The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort: On the Water, Off the Grid
Chase Travel
Wondering what it's like to stay at The St. Regis Bora Bora? Chase Travel’s writers and editors visit the world's top hotels to give you a firsthand look inside.
Planning a vacation to Bora Bora is a bit like preparing to propose—picking the perfect destination, trying to get the timing just right, packing the essentials. It’s why, for many people, The St. Regis Bora Bora is the obvious place to stay. After all, you hope to pop the question only once in your life, and this hotel is just as singular as the ring itself. Whether you're planning a long-awaited trip to paradise or an elaborate proposal, The St. Regis Bora Bora will always get an emphatic "yes."
The resort drifts into view just as your turboprop from Tahiti swoops in for a landing, its overwater villas fanning out like a “Y” across the turquoise lagoon. Before you know it, a greeter from the resort appears to hang a flower lei around your neck and escort you to the waiting mini-yacht. Suddenly, you’re speeding through the clearest stretch of ocean you’ve ever seen, the water glimmering like diamonds in the afternoon sun. It’s as breathtaking as it sounds—but it’ll hardly be the last time you’re impressed by this place.
Your butler (a St. Regis staple since the brand’s inception) meets you as soon as you step off the boat, and checks on you throughout your stay. Everyone gets VIP treatment here, but you’ll still feel like your trip is the only one that matters. Think of your butler as your personal assistant while at the hotel: You can ask them to unpack (and re-pack) your bags, press your clothes and deliver a pot of English breakfast tea in the mornings.
Or, they can spring into action to bring elaborate requests to life—even at the last minute. If you’re struck by the view of Mount Otemanu and the resort’s overwhelmingly romantic atmosphere, you can seize the moment and have your butler assist with a spectacular same-day proposal. Imagine a heart-fluttering helicopter tour of Bora Bora followed by a three-course, candlelit dinner on the beach, complete with fire dancers and a photographer to capture the whole affair. There are no small gestures here.
If the musicians playing ukelele—to say nothing of the fairy-tale trip to Bora Bora—don’t fully express your love, the flower petals arranged in a heart on the sand will help get the point across.
Even if you’re not planning to get down on one knee, having a personal butler helps make the St. Regis feel more like your private vacation home in Bora Bora than an international resort. It's things like this that make the hotel shine in a lagoon of fabulous resorts, as well as intimate details like your very own bikes, the handwritten notes placed near your pillow before bed and the canvas tote you’ll get to use throughout your stay, and then take home. Less flashy than fire dancers, but no less meaningful.
A variety of exclusive experiences further the resort’s luxurious feel. You can reserve a wine tasting with a local sommelier who travels to the resort just to introduce you to Tahitian wines, or grab your complimentary snorkel set from the hotel staff and step off your private ladder to swim alongside tropical fish and spotted eagle rays.
While it can easily feel like you’re a world away from anything or anyone else, the St. Regis is a short boat ride from the main island of Bora Bora (and local bars, restaurants and ATV tours). But if relaxation is your priority, you don’t have to see the dock again until it’s time to leave.
Cardmember Benefits
The St. Regis Bora Bora is a member of The Edit by Chase Travel℠, a collection of hand-picked hotels with premium benefits for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. Customers who book a stay at The St. Regis Bora Bora through The Edit will earn 3 points per dollar and receive special benefits, outlined below.
Daily breakfast for two
Guests who book through The Edit by Chase Travel will receive complimentary access to the full breakfast buffet, along with à la carte dishes at Te Pahu, such as a peanut butter-and-banana tartine or eggs Benedict with local smoked tuna.
Room upgrade if available
Guests are eligible for an upgrade to the next villa category, including an upgrade from a beachside land villa to an overwater superior villa, if available at check-in.
Welcome amenity
Every guest receives a welcome gift, such as a selection of fruit liqueurs and local treats, like coconut candy and dried bananas.
A $100 property credit
Your credit can be applied across the resort, including toward spa treatments and all food and drinks. Use it for a round or two of Bora Marys—bartenders add watermelon juice to create a more refreshing take on the classic brunch beverage.
The Room
Modest at first glance, with their faded wood frames and roofs made from pandanus leaves, the resort’s reef-side, beachside and overwater villas are actually quite modern and almost comically spacious. Each has a private deck, a living room, separate bedrooms and bathrooms with both a large shower and an enormous tub (just in case you haven’t had enough time to soak in the bath-warm water outside).
Expect a standard suite of amenities, plus extras like bath salts, a scrubbing brush and a linen tote bag with a lined amenity pouch that’ll quickly become your go-to for beach days at the resort and after you return home.
If it’s your first trip to Bora Bora, you’ll want to splurge and book an overwater villa for your stay, complete with a glass-bottomed panel in the living room. Most are virtually identical inside; a more direct view of Mount Otemanu will move you up in category (and price).
It’s quiet, but you’ll hear the water and the occasional sea breeze. After a few days, you’ll completely forget that cars exist, since only golf carts and bicycles are allowed at the resort.
