How To Get From The BOB Airport To The InterContinental Bora Bora Hotels For Cheap

Before I start, I want you to know that this way of getting to the IC for cheap works for other hotels. I know you can get from the Bora Bora to the Hilton for cheap, like $10 instead of the hotel’s $60+ shuttle. The tip is basically to take a different boat.

In short the hotel required us to pay $60 per person (for three of us) each way. It would’ve cost us $360. Instead, we paid $20 each way for all three of us.

 

To catch you up on other posts about French Polynesia, see other posts:

• 2 Weeks in Bora Bora & Moorea Hotels For Free
• How To Use Miles To Get To Tahiti

Now I’m going to talk about transit to the hotels.

If you want to skip ahead, feel free. The first section is about how the hotels tell you the shuttle is mandatory, when I assure you it isn’t.

• The hotel is full of lies
• Air Tahiti has a free boat shuttle
• Take A Taxi
• Take the shuttle to the IC Thalasso
• Stay at the IC Le Moana a night (optional)
• Do it all in reverse

 

1) The hotel is full of lies

The InterContinental Le Moana emailed and this manager tells me that the shuttle is required. But he said it in such a way that he was reminding me of the terms I agreed to.

So I checked, and then I asked him where in the world he was getting this.

He sent me a link to a page on the hotel’s website (not even on IHG, where I obviously made the booking), where it just says it. Implying that this is required is absurd. It’s like if we signed a contract and then I added some requirement for you because of a note I added at my home… where you didn’t see it.

I said “no thanks” and left it at that.

I’ll actually share his exact words from the email at the end, if you’re interested.

 

2) Air Tahiti has a free boat shuttle

Once you land and get your bags at the tiny little airport, everyone just wanders over to a boat that takes you to Vaitape, Bora Bora. The majority of the people from my flight were getting on it, so I followed.

Oh, this also requires blowing by the people at the “InterContinental” booth.

This takes you to Vaitape, (the main town on Bora Bora), which is 10 to 15 minutes from the InterContinental Le Moana.

 

3) Take A Taxi

We were dragging our feet, and I changed out of long pants and shoes as soon as we got there (now I had my checked bag). By the time I wanted a taxi, there was only one. I wouldn’t worry about not finding another, but I also didn’t have any other options. And since I don’t haggle (I normally say a price I think is fair and take it or leave it), I took his first offer of 2,000 ($18).

$18 is a heck of a lot cheaper than the 6,031+ per person they offered since there were three of us. It would’ve been 18093 XPF, or $163 per direction. I saved $145 by saying no and taking a 10 minute taxi.

The taxi takes you right up to the front desk.

 

Nothing was charged

I should add that our ticket stubs for the flight there were still in our passports when they took them and scanned them. Without a doubt we just skipped the required shuttle… and nothing was charged.

They know it’s a crock.

What a scam. A guy emails you saying that it’s required… I go through the booking process and really, it doesn’t mention it anywhere. So I skip the required shuttle and they don’t charge anything.

The guy was just emailing to force me to take their boat. It’s as if it’s some taxi scam in Thailand. “Oh no sir, you have to take our taxi because the buses/shuttles are closed today”, and then you find out it’s not true.

 

5) Take the shuttle to the IC Thalasso

There is a completely free shuttle that runs between the two InterContinentals in Bora Bora, Le Moana (on the main island) and the far out Thalasso.

Actually, it’s not completely free after a certain time. But they told me at the Thalasso, if you take the shuttle to Le Moanna and leave before the 5pm, and return before the 10pm, it’s totally free. So I’m sure it’s free to take it back until 5pm, and would certainly assume that it’s free before 10pm as well.

The shuttle times heading over to the IC are as follows:

 

4) Stay at the IC Le Moana a night.

Yes, I did 4 and 5 out of order.

But I wanted to explain the shuttle times in order to explain why I stayed here.

Mainly, I didn’t want to wait around for a few hours hoping to catch the next shuttle. At the time I didn’t know the schedule, but it’s possible to wait around for hours with all your luggage at the Le Moana.

