Stay: St. Regis Bora Bora

It's one thing to find yourself stationed on one of the world's most beautiful islands, and to relish in the luck that somehow brought you there. It's another thing entirely to be staying at one of the most exclusive resorts on that already exclusive island.

That's the feeling you have when staying at the St. Regis Bora Bora, the paragon of luxury travel, with 24 hour butler service for each room, and each bungalow on property set at a minimum to a one bedroom suite. This is something even the adjacent Four Seasons can't claim, and sends a message from the get-go that you're in a truly special place.

This was our second trip to the St. Regis Bora Bora. Our first trip, in July 2006, was for our honeymoon, and we spent a magical, relaxing, 10 days on property. This trip, we stayed only two nights at the St. Regis, ending our two week trip in the lap of luxury. No matter how many nights you spend here (two nights should be an absolute minimum), you'll find yourself loathe to leave. And if your experience is anything like ours, you'll spend the next eleven years dreaming of that moment you can return. And if you're really lucky, someday in that bright distant future, that return awaits you.

The Property

Pools

Below is the property's main pool. One new addition that I enjoyed were the lounge chairs situated in the pool - trés comfortable.

One of my fondest memories of our stay at the St. Regis Bora Bora from our honeymoon was relaxing in our own private bungalow at the Oasis Pool, complete with its own plunge pool. This was absolute bliss. Naturally, before we checked into our Pool Beach Villa, I made it a point to spend some time at the Oasis Pool in the same bungalow as our last trip. Admittedly, these bungalows aren't in as good shape as they were when the resort was brand new (not terribly surprising), but a bit of maintenance could really do these bungalows some good. That being said, it was a completely relaxing experience that should be enjoyed at least once during your stay.

Below, enjoy the view from 2006 versus 2017.

Above, 2006. Below, 2017.

Rooms

Room map (source)

Deluxe Overwater Bungalows

Though we only stayed at the St. Regis Bora Bora in 2017 for two nights, we had two different room categories. (Note: Ben reached out to a colleague of his here who set up our reservation, and had asked us if we'd be okay with this arrangement, and we were more than happy to sample a new room category).

The first category, shown below, was the deluxe overwater bungalow category. We only stayed in this unit for one night, followed by a night in a Pool Beach Villa. Each have their own charms and appeals, and I'll discuss the pros and cons of making a decision that is right for you and your family.

In 2006 (above), Ben and I stayed in the unit (205) immediately across the walkway from where we stayed this second trip (below in 119).

I didn't take many interior pictures on my first trip, but there were only a few minor changes from the interior that existed in my memory. At the end of this page, I'll post a photo gallery that includes pictures from our honeymoon.

The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with soft linens and fabrics. Each unit at the St. Regis Bora Bora is a suite, which is perfect for longer stays (like our 10 day visit on our honeymoon) - plenty of space for couples or a family to spread out without being on top of each other.

The beds at St. Regis properties are always super comfortable and relaxing. The added touch of the hanging linen above the bed as a canopy is a nice touch.

The bathroom is located behind the bed, with the mirrors of the vanity opening up to look into the bedroom/lagoon beyond.

The ceilings in the bungalows are very high, and with such an intricate thatched roof, it adds to the luxurious, island-escapism feeling.

The bathrooms are huge, spacious affairs, larger than some NYC apartments. There's a jacuzzi tub and a rain shower. The vanity looks out into the bedroom, and subsequently out to the lagoon. There's a closest area with a dresser, and for those who are up for it, the St. Regis butler team will do your unpacking (we declined).

The strange thing about returning to a place you visited on your honeymoon that has lived in your memory as the most amazing, most luxurious place you could imagine is the effect time plays on your memory, and the reckoning of that memory with the present reality. In 2006, everything in our room was pristine since the resort had only been open for about a month. Now, eleven years later, though the appointments are still nice, what was novel and contemporary in 2006 now feels somewhat dated. That feeling was most present in the bathroom with the jacuzzi tub and sinks that no longer felt new. That being said, this would never get in the way of an excuse to stay here - it was just something that stood out to me as I grappled with the passage of time and the troubles of returning to a place stuck in the most heightened of memories.

The living room includes a comfy couch, the ubiquitous glass floor looking into the lagoon, a table and chairs, a desk, and a TV stand. We didn't spend much time in the living room this trip as the lanai was beckoning or we were out and about around the property instead. However, as I already mentioned, having the extra space can really be a nice treat, especially for extended stays.

Outside, our hut was looking towards the Le Meridien Bora Bora, where we had just left.

We also had a view of Mt. Otemanu if you sat on the bottom dock and looked west.

Each unit has lagoon access from their lanai, as well as a shower to rinse off once you're ready to come out.

We could catch a slight glimpse of the island of Taha‘a from our lanai through the palms.

This view is brought to you courtesy of the St. Regis Bora Bora. :)

Watch the clip below for a brief tour of the room:

So, what are the pros and cons to this type of unit versus the Pool Beach Villa?

Pros:

Who doesn't dream of that total escapist concept of a hut floating over a turquoise lagoon? It is absolutely something that must be done once in your life if you can swing it!
Easy access to the lagoon - right from the back of your lanai!
Surrounded by water views all day everyday.

Cons:

I'm prone to seasickness. In 2006, I spent 10 days in an identical hut with nary an ounce of queasiness. This trip, both my stay at the Le Meridien and at the St. Regis, I felt some of the sway of the waves hitting against the hut. Fortunately, I had brought along a bunch of extra motion sickness patches to counter this feeling. I'm not 100% this would affect me next time, or if there was something particular about this trip. But for those prone to motion sickness, it might not hurt to be prepared.
For those with small children, keeping a close eye on your kids would be well advised with so much easy water access at every corner.
Proximity to neighbors. The huts, though private, are somewhat close together. You will hear your neighbor's Skype phone calls to their parents back in the US.

