• Last August, Sonya Moore ticked French Polynesia off her travel bucket list.
• Despite a lot of planning before the trip, looking back, there are a few things she'd have done differently.
• She would have skipped Bora Bora and budgeted higher for food and wine.

French Polynesia had been on my bucket list ever since I learned of its existence, and last August, I finally made it there.

My partner and I spent 16 days traveling across this dreamy French overseas territory. Our itinerary included six islands in the Society Islands archipelago, a region that's part of French Polynesia's 118 Pacific islands.

We visited during the high season, but it never felt crowded.

The islands are as stunning as their reputation, with pristine white-sand beaches and vivid turquoise lagoons. I loved our trip to French Polynesia, but there are five things I'd have done differently to make it even better.

1. Research the best way to travel

I spent too much time planning flights between islands when I should have first studied a map of the Society Islands to see which routes were better by ferry. I also should have ignored most of the options on the cluttered Air Tahiti website — its Book feature is all that's needed for flight times and prices.

Ferries proved to be reliable, comfortable, and much cheaper for short routes like Tahiti to Moorea and Huahine-Raiatea-Taha'a-Bora Bora. Knowing that earlier would have saved me a lot of planning time.

Some islands, like Taha'a, don't even have an airport. Often referred to as "Vanilla Island," due to its fragrant plantations, it's only accessible by boat via Raiatea — either a 45-minute Apetahi Express ferry or a 30-minute water taxi.

We were glad we made it there because it's where we had one of our most magical experiences — swimming with six manta rays in the open ocean, completely alone.

For some routes, flights are the better choice. We took the Maupiti Express 2 ferry from Bora Bora to Maupiti since no flights fit our schedule, but I wouldn't do it again. It's less comfortable, and the rough two-and-a-half-hour ride is only for the strongest stomachs.

Whether by plane or ferry, checking schedules before booking accommodations is key. Ferries don't run daily, and flight prices can fluctuate wildly — one ticket we saw was $120 on Monday but $327 on Saturday.

Planning around these factors made a big difference in our trip.

2. Keep the time change in mind

I got tripped up by the time change when flying east into Tahiti. Since we traveled through Australia and New Zealand, we essentially went back in time, landing a day before our departure date. The final leg of our journey left Auckland on the afternoon of August 17 and arrived in Papeete on the evening of August 16.

I mistakenly booked our hotel in Papeete for the wrong date, assuming we would arrive on the 17th. Fortunately, this mix-up is so common that Booking.com sent a message double-checking the date, allowing me to correct the mistake in advance.

3. Increase the food and wine budget

Food and wine in French Polynesia aren't cheap. We spent $17 for a hummus appetizer and about the same for poisson cru, the local coconut milk ceviche. Main dishes were often over $30.

French wine by the bottle ranged, on average, from $30 to $65 or more. Had we splurged on a bottle of Veuve Cliquot in a restaurant, it would have set us back $146.

On the bright side, everything was delicious.

4. Skip Bora Bora and spend more time on Huahine

We fell head over heels in love with Huahine, and four nights there wasn't enough.

We stayed in a $250-a-night Airbnb villa on a private beach facing a stunning lagoon, and the snorkeling was incredible. I would have loved more days in that paradise to simply relax in a hammock with a good book.

While Bora Bora was beautiful, it was much less memorable, and we wouldn't have minded skipping it. However, if $2,000 overwater bungalows had been in our budget, Bora Bora may have become my favorite island.

5. Pack some warm clothes

French Polynesia doesn't experience much variation in temperature throughout the year. The weather forecast for August, which falls in the cooler season, predicted highs of 82 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 73°F. However, average highs for the rest of the year aren't much different — around 86°F.

We thought we would be comfortable in tropical attire, but we didn't realize how windy this part of the world is. With the windchill factor, we found ourselves shivering at times and had to shop for some long-sleeved shirts.

June to August is also the driest time of year, although we did experience occasional light showers and overcast skies.

French Polynesia is an enchanting part of the world, and I hope to return, using the lessons learned from the first trip to plan an even better visit.

• I've visited more than 30 tropical islands around the world, but five stand out from the rest.
• Bora Bora and Curaçao's beautiful beaches make them the perfect places for a relaxing vacation.
• Barbados has many activities, like touring a rum distillery and visiting Rihanna's childhood home.

As a travel writer specializing in tropical destinations, I've been lucky enough to have visited 30 islands around the world. Because of my extensive travels, people often ask me which islands I'd return to.

