Overview: 4 Seasons Resort Bora Bora

Wednesday newsletters all the time function a lodge or flight evaluate.

I not too long ago loved an unbelievable vacation in French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora). Learn my journey experiences right here:

In the present day: Overview of 4 Seasons Bora Bora

Wrapped by majestic views, 4 Seasons Resort Bora Bora is surrounded by sand-fringed islets on an outer coral reef that enclose a turquoise lagoon. The resort presents 115 spacious hideaways with 100 overwater bungalows and seven huge beachfront villa estates, all overlooking the lagoon’s crystal clear waters and a few with spectacular views of Mount Otemanu, French Polynesia’s sacred mountain. Impressed by native structure, all visitor lodging provide a restful, ethereal atmosphere; full with conventional teak wooden furnishings, excessive ceilings and thatched roofs constructed from pandanus leaves. Distinctive touches embrace the perfume of vanilla and the feel of black pearls within the spa, alfresco eating overlooking Bora-Bora’s famed lagoon, and signature 4 Seasons service at each flip. IMHO, 4 Seasons Bora Bora is the perfect luxurious resort in Bora Bora.

4 Seasons Bora Bora options in my high 10 lists of the greatest luxurious inns in French Polynesia and the greatest resorts in Bora Bora.

Have you ever ever stayed at 4 Seasons Bora Bora? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

On this evaluate (extra data and pictures beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

4 Seasons Bora Bora is situated on the enduring and world-famous island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia. One in all 9 islands inside the Society Islands, Bora Bora was fashioned over seven million years in the past by a volcano. Like a lot of the islands in French Polynesia, Bora Bora is surrounded by a hoop of coral reef, also referred to as an atoll, which is comprised of a number of islets or motus, considered one of them being dwelling to the 4 Seasons Resort. The coral reef surrounds a ridiculously clear lagoon (usually dubbed probably the most stunning lagoon on this planet), which makes for some memorable snorkeling and scuba diving with tropical-colored fish, reef sharks and large manta rays. The tallest level on Bora Bora and one of many world’s most iconic landscapes is the breathtaking Mount Otemanu, which rises 2,835 toes excessive (727 meters) above sea degree.

The 4 Seasons expertise begins upon arrival on the Bora Bora Airport, the place visitors are greeted with a tiare flower lei, chilly bottled water and a calming oshiburi towel. Workers handles the baggage, which is positioned immediately within the villas on the resort, whereas visitors are escorted onto one of many property’s custom-crafted Andreyale Bateux Taxis (taxi boats). Named Heinoanoa, Lean, Poeiti and Vaihani, these yachts have been impressed by the commuter boats of New York Metropolis of the Nineteen Twenties, used to move Wall Avenue executives from their houses in Lengthy Island to the Manhattan Monetary District. They function woodwork and decking of darkish mahogany and teak, with crème coloured seating and accents of stainless-steel. Company sit aboard these magnificent vessels, taking within the sights of the island, on a shocking 15-minute cruise to the resort, the place upon arrival, they’re taken on to their room.

Opened in September 2008, 4 Seasons Resort Bora Bora was designed by Paris primarily based architects Didier Lefort and Pierre-Jean Picart, with San Francisco primarily based BAMO as the inside designers. Taking cues from its gorgeous surrounding, the native tradition and pure assets, the property’s gorgeous design fuses traditional Polynesian structure with subtle class that’s 4 Seasons. The orientation of the buildings and framing of home windows emphasize the killer views, whereas easy shapes and soothing inside colours enable the visible focus to stay on the good turquoise of the encircling lagoon. Design inspiration is drawn from parts particular to Bora Bora, together with native instruments, small utilitarian furnishings, and adornment together with feather, bone, carving, and tattoos. These touches of tradition add “decoration” to a really serene design. All in all, the resort feels luxurious, timeless and fashionable.

4 Seasons Bora Bora includes a complete of 108 one and two-bedroom overwater villas, 27 of them fitted with a personal plunge pool. Refurbished in 2019, the decor of the overwater bungalows displays a recent Polynesian really feel, full with new furnishings, fixtures, lighting and expertise. Throughout my vacation, I stayed in a one bed room lagoon view overwater villa. The inside of the bungalow was break up between three rooms: the bed room (with a kingsize mattress outfitted with a fluffy cover and down pillows), the toilet (with double self-importance, walk-in bathe and a deep soaking bathtub in entrance of a giant image window), and a spacious front room (with a settee mattress, a big desk, and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV); all three rooms could possibly be opened to or closed off from each other with sliding pocket doorways. Giant glass doorways gave solution to a large out of doors deck, with a eating space, two loungers, and a stepladder to get within the water.

