The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort

Having travelled extensively in multiple luxury resorts all over the world, my expectations were muted as there is a lot of "build up" on how amazing this destination is. The build up is real. This was one of my top 5 experiences in my travels, and I would encourage everyone to make it a bucket list. We stayed in the 2 bedroom Royal Villa and it was amazing. Perfect views, very spacious and the decor lovely. My only complaint was the lack of a mini bar. When you are dealing with guests that are on time changes, etc there should be an option to purchase food/drinks in the room without bothering room service. They also don't give access to a ton of water. Silly little things, but a premium room such as this should come with an abundance of water and options for snack in the room. The food was excellent, the service we received from our breakfast host each day was a highlight of our trip. Please try the Bora Mary, as it is something I still miss everyday. Lastly, our butler Mena was incredible- a true gem in the hospitality world. A true 5 star experience.

We stayed at the St. Regis Bora Bora after transferring by boat from the Westin. Given its reputation as one of the top resorts in the world, we arrived with high expectations. In many ways, the property and experiences are incredible. In others, it fell short of the standard it claims. Arrival & Check-In We arrived around noon on the resort-recommended shuttle. Check-in was surprisingly underwhelming. The lobby area was crowded relative to the available seating, and our luggage was misplaced for about 15 minutes even though it had just come off the same boat as we did. Instead of being taken straight to our room (which we’d hoped for based on the timing they suggested), we were sent to a dim changing area to dig through all our bags for what we needed. For a property of this level, it felt disorganized and not especially welcoming. Overwater Bungalow We had a standard overwater bungalow with lagoon view. First impression: it’s huge, elegant, and the view of that bright turquoise water is breathtaking. There’s a certain old-world charm to it that we really liked, but it’s clear the bungalows are due for a proper refresh. Some issues: • Several window latches broke off as soon as we tried to open them. • The floor was very creaky. • The water closet had a musty smell. • Most upsetting, I opened a drawer to grab a bathing suit and found a large cockroach on my clothes. I fully understand that older, over-water structures in the tropics can attract pests, but it’s still extremely unsettling at this price point. I spent the rest of our stay obsessively checking my luggage to make sure nothing was coming home with us. Welcome amenities (local rum, fresh mango juice, and a St. Regis beach bag) were a nice touch, but I was disappointed to see only small plastic Evian bottles in the room instead of reusable bottles, especially in such a fragile environment. Property & Marine Life The resort grounds are absolutely beautiful: lush, tropical, and designed around a network of bridges and lagoons. It’s a huge property; most guests use bikes or golf carts to get around, as walking everywhere in the heat would be tough. The lagoonarium is a highlight. There are tons of fish and marine life, with artificial reefs that encourage coral growth. The famous Napoleon fish, Moana, greeted me before I even got in the water and spent a lot of time swimming alongside me (he clearly has many “friends”!). We bought fish food (they now regulate feeding), and the overall experience was really special. Around the property we constantly saw marine life—sharks, turtles, and lots of fish from bridges and decks. However, we were surprised to learn that the two large lemon sharks near the restaurant and some of the OWBs are fed daily by staff to keep them around. It made several couples we spoke with nervous about swimming off their bungalows, and one couple only went in while the other kept watch. It’s worth being aware of if that would bother you. Food & Drink Food quality on property is generally very good: • Our first lunch (fish and chips for me, BBQ fish skewers for my husband) was the best meal we’d had in Bora Bora up to that point. • The Lagoon restaurant served an excellent dinner. We ordered à la carte since the only earlier seatings were fully booked. The pavlova dessert was more of a well-done meringue than a traditional pavlova, but still delicious. • Morning coffee delivery was fast and very good, and the in-room Lavazza pods were perfectly fine in a pinch. The 727 Bar at sunset is magical, with a stunning view of Mt. Otemanu and great cocktails. Service & Butler Experience Overall, service felt inconsistent. Many staff members were lovely, but the resort as a whole felt understaffed; this was later confirmed to us by an employee. Golf cart drivers zipped around the paths quite fast, and in some restaurants the constant rushing (and even stomping on the floors at Lagoon) was a bit jarring. The “butler service” here felt more like a mobile concierge than a classic, dedicated butler experience. Our butlers were pleasant, but they were constantly on the phone and seemed stretched thin. Having experienced butler service at other high-end properties, this didn’t feel particularly exclusive or personalized. Special Experiences This is where the resort really shines: • Sabrage: We love the St. Regis sabrage tradition and were thrilled they offered it here. Anton did a perfect sabrage with Billecart-Salmon, and even let my husband open the second bottle himself. A fun, elegant touch. • Romantic Beach Dinner: Highly recommended, even if it’s cheesy. The setup was beautiful, the food excellent, and our server, Slade, brought a light, joyful energy that made the evening feel genuinely special. He took great photos and videos for us too. • Canoe Breakfast: Another must-do. Watching the canoe paddle over, then being taken for a ride in a traditional Tahitian canoe while our breakfast was set up on the deck, was magical. The breakfast was generous and varied. Major respect to the gentleman doing the paddling—he’s out there in all conditions multiple times each morning, and it was very windy during ours. Overall Impression St. Regis Bora Bora offers a spectacular setting and some truly unforgettable experiences. The lagoonarium, the marine life, the special dinners, and the canoe breakfast all lived up to the dream. However, the underwhelming arrival, maintenance issues in the bungalow, the pest incident, and the sense of understaffing prevent me from calling this a flawless, ultra-luxury stay. For a once-in-a-lifetime or special-occasion trip, it can absolutely still be worth it—but go in with realistic expectations that not everything will be “perfect” at this very high price point. I definitely look forward to returning once they have refreshed their bungalows and filled their staff roster.

My husband and I returned to the St. Regis Bora Bora and it was just as amazing as we remembered. So many fond memories from our honeymoon a few years ago, and new ones made during this trip. 😃 We booked with Claudia from Pacific For Less this time. We loved eating at Lagoon and grabbing a pre-dinner drink at 727 Bar and watching the sun set each night. Oceane was our butler and was fantastic; even going above and beyond by giving us a stuffed turtle (honu) to take back home to our son who absolutely loves turtles. The Beach Boys were always smiling and so attentive; truly infectious with their joy for life and the Polynesian spirit. We took advantage of the great onsite gym and snorkeling in the lagoon. Cannot wait to return again!

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the staff at St. Régis Bora Bora for your remarkable hospitality and thoughtful attention. Your professionalism and kindness made our stay exceptional. Thank you for this memorable experience. Thank you to Boyan, Nina, Jenna our Butler and Delphine.

Bora Bora is spectacular. The St Regis makes it more so. We stayed 7 nights in an overwater bungalow lagoon side. Two huge rooms, enormous bathroom , windows all around to gaze at the blue, blue water. Husband and I intended this vacation t be 100% relaxing. We turned our phones off, slept late, read out on our spacious deck, used the swim step to access the water and were generally unproductive citizens. It was wonderful. Coffee delivered in the morning at a time of your choosing. So many room amenities. There are many activities to chose from. We didn't but people we talked to enjoyed them all. A few very minor cons: food was generally just okay. Skip the Lagoon restaurant with an "up charge"...our least favorite meal. Setting was lovely. Astronomical drink prices. Unstocked mini bar Butler service was spotty. Our seriously charming butler forgot several requests we made. Would we go back? In a heartbeat.