Bora Bora on Points: The Smart Traveler’s Guide to Paradise Without the Price Tag
Fly business to Bora Bora for 60k miles, stay five nights overwater for 300k points, and unlock a $15K trip for pennies on the dollar. Skip Delta, avoid overpriced redemptions, and play the game like a pro. Your points aren't perks - they're profit. This is how you Bora Bora the UpNonStop way.
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If you want to fly to Bora Bora without emptying your wallet, your first move is booking award flights into Papeʻete, Tahiti (PPT) - then paying cash or portal points for the short Air Tahiti hop to Bora Bora. The smartest play? Alaska Mileage Plan: 60k miles one-way in business on Air Tahiti Nui, wide availability from LAX or SEA. Economy redemptions run 25k–35k via American Airlines or Flying Blue, but business is where the value lives. Avoid Delta SkyMiles at all costs - they’re overpriced and underwhelming.
Hotel redemptions are where the game really separates the pros from the amateurs. The Westin Bora Bora gives you an overwater villa for 60k–70k Marriott points per night with the fifth night free. That’s $10k+ in value for 300k–350k points. Conrad Bora Bora Nui offers straightforward luxury at 120k Hilton points per night, with the same fifth-night-free trick dropping your average to 96k. The St. Regis is pretty, but at 189k–284k per night, it’s mostly a flex - skip unless you’ve got more points than sense.
Your round-trip inter-island flight will run ~$400.
That’s not covered by airline miles but can be offset using Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, or Amex travel credits. It’s a small price to pay for paradise, but don’t ignore it in your budget - most people do, and then act shocked when their “free” trip costs $1,200 out of pocket. Plan smart, pay smarter.
Bottom line: a couple can fly business class and stay five nights overwater in Bora Bora using <200k airline miles and <350k hotel points, with minimal cash outlay. That’s a $15,000+ vacation for a tiny fraction of the cost. If your credit card points are getting you 2% back, you’re playing in the wrong league. This is how you do it UpNonStop.
Everything else you need to know is just below 👇🏻
🎞️: Powered by NotebookLM @ UpNonStop
Let’s Get This Straight
Bora Bora isn’t a bucket-list destination. It’s a test of your travel strategy.
If you're still using points like perks - chasing cashback, fiddling with portals, and booking domestic economy because “it’s free” - then this guide might be too advanced for you.
But if you're running a business, building a balance sheet, or just know the value of a dollar and a redemption, keep reading. This is how you fly to Bora Bora in business class and sleep in a $2,000/night overwater bungalow - without shelling out like a honeymooner on a payment plan.
First, Know Your Route
Bora Bora doesn't have direct flights from the U.S. You fly into Papeʻete, Tahiti (PPT) first, then connect to Bora Bora (BOB) on a short Air Tahiti hop. That means two things:
- Your airline strategy ends at PPT.
- Your cash - or portal points - cover the last leg.
Translation: Maximize your miles into Tahiti. Handle the island hop separately.
Best Ways to Get to Tahiti on Points
Alaska Mileage Plan: The Gold Standard
- 60,000 miles one-way in business from LAX or SEA to PPT on Air Tahiti Nui.
- Economy runs ~30,000 miles.
- Taxes? Pocket change - less than $20.
- Availability? Wide open for 2025 if you book now.
This is one of the best redemptions in the game, period.
American Airlines AAdvantage: Economy Workhorse
- Economy redemptions run 25,000–35,000 miles one-way.
- Business class? Rare, but possible if Air Tahiti Nui space appears through AA.
- Useful if you’ve got AA balances from business spend or card promos.
Air France/KLM Flying Blue: Sneaky Good
- Air France flies direct LAX → PPT.
- Business class starts at ~64,000 Flying Blue miles - sometimes lower with Promo Rewards.
- Flexible dates + transfer partners (Amex, Chase, Citi, CapOne) make this one dynamic.
Just don’t touch this route with Delta SkyMiles unless you like paying 100k+ for a one-way economy seat.
Avoid These Traps
- Delta SkyMiles: 100k+ one-way in biz? Nope.
- Using cash for the whole trip: Unless you’re allergic to profit.
- Waiting to book: Air Tahiti Nui biz space disappears fast. Don’t “circle back” on this.