Moreover overwater villas, the 4 Seasons Bora Bora additionally options a few beachfront villas, that are a lot bigger than their overwater counterparts however function related design and facilities. Nestled alongside the pristine shores of Bora Bora’s enchanting turquoise lagoon, these beachfront villa estates are common for household gatherings, prolonged stays or group getaways. There are one-, two-, and three-bedroom choices, all of which have infinity-edge swimming pools, enclosed gardens and panoramic views of Mount Otemanu. The seaside villas provide the perfect in area (spanning from one-third to over a full acre) and privateness (with direct entry to a personal patch of sand that can’t be accessed by different visitors). Unique companies embrace private pre-arrival planning, round-trip personal airport transfers, every day breakfast, a private Villa Host, personal seaside setup and extra.

4 Seasons Bora Bora is a sprawling property, however the resort nonetheless feels fairly walkable (24/7 buggy service is offered as properly). Many of the lodge’s services – eating places, pool, seaside, and children’ membership – are centrally situated at quick distance from the overwater jetties. One of many resort’s primary attracts – moreover its overwater villas and unbelievable views – is its dreamy seaside, the place most visitors spend their day lounging on a sunbed below an umbrella. That includes gentle white sand and calm turquoise waters, the seaside enjoys an unbelievable view of Mount Otemanu (presumably the perfect view from all of the Bora Bora resorts I’ve stayed at). The seaside additionally boasts a terrific viewsof the sundown (opposite to the St Regis and InterContinental subsequent door, the place the sundown view is blocked by the mountains). Simply behind the seaside is a gigantic lagoon-style swimming pool, surrounded by palm timber, cushioned loungers, and shaded cabanas. Subsequent to the seaside is an open-air water sports activities middle, the place visitors can check out kayaks, paddleboards, and water bicycles. For a payment, visitors can even lease jet skis on an hourly foundation.

4 Seasons Bora Bora has 4 on-site eating places, which serve glorious meals starting from classical French dishes to progressive Asian delicacies:
- Arii Moana is the resort’s signature restaurant, providing a casually elegant eating expertise with classics from the Mediterranean area that pay tribute to the resort’s stylish and vigorous waterside setting.
- Positioned on the sandy shore of the lagoon, subsequent to the pool and seaside, is Faré Hoa Seaside Bar & Grill, an open-air restaurant with toes-in-the-sand attraction. That includes a contemporary grill idea, Faré Hoa serves recent native fish, a high-quality number of steaks, and an array of starters and aspect dishes. On chosen evenings, themed dinners are additionally organized right here.
- Breakfast is served with a recent sea breeze at Terre Nui, an open-air restaurant which is about within the resort’s lush backyard. Breakfast is comprised of a (reasonably restricted) buffet complemented by a variety of à la carte dishes.
- Vaimiti serves eclectic Asian delicacies and sundown cocktails. Housed in an overwater construction, it’s the resort’s most idyllic eating venue, having fun with killer views of Bora Bora’s iconic Mount Otemanu and the sundown.

Located on the best level of the resort’s motu, the Te Mahana (the solar) Spa at 4 Seasons Bora Bora captures the vitality of the Tahitian spirit with a novel sense of simplicity and luxurious. Therapies are rooted in historic custom, supposed to refresh and rejuvenate. With its hovering 72 ft (22 m) ceiling, the cathedral-like spa gives a therapeutic haven with depth of view in all instructions, surrounded by native timber and the perfume of the kahaia blossom. Raised walkways, suspended above a plantation of pandanus timber, result in seven air-conditioned therapy rooms, whereas the spacious overwater Fare Miti Spa Suite, with glass flooring suspended above the lagoon’s pristine waters, is the final word personal expertise for {couples}. Company can even benefit from the pure therapeutic vitality of Bora Bora’s local weather in considered one of two open-air therapy pavilions, nestled deep inside the tropical grove. The spa additionally options two decks with a Jacuzzi, one dealing with the Pacific Ocean and one overlooking the gardens.