Instead of trying to time the shuttle, I just booked my first night there and we got a room right away. It probably would have been fine, but it was nice to rest right away after transit and get some groceries… and know the prices.

 

Also, they are very different hotels. Le Moana is more rustic feeling and Thalasso is more modern.

But the main difference is location. Le Moana is on the island where locals live, around the corner from restaurants and stores, and there’s more coral.

The Thalasso is looking at the island, is more remote, has a great view, and books into overwater bungalows.

I like the Thalasso way better, but Caroline liked Le Moana better. She said she’d get too bored after a week at the Thalasso. I don’t feel that way, but I do like seeing other parts of the island.

This step is skip-able. I thought it would make things less awkward, but now that I know I could’ve just shown up to the Le Moana and said, “oh, we’re just taking the shuttle to the Thalasso” and know it’s normal.

Also, the Le Moana is not shwank and stuffy. It’s rustic and small. You walk through the lobby to the beach and you’re almost to the boat dock. Don’t feel awkward about it if it means saving a lot of money.

While there’s totally no reason to take the paid hotel boat to Le Moana since the Air Tahiti takes you most of the way there, if you are going right to Thalasso, it will save you some time to do the paid boat. You’d be back tracking towards the airport to get to the Thalasso.

But, heck, the boat ride might be nice. We accidentally got a private boat at 11:45. It was nice and way faster. I don’t know why that one time we got the private boat, which was cooler than the IC shuttle. But the Air Tahiti shuttle to town has a deck on top of the boat for you to stand or sit and take in the views.

 

6) Do it all in reverse

Pretty simple. If you can get to the hotel, you can do it back to the BOB airport.

From Le Moana take a taxi to Vaitape, and the driver will know where the pier is.

Then hop the Air Tahiti boat back. I think the normal departure time is 1.5 hours before your flight, although it doesn’t hurt to show up early (although I’m guessing 1.5 hours early is on the “early” side). And luckily the flights are pretty regular. Go early and eat a cheaper/local meal anyways.

 

The actual email exchange

Kevin

We also remind you that boat transfers from the airport to the resort are mandatory for all guests and costs 6031 CFP per way.

I was confused how I could have possibly been “reminded” of something I’ve never seen. So I tell him, I didn’t know about it. So he sends a screen shot of a part of their site that says transit is required.

First, I booked through IHG.com and it just doesn’t come up.

Second, go to their website and try to find ANY details! You can’t! InterContinental (as a brand) has the worst most confusing websites I’ve seen. Not only do I not sit around browsing them, but I also can’t find them. And also, just because you mention these things somewhere on the confusing website I don’t use and can’t use for booking, doesn’t mean I’m bound to it.

Anyways, he says the following and sent a screenshot of a link:

Please find enclosed the mandatory fee stated upfront on your booking.

Huh?

I thanked him for the info he did give and then added:

Also, just to be clear. I booked on IHG.com and none of these fees are listed anywhere during the booking process, and certainly not on the page where you confirm all the rates and fees. Your screenshot is of a page I’ve never gone to before. Not a big deal (as we need to get to the hotel), but it was not “upfront” or on any page I’ve seen until just now… well after booking. Just thought you should know, incase you want to make it something you see before booking.

 

His final email:

Ia Orana Mr Macomber,

Thank you so much for your kind email !

We never have been this sort of problem before, but we take note in case.

I stay of course at your disposal for any information you may need, Best regards,

 

Is this guy on french drugs? He’s never been this sort of problem? It’s only me that doesn’t see these fees on IHG.com? I don’t think so.

Anyways. That was Aug 20th.

Here’s from the email on Nov 3:

We also remind you that boat transfers from the airport to the resort are mandatory for all guests and costs 6031 CFP per way.

And guess what, the IHG website still mentions no transfer.

 

Conclusion

Why do hotels do this stuff? Lie and make up junk?

Why not just say, “hey, there is water between the airport and our hotel, but we can arrange a boat to pick you up for $xx/person, and all you have to do is give your flight info.”

Sure, maybe you’ll lose a few people you coulda decieved into thinking they had to take your boat instead of taxi… But it isn’t right.

Don’t support scam like sales tactics.

Take the free shuttle and then a taxi!