The Features
Don’t miss: Breakfast at Te Pahu. Seriously, you should set an alarm so you can order a-la-carte or indulge in the large buffet filled with the most perfect French croissants, pain au chocolat, Asian noodle dishes and tuna sashimi that’s fresher than anything you’d spend a fortune on at home.
Standout features: The Lagoonarium, where you can snorkel with an enormous array of colorful fish or enjoy marine biologist-led sessions, during which you'll learn to restore coral and identify different fish. For extra peace and quiet beyond your private deck, the adults-only Oasis Pool is also a must-visit, complete with private cabanas with mountain views and a phone to call room service to deliver cocktails, a bottle of bubbly or a multi-course lunch.
Can’t stop thinking about: The whole-island jet ski tour. It leaves directly from the resort’s main beach and will take you around the entire perimeter of Bora Bora, with multiple swimming stops and a fresh seafood lunch at a restaurant on the main island.
The Lowdown
The highly specific reason you’d come here: You’re planning to propose and want to drastically increase the chances of hearing a “yes!”
What are people drinking? It’s clearly a beach resort, but you’re also in France (albeit a very distant overseas territory). Sunset cocktails at 727 Bar are a must before your luxe Lagoon dinner, but you’re more likely to see guests enjoying Champagne and wine at meals, including bottles produced in French Polynesia (ask for a taste either way).
The movie that could be filmed here: The St. Regis is an actual movie set. The 2009 comedy “Couples Retreat” was filmed here, and you’ll easily recognize the resort throughout the Vince Vaughn-led romantic comedy, which plays on a loop in guest rooms on channel 820.
The perfect spot for your Instagram post: You’ll have no problem finding a gorgeous backdrop anywhere around the resort, but don’t overlook the overwater hammock off the main beach. Ask your travel companion (or private photographer) to shoot straight-on, with the long stretch of overwater villas to your back.
Are guests staying in or going out? You’re a short ferry ride from the bars and restaurants on the main island of Bora Bora, but with plenty of dining options on site and jet ski tours that leave right from the beach, you don’t really need to leave.
The Perfect Stay
Rise and shine
Wake up with the sun and peek outside. If the sky is clear, it’s the perfect time to explore the property—while most other guests are still fast asleep and Mount Otemanu is glowing in the morning light. Ring your butler (or send a text, using the Marriott app) for complimentary tea or coffee in your room.
Morning
For an active start to your day, go for a run or a bike ride. The property is just under a mile from end-to-end. Book a canoe breakfast if you’re feeling indulgent, or head to Te Pahu for one of the freshest buffets in Bora Bora.
Afternoon
Snag a lounger at the main beach or pool for a full-service experience, or by the adults-only Oasis Pool for a private cabana with a mountain view—it’s a rare opportunity to venture out while still feeling like you’re alone. Later, visit the spa for a Polynesian massage utilizing local oils (try the pineapple). You’re likely already worlds away from home, but your treatment, which you’ll begin by listening to the sounds of the ocean in your therapist’s seashell, will transport you even farther.
Evening
Stop by the 727 bar, which overlooks the lagoon, for a pre-dinner cocktail. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a spectacular sunset that saturates the resort with shades of orange and red. You’re just a few feet from the glass-floored Lagoon Restaurant, the resort’s formal spot, where you can dine on dishes like a pan-seared chicken supreme with fried rice, or smoked shrimp with rosemary, finished tableside with a spicy tomato sauce.
Know Before You Go
Getting there
It’s a trek! You’ll first fly to Tahiti, French Polynesia’s main island and home to the international airport. From there, it’s a roughly 45-minute turboprop flight to Bora Bora, which you can also book through Chase Travel, followed by a 20-minute ferry ride arranged directly with the resort.
Tech specs
There’s Wi-Fi throughout much of the resort—you’ll always be able to connect in your room, the restaurants and bars, the pools and beach, and the fitness center, although there are some coverage gaps between sites. There are European-style outlets throughout the room, including by the bed, with universal adapters in the room.
When to go
It’s always hot, although you’re most likely to find clear skies during the months of May through October. The weather can be variable during the rest of the year, but the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is always popular, despite the risk of rain.
What’s included
Bottled Evian in the rooms, Wi-Fi and a handful of butler services, including coffee and tea service each morning, two clothing items pressed per person each day, and unpacking and repacking services, to name a few. Many of the resort experiences are also included, such as non-motorized water sports, snorkel and bike rentals and a rotating schedule of group activities.
What’s around
There’s plenty to keep you busy at the resort, from restaurants to spa treatments to watersports. On a longer stay, you might want to take a short ferry to the main island of Bora Bora, home to casual restaurants, bars and land-based activities, including ATV tours.
Fast Facts
- Number of rooms: 90 villas
- Number of pools: 2
- Fitness center? Yes
- Spa? Yes
- Salon? No
- Number of bars/restaurants: 6
- 24-hour room service? Yes
- Childcare and kids club? No
Booking With Chase Travel
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