What To Pack For Your Bora Bora Honeymoon

Wondering what kind of shoes to wear in Bora Bora?

The boardwalks get excruciatingly hot when the sun is out. Do not attempt to walk barefoot on the boardwalks when it’s sunny. I actually thought I gave myself burn blisters from walking barefoot on the boardwalk. You only make that mistake once.

Therefore, flip flops are essential to walk around your resort property. These uniquely shaped, sustainable Old Navy flip flops are a cheap, cute and very packable option to protect your feet.

Even though the Bora Bora lagoon is as clear as pool water with basically zero reef or rock, there are tons of spiky black sea urchin and sharp coral pieces.

We did not bring water shoes, but we wish we would have. Learn from our mistake. Protect your bare feet!

I love that these sleek water shoes look more like tennis shoes instead of traditional water shoes.

Odds are that your resort and/or vacation rental will provide beach towels for you. In that case, don’t bother taking up your precious suitcase space with a bulking beach towel.

However, if your accommodations do not provide beach towels, a packable, quick-drying microfiber beach towel (like this one from Amazon) will be your best bet.

Like towels, swim cover-ups are always a good idea. They look great in photos and give you a little extra coverage when walking from your room to the pool or beach.

Plus, they take up a lot less suitcase space than beach towels. I brought this two-pack of Amazon sarong wraps and they quickly became one of my new favorite beach essentials.

Similarly, you will live in a lightweight kimono robe in Bora Bora if you pack one.

A lightweight, full-length kimono robe, like this one, provides the perfect amount of coverage when you want to lounge outside on your bungalow deck post-swim but don’t want to put actual clothes on.

(Unfortunately, the exact kimono I’m wearing in the above photo is unavailable, so I linked a similar one instead.)

The Bora Bora sun shines extremely bright, no matter the season. This can cause your skin a lot of damage in the long-run. You’ll need to bring reef-safe sunscreen.

After an embarrassing amount of hours researching sunscreens, I finally found this spray sunscreen that is not only reef-safe, but it is also completely non-toxic to humans unlike most drugstore sunscreens.

The best part? It performs just as well as toxic in-store brands. You just have to rub it in a little more than other spray sunscreens.

You might still burn, even after using sunscreen. Aloe vera heals sunburns naturally, making it an essential item on this what-to-pack-for-a-Bora-Bora-honeymoon list.

In addition, aloe vera also helps cool and replenish freshly waxed skin, preventing ingrown hairs and other wax-induced discomfort.

This travel size organic aloe vera gel is an Amazon bestseller and highly reviewed by its users.

Zenni Optical has incredibly cute and cheap prescription (or non-prescription) sunglasses in every style frame imaginable (aviator, round, luxury square, classic and more). I swear by my rectangle pair of Zennis which are under $15 with a basic prescription

Loose, lightweight blouses (short or long-sleeved) are perfect tops to pack for your Bora Bora honeymoon.

Not only are lightweight shirts and blouses practical for the warm-yet-breezy weather, but they can also act as either casual or dressy attire. Packing clothing items that match any outfit is a key factor in not overpacking.

Like the lightweight tops, loose fitting pants are a staple piece in Bora Bora, French Polynesia, year-round.

They are cool during the day. They are warm for breezy nights. And, they prevent inner-thigh chafing during those pleasant daytime beach walks (by the way, I love this anti-chafing stick from Amazon). I am not kidding when I say that loose linen pants are a must for Bora Bora.

Do you see a common theme here with the loose, flow-y clothing?

Trust me, you won’t want to wear your tight tanks and skinny jeans in this island climate. But, you probably want to look cute on your Bora Bora honeymoon still, right?

Just like loose fitting tops and bottoms, casual dresses are an essential Bora Bora honeymoon packing list item.

Furthermore, you’ll inevitably be splurging on some fancy dinners while you’re on your Bora Bora honeymoon. Dress the part!

I personally packed these two Amazon dresses on my Bora Bora honeymoon, and I am still obsessed with them.

