And when you can pack your bags, we recommend Bora Bora
Bora Bora is a small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia. Surrounded by sand-fringed motus (islets) and a turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef, Bora Bora is a popular destination for scuba divers and romantics! The natural beauty and peaceful ambiance are part of the reason that we at The Raven Spa in Los Angeles love the place!
According to Google’s travel guide, French Polynesia a collection of more than 100 islands sprinkled over approximately 1,250 miles of the South Pacific. Tahiti is the largest of these islands and is home to the capital city of Papeete. “With black-sand beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and 2 extinct volcanoes, it’s a popular vacation destination,” the travel guide reports. British explorer Captain James Cook, a, navigator, cartographer and captain in the Royal Navy, introduced the world to Tahiti in the 18th century. French post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin painted there in the 1890s.
“The busy capital of Papeete is home to restaurants, bars and hotels,” the travel guide says. Among the island’s highlights they include:
- The Robert Wan Pearl Museum
- Le Marché (a craft market)
- Les Roulottes, international food carts on Vai’ete Square.
- The Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands, which looks at French Polynesian culture, plus natural phenomena like the Arahoho Blowhole and its massive sprays.
- Hiking or guided 4-wheel-drives
- Water sports include fishing, outrigger canoeing and snorkeling.
Our favorite island in French Polynesia is Bora Bora, which is located to the northwest of Tahiti. If you love coral-fringed lagoons and bungalows poised above crystalline waters as much as we do, you will fall in love with this place!
“The inevitable love affair with this island begins right before you touch down,” the Google travel guide says – and they’re right! “The view from the plane window is a moment you will not soon forget. Have your camera in hand as you begin your descent and prepare for the moment when iconic Mount Otemanu comes into view. From that point on, each experience will only continue to exceed even your highest expectations.”
You fly into a little airport that is actually on a separate part of the island known as Motu Mete. “Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a warm smile and fragrant flower lei and transferred by boat to your Bora Bora resort, meaning you hardly have to wait for your first encounter with the island’s famously translucent lagoon.”
As Tahiti.com reports, “Bora Bora has become synonymous with overwater bungalows. Many of these lavish floating villas have glass floors that supply a window to the lagoon life below. This locale is unique in the fact that most Bora Bora resort hotels are built on their own tiny island, or motu, and visits elsewhere must be arranged by boat transfer. Not to worry, though, you will hardly need to leave your bungalow let alone the resort. From lounging on your own private deck and receiving room service via outrigger canoe, to indulging in a rejuvenating spa treatment, you will pass the time in quiet seclusion and opulent luxury.”
Are you starting to see why we love Bora Bora so much?
If a dream vacation isn’t in your immediate future, we invite you to escape from the hustle and bustle for a few blissful hours with a visit to The Raven Day Spa in Los Angeles. Treat yourself to one of our amazing massages in Santa Monica at our location on Pier Avenue, indulge in a Radiant Raven Facial or join us for yoga at our Silverlake location. We’ve earned a reputation as one of the most innovate spas in Los Angeles. You may not be able to travel to distant islands, but we’ll make you feel like you’re a world away.