As you can see, there are no real serious cons that would prevent me from selecting this type of unit again. However, it's a novelty that I've now experienced a few times, and might rather prefer a pool beach villa in the future. Want to explore what that option looks like? Let's go.

Pool Beach Villa

The Pool Beach Villas have an identical interior layout as the Deluxe Overwater Bungalows, but with an added bonus of an outside shower. These villas are located across from the Lagoonarium towards the front of the unit, and have beachfront access to the lagoon from the backyard. And yes, you also get your very own hammock to sway beneath the coconut palms. Does it get more dreamy than that?

This, right here, was my favorite part. I'm a pool person at heart, and having access to my own private plunge pool with the turquoise lagoon behind is just about as optimal of life gets.

So what are the pros and cons to this type of unit versus an overwater bungalow? Let's examine.

Pros:

Private pool! Private beach access!
Outdoor shower - one of my favorite things on earth.
More room to spread out in terms of outdoor space - you seem to get more space for your buck.
Proximity to Lagoonarium and spa - literally, right outside the front door!
Neighbors are close, but it doesn't feel as close as the overwater bungalows.

Cons:

Not as escapist as the hut floating over the lagoon - could potentially feel less exotic.

I'm sure there are other pros and cons to those of you out there, and I'm curious to hear what you think. At the moment, I'd probably aim to get a Pool Beach Villa in the future, though the lure of the novel hut over the water always pulls at me. In another 10 years, we'll see how I'm feeling then!

Lagoonarium

One feature that every guest should check out is the Lagoonarium. Ben and I missed this on our first visit to the St. Regis, but made a point to check it out this second time around. And the verdict? Amazing. Completely protected on all sides, those who are new to snorkeling will find this to be one of the best ways to get oriented to the activity. No waves to contend with, nary a strong current, crystal clear waters and an abundance of colorful fish makes this an absolute must-do.

Check out the images below to see why this is such a must-try during your stay at the St. Regis Bora Bora.

Dining

It will possibly go down as one of my biggest blunders on this trip, but I did not get good images of the dining experiences at the St. Regis Bora Bora. Let me tell you a little about the experiences we had though, so you can see why this was such a numbskull move on my part.

Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges

First - you absolutely must dine at Jean-Georges' Lagoon. Do not even bother coming to stay at this resort if you don't dine here. The meal may go down as one of the best meals we've ever had while traveling, from the crunchy rice cracker crusted Ahi tuna, to the surprise dishes that randomly showed up thanks to our dining companion and Ben's colleague, all the way to the decadent dessert course, the Ovaltine Kulfi (a must-try), we will continue to discuss this meal for years to come.

Visit their website to get an idea of a sample menu.

Each morning, we took advantage of the breakfast buffet that was included in our room rate. You also had the option to add on à la carte options, such as waffles or eggs, but

you won't want to miss out on the pastries from the master pastry chef.

We attended the Polynesian Night/Luau one evening. I approach the idea of luaus in two ways - sure they aren't totally authentic and are a bit touristy. Yet, at the same time, the dancers are real practitioners of an ancient art form. If these are your only opportunities to see examples of the host culture that you're visiting, then yes, do the luau.

The luau is held in the same location as the breakfast buffet, and dinner is served before the dancing/chanting begins, so the earlier you get there, the longer you'll have access to the food. You can also order à la carte items such as the steak or lobster, or if you're Ben, both. The price isn't cheap, so make sure you get as much out of it as you can and enjoy the show!

When you're ready for lunch but don't feel like schlepping to the main pavilion, room service delivers. With all sorts of options available, such as pizza or butter chicken (yum), it's the perfect way to do dining al fresco in paradise.

One perk of the bespoke service the St. Regis butlers provide is the complementary morning coffee and tea. At the St. Regis Princeville, we enjoy this service and immensely, and figured we should indulge at least once in Bora Bora. When your wake up includes views like this, who wouldn't want to linger over a cup of tea just a little while longer before starting the day?

SERVICE

I couldn't write a whole post about the St. Regis Bora Bora without mentioning the service. First of all, the butler staff is outstanding. We really enjoyed talking story with the different butlers and hearing about their lives - some had lived in Hawaii, some had visited. All were courteous, friendly and helpful. Yes, that is literally their job, but they do a great job of genuinely showing their interest in each guest - they should be commended for this effort.

Secondly, from the front desk to the housekeeping staff, to the servers at all of the dining outlets, again, amazing, genuine service all around. The rooms were spotless and neat, the front desk cheery and helpful, and the dining staff more than accommodating. You get what you pay for at the St. Regis Bora Bora, and the outstanding service is very much a part of that. Merci beaucoup/Mahalo/Mauruuru!

Overall, we enjoyed our second trip the St. Regis Bora Bora. We know that for some, a trip to this paradise is not something that can easily happen, and we're grateful that we've been able to visit not only once, but twice. I hope that by sharing some of our experience, even armchair travelers can get an opportunity to experience what life is like in such a magical, jaw-droppingly stunning location that is Bora Bora.

For those who are looking for the ultimate indulgence and are prepared to splurge, the St. Regis Bora Bora doesn't disappoint. Yes, it's different than it was eleven years ago, but then again, who amongst us isn't? We will be back someday - and we anxiously await that return!