Nestled inside the grounds of 4 Seasons Resort Bora Bora is an internal lagoon teeming with unique marine life. The Vaitea Lagoon Sanctuary is dwelling to greater than 100 colourful species, together with octopus, eagle ray, lizardfish, Picasso trumpet fish, soldier fish, fireplace fish, unicorn fish, noticed puffer fish, parrotfish, peacock damselfish, clownfish and butterfly fish. Led by the resort’s marine biologist, the Lagoon Sanctuary presents actions for visitors of all ages, together with coral grafting discovery, discussions on Polynesian ecology, fish and octopus feeding and extra. Guided snorkeling excursions of the lagoon are supplied to visitors and the lagoon is all the time open for visitors to discover on their very own. Greater than only a spectacular snorkeling location, the sanctuary can be a analysis facility and a spot the place the marine atmosphere not solely thrives however grows, furthering the fragile and wondrous ecosystem.

Set over the water alongside the resort’s internal turquoise lagoon is a massive boutique, which is centrally situated between the foyer, eating places and spa. Known as MoeMoea (that means “dream” in Polynesian), the store sells the perfect of resort put on, informal and lively attire, equipment, ladies’s luxe attire, swimwear and extra. The shop options well-known manufacturers comparable to Camilla, Missoni, Onia, Strong & Striped, Vilebrequin and Zimmermann, whereas additionally showcasing boutique manufacturers comparable to Adriana Iglesias, Benson and Swims, B+S Caftans, March 11 and Su Paris. Created with the intent of protecting an indoor/out of doors really feel in step with the resort as an entire, MoeMoea additionally options distinctive parts, comparable to the power to swim as much as the boutique immediately from the lagoon, utilizing stairs that lead from the water to the shop. The property options two different outlets as properly: Tahia, a pearl boutique, and Manua, a store promoting domestically made crafts like Bora Bora’s hand-painted pareos.

4 Seasons Resort Bora Bora is devoted to conserving vitality and treasured pure assets, in addition to working to raised the local people, all whereas constantly delivering a rare and pampering visitor expertise. From the usage of environmentally pleasant provides and tools, to the discount of waste and use of recent vitality alternate options to nature clean-ups, the property is on the forefront of inexperienced and neighborhood initiatives. Listed here are a number of the initiatives underway on the resort:
- Water-efficient landscaping consists of the usage of greywater and rainwater harvesting for irrigation.
- Linens and towels are changed each third day, except in any other case requested.
- Single-use plastic water bottles, meals & beverage containers, and lotion, shampoo & conditioner bottles are eradicated.
- Linen, furnishings and tools is donated to the local people via Anau Major Faculty and Affiliation Ia Vai Ma Noa Bora Bora, a non-profit devoted to the economical, social and environmental growth of the island-state.
- Extra edible meals is donated to these in want via the native charity Caddie du coeur.
- Photo voltaic panels are put in on every bungalow’s thatched roof, offering a pure and sustainable energy supply for heating water and electrical energy.
- Tub facilities are offered by Panpuri, a 100% pure and natural wellness life-style model from Thailand.

The property is managed by 4 Seasons, most likely the perfect recognized luxurious lodge model on this planet. The Toronto-based firm has remodeled the hospitality trade in a story of continuous innovation, exceptional enlargement and a single-minded dedication to the best of requirements. 4 Seasons was based in 1960 by the younger architect Isadore Sharp, however the true breakthrough of the model got here within the seventies with the opening of the 4 Seasons London. Though the corporate went public in 1986, the Sharp household – together with a bunch of like-minded traders comparable to Invoice Gates and Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – took the corporate personal once more in 2007 to guard the integrity of the model properly into the longer term. 4 Seasons presently manages greater than 120 inns and resorts worldwide. The corporate additionally presents personal jet journey onboard its personal Airbus A321 (with Enterprise Class structure), and can quickly launch personal ultra-luxe yacht itineraries.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Some overwater bungalows on the 4 Seasons Bora Bora lack privateness, even though they’re spaced far aside. For instance, the out of doors decks of the seaside view bungalows face the seaside (the place most visitors are chilling through the day) and will have much less privateness because of this. A number of the lagoon view villas of the resort’s one jetty look straight on the overwater bungalow of the resort’s different jetty, though there’s an enormous distance between the 2 jetties so it’s not likely an issue (besides maybe for {couples} in quest of full privateness). Sometimes, kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders and swimmers may additionally cross in entrance of the villas.

Out of all of the lodging on the 4 Seasons Bora Bora, the overwater villas with mountain view are greatest. Located on the far finish of every jetty, these villas get pleasure from probably the most privateness and the perfect views of Mount Otemanu. The one draw back to those villas is that visitors are slightly additional away from the property’s services, just like the eating places, seaside, and pool, and can both must stroll fairly a bit or depend on the resort’s 24/7 buggy service, which frequently entails a 15 min wait (bikes aren’t offered because the resort’s jetties are too slim for bikes and buggies to cross on the similar time).

