To me, Tahiti is one of the quintessential honeymoon destinations.  Absolutely gorgeous scenery, impressive resorts, divine French cuisine, and plenty of daytime activities to choose from if you need a break from the beach.  In fact, when I was faced with the decision to study Spanish or French back in 7th grade, I boldly told my parents, “I’m going to learn French so I can go to Tahiti one day.”  Since we lived in California and 95% of my classmates were choosing the more “useful” language of Spanish, my parents just rolled their eyes at me.  Seven years of French classes later, I finally got to go to Tahiti with my best friend and her family, and I was not disappointed.  And through that best friend, I met Marissa and Pat, whose great honeymoon photos are below:

When and where did you honeymoon?

September 2011 in Tahiti (Moorea and Bora Bora)

How long was your trip?

8 days

How did you decide on your honeymoon destination(s)?

While we debated the benefits of more of an “adventure” vacation, we speculated (correctly) that by the time the wedding was done, we’d want a honeymoon that allowed us to relax and unwind. We liked the fact that there were still plenty of options to be active (hiking, all types of water sports, etc.), but we would also have the ability to do nothing on a beach.

The best part about our honeymoon was…

There were so many it’s hard to pick! I loved our “shark and ray snorkel safari” – we saw incredible coral reefs, fed rays and swam with sharks! I also loved how somehow being on our honeymoon turned my husband into the uber tourist. Normally I’m the one clamoring to take a million pictures, but this time he was just as into recording every moment.

If I knew then what I know now, I’d change…

I would have stayed longer, and might have gone to a third island.

If you plan to visit both Moorea and Bora Bora, I’d say it isn’t necessary to stay in the over-water huts in Moorea (if you’re looking to save a little money). We spent much of our time on this island exploring and being on the beach, very little in our room.

How much planning did you do in advance?

We worked with a travel agent, which made the process incredibly easy. We told them what we wanted and they gave us a few options. We made changes and then, voilà, booked! I absolutely recommend using a travel agent for Tahiti. While it’s certainly do-able on your own, it’s nice to have all of your transfers pre-arranged. Flights from the US arrive in the middle of the night, so the last thing you want to do is haggle over a cab to your hotel.

What was your biggest honeymoon splurge?

Staying in the over-water, volcano facing bungalow at the Four Seasons Bora Bora. Completely worth it.

Where do you want to go on your next big trip?

Asia, likely Japan or Laos.