Bora Bora is one of the most popular paradise escapes in the world. With stunning white beaches and enviable turquoise waters, the island is enriched with romance and wonder. The most famous island in The French Polynesia boasts a majestic lagoon with an ocean fringe that glistens for miles and small secluded islands painting postcard perfect pictures. Having now visited the island for myself I’d be shocked to discover that the word ‘paradise’ was not created as a direct result of someone travelling to Bora Bora!
Why we chose Conrad
My husband and I travelled to Bora Bora as part of a week’s stay in The French Polynesia. We were in Tahiti to swim in the humpback whales and after a few days spent on the island of Moorea we were both in agreement that we should also spend some time on the island dubbed as the most beautiful in The French Polynesia, Bora Bora. Home to some of the worlds leading hotel chains including The Four Seasons, St Regis, Sofitel and Conrad, booking a hotel in Bora Bora was a difficult decision to make! We knew we wanted to stay in a five star resort and also in a water villa because for me, when travelling to far away escapes it makes all the difference when you stay in a hotel that truly optimises the local beauty whilst offering all of the extravagant and personal touches .
Having personally worked with The Conrad group now for over two years I have become accustomed to a certain way of living when staying in any one of their resorts throughout the world, the high level of luxury service and the pristine modern touches in every hotel I have stayed in sways me to book a Conrad Hotel when possible. So Mr C and I spent an amazing three days at The Conrad Bora Bora Nui.
Our Wanderlust Arrival
The perfectly secluded resort is based in the South West of Bora BoraΒ and is only accessible by boat. From the airport you can opt to board the hotel’s private boat or jump on the local ferry and take the hotel’s shuttle service. Conrad’s private transfer takes just 15 minutes and the local ferry timings will vary based on the schedules for the day (for both the shuttle and local ferry) so to save time and maximise our few days in Bora Bora we chose the private transfer but at $120 per person we did so rather reluctantly! When money buys you time in paradise I guess it’s the price to pay π
Arriving at Conrad Bora Bora was one of those truly magical sights that will be instilled in my memory forever. Catching a glimpse of the familiar wooden huts placed perfectly in the crystal clear waters we were gliding across was enough to take my breath away and the closer we came towards the hotel, the more we realised the utopia we were about to live in for the next few days. After a quick welcome drink and familiarisation with the hotel’s amenities weΒ were ushered to our villa in one of the plush resort golf buggies and after discovering our room was on the far right side of the island we were fortunate enough to see the beautiful setting in all it’s glory as we made our way to our own personal haven on the sea.
The Room with a View
Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of our deluxe over water villa, after 234578 ‘oohs’, ‘ahhs’ and ‘wows’ from Mr C and I we settled in to our gorgeous home for the next few days. Our room was beyond beautiful with a separate wash and bathroom area and a huge living and sleeping space which lead on to our paradise balcony. We opted for the King Pool Villa and having seen all the other options during our stay I think it was the best room category by far. The outdoor wooden patio was the biggest I’ve ever seen for a water villa and it even featured a glass bottom to see the lively marine life below. There was also a large infinity plunge pool and at the end of the patio there was a huge rope net lounger, both of which placed directly above the shimmering pacific ocean.
I wouldn’t be straying too far from facts if I were to end this blogpost here as Mems and I spent almost the entirety of our stay in this very room but the moments in which we did leave our villa are worth the words and photography too, allow me to continue π
The Resort’s Charm
Beyond the wooden walls of our haven and the amazing coral reef below our sleeping quarters we discovered that The Conrad Bora Bora Nui has so much more to offer than the opulent over-water villas. The private beaches are simply stunning with powder white sand and crystal clear waters. Cabanas and sun-beds are laid out spaciously with friendly attendees waiting on you with as little as a nod. You can grab a spot of lunch or enjoy one of the many cocktails on offer all the while gazing at the stunning ocean views. There’s a large pool with sun-beds built in and cabanas surrounding the fresh water, there’s also ample water sports on offer for free of charge. Taking a canoe out and exploring the local reef was the most strenuous form of my daily exercise, with the acts of swimming and applying suntan lotion completing my work-out regime for the four days π
Breakfast was a large spread served in the centre of the island with an a-la-carte eggs option and enormous buffet set up featuring everything you could possibly want to see at a breakfast lay-out. The hotel also offers a French Polynesian twist to breakfast in bed which we enjoyed one morning. For an extra cost you can have your first meal of the day delivered to you by the hotel’s traditional canoe, a real Tahitian novelty! The server will even take you and your partner out for a ride whilst his or her colleague sets up your table.
We were in and out of the hotel’s concierge office every day booking trips (and ordering my flower crowns ;)) and they were always happy to help and arrange our day trips and requests during our stay. The concierge service is likely to be more expensive than if you were to book directly with tour operators but when staying in Bora Bora the luxury of having someone else make all the calls and bookings just seems so much more fitting π The trips and extras were simply added to our room bill making it easy for us to relax and enjoy our days without worrying about having money on us at any point.
Blissful Evenings
We opted to stay at the resort for three nights and although I would have loved to stay for longer I really did feel like our three and a half days in heaven were enough to fully appreciate the beauty of Bora Bora. Within the resort there’s much to do but having such an amazing space all to ourselves meant that we spent most of our time in our villa on the balcony. Our evenings consisted of ordering room service and watching the sunset light up the sky on our comfy ocean hammock. When the days completed and night time fell we took our duvets out from the room and snuggled under the stars. It was the perfect way to spend our evenings and watching the shooting stars that dance across the sky whilst sipping our red wine was a relay of unforgettable moments.
The Verdict
If you are planning a trip to Bora Bora I highly recommend booking one of the King Pool Villas at The Conrad. Bora Bora is an expensive location to travel to but it is one of the most naturally magical places in the world and this hotel does an amazing job at reflecting this.
The resort is perfect for couples wanting romantic seclusion and there’s enough adventure on the doorstep to keep you from getting cabin fever on the small. It would also be a great holiday to relax with very young children. The large balconies and private pools mean that paradise is on your doorstep and therefore keeping inside your villa whilst looking after a baby is not a comprisable holiday!
Watch the resort come to life
I would like to highlight thatΒ I have collaborated with The Conrad Group in previous blogposts but this three night trip was fully paid for by myself. I was not offered any discounts and I was not recognised as media at all during my stay. My views are completely honest and unbiased.
What an amazing place and fabulous holiday. I love staying at Conrad resorts. And you look absolutely gorgeous in all your photos Sabrina. Love Abbey xxx
Oh thank-you so much hun!! I love that you love Conrad too, I’m going back to The Conrad Maldives in November can’t wait to share more features from there with you! x
We stayed in the Four Seasons Bora Bora and our room and overall experience was very similar. π
Ohh I bet, that was the other hotel we were really interested in! Maybe when I go back next year I’ll try there π x
PS sorry for the link drop but I thought you might be interested to read http://www.silverspoonlondon.co.uk/2014/08/bora-bora.html
Hi hun. not at all I love a link drop – you know me π x
Great post and lovely outfit! π
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