That Annoying Little Island Hop (PPT → BOB)
Here’s the deal:
- No award flights.
- Round-trip costs about $400 cash per person.
- You can offset it with Chase Sapphire at 1.25–1.5¢/point, or Capital One Venture Miles at 1¢/point.
Let’s Talk Hotels: Where to Burn Big
Bora Bora doesn’t do budget. But points? That’s your in.
You’ve got three plays here: Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and to a lesser extent, IHG.
The Westin Bora Bora (Marriott)
Best value in the game for overwater redemption.
- Standard awards: 60,000–70,000 Marriott points/night.
- Fifth night free if you book with points.
- Modest cash upgrade (~$350) gets you the overwater villa if base award is beach category.
If you’ve got 300k–350k Bonvoy points, that’s 5 nights in luxury for less than one night cash.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui (Hilton Honors)
- 120,000 Hilton points/night.
- Fifth night free = 96,000 points/night average.
- Overwater bungalows are standard awards here. No need to beg for upgrades.
- Best booked with Amex Hilton Aspire free night certs or top-up promos.
It’s the most straightforward luxury redemption in Bora Bora.
St. Regis Bora Bora (Marriott)
- Stunning. But...
- 189,000–284,000 Marriott points/night for overwater.
- Garden villas start at 88,000, but they’re inland.
Unless you have a stockpile of Bonvoy or elite benefits to swing an upgrade, this is mostly flex.
Sample Itineraries (So You Can Stop Guessing)
Itinerary A: The Sharpest Play (Couple, West Coast, Biz + Overwater)
- SEA → PPT in business: 60k Alaska miles each
- PPT → BOB: ~$400/person via Air Tahiti
- 5 nights Westin Bora Bora: ~300k Bonvoy points total (with 5th night free)
- Return PPT → LAX: 25k AA miles in economy
Total:
185k airline miles + 300k hotel points
Cash outlay: ~$800 (island hop)
Cash equivalent trip value: ~$12,000
Redemption value: 4–6¢/point average
Itinerary B: East Coast Economy Family (3 Travelers)
- BOS → PPT round-trip on AA: ~180k AA miles total
- Air Tahiti: ~$1,200 cash for 3
- 5 nights at Conrad Bora Bora Nui: 480k Hilton points (4 paid + 1 free)
Total:
180k AA + 480k Hilton
Cash: $1,200
Total trip value: $15k–$18k
Redemption value: 3.5–4¢/point
Sweet Spots Recap 👇🏻
✅ Alaska biz to PPT at 60k
✅ Westin Bora Bora at 60–70k/night
✅ Conrad with 5th night free = 96k/night
✅ Flying Blue promos for AF biz
✅ Hilton certs + point sales
What to Avoid 👇🏻
❌ St. Regis at 284k+/night unless you’re point-rich and cash-poor
❌ Delta SkyMiles for Tahiti (worst value)
❌ Booking hotels without 5th night free perks
❌ Delaying your award flight booking
❌ Forgetting to budget the $400 island hop
When to Book (Timing Matters)
- Flights: Book as soon as award space opens (330 days out for most carriers).
- Hotels: Marriott and Hilton open up ~12 months out. Grab Westin ASAP - 2025 dates are already booking up.
- Air Tahiti: 2–3 months out gets the best cash fares. Set a price alert if needed.
Final Thoughts:
Smart travelers don’t pay for paradise. They outthink it.
If you’re playing this right, you’re getting:
- Business class air for 60k miles
- $10,000+ hotels for a few hundred thousand points
- A trip that would cost $15,000+ cash for the same as a domestic 2% cashback strategy
Bora Bora isn’t cheap. But that’s the point. You don’t beat the system by spending less. You beat it by redeeming better.
And if your current strategy is cash back, you’re losing thousands of dollars in travel every year. That’s not travel hacking. That’s lazy math.
UpNonStop is for the business owners, the optimizers, and the travelers who know their time - and points - are too valuable to waste.
You want a Presidents Club trip? Take it to Bora Bora.
You want to take your partner to a place that costs more than your car? Done.
You want to sit in business class and sleep over the water - for less than a Hyatt Place in Omaha? Let’s go.
You already earned the points. We’ll show you how to spend them like a professional. This is how you Bora Bora.