Both of these options are perfectly priced for an elegant dress on a budget. The quality is great, and both will photograph beautifully against the crystal blue waters of Bora Bora.

As mentioned earlier, the sun was so bright that even sunglasses didn’t provide enough shade.

I was planning on bringing this adorable, classic straw sun hat along, but I forgot it at home! Don’t take after me. Pack a sun hat for your Bora Bora honeymoon.

With your dream tropical honeymoon comes humidity, unfortunately.

Although the humidity isn’t too noticeable when you’re lounging outside or swimming, it is definitely noticeable after you have done your hair.

If you have wavy-curly hair like me, I highly suggest bringing the OGX Extra Strength & Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco to help tame frizz.

You won’t want to lug your carry-on backpack with you from your resort room to the beach.

It may be worth packing this small, packable, beach-y purse so that you have a bag to keep your phone, room key and sunglasses stored while you swim.

Or, if you don’t mind carrying a beach bag through the airport, you could also use this full-size woven beach bag as your airplane personal item.

Even if you are an aspiring travel videographer, you should invest in underwater housing for your DSLR or mirrorless camera instead of spending several hundred dollars on the newest GoPro.

This waterproof phone pouch will keep your phone safe, dry and usable during all of your underwater adventures.

We all have a stack of books waiting to be read.

I read Atomic Habits by James Clear over my honeymoon in Bora Bora, and it completely transformed my perspectives of habits, goals and work-life balance. It helped me recharge while I was on vacation so that I was actually excited to return to work when I got back home.

Though, I don’t think I could ever be excited to leave Bora Bora, haha!

Like beach towels, most resorts will have complimentary snorkel gear rentals. However, it is worth researching, as you will not want to miss snorkeling with Bora Bora’s tropical array of rainbow fish, puffer fish, angel fish and stingray.

If you need to pack snorkel gear, this Amazon snorkel gear set is the absolute best: no flukes, no fogging.

Pair this snorkel set with these travel-friendly snorkel fins to really immerse into the oceanic habitat.

This Bora Bora packing list item is the most basic but also the most forgotten. Remember to pack enough socks and underwear for the number of days you’ll be honeymooning in Bora Bora. Maybe even bring a few extra pairs of underwear… It is your honeymoon after all.

To keep your suitcase organized (and to prevent a nightmare of underwear falling out of your suitcase at baggage claim), I suggest using these packing cubes to store all of your unmentionables.

I use a hanging toiletry bag for all of my trips.

Not only will a hanging toiletry bag keep all of your little bottles packable and organized, but it will also allow you to hang your bathroom necessities on the mirror, shower rod or towel rack to save precious hotel counter space.

I have a confession. I hated neck pillows up until our long-haul flight to Bora Bora. Before this flight, I thought neck pillows were stocky, uncomfortable and more harmful for my neck than beneficial.

However, my husband convinced me to try one again on our eight-hour flight from LAX to Tahiti because I can “never” sleep on flights.

I hate to admit it, but I slept better on those flights than I ever have on a flight before. I think I have to credit this basic neck pillow for the bettered sleep.

Did you know that not all countries use the same shape of outlet?

Obviously, this poses a bit of a problem when traveling internationally. In Bora Bora, you will need this Type E outlet adaptor to use and charge your electronics. Most resorts will have universal outlets built into their walls, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Pro tip: If you bring a power strip, you will only need to purchase one outlet adaptor to charge all your devices at once. This power strip has a retractable cord, so it won’t get tangled or take up extra space in your suitcase.

As you already know, the water in Bora Bora is simply spectacular. It’s even better in person than in photos.

Sometimes, you’ll want to just relax and float in the water without having to swim, paddle or otherwise exert energy.

A cheap pool floatie for each of you would be more than worthwhile to pack. You could even milk the honeymoon theme with this engagement ring floatie or have fun with this llama pool floatie!

If you want to step up your Bora Bora honeymoon photos, purchase a real, local-made flower crown. If you’re looking for a cheaper and more sustainable option, buy a faux flower crown prior to your trip.

I’m wearing this flower crown and bracelet set off of Amazon in the photo above.