The 4 Seasons Bora Bora is likely one of the world’s most well-known and wanted luxurious resorts, providing its visitors a plethora of fantastic facilities. So, it shouldn’t come as a shock that all the pieces on the resort is very costly: entry charges in excessive season are above $1500 USD per evening; a cheese burger is $37 USD, a cocktail is $28, and a three-course dinner is normally at least $100 USD per particular person (excluding drinks). However though the 4 Seasons Bora Bora is way from cheap, IMHO, it’s price each penny because you’re staying at a wonderful resort in one of many world’s most iconic locations.

Meals on the 4 Seasons Bora Bora is great, with the three on-site dinner venues serving a wide range of Asian, French and worldwide delicacies. I completely loved every meal I had on the resort though I did miss some Tahitian native delicacies (other than the weekly Polynesian buffets). Additionally, whereas all eating places are glorious, none actually excels and the property lacks an distinctive restaurant befitting its fabulous repute. I might like to see the resort collab with a Michelin star chef within the close to future to open a brand new venue (or remodel considered one of its currents eating places), which might assist the 4 Seasons Bora Bora to profile itself as a culinary vacation spot (a bit much like what the St Regis Bora Bora is doing with its Lagoon by Jean-George Restaurant, which is managed by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten).

Breakfast on the resort is comprised of a buffet, complemented with à la carte dishes. IMHO, the buffet is reasonably restricted and a bit underwhelming for an ultra-luxe lodge of this class (particularly when in comparison with the lavish breakfast buffets supplied at another 4 Seasons resorts, such because the 4 Seasons properties in Mauritius, the Maldives and the Seychelles).

The 4 Seasons Bora Bora is situated on an infinite beachfront property, that includes the perfect and softest white sand seaside in Bora Bora. About half of that’s dwelling to the resort’s public areas, together with the principle seaside membership in addition to the idyllic seashores lining the lagoonarium. The property’s different half additionally includes a chic white-sand seaside, however that seaside is just not accessible to most visitors as it’s saved utterly personal and for the unique use of the visitors that booked one of many resort’s beachfront villa sanctuaries. In fact, when you’re booked into considered one of these villas, you’ll admire the serenity of your personal seaside, however it additionally signifies that lengthy, stress-free seaside walks on the property aren’t an choice for different visitors.

MY VERDICT

Location: 10/10
Design: 10/10
Pool: 10/10
Rooms: 9/10
Meals: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Worth for cash: 8/10
Total expertise: distinctive 9,2/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving the 4 Seasons Bora Bora through Virtuoso (e.g. improve, every day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit score).

Get monetary savings: learn right here my ideas for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious lodge like 4 Seasons Bora Bora (and/or obtain many free perks).

Room tip: because the seaside view villas could have much less privateness, I like to recommend to guide at the least a lagoon view villa. The most effective bungalows are the mountain view villas which face Mount Otemanu immediately.

Learn my ideas for getting ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

French Polynesia is greatest visited between June and September when the local weather is at its driest and the climate is balmy (however windy). Nonetheless, that is excessive season, so it will likely be busy and the lodge charges are skyrocketing. The months on both aspect of this era (Might & October) are generally known as the shoulder season and provide comfy climate too, however with decrease costs and fewer wind. Though French Polynesia will be visited year-round, the months of November to April convey extra humidity and cloudy days, with tropical showers passing at better frequency than different instances of the 12 months. Nonetheless, they’re usually interspersed with intervals of sunshine. This can be a humid time of 12 months, although, which will be uncomfortable and I like to recommend selecting a lodge with A/C if visiting throughout these months. The islands not often endure from tropical storms besides throughout years when El Niño impacts ocean currents.

HOW TO GET THERE

The one solution to get to Bora Bora is through Tahiti’s worldwide airport in Papeete (except you journey by cruise or personal jet). Papeete is an 8-hour flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco, a 22-hour flight from Paris, and a 5-hour flight from Auckland or Honolulu. As soon as at Papeete worldwide airport, there are frequently scheduled 50-minute flights to Bora Bora’s small Motu Mute Airport. For the ultimate leg of the journey, the resort arranges a switch from Motu Mute airport to the 4 Seasons’ primary dock for a scenic 15 minute switch by boat.

PHOTOS

Beneath is a number of my pictures of the 4 Seasons Bora Bora Resort. To view extra pictures (together with breakfast and dinner), click on right here.