August 14, 2025
Why I May Never Use Points and Miles for the Maldives Again
Pam
I may never use points and miles for the Maldives again! I’ve been there twice and loved it both times but it is a long, long flight. I just completed my second trip to Bora Bora and am thinking, “Why go to the Maldives, when I can go to Bora Bora?” In fact, I wanted to go to Fiji but am now wondering, “Why?” What do those places have that is different than the shorter flight to French Polynesia? Here’s how I think Bora Bora stacks up against the Maldives and Fiji.
Crystal Clear Water
The Maldives, Fiji, and French Polynesia all have one thing in common: the most beautiful clear blue water you can imagine!
The water in Bora Bora is incredibly clear, calm, and a striking shade of turquoise, thanks to its protected lagoon. It’s perfect for swimming, relaxing, and enjoying the scenery. Fiji’s water is also beautiful, with great spots for snorkeling and diving, especially around its coral reefs. The Maldives has some of the clearest and warmest water in the world, ideal for spotting marine life. And Alex will definitely argue that I am nuts for the title of this post, because she loves the Maldives! 😂
All three are amazing, but Bora Bora’s peaceful lagoon and stunning water color make it feel especially magical. And again, it is a shorter flight for me!
All the shades of blue water as we fly into Bora Bora!
Overwater Bungalows
Overwater bungalows are a highlight in all three destinations, but they differ in availability, style, and setting.
Bora Bora is world-famous for its luxurious overwater bungalows. Set in calm, shallow lagoons, these bungalows feature private decks and direct access to the water. Some bungalows in Bora Bora even offer a fantastic view of Mount Otemanu, too.
Fiji has fewer overwater bungalows compared to the other two destinations. They’re available at select resorts like Likuliku Lagoon Resort, but not widespread. Fiji’s overwater options tend to blend more with nature and focus on privacy, and they aren’t perched over bright turquoise lagoons like in Bora Bora or the Maldives.
The Maldives offers the largest selection of overwater bungalows in the world, spread across hundreds of private island resorts. These bungalows range from simple to ultra-luxurious, often with infinity pools, slides, or glass floors. The setting is serene, and private with endless ocean views and crystal-clear water all around. If you want that “cast upon a desert island” feel, these are for you!
Overwater bungalows can be found in all three destinations.
Flight Times from the United States
When flying from the United States, Bora Bora is generally the closest and most convenient option from the West Coast. From Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle, you can reach Tahiti in about 8 to 9 hours, followed by a short 45-minute flight to Bora Bora.
Fiji is slightly farther, with nonstop flights from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Nadi taking around 11 hours, and nonstop flights from Dallas taking about 13 hours. Fiji is the only destination of the three with nonstop flights from the US.
The Maldives is the most distant, requiring at least one or two layovers—usually in the Middle East or Asia—with total travel times ranging from 18 to over 22 hours depending on the route. From the East Coast, all three destinations require longer travel times and connections. The Maldives is the destination that takes the longest to get to, no matter which part of the U.S. you’re leaving from.
Flight to Bora Bora in business class on Air Tahiti Nui.
My Flights To Tahiti
I flew to Tahiti from Seattle in business class for 60K Alaska miles on Air Tahiti Nui and back from Tahiti on Air France in business class for 75K Flying Blue miles + about $200 to LAX. 135K total miles was great to me! Of course, I also still had to pay for a short flight from Tahiti to Bora Bora.
Bottom Line
I’ll probably choose Bora Bora over Fiji and the Maldives in the future primarily because it is a shorter flight for me. While the Maldives offers unparalleled luxury, Bora Bora is soooo much easier for me to get to. I’ll save those longer flights for visits to other places that are less comparable.
While I may never use points and miles for the Maldives again, feel free to call this an unpopular opinion and give me your reasons why you will continue to pick the Maldives. For me, it’s all about getting near the same experience for a faster flight and potentially cheaper redemption.
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My husband and I are going to the Maldives next month on Hilton FNCs and business class flights on Turkish and Etihad. Both legs require extended layovers, which we are going to use to go sightseeing. I just told him 5 minutes before I read this post that we should go to Bora Bora next year (Conrad Bora Bora for 120k per night)
You will love the Maldives- it’s worth it! But once done, I will probably stick closer to home.