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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

South Pacific: Mo’orea ~ Island of Love

Since Mo’orea is one of those spectacular places in the South Pacific and sometimes called ‘The Island of Love’ we thought we’d offer it as a bit of a romantic getaway  today in honor of Valentine’s Day.

So whether you are ready for the romance of exploration or the romance of love – hop aboard. We are sailing south. . .

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Can’t you just smell the sweet scent of the blossoms that explode from trees and bushes alike?

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Can you feel the sun’s rays warming your soul as well as your skin? 

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Decisions to be made. . .stretch out on the white sand beach or sun on the private deck of your thatched-roof bure, or bungalow, out over the water?

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Or do the kayaks and paddle boats lure you into that turquoise water that laps gently against the shore?

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Or you could spend a few hours just sittin’ on the dock in the bay. . .

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That’s as far as we will go with suggestions in the PG-rated post.  But let your imaginations soar. . .what would you do if you found yourself on a South Pacific island today?

Note: We took the photos used in this post during a lunch stop we made while driving around the island in our rental car during the one day we had here during on our South Pacific cruise last October.  
This is the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa.  There are 54 bungalows built over the water – each has glass panels in the floor and steps that lead to the waist-deep lagoon.  Another 49 bungalows are clustered together on the resort grounds.

Just in case we’ve tempted you with this post – the resort has no rooms available this Valentine’s weekend.  However, I checked dates for this coming October (the month in which these photos were taken) and you can book one of those garden bungalows at their Best Available Rate of $548 a night or an over-water for $742.  Oh yes, WI-FI is extra!

Rather pricey in our book, but then again, what price romance, right? 

Happy Valentines Day!
We are linking this week with:
Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday.
Travel Photo Discovery on Monday

30 comments:

  1. Welcome to paradise! Really beautiful :)

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    1. It really was a post-card perfect paradise! Thanks for the visit today!

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  2. Ohh gosh, now this is really my kind of Place!! Paradise plus. Definitely a Valentine wish list destination.

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    1. Yes, you really could see yourself here on V-Day couldn't you? Thanks for the visit, Jo!

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  3. I love the first photo - the way the clouds seem to be radiating from the mountain tip.

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    1. Jan, the vistas were absolutely jaw-dropping - too picture perfect to be believed, yet there you were! Thanks for the visit~

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  4. Such classic South Pacific island shots, very tempting... now where's that husband of mine?? How long would it take to persuade him to get over there with his beloved ie me.

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    1. Just suggest he take a look at this blog post, with a hint, hint attached! Thanks for stopping by today! Happy V-Day whereever you celebrate it!

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  5. Gorgeous every which way you turn, Jackie. If the room prices don't give a person a heart attack, then I would say any thing goes on Valentine's Day! :)

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    1. Actually, we met a couple on the island who had just stayed there and they had paid $800 for the garden place and $1,000 for the overwater -- at that price, I would never leave the room!

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  6. This brings back incredible memories - my husband and I honeymooned in Moorea and we fell in love with the place. I was in tears the day we had to leave.

    And the overwater bungalow shots look very similar to the ones we have. Is this or was this the Sheraton Mo'orea?

    Gorgeous photos. It's hard to find anything wrong with this little island in the South Pacific.

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    1. Thanks much for sharing those romantic memories, Cheryl! I can imagine the magic of a honeymoon in Mo'orea. I am not sure if this was the Sheraton in a previous life or not. . .most of the hotels are built out over the water like this. Hope to see you again at TravelnWrite.

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  7. If I told you that our trip to Tahiti was probably the worst ever would you still talk to me.
    We kayaked and camped (I know problem #1) on Rangiroa for a week. Although very beautiful it was so frigging hot that I burned my legs with zinc oxide on them and preyed for the snow to start falling. Granted there isn't a photo from the islands that doesn't look magical but I will not be returning.

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    1. C'mon Leigh! ;-) Actually I also got burned on Bora Bora - it is so easy to do down there. So I understand completely your response, but, it was you I had in mind when I posted the photos of the kayaks!

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  8. It looks so beautiful there....being stuck in wintery Toronto, it makes me wish that I was there right now! Thanks for sharing the wonderful photographs!

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    1. Lauren, you folks back east - as compared to those in the west - have been hit with such winter this year that I can imagine why you'd want to be in the South Pacific. Rent the movie at least and pretend you are there! Thanks for visiting!

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  9. Oh gosh, not another Tahiti post, Jackie. Kidding LOL! You KNOW how much I LOVE these!! I just made a note - the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa is exactly where I want to stay! Thank you and we hope your floors have dried out with no damage, our friend! :)

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    1. Well it has been raining and cloudy in Hawaii Mike so I had to put in some inviting shots of somewhere, right? And we think the floors are drying, but word is that we may have some major repairs waiting to be tackled upon our return! Hey, hope you cooked up something special for Valentine's Day! (And a pat to the four-legged side-kick!)

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  10. This is paradise! It's been a dream of ours to stay at those over the water bungalows in Moorea or Bora Bora. I know at least 3 couples who have honeymooned in Tahiti and were pregnant soon after. :) The waters really must be magical. Love the photos, Jackie.

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    1. Okay, I should have added that as a footnote warning Mary. Love the idea of the waters being maternally magical!

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  11. This is such a hard sell, Jackie. I mean, what would I do on such a crummy looking beach. Look at the water, it's just not as turquoise blue as I want. This just won't do.

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    1. You are absolutely right, Marcia! ;-) What in the world was I thinking? And to think I even suggested it in the same sentence as Valentines Day! I had better go slap myself a couple times and come to my senses!!! (Hope you had a great day where ever you celebrated V-Day!)

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  12. I wonder if the "If you really love me, you'll book me this over water villa, honey, " manipulation would work? Probably not. That price is a bit too dear for us, so thank you for letting me enjoy the resort via your pictures. We once stayed at Pangkor Laut which had over water bungalows that look a lot like Moorea's. However, they were reserved for the over 16 years old crowd, and we had the 3 younguns along with us. I'd love to hear the waves lull me to sleep.

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    1. I am with you Michele, those prices are just a bit too precious for us to spend anymore time there than a lunch stop. It would be fun to try it out for just one night though. . . thanks for the visit!

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  13. Miss Moorea. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures!

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    1. Since we've been in Hawaii, we will point out our various ranges in certain sunlight and say things like, "that sure looks like Mo'orea doesn't it?" Thanks for visiting!!

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  14. I had high hopes of getting there one day to do a sailing charter, but alas, it didn't happen.

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  15. Hi Jackie, we just got back from South Pacific and absolutely loved it. We found ourselves in Bora Bora on Valentine's Day. It was an ultimate paradise. We stayed in one of those over the water bungalow and it was truly romantic and magical. The water was the most beautiful we have seen and we couldn't get tired of it. It was hard to leave.

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  16. Oh your comment gave me goose pimples! I am thrilled you were in Bora Bora and V-Day and got to experience the magic and romance of the South Pacific. I am eagerly awaiting your reports!! Hugs to you both!!!!

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  17. I'd love to explore more of the South Pacific; the name alone is practically the embodiment of everything romance and Remote, isn't it...

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