Tahiti Honeymoon
Are the classic honeymoon destinations ready to welcome same-sex newly weds? Many are not. But Tahiti, the destination of a lifetime, says an emphatic Lewis Payton yes! photographed our Tahiti special and filed this report.
SOON AFTER TAKEOFF on our Air Tahiti Nui f light from Los Angeles to Papeete (the capital of Tahiti), the f light attendants momentarily disappear. When they reemerge, their formal suits have been replaced with brightly colored shirts and dresses, boldly decorated in traditional Tahitian patterns and tribal designs. Along with the aqua-coloured cabin seats and subtle scent of gardenia and coconut perfuming the air, you get the sense that you’re headed somewhere quite special.
Bora Bora, dubbed Pearl Of The Pacific, is arguably the crown jewel of Tahiti’s numerous islands. Boasting stunning lagoons, perfectly clear turquoise waters and some of the world’s most luxurious resort properties, it also has a serious reputation. Just last year, Travel+Leisure readers voted Bora Bora the most romantic island on Earth. “Everything about Bora Bora is romantic,” says Tahiti Tourisme Marketing Manager, Jeff Crochet. “It’s a truly magical destination.”
We want gay and lesbian travellers… to know and to feel that it’s truly our pleasure to host them here.
Bora Bora is a 45-minute f light from the main island of Tahiti and the airport sits right on the edge of its famous lagoon. As you collect your bags you can hear the ocean gently lapping against the terminal building, and then you step straight out onto a dock, where your hotel’s private boat waits to whisk you away to your nearby resort. Step aboard and let an icecold washcloth, scented with coconut and Tiare (the national f lower), wipe away any lingering travel stress as you sit back and take in the extraordinary surroundings. But, hang on, let’s back up a bit… At present count, there are now 16 countries and 19 US states where gay marriage is legal. Marriage equality, in Western nations anyway, is here to stay and coming soon to a country near you. So we’ve got all of these newly-approved gay weddings happening and along with that comes, of course, the gay honeymoon! For most straight couples planning a honeymoon, the biggest dilemma is normally limited to choosing between an ocean
During our stay we saw gay couples walking hand-inhand and comfortably expressing affection. We met gay hotel staff who said that honeymooning gay couples are consistently increasing in numbers.
or garden view suite. For gay newlyweds, things are more complex.
Many traditional honeymoon destinations (like the Caribbean, Jamaica and the Bahamas) are very vocal in their opposition to gay rights. In some of these places it’s downright dangerous to be gay. Time magazine named Jamaica The Most Homophobic Place On Earth and, in a 2012 study, only 5.6 percent of Jamaicans expressed acceptance of those who identify as gay. Eleven Caribbean nations have anti-sodomy laws on the books, with punishments of up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations (these laws apply mainly to sex between men; inexplicably only half of these same countries have similar laws relating to lesbian sex).
For gay couples planning a romantic honeymoon or wedding celebration, the last thing they should have to worry about is discrimination, or worse, their safety. But many gay travellers have experienced staying in foreign hotels where same-sex affection was officially cautioned against or frowned upon. Negative, even violent, reactions from locals or other guests is an unfortunate reality in some otherwise popular holiday destinations.
Tahiti, which is still an official French colony, has a fairly easygoing and relaxed attitude toward gay sexuality. While French is the predominant second language (after Tahitian), English is widely spoken and understood, especially by younger Tahitians, and Western cultural inf luences are clearly present on the main island.
Tahiti Tourisme actively courts LGBT tourists. Says Crochet, “We want gay and lesbian travelers, whether visiting alone, with their partner or with families or friends, to know and to feel that it’s truly our pleasure to host them here.”
During our stay in two of Bora Bora’s most popular resorts (the Hilton and Four Seasons), we saw gay couples walking hand-in-hand and comfortably expressing affection. And the reaction from hotel staff and guests to our “newlywed couple” shoot was overwhelmingly positive. We met gay staff members on both properties who said that honeymooning gay couples are consistently increasing in numbers.
The resorts here appreciate that, for most couples, privacy and space are paramount.
“Our property is designed to create a truly intimate experience for our guests,” says Michel Volk, General Manager of Four Seasons Bora Bora. To achieve this, the resort is spread out over a fairly large part of the atoll, and both the bungalows and main hotel facilities have been designed and landscaped to enhance privacy.
One of the biggest misconceptions about Tahiti is its perceived distance from countries like the USA. “Many Americans think Tahiti is another world away,” says Crochet. “And they’re always incredibly surprised when I tell them it’s only an eight hour f light from LA. That’s just a movie and a cocktail longer than f lying to Hawaii!” Sydney is also around eight hours away and Tahiti is even closer (around four hours) from New Zealand.
What to do while you’re there? Well, you could spend the entire time soaking up the breathtaking view from your bungalow. Or there’s spectacular snorkeling in lagoons teeming with tropical fish (we found Nemo!), every water sport from jetskiing to stand-up paddle boarding, world class spas, spectacular local seafood, an abundance of natural beauty (yes, we’re also talking about incredibly hot Tahitian men), and, for the more adventurous, expeditions to get up close and personal with sting rays and sharks.
Tahiti truly is a paradise on earth. And this paradise is closer than you think.
Editor’s note: Flights to and from Tahiti provided by Air Tahiti Nui. Accommodation and locations provided by Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora and Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort. Special thanks to Tahiti Tourisme, Jeffrey Crochet and Kim Marshall @ The Marshall Plan.
More: Tahiti-tourisme.com and Airtahitinui.com