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Author Topic: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)  (Read 102753 times)

Offline CS91

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #100 on: December 14, 2015, 12:15:07 PM »
This TR is kind of making me less excited for my trip to MLE and has me wishing that I had booked BOB instead...  :(

Offline Hershelsdeals

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #101 on: December 14, 2015, 12:15:16 PM »
Do you snorkel/dive?
Yes, but there are nicer, easier and cheaper places to dive, do people really go to MLE just for the snorkel/diving?




Offline Hershelsdeals

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #102 on: December 14, 2015, 12:18:04 PM »
Oh, that's your question? That one is easy.

No. BOB does not dwarf MLE as CUN would dwarf Coney Island beach. Not even close.

(But, why are we taking away the advantages of MLE? That's like asking, "If you took away Michael Jordan's height, his right arm, and his sight, could you beat him in a one-on-one?")

Back to regularly scheduled programming :)

I don't think anyone argues here. BOB is prettier than MLE and MLE has the better premium cabins and OWB options.

But no way is MLE Coney Island Beach. It's just not as heavenly looking as BOB.
In other words, will i find MLE boring after visiting BOB ( without the premium cabins being part of the argument)
 Like this guy is afraid of.



This TR is kind of making me less excited for my trip to MLE and has me wishing that I had booked BOB instead...  :(

Offline Dan

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #103 on: December 14, 2015, 12:21:23 PM »
Yes, but there are nicer, easier and cheaper places to dive, do people really go to MLE just for the snorkel/diving?
People go to relax and have an OWB.
The incredible snorkeling/diving is a bonus.

Yes it will be similar to BOB if you had an OWB with a pool there.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline AJK

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #104 on: December 14, 2015, 02:02:45 PM »
do you really travel with Tabasco sauce wherever you go?

No, but I do take sriracha everywhere.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline AJK

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #105 on: December 14, 2015, 02:04:43 PM »
I love this thread- can't wait for more Mrs. AJK commentary and AJK pictures. Planning for BOB myself now (and at an IHG hotel) so love all the details.

Can you comment a little more on the food situation also? I'll probably be coming from SYD so I don't think I'll have access to POM meals- is French Polynesia pretty strict about bringing food in (non-packaged, etc)?

Absolutely no issue with bringing in Kosher food, just like MLE (minus the pork and alcohol).

There's a lot to be said for what's under the water at MLE

+100
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline AJK

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #106 on: December 14, 2015, 02:06:21 PM »
Yes, but there are nicer, easier and cheaper places to dive, do people really go to MLE just for the snorkel/diving?

Are there nicer and cheaper places to dive than MLE? There are probably some, but not many.

And, yes, I'd say it's worth it to go to MLE just for diving, which was otherworldly.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline MC

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #107 on: December 14, 2015, 02:15:10 PM »
No, but I do take sriracha everywhere.
Gosh, you and my husband would get along so well.

Offline AJK

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #108 on: December 14, 2015, 02:17:26 PM »
Gosh, you and my husband would get along so well.

I choose my friends and business partners basically along these lines, so feel free to introduce us :P

I have a fundamental distrust for people who dislike Sriracha...
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline benjie1305

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #109 on: December 14, 2015, 02:17:34 PM »
No, but I do take sriracha everywhere.

Certainly a must. Thus >> this
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Offline Marco Polo

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #110 on: December 14, 2015, 02:17:50 PM »
I choose my friends and business partners basically along these lines, so feel free to introduce us :P

I have a fundamental distrust for people who dislike Sriracha...
Sriracha meatloaf ;)
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline AJK

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #111 on: December 14, 2015, 02:22:25 PM »
Certainly a must. Thus >> this

Chief, that wouldn't last me a week :P

Sriracha meatloaf ;)

Is that what made it spicy?? I knew I liked it.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline benjie1305

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #112 on: December 14, 2015, 02:27:02 PM »
Chief, that wouldn't last me a week :P


Make this kosher please!
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Offline AJK

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Offline Marco Polo

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #114 on: December 14, 2015, 02:38:55 PM »
Chief, that wouldn't last me a week :P

Is that what made it spicy?? I knew I liked it.
Amongst other spicy ingredients.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Dawie

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #115 on: December 14, 2015, 02:46:00 PM »

Offline Denverite

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #116 on: December 14, 2015, 02:57:50 PM »
People go to relax and have an OWB.
The incredible snorkeling/diving is a bonus.

Yes it will be similar to BOB if you had an OWB with a pool there.

Ok back from the Siracha discussion to the MLE comparison (although benjie1305 thanks for the link to those keychains, those are ridiculously awesome)! ;)  I know when I was trying to decide, we went ahead and booked MLE because it just felt so much more private and exclusive.  Would you say that is correct? 

The pool in the OWB was definitely a factor but for example I was cracking up about Mrs. AJK's stray dog story but when I was deciding between the two locations, I wanted to get the full package couples "getaway" and have zero interest in any local "color" and thought that MLE would be better that way (the idea of taking a seaplane to the resort seems really cool and since I grew up overseas in third world countries, not interacting with people living in poverty or stray animals is super appealing to me also).  :P  Also were more people on the beaches and around in the hotels in BOB? 

From FT, it seemed like MLE would give the utmost privacy and many people noted that they never saw others on the beach or at all around the hotel (except in the restaurants) since the whole island is the resort.  So not just external beauty but from issue of privacy and exclusivity that contributes to the whole package on a couples vacation like this, which one do you think was better from that perspective?

Offline Emkay

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #117 on: December 14, 2015, 03:08:15 PM »
since I grew up in third world countries,
i agree Denver is bad, but that bad?  ;D

Offline AJK

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #118 on: December 14, 2015, 03:12:32 PM »
Ok back from the Siracha discussion to the MLE comparison (although benjie1305 thanks for the link to those keychains, those are ridiculously awesome)! ;)  I know when I was trying to decide, we went ahead and booked MLE because it just felt so much more private and exclusive.  Would you say that is correct

The pool in the OWB was definitely a factor but for example I was cracking up about Mrs. AJK's stray dog story but when I was deciding between the two locations, I wanted to get the full package couples "getaway" and have zero interest in any local "color" and thought that MLE would be better that way (the idea of taking a seaplane to the resort seems really cool and since I grew up overseas in third world countries, not interacting with people living in poverty or stray animals is super appealing to me also).  :P  Also were more people on the beaches and around in the hotels in BOB? 

From FT, it seemed like MLE would give the utmost privacy and many people noted that they never saw others on the beach or at all around the hotel (except in the restaurants) since the whole island is the resort.  So not just external beauty but from issue of privacy and exclusivity that contributes to the whole package on a couples vacation like this, which one do you think was better from that perspective?

Nope.

If it's seclusion you're after, skip the Le Moana (or indeed any resort on Vaitape) and head to IHG Thalasso (or indeed any resort NOT on Vaitape).

You won't have to interact with anyone (or anything for that matter (including dogs)) other than the people who are paying $1,000/night, and even then, you probably won't see anyone unless you're at the main pool or restaurants.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline Dan

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Re: The Two-Stop Pacific Hop: Bora Bora & Melbourne (A Mrs. AJK Special)
« Reply #119 on: December 14, 2015, 03:14:52 PM »
Nope.

If it's seclusion you're after, skip the Le Moana (or indeed any resort on Vaitape) and head to IHG Thalasso (or indeed any resort NOT on Vaitape).

You won't have to interact with anyone (or anything for that matter, (including dogs)) other than the people who are paying $1,000/night, and even then, you probably won't see anyone unless you're at the main pool or restaurants.
Or 73 handwritten envelopes/night ;)
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.