10 Things We Love About The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is a luxury hotel in French Polynesia.
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is the epitome of luxury, featuring an array of exclusive bespoke services, exceptional accommodations and amenities, world-class dining, and exemplary service. During my honeymoon in French Polynesia, I had the privilege of spending several nights at the stunning property. Here, I share the top 10 resort highlights that you won’t want to miss during your visit.
1. Overwater Villas
St. Regis Bora Bora Resort has the largest overwater villas and suites in the South Pacific.
The resort is known for having the largest overwater villas and suites in the South Pacific. Guests can choose from an array of room types, which range from Deluxe Overwater Villas to the beachfront Royal Estate—the largest villa in Bora Bora. All accommodations feature spectacular views and in-room amenities, including the legendary St. Regis Butler Service, 42-inch plasma TV and surround sound systems, an outdoor shower and a deck, and lagoon access.
Our overwater villa.
Views of the water below our coffee table.
Our private deck with an outdoor shower and lagoon views with water access.
Neighboring overwater villas.
We stayed in an Overwater Deluxe Suite Villa (1,550 square feet) with island views, which had glass viewing panels throughout that offered views of the clear turquoise waters below. In addition to a separate lounge and bedroom with an adjoining bathroom, we also had a spacious terrace with a gazebo overlooking the stunning lagoon. The suite was gorgeous and comfortable, and we made sure to take advantage by jumping into the water right off our deck—it was the perfect way to start and end every single day.
Bonus: The movie Couple’s Retreat was filmed at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, so it plays continuously on one of the television channels, which as a fan of the movie I loved!
2. Breakfast by Canoe
The Canoe Breakfast includes a ride around the lagoon.
If you’re in the mood for in-room dining, I highly recommend trying the resort’s Canoe Breakfast offering. This service option will deliver breakfast by canoe to your deck, and while one of the attendants sets up the meal on the terrace, guests will enjoy a short cruise around the lagoon so they can take in the beautiful views. It’s an amazing way to start the day!
3. Private Lagoonarium & Beaches
The resort’s private saltwater lagoon is filled with colorful varieties of fish and offers premium views of Mount Otemanu.
The resort’s spa is situated on its own private island in the resort’s Lagoonarium, which is a protected underwater sanctuary for myriad species of tropical fish, coral, and other sea creatures—including the remarkable Napoleon fish.
St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is also home to three pristine beaches and offers complimentary water sports at the Main Beach, including stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) and kayaking.
4. Miri Miri Spa by Clarins
The 13,000-square-foot Miri Miri Spa offers Polynesian, Asian and Clarins Touch treatments.
One of the places where I spent the most time at the resort was Miri Miri Spa by Clarins, the 13,000-square-foot sanctuary that boasts breathtaking views of Mount Otemanu from its private beach. “Miri Miri” has two meanings in Tahitian: It’s the name of a plant, but also the word for “caress.” Polynesian, Asian, and Clarins Touch treatments are offered in five private rooms, and the spa also features ladies’ and gentlemen’s changing areas with saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools, as well as a shared relaxation room.
One of the spa’s private wellness areas has a private swimming pool.
Additional amenities include a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center fully equipped by Technogym, located next to the tennis court. During our multiple visits to the spa, we reserved the spa’s private wellness areas—one has a private pool and the other has its own Jacuzzi, a cabana, and a wet sauna. These spaces can be enjoyed before or after treatments, and are a great way to unwind and relax.
The other private wellness area has a jacuzzi and shaded cabana.
One of the spa’s recommended experiences is balneotherapy, an effective treatment for cellular oxygenation, vasodilation, and blood stimulating, that consists of bubbling water brushes massaging the body with essential oils while you relax in a tub.
The spa offers water therapy where guests can soak in a relaxing essential-oil scented bath.
Facials, manicures and pedicures, as well as makeup facilities are available at the spa.
The spa also makes all of its own skincare product with all-natural ingredients, which are used in the various treatments and available for purchase. I lost count of how many body scrubs and oils I took home with me, including the Black Pearl Body Scrub.
