal plan matters.
  • Look for 'full board' or 'all-inclusive' meal packages when comparing rooms - they bundle breakfast, dinner and often drinks.
  • Overwater bungalows are the icon; garden and beach villas cost noticeably less for the same lagoon.
  • This is a splurge destination - budget accordingly, and book 3-6 months ahead for the best rooms.

How all-inclusive really works in Bora Bora

Bora Bora has a small number of resorts and no big all-inclusive resort strip like Cancun or Punta Cana. Nearly every property is a high-end resort on a private motu around the lagoon, and the 'all-inclusive' you'll find is a meal-and-drinks package added to the room rate rather than a bundled resort deal. Because getting off your motu means a boat trip and dining options are limited, adding full board or an all-inclusive meal plan is genuinely useful here - it's less about saving money and more about not thinking about it.

What's included - and what isn't

  • Meal plans (half-board = breakfast + dinner; full-board adds lunch; all-inclusive adds drinks) are added to the room, not automatic.
  • Airport boat transfer is often included or arranged by the resort - confirm when booking.
  • Non-motorized water toys (kayaks, snorkel gear, paddleboards) are usually complimentary at resorts.
  • Lagoon excursions, spa and motorized activities are almost always extra, even on an all-inclusive meal plan.

Where the resorts are

The areas to search, and who each suits.

  • Lagoon motu (islets)

    The classic Bora Bora stay - overwater bungalows with Mount Otemanu views, reached by resort boat.

  • Matira Beach (main island)

    The only real public beach; a few resorts and lower-cost stays with restaurants walkable nearby.

  • Main island (Vaitape side)

    Budget-conscious travelers - guesthouses and pensions, day-trip the lagoon instead of overwater.

What it costs

Rough nightly bands - actual prices swing with season and dates.

TierTypical / nightWhat you get
Garden / beach villa$400-800 / nightSame lagoon, same resort perks, no glass floor - the value pick.
Overwater bungalow$800-1,800 / nightThe iconic stay; price climbs with lagoon and mountain views.
Premium overwater + meal plan$1,500-3,000+ / nightTop resorts with full-board or all-inclusive dining bundled in.
Browse Bora Bora resorts & hotelsCompare resorts, filter for all-inclusive & check dates on Trip.comFlights to Bora BoraSet your departure city and dates

Best time to visit Bora Bora

May-October is the dry season - sunny, less humid and the best lagoon visibility, though it's peak price. November-April is warmer and greener with more rain; February is wettest. Shoulder months (May, October) balance weather and cost.

Bora Bora all-inclusive: FAQ

The questions travelers ask most about all-inclusive here.

A few resorts offer genuine all-inclusive packages (meals plus drinks bundled in), but most sell room-only rates with optional half-board, full-board or all-inclusive meal add-ons. When you compare resorts, filter or ask for the all-inclusive or full-board rate - that's the closest Bora Bora gets to the Caribbean all-inclusive model.

Usually yes. Most resorts sit on a private islet reached only by boat, and there are very few independent restaurants, so you'll eat where you stay regardless. A full-board or all-inclusive plan removes the sting of paying resort prices per meal and lets you relax - it's about convenience more than a bargain.

Bora Bora is a splurge. Garden and beach villas run roughly $400-800 a night, overwater bungalows $800-1,800, and premium overwater rooms with meal plans $1,500-3,000+ - before flights, which are long-haul via Tahiti (Papeete). Budget travelers can stay in main-island guesthouses and day-trip the lagoon for far less.

May to October, the dry season, brings the sunniest weather and clearest lagoon water - it's also peak price. November to April is warmer, greener and wetter, with February the rainiest. The May and October shoulder weeks are the sweet spot for weather versus cost.

Not much, and that's the point. Resorts are self-contained on their own motu, so meals, beach, pool and non-motorized water toys are all on site. You'll leave by resort boat for lagoon excursions - snorkeling with rays and reef sharks, a Mount Otemanu circle tour, or a visit to Matira Beach and Vaitape town on the main island.

Fly into Tahiti (Papeete, PPT) from Los Angeles or Auckland, then take a short domestic flight to Bora Bora's island airport, where your resort meets you by boat. It's a long journey, so most travelers stay at least 4-5 nights to make it worthwhile.

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