Two guys experience their 20th Anniversary in the ultimate South Pacific paradise
We visited the St Regis Bora Bora in April, 2023. It was a combination vacation to celebrate two milestones - our 20th wedding anniversary and my 60th birthday. Bora Bora had been on my bucket list since I was a teenager. We decided to go all out for this vacation and chose the St Regis hotel, which was the best decision we made. The resort, the staff, the food and the ambience far surpassed our expectations.
My First Impressions
I have traveled a lot in my life and have always favored Marriott properties, but I’ve stayed in just about every hotel brand you can imagine. I booked the Bora Bora St Regis hotel 11 months in advance and selected a premium overwater bungalow with a view of Mount Otemanu and the sparkling blue lagoon surrounding it. My first interactions with the hotel started about 3 months before our visit. The St Regis staff was extremely helpful and responsive to my questions, and even sent a checklist of our favorite drinks they could stock in our bungalow fridge. They also asked several questions about the reason for our trip and any special events we would be celebrating there. They always started each email with the greeting ‘La Orana (yo-rah-nah) which means hello, good day, welcome and lots of other positive things. This was my first international trip post Covid, so I was, let’s just say, quite unsure of some things. We booked the entire trip on our own, from international airfare, inter-island air travel, hotels and ferries. Each time, the staff responded quickly and politely and never made me feel like I was a bother (although I sure felt I was!)
The approach and arrival into Bora Bora airport was spectacular. I’m not a big fan of propellor planes, but Air Tahiti has a new fleet of ATR72 aircraft that are both comfortable and relatively quiet. The Bora Bora terminal was simple, clean and smaller than I expected. After we picked up our luggage, we walked to arrivals, where we were greeted by a St Regis staff member who welcomed us with a lei, an ice cold towel and a drink. They quickly tagged our luggage and we boarded a three-decked motor yacht that served as the resort’s airport shuttle. It was certainly a beautiful and unique arrival and the trip to the St Regis took about 20-30 minutes, during which it felt like we glided over the turquoise water.
When we reached the St Regis dock, we were again greeted by hotel staff and then whisked away on a golf cart for a brief tour of the island, before returning to the front desk to get our bungalow key. It was an absolutely charming process and the staff treated us like we were their only guests on the island. We were assigned a “butler” who would be dedicated to us and any request we may have. More on this great perk later.
Our Magical Bungalow
Our bungalow was perched about three feet above the blue green lagoon. We entered the dwelling over a tiny bridge, past the two bicycles that were left for our use and walked into the entryway. I was immediately surprised by the size of our bungalow - around 1900 square feet. There was a huge living and dining area furnished with unique tables, chairs and sofas. Large Polynesian artwork adorned the planked walls. The beamed and thatched ceiling soared nearly 20 feet above our heads.
Our bedroom was amazing. A king bed was adorned with high quality sheets and other bedding. The whole front of the bungalow was comprised of glass doors which provided an unforgettable view. We each had a large, walk-in closet, an enormous soaking tub and a free standing rain shower. In several areas, there were floor “portholes” from which you could view the sea and sea life from air conditioned comfort.
Next, we took in the balcony, which extended the entire width of the bungalow. There were sun lounges, a covered eating area, a whirlpool tub and a lower deck from which to access the lagoon. Yes, we were able to swim right off our dock. There was a fresh water shower available deck side, and the five days we planned could have easily been spent never leaving our luxurious overwater palace. There was about 20 feet between bungalows and the St Regis included palm frond walls on each side, so that we had privacy from our neighbors.
The view, the amenities, the comfort and the luxury of the accommodations were unforgettable.
Activities, Food and Entertainment
One thing I didn’t realize prior to our arrival is that guests are relatively confined to their resort. The ring of coral islands creates an atoll that surrounds the main island and the blue green lagoon. The major luxury hotel chains on Bora Bora include the Four Seasons, the Intercontinental, the Conrad Hilton, Le Meridian and the St Regis. To be fair, I did not visit any other resort in Bora Bora, but did stay on other Tahitian islands. The other hotels offer similar options at very different price points. The St Regis had another shuttle boat that would take guests to the main island or to neighboring resorts, but we stayed at the St Regis and loved every minute of it.
