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With a luxe escape to Bora Bora potentially costing you over $10,000 for accommodation per night alone (have you seen the Four Seasons Resort?! It's what postcards were MADE for!) Bora Bora may be a little beyond your budget. This doesn't mean you can't live like royalty on a pristine beach while on holiday.
There are plenty of other island paradises out there that are just as postcard-worthy for a fraction of the price.
Here are our top picks of enviable and affordable places similar to Bora Bora but cheaper. We have added deals too that could help you save.
How much does Bora Bora cost?
Flight time from Australia: 17 hours and 35 minutes (from Brisbane, 2 stops)
Average flight price from Australia: $1,743 return (cheapest departures are from Sydney where the average cost is $1,706
Package holidays can start from: $4,000 for 5 nights in 4-star accommodation including flights from Hobart or Cairns
8 dreamy places like Bora Bora
1. Seychelles
Found surrounded by the clear, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean off the coast of West Africa, the Seychelles is home to 115 islands. The little bits of paradise host soft-sand beaches, lush tropical forests and, of course, luxurious resorts.
Flight time from Australia: 21 hours and 40 minutes (from Melbourne, 1+ stops)
Average flight price from Australia/price range: $1,672 return (cheapest flights are from Sydney where the average fare is $1564)
One of the first destinations that comes to mind when you think of words like 'paradise' and 'exotic', this chain of more than 1,000 coral atolls is renowned for it's perfect blue lagoons, colourful reefs and incredible overwater bungalows.
Flight time from Australia: 10 hours and 55 minutes (from Perth, 1+ stops)
Average flight price from Australia/price range: $800 return (cheapest flights are from Perth where the average is $602)
Available on select dates in 2021 and 2022 when you book 90 days in advance. Destinations include Maldives, Lisbon, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and more.
Available on select dates until 2021 when you book for 12 persons. Destinations include Peru, Croatia, Maldives, Switzerland, Greece and more. T&Cs apply.
Valid for stays on select 2020 dates across China, Kenya, Maldives, Philippines, Thailand, UAE, USA and more. Discount applies when you book in advance on dusit.com. T&Cs apply.
Available on select stay dates. Destinations include New York, London, Singapore, Dubai, Maldives and more. Sample stay is for San Francisco. T&Cs apply.
With its similar French Polynesian heritage, turquoise waters and white beaches, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the difference between the Cook Islands and Bora Bora. One however is the flight time, which is 6-hours direct from Sydney compared to 19-hours to Bora Bora due to flight changes in New Zealand. Getting to paradise soon? #winning.
Flight time from Australia: 6 hours and 10 minutes (from Sydney, non-stop)
Average flight price from Australia/price range: $850 return (cheapest flights are from Sydney where the average fare is $588 return)
It’s no secret that Australians have a love affair with Indonesia. What’s not to love? From its enviable beaches and its relaxed vibe to its rich history and exotic appeal. It’s also only a hop and a skip away from our shores and flights there are almost always on sale - bonus!
Flight time from Australia: 2 hours and 45 minutes (from Darwin, non-stop)
Average flight price from Australia/price range: $422 return (cheapest flights are from Perth where the average fare is $257)
Valid on select hotel stays worldwide like Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, USA, Europe and more on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Some restrictions apply.
Available on your first Trip.com pre-paid hotel booking. Discount available worldwide including in Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, Fiji, US, UK and more.
Save on snorkelling tours, Waterbom entry, whitewater rafting, Mount Batur hiking tours especially on holidays like Christmas, New Year's and more. Sample discount is for a day tour in Bali. T&Cs apply.
While not the cheapest destination on this list, Panama is very much comparable to what you’ll expect from Bora Bora. That is, it sports islands for days, soft white sands and an exotic atmosphere.
Flight time from Australia: 23 hours and 40 minutes (from Sydney, 2+ stops)
Average flight price from Australia/price range: $2176 return (cheapest flights are from Sydney where the average fare is $1979)
Package holidays can start from: $1,686 for 7 nights departing from Sydney
6. Cambodia
Seeking an exotic island escape with pristine beaches that won’t blow the budget? Try Cambodia. You can get flights cheap as chips with budget carriers like Jetstar and unlike its neighbour Thailand, it isn’t too overrun with tourists.
