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Don't think just white sand beaches and sparkling lagoons. A family vacation to Moorea and Bora Bora offers special, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Jumping off your overwater bungalow’s deck into popsicle blue waters isn’t the only cool thing kids love to do in French Polynesia. Bouncing along in a Jeep past old WW II canons, petting stingrays and paddling an outrigger canoe also top the list.

Moorea and Bora Bora (the nation’s two most popular islands) may be honeymoon hot spots. But this tropical South Seas paradise also welcomes families. And while not cheap – after all, it is one of the most gorgeous spots on earth – there are places to stay that are wallet-friendly and family beach vacation deals to tempt you. 

Welcome to Tahiti!

Tiny French Polynesia is made up of five archipelagos spread widely across the Pacific Ocean, but only has a total landmass of just over 1,500 square miles. Tahiti is in the Society Islands archipelago; Moorea is one of the group's Windward Islands and Bora Bora is one of the Society's Leeward Islands, but all are popularly considered "Tahitian."

All international flights to French Polynesia actually land in Papeete, Tahiti, the capital, where most visitors overnight. A lovely place to rest up is the InterContinental Tahiti Resort, five minutes away from the airport, with a sandy beach fronting a snorkeling lagoon, two pools and 30 acres of gardens. A renovated room with two queen beds, huge marble bathrooms and panoramic lagoon views can accommodate a family of four. Refreshed, you'll be ready to move on from Tahiti to the other Society Islands.

Moorea, French Polynesia - Undersea Paradise

From Papeete, take a 30-minute, high-speed catamaran ferry to reach the lush heart-shaped island of Moorea. This is the place for superb snorkeling.

Baby moray eels. Leopard rays. Blue-banded Picasso triggerfish and pumpkin orange clownfish. If "Finding Nemo" is one of your family’s cherished flicks, then the Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort is the place for you.

Our lagoon-view bungalow was mere steps away from Nemo’s world. While Moorea doesn’t have the colorful corals of the Caribbean, it does boast a stunning variety and abundance of tropical fish. And the snorkeling at the Sofitel is superb.

The resort itself is spread out over a beautifully landscaped property with lily ponds, sacred stone marae statues, and the island’s best powdery beach. No blaring pool music or jet skis mar the tranquility. There are 114 bungalows, 12 of which are lagoon-view and have a king bed and sofa bed (accommodating three). Several evenings a week, Polynesian shows provide entertainment during dinner – kids particularly love the fire dancing.

If there are four of you traveling, you can opt for the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa, where family garden rooms, with a little second mezzanine floor, sleep up to four.