Bora Bora

Anyone who has seen the 2009 film Couples Retreat has dreamed about traveling to Bora Bora. Honestly, until now, I could not even tell you where Bora Bora is located, but based on what I saw in that movie, I definitely want to go there. So please, help me 'sea' Bora Bora.

A scene from the movie Couples Retreat

According to Wikipedia.com, Bora Bora is located in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The island is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef, and lies just northwest of the island of Tahiti close to the equator.

Bora Bora's economy is driven almost solely by tourism. Thirty years ago, Bora Bora became famous, as the Hotel Bora Bora introduced the first over-the-water bungalows; now a standard feature for most resorts on the island.

The Four Seasons Bora Bora has become the luxury resort for guests to stay at while visiting the island. Please be prepared to spend roughly $1,200/night not including airfare. The island is served by Bora Bora Airport on Motu Mute in the north.

Four Seasons Bora Bora

As you can see from the above image, the water is crystal clear and absolutely breathtaking.

The best time to travel to Bora Bora is during the Polynesian winter, which runs from May thru October according to boraboraisland.com. While rates will be higher at this time, it is much better than travel during their rainy season.

If you decide to go to Bora Bora, please bring me with! After all, I did help you discover it.

'Sea' you next time!

Egremni Beach, Greece

According to CNN.com, Egremni Beach in Greece falls in to the number twenty-four spot on their list of the best beaches in the world. Given they are in the top twenty-five out of 100, I figured they were worth exploring; especially since I am a little obsessed with Greece after watching The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Who wouldn't want to go fishing in Greece with Kostas? (The cute Greek boy from the movie!)

Anyways, let's get back to exploring Egremni Beach. According to Wikipedia.com, "Egremni is a remote beach located on the south-western coast of the Ionian island of Lefkada in north-western Greece. Since the creation of a sealed road in the 1990s, this remote location has become one of the most popular beaches through all of Greece and even Europe. 

Remember, Egremni is located on the island of Lefkada,


Egremni Beach is most well-known for its dramatic sunsets, electric-blue water and enough room for everyone: stretching for more than 2.5 km. Interestingly enough, the central part of the beach is often occupied by nudists, according to CNN.com.

Egremni Beach

You will want to consult with a travel agent to decide which international airport you should fly into. However, once you have arrived you should know that you can drive your rental car to Egremni Beach, but once you reach Athani Village, you will have to park your car and walk down 347 steps to reach the beach. How's that for a remote location? From what I have heard, the walk is well worth it!

If you want to be close to Egremni Beach during your trip, you can book an apartment, villa or studio in the nearby village of Athani, a quiet place with taverns and wonderful picturesque views of the surrounding area. 

There is limited information about Egremni Beach on the internet, but I personally think that makes the island that much more desirable! Happy travels.

'Sea' you next time!

Airlie Beach, Australia

Howdy, Sheila! Let's put another shrimp on the barbie before we discover one of the most wonderful places in the world: Airlie Beach, Australia.

The town of Airlie Beach is located in the northeastern part of Australia known as the Whitsunday region. Located on the Pacific Ocean, Airlie Beach serves as one of the most popular jumping off points for the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system.

 

For those wishing to visit Airlie Beach, you will need to fly into Proserpine Airport (PPP). However, it seems that you will first need to fly into the larger Brisbane Airport (BNE). Please expect to find some very long layovers at very high costs. If you want to visit the largest coral reef system in the world, then you have to pay for it!

See the image below to decide the best time for you to travel to Airlie Beach.

Maximum and Minimum Average Temperatures in Airlie Beach (Fahrenheit)

		JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
	MAX	87	87	86	82	79	75	75	77	80	84	86	87
	MIN	77	77	75	73	68	62	62	62	66	70	73	77
	RAIN	10	13.82	10.67	8.07	5.08	3.78	2.4	1.81	1.14	1.89	4.41	8.19

Now although the Great Barrier Reef is the main attraction in the Whitsunday region of Australia, Airlie Beach has so much more to offer.

The well-known travel site, Trip Advisor, shares with us that Airlie Beach offers, "constant comings and goings of travelers make for a vibrant nightlife scene bursting with pubs and clubs.

In addition, Whitehaven Beach, located in Airlie Beach, was voted Australia's number one beach by Trip Advisor. "The sand is pure white against the crystal clear blue water, and the beach is pristine. A piece of heaven," claims the travel site.

Now if you are looking for the best place to stay, the Martinique Whitsunday Resort has received the highest ratings and Certificates of Excellence from Trip Advisor for the past three years. The resort contains 20 different apartment units consisting of either three, two, or one bedroom.

Oh! That view is breathtaking! I hope you enjoyed discovering Airlie Beach as much as I have. 'Sea' you back next Wednesday for another journey.