Thailand vs Bora Bora

Cost

Thailand, checked 19 September 2026: an inexpensive restaurant meal ฿100, range ฿50-200; a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant ฿900, range ฿600-2,500; a pint of domestic draught ฿70.

French Polynesia is not covered by the cost-of-living dataset this directory uses, so there are no sourced figures for it and none are offered. It prices in CFP francs, and anything beyond Tahiti adds a domestic flight or ferry.

Thailand's are among the lowest sourced figures in this directory and French Polynesia has none at all. This is the widest gap available here, and it is wide enough that no amount of preference closes it for most budgets.

Getting there

Bangkok is the international gateway, with Phuket taking some direct international flights. Domestic connections reach both coasts in about an hour, then ferries to the islands; overnight trains run south more slowly. Thailand's rules changed on 15 September 2026: the 60-day exemption was revoked, the 30-day tourism exemption was revised and expanded to 60 countries and territories, and a new 15-day scheme was introduced for two. Anyone already in the country under the old rules keeps their permitted stay. Older guidance is now wrong, so check your own nationality. All arrivals must submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card, free on the official site.

Faa'a on Tahiti is the territory's only international gateway. Inter-island travel beyond it is by domestic flight or ferry. French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity: French and EU citizens need no visa, and many other nationalities are exempt for tourist stays under three months, with a valid passport required in every case.

The beaches

Bora Bora's product is the lagoon rather than the sand — being in the water rather than choosing between beaches.

Thailand's beaches are excellent on whichever coast is in season and poor on the other, more dramatic in their limestone scenery, and considerably busier — several famous bays carry visitor caps. No sourced beach-level data for either yet.

In this directory: Thailand has 2 beaches listed, 2 rated calm for swimming. Bora Bora has 1, 1 calm.

In the water

French Polynesia's lagoon runs 27-29°C depending on season, warmest November to April, with air temperatures of 20-30°C year-round.

Thailand is warm on both coasts with a twelve-month swimming season, though no sourced monthly figures.

The Polynesian trade: clearest water May to October, warmest November to April, plus humpbacks August to November.

When to go

Thailand's Andaman coast takes heavy south-west monsoon storms April to October and is in high season from November. The Gulf coast's heaviest rain is September to December. There is no month when some Thai coast is out of season, but there are months when the coast you booked is.

French Polynesia's Season of Renewal runs May to October: dry, cooler at 21-27°C, lower humidity, and the clearest conditions for diving and snorkelling. The Season of Abundance, November to April, is humid with tropical showers heaviest December to February — generally brief and followed by clear skies — and the lagoon is at its warmest then.

May to October suits both. November to April points at Thailand's Andaman coast, and at Bora Bora only if you accept the humidity.

Beyond the beach

Thailand is a country with cities, a cuisine and a rail network. Bora Bora is a lagoon with resorts on it.

The territory's onward network — the Tuamotus for year-round diving, the Marquesas as a year-round cultural destination — is the counter-argument, but those are separate trips rather than day trips.