Flight time from Australia: 8 hours and 15 minutes (from Darwin, 1+ stops)
Average flight price from Australia/price range: $592 return (cheapest flights are from Perth where the average fare is $405)
Available on select travel dates when you pay in full within 3 days of booking. Destinations include France, Amsterdam, Paris, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia and more. T&Cs apply.
Asia: Up to $500 off solo tours + Free airport lounge pass
Available for travel on select dates in 2021-2022. Destinations include Japan, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. Includes free return Australian chauffeur transfers and more. T&Cs apply.
Available for travel on select dates in 2021 when you book for 8 persons. Destinations include Vietnam, Cambodia, Chile, Croatia, Switzerland and more. T&Cs apply.
When it comes to beach destinations, Malaysia is less likely to be the first name that flies off your tongue, but sitting so close to Indonesia it shares some of its idyllic landscape. Glam it up in Penang or save your pennies in Langkawi. For your next trip, naturally.
Flight time from Australia: 5 hours and 35 minutes (from Perth, non-stop)
Average flight price from Australia/price range: $483 return (cheapest flights are from Perth where the average fare is $285)
Hailed as having some of the best islands in the world (Boracay, Cebu and Palawan to name a few), the Philippines has more than 7,000 islands waiting for you to explore, each with its own highlights from crystal clear waters and powder-soft beaches to historical monuments and cultural encounters.
Flight time from Australia: 8 hours (from Brisbane, non-stop)
Average flight price from Australia/price range: $527 return (cheapest flights are from Perth where the average fare is $429)
Valid for stays on select 2020 dates across China, Kenya, Maldives, Philippines, Thailand, UAE, USA and more. Discount applies when you book in advance on dusit.com. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates when you stay a minimum of 3 nights. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Auckland, Paris, London and more. T&Cs apply.
Valid on select hotel stays worldwide like Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, USA, Europe and more on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Some restrictions apply.
Available on select travel dates when you pay in full within 3 days of booking. Destinations include France, Amsterdam, Paris, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates with Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and more. Destinations include Bahamas, USA, Canada, Spain, Italy and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2021 and 2022. Destinations include Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Balkans, Jordan, Russia, India and Ski Bansko. T&Cs apply.
Asia: Up to $500 off solo tours + Free airport lounge pass
Available for travel on select dates in 2021-2022. Destinations include Japan, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. Includes free return Australian chauffeur transfers and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2021 and 2022 when you book 90 days in advance. Destinations include Maldives, Lisbon, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and more.
Available on select dates until 2021 when you book for 12 persons. Destinations include Peru, Croatia, Maldives, Switzerland, Greece and more. T&Cs apply.
Available for travel on select dates in 2021 when you book for 8 persons. Destinations include Vietnam, Cambodia, Chile, Croatia, Switzerland and more. T&Cs apply.
Valid for stays on select 2020 dates across China, Kenya, Maldives, Philippines, Thailand, UAE, USA and more. Discount applies when you book in advance on dusit.com. T&Cs apply.
Valid on select dates and destinations worldwide. Destinations include USA, Canada, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, Sydney, and the Czech Republic. T&C's apply.
Rentalcars.com can help you compare major car hire company rates for the best price. Companies it compares include Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Thrifty, Alamo, Dollar and Budget. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Canada and more.
Available for travel on select dates in December 2020 onward. Discount applies when booking three trips at once. Extra 5% off for bookings of four trips and more. Destinations include Balkan, Ireland, Britain, Thailand, Canada, Egypt, Japan, South Africa, Athens and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on your first Trip.com pre-paid hotel booking. Discount available worldwide including in Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, Fiji, US, UK and more.
Available on select dates. Programs include sea turtle and marine conservation, wild life research, volunteer with children, elephants and more. Sample price is for a volunteer on construction project in Nepal.
Available on select stay dates. Destinations include New York, London, Singapore, Dubai, Maldives and more. Sample stay is for San Francisco. T&Cs apply.
Food, drink and hotel costs sourced from: Numbeo.com and Hotel Finder. Hotel price based on a per-night price in June-2019 quoted on 27 December 2018. Prices are based on a per-night rate for a 7-night stay at a 3-star hotel in the above destinations. We used the dates 17-24 June 2019 as a guide.
Feature image: Four Seasons Resort, Bora Bora (Expedia)
Stephanie Yip is the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for Travel Weekly, Escape, Showpo, The Nibbler and Hostelworld. She was also the editor of kids magazine DMAG. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney and has visited 55 countries (and counting).
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