One feature that drew me to the St Regis is their Lagoonarium - a meandering channel of costal reefs that cuts through part of the island. The advantage of this is that you can see amazing coral, fish and other sea life without having to book a separate snorkel trip off site. We enjoyed the Lagoonarium every day and listened to lectures about the various fish that live there. It literally is a combination of a swimmable lagoon and an aquarium - the key difference being there were no dangerous sharks or rays inside, but the other fish were free to come and go from the ocean into the Lagoonarium. I’ve never seen anything like it in the world.
The St Regis also has several restaurants;
Lagoon - gourmet restaurant by Jean Georges, lagoon side and with an attached bar from which one can watch the sunset.
727 Bar - a classy cocktail bar where guests can watch the sunset over Mt Otemanu
Te Pahu - a casual lunch and breakfast cafe - open air with beautiful beach views. We ate breakfast here every day, plus some lunches.
Farniente - Delicious Italian cuisine with limited outside seating
Aparima Bar- Outdoor seating on the cocktails and lighter fare
Our last night, we watched a Polynesian dance show that was nothing short of amazing. Native dancers and musicians put on a show that was both athletic and artistic. We also enjoyed a sumptuous feast including fresh Ahi tuna served raw or slightly cooked. I was reluctant to go to the Polynesian show, having been in Hawaii and witnessing traditional luau dancing. The St Regis experience blew me away.
We are both massage connoisseurs and decided early on that we would forgo the spa, as it was a little pricey. By the third day, after another trip to the Lagoonarium, we caved and were able to book a masseur - originally from Indonesia - that was probably gave the best massage of our lives. It was well worth the cost and the Iridium Spa was an amazing experience.
We also hired a catamaran (along with 6 other people) to take us snorkeling. While the boat was not owned by the St Regis, it was docked there. It was another wonderful excursion to some pretty spectacular reefs, swarming with beautiful fish. The only slightly negative about this was that the large catamaran did not have a cabin or any shade from the sun. It was managed by a very nice French couple and I was able to avoid a sunburn by wrapping myself in beach towels and staying strategically placed in the shade of the sail. It was a lovely trip.
Wrapping it up
The St Regis Bora Bora was, quite simply, perfect, and it spoiled us for other resorts and islands we visited afterwards. Here are my ratings on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest.
The Staff - The staff was amazing. They made a point of remembering our names and what we liked for food and drink. They were attentive, friendly and highly professional. There was a nice mix of staff from French Polynesia, as well as other countries around the world. Everyone spoke perfect English and made us feel welcome and appreciated. Also, there was not one hint of awkwardness about us being gay. I’ve had enough negative experiences with this in other hotels, that I wanted to call this out. SCORE - 10+
Dining - We enjoyed exquisite food while at the St Regis. I have to say Lagoon was the standout here. Amazing staff (again), food, cocktails and wine. The only not perfect thing was at Farniente - where seating was tight and we had to sit inside. SCORE - 9
Accommodations - I’ve explained this in the review. It was a lovely villa with a spectacular view. SCORE - 10
Resort Grounds - I felt like I was staying in a Polynesian village. We rode bikes everywhere, we had our own coral reef to explore (Lagoonarium) and the flora, fauna and the overall condition of the resort was flawless. SCORE - 10
Logistics - From the airport pick up and drop off, the Butler service who refilled our fridge and made reservations for us and just the overall management of this property - I give the St Regis very high marks. Score - 10
French Polynesia is far from just about everywhere in the world, including the United States. I have to say the St Regis Bora Bora was probably the best resort experience I’ve ever had. I highly recommend it. We went in April, which is shoulder season and the crowds were minimal. We booked an upgraded bungalow with the whirlpool and spectacular views of Mt Otemanu, Butler Service and Breakfast and more. It wasn’t cheap, but it was worth every penny and created memories that will last a lifetime.
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