Le Bora Bora By Pearl Resorts

My husband and I chose this resort for what should have been one of the most important trips of our lives: our honeymoon and wedding ceremony in Bora Bora. Let me start by saying that the resort itself is beautiful. We stayed in an Otemanu View Overwater Villa, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. Every morning we woke up to crystal-clear turquoise water with Mount Otemanu rising in the background. The villa was clean, well maintained, and surrounded by incredible marine life that could be seen directly from our room. We also enjoyed several wonderful experiences during our stay. The snorkeling excursion was fantastic, and our guide, Umi, was incredibly kind and accommodating, even though we were traveling with a baby. The spa facilities were beautiful, and while the massage itself was lighter than what we are accustomed to, the overall atmosphere, sauna, drinks, and gardens made it a memorable experience. The highlight of our stay was the Moemoe Dinner. The private setting, decorations, food, and overall experience were exceptional. It was one of the few moments during our trip where we felt that the service truly matched the luxury reputation of the resort. The restaurant staff were also consistently kind to our baby and frequently offered assistance during meals, which we greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, the wedding experience was a completely different story. The day before our ceremony, we met with the wedding coordinator. Our ceremony was scheduled for 10:20 AM, but we were told that hair and makeup would begin at 7:00 AM. It seemed unusually early, but we assumed this was standard procedure. Because the weather forecast was uncertain, I specifically asked what would happen if it rained. I was told that the ceremony would simply be postponed to the next day. On the morning of the ceremony, the makeup artist arrived approximately 20 minutes late. Nobody contacted us in advance, and there was no apology when we called to ask where she was. Had we known she would be late, we could at least have enjoyed breakfast together instead of waiting anxiously in our room. To be fair, the makeup artist herself did an excellent job. I was very happy with the result and appreciated her professionalism. The real problems began afterward. Shortly after my hair and makeup were completed, a rain shower passed through the resort. Around 8:30 AM, we received a call informing us that we had until 9:00 AM to decide whether to proceed with the ceremony or postpone it until the next day. What shocked us was the explanation that followed. We were told that if we chose to proceed and the weather ultimately prevented the ceremony from taking place, we would still be charged the full amount. At the same time, if we postponed, we would be required to pay for a second day of hair and makeup. This put us in an impossible situation. We had already spent a significant amount of money on both the resort and our wedding package. The idea of paying the full ceremony cost while potentially not having a ceremony at all was terrifying. Most frustrating was the fact that these policies had never been clearly explained beforehand. If weather-related cancellation policies, additional charges, and financial risks are part of the process, guests should be informed well before the wedding day—not while they are already dressed and under pressure to make a decision within 30 minutes. Ultimately, we decided to postpone until the next day. Ironically, the weather improved shortly afterward and the rain had stopped by around 10:00 AM. The following day created another stressful situation. Our ceremony was scheduled to end around 11:00 AM, but our boat transfer to leave the resort was at 1:00 PM. When we asked how we were supposed to change clothes and prepare for departure after the ceremony, we were informed that we would need to check out of our villa at 11:00 AM. We were then offered two options: 1. Pay several hundred dollars for another room where we could change and prepare for departure. 2. Use a restroom near reception. We were traveling with our baby. Being told to change clothes in a public restroom after our wedding ceremony was honestly upsetting. We reluctantly agreed to pay for the additional room because we felt we had no other practical choice. Then, only a short time later, we received another call saying that we could actually remain in our villa until departure after all. While we appreciated the final outcome, it raised an obvious question: if this solution was available all along, why were we first asked to pay hundreds of dollars? What made this even stranger was that our wedding package included special amenities such as a fruit platter, drinks, and floral decorations in the room. Had we been forced to leave at 11:00 AM, we would barely have had any opportunity to enjoy these inclusions. The inconsistency in communication became a recurring theme throughout our stay. The ceremony itself was beautiful. Despite the weather concerns, we ultimately went ahead with it because it was our last day and postponement was no longer possible. Interestingly, on this day we were told that the ceremony would proceed even if it rained. This directly contradicted what we had been told the previous day. One day we were warned that weather could prevent the ceremony while still resulting in full charges. The next day we were told rain would not stop the ceremony at all. By this point, we simply no longer knew which information to trust. The ceremony itself was lovely, but unfortunately much of the joy had already been overshadowed by the stress and confusion leading up to it. Our final disappointment occurred after we left Bora Bora. After arriving in Tahiti, we realized that we had never received our wedding certificate or ring box. We contacted our travel agent, who reached out to the resort on our behalf. The response we received contained no apology. Instead, we were informed that we would need to pay approximately $30 USD in shipping fees to have the items sent to us. The resort’s position was that the items had been available for collection and that we had failed to retrieve them. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding. English is not my first language, and it is possible that I misunderstood part of the process. However, for a luxury resort hosting destination weddings and honeymoons, I believe there were many opportunities to prevent this situation. The items could have been delivered to our villa, mentioned during checkout, or verified before our departure. In the end, we paid the shipping cost and received the items. They arrived in a simple plastic bag, with no apology and no acknowledgment of the inconvenience. That final interaction unfortunately summarized our overall experience. This resort has everything needed to be extraordinary: stunning scenery, beautiful villas, incredible ocean views, and many wonderful staff members. What it lacked, in our experience, was consistent communication, attention to detail, and the level of care one would expect when hosting guests celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime event. We did not expect perfection. We expected clear communication, transparency regarding policies, and a genuine effort to make a wedding and honeymoon feel special. Because of that, despite the beauty of the property, we left feeling disappointed. If we return to Bora Bora in the future, we would choose a different resort.