Each island I've been to has been idyllic and unique, but a few lingered in my salt-spray-tinged memories long after my tan faded.

Here are the five islands I always recommend to other travelers.

I couldn't get enough of Bora Bora's beauty and great cuisine.

This South Pacific haven screams "paradise." Though getting there was a long journey — I had to take a 16-hour flight from New York to Tahiti, followed by an hourlong flight to Bora Bora — the island was absolutely otherworldly.

Formed by an extinct volcano, Bora Bora is surrounded by a calm turquoise lagoon that's basically a huge wading pool. I remember marveling at rows of romantic bungalows with glass floors and thatched roofs overlooking the water.

The local cuisine combines French and Polynesian cultures. I enjoyed meals like poisson cru, a ceviche-like dish made with coconut milk, tomatoes, and cucumber. It was truly heaven on earth.

I loved the luxurious vibes in St. Barts.

Glittering St. Barts is full of fancy spots, with a yacht-filled harbor, designer shops along the pristine streets of Gustavia (the island's capital), and luxurious hotels.

I found a lively day-drinking scene at Nikki Beach, a destination that's attracted celebrity guests like Mariah Carey, and restaurants with menus and wine lists to rival any Parisian hot spot.

However, you don't have to be a multimillionaire to soak in the island's beguiling swankiness. During my visit, I spent an afternoon on a catamaran ride and did some window shopping.

Visitors can also find elevated cuisine at various price points — I had tuna poke and chilled rosé from Ti' Corail on a laid-back beach, and it was one of my favorite meals.

I was blown away by the many local beaches, such as the sandy Gouverneur Beach and the secluded Colombier Beach, a spot accessible only after a steep (but worth it) hike.

If you're a Francophile who adores fabulous food and an upscale feel, I highly recommend St. Barts.

St. Martin is the perfect destination for plane and food enthusiasts.

St. Martin is split into two distinct French and Dutch sides. I thought the French side had a quiet, relaxed vibe during my visit.

I laid on the beach at Orient Bay (referred to as the Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean) and shopped at the luxury boutiques in Marigot, the capital of the French collectivity on St. Martin.

I found the Dutch side much livelier as I clubbed at the Soggy Dollar Bar in Simpson Bay and sipped rum cocktails while watching the sunset at The Rusty Parrot.

The island is also the ultimate destination for aviation geeks, as the Princess Juliana International Airport is steps away from Maho Beach. I spent hours watching planes fly directly above me.

Visitors can also island hop to nearby St. Barts and Anguilla, easily accessible by ferry or plane.

I was blown away by Curaçao's beautiful beaches and scenery.

Curaçao is known for having more than 35 beaches, so every sun-worshipper can find their perfect spot.

During my visit, it seemed like some beaches, like Playa Piskadó, were mainly frequented by locals, so they were uncrowded and relaxed. Others, such as Grote Knip and Playa Kalki, in quiet coves, were very tranquil.

During my stay, I sipped my way through the gin and tonic menu at Zest Restaurant & Beach Cafe on the lively Jan Thiel Beach and, of course, tried the island's namesake bright blue liqueur.

Handelskade, a row of brightly colored Dutch colonial buildings lining the water in Willemstad (the island's capital), was the perfect photo op.

As an added bonus, Curaçao is part of the ABC islands (the other two being Aruba and Bonaire), which are unlikely to be severely impacted by hurricanes.

I enjoyed Barbados' lively events and rum distillery.

The Caribbean is synonymous with rum, but in my opinion, no island offers as authentic an experience as this destination.

Based in Barbados, the iconic rum producer Mount Gay has been selling the spirit since 1703. Touring and tasting at the company's distillery is a must-do for any fan of the sugarcane-based spirit.

Visitors can also make their way through Barbados' flavorful cocktails (and cuisine) at lively bars and restaurants. I loved the potent rum punch and local fish cakes at Oasis Beach Bar, as well as the seared jerk tuna and butter beans at Calma Beach Club.

The island was perpetually vibrant — it seemed like a party, festival, or concert was always happening. The snorkeling in Carlisle Bay was also amazing, as I saw parrotfish, hawksbill turtles, and seahorses.

Plus, Rihanna fans can snap a selfie in front of the Barbadian native's colorful childhood home, where her name adorns the doormat.

This story was originally published on August 9, 2024, and most recently updated on March 17, 2025.