A wonderful stay, and we would have no hesitation in returning. The gourmet restaurant was fantastic in particular. We visited twice, and the service, quality of food, and the ambiance were exceptional!

This place is amazing! The location is perfect with beautiful views of Otemanu and the channel. The service is impeccable and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Our over the water bungalow was beautiful and so comfortable. We saw small sharks and many rays and fish from our deck. The breakfast buffet was delicious and very complete. We ate in all of the restaurants and they were all excellent though expensive. We booked three tours through the resort and they were all wonderful. The resort takes care of all transport including the water taxi and the land taxi if needed so we never had to wait at all! They also made dinner reservations and arranged water/land taxis for that too. I highly recommend doing excursions and any reservations through the resort as it just makes everything seamless for the traveler. The resort itself is beautiful with a large garden area for walking. The lagoon is fairly shallow - perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking or just walking in the water. It is worth the extra money to get a Otemanu view over the water bungalow. My only suggestion is that the resort offer more vegetarian food options - and possibly offer some more reasonably priced food options in general.

Well, we just came back and stayed in room 327 which is with Otamanu view. The rooms are a dream and it was beyond our expectations. Yes, prices are hefty but the place is amazing. The breakfast at Otamanu is ok but if anything could be improved it would be that. Dinner at the special gastronimic restaurant is highly recommended at it really adds to the whole experience as does the diving with mantas! Unforgettable. Staff is amazing and so is the whole place; immaculate....... The lagoon is fun to snorkel although coral is not in great shape. Having said that the glass in the room to watch the fish swim beneath you is amazing. We will be back one day!

Beautiful hotel. The location is outstanding - wonderful view of the mountain. The beach has white sand and the ocean water next to it is clear and very shallow, even far away from the shore. Excellent snorkeling at the coral garden located between the overwater bungalows, with hundreds and hundreds of fish. While kayaking (free kayaks for the hotel guests), I saw reef sharks and sting rays, a little beyond the limits of the hotel's beach (right hand side, if facing the mountain). I stayed in a garden villa and it was spacious and truly gorgeous both inside and out. Perfect for staying in the shade during the very hot hours of the day. Next time I'll choose the same, I find this way better than the overwater bungalows. The restaurants were ok. If you like fish, as I do, you'll enjoy the food. Else you need to remember that you're here for Bora Bora, and not in continental France :) , so just enjoy the balmy weather. The resort is so large that except for peak hours at breakfast time, or for the evening shows, when they happen, you'll see few guests and you'll find the place very quiet. Also, if you visit the little advertised gardens (located behind the spa+gym area), which I highly recommend you do, you'll feel like you have the place to yourself. The service was excellent throughout and the entire resort is meticulously cleaned and maintained by a very hard working team. Bottom line - I loved the experience and I'll return for sure.