The spa offers a variety of natural skincare products.
5. Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges
Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges is The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort’s exclusive signature restaurant.
Considered by many as Bora Bora’s top dining experience, Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges features a unique combination of French and Asian cuisines created by three Michelin Star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, which makes for a world-class dining experience.
Dishes include fresh fish caught in the Society Islands, along with locally sourced ingredients. French Foie Gras, U.S. Angus beef, New Zealand lamb, and other delicious items round out the menu. Lagoon is also famed for its extensive wine cellar, which houses 12 sparkling wine references and 80 wine references from France, Italy, and California.
Guests of Lagoon can enjoy cocktails on the outside deck accompanied by stunning views of Mount Otemanu.
Before dinner, we enjoyed sunset cocktails outside on the deck, which offers some of the resort’s best views. In addition to unobstructed views of Mount Otemanu, glass panels along the floor of the restaurant offer a peek at the nurse sharks and black-tip sharks that make their home in the enclosed water park located underneath the restaurant—a truly remarkable dining experience!
The menu features a combination of unique French-and-Asian dishes.
We enjoyed a rum tasting after dinner.
After dinner we enjoyed a rum tasting, which features an assortment of house-made sun-infused rums in fun flavors such as vanilla, coconut, and passionfruit chili. I opted for the Frangipani, Tonka, and Vanilla flabor, which smelled and tasted just like the islands!
While the cuisine is spectacular, the views from the overwater restaurant are truly breathtaking.
The floors of Lagoon’s terrace and dining room feature long glass panels that offer views of the sharks below.
Black-tip sharks make their home in the enclosed water park underneath the restaurant.
6. Butler Service
One evening I returned to a drawn bath with a sweet message.
What sets St. Regis Resorts apart from other hotel properties is its Butler Service, which has been a treasured hallmark of the St. Regis experience for more than one hundred years. What’s so convenient about it is that you can just pick your phone at any hour to make your request, and they also surprise me throughout the stay with added touches like a bubble bath and thoughtful notes along with room service.
Signature services include:
Beverage Service: In addition to arranging coffee or tea service in your room, your butler will arrive after your morning wake-up call to draw the shads, deliver your beverages, along with teh daily newspaper and weather forecast.
Unpacking/Packing Services: So you can relax and enjoy your stay, your butler will take care of the unpacking and storage of your luggage, as well as gathering and folding to prepare your luggage for the journey home.
Garment Pressing: Your butler will press two garments per person, per day and return them to your wardrobe promptly.
Additional services upon request
A thoughtful note left by a staff member along with room service.
Heart-shaped sugar packets—perfect for honeymooners!
7. Golf Cart Transportation
Resort guests have access to complimentary transportation by golf cart throughout the property.
Due to its expansive size, St. Regis Bora Bora Resort offers complimentary golf cart service throughout the property, whether you want to be dropped off at one of the restaurants, need a ride to the spa, or simply want a tour of the lush grounds. We just picked up our phone, called the butler or concierge, and our golf cart arrived within minutes every time!
8. Free Bicycles
Free bicycles are available to resort guests for use around the expansive property.
Another great way to get around the resort is by bicycle, and the resort makes sure to have plenty that are accessible throughout the property. They also include bike baskets for added convenience so that you can carry your beach towel, bag, and other personal items.
9. Multiple Swimming Pools
Among the resort’s features is a main pool with a swim-up bar.
The resort has a main swimming pool with a swim-up bar, as well as the adults-only Oasis Pool that has private cabanas and swim areas that are sectioned off so that you feel like you’re in a private pool. Each set of loungers includes its own phone so that you can call poolside service at your convenience, ensuring that you’ll never have to wait long for a refill on that piña colada!
The Oasis Pool is an adults-only pool divided into private swimming areas.
Each area has a private phone to call poolside service.
Enjoying a poolside piña colada.
10. Amazing Shopping
Guests can shop a variety of themed resort merchandise, including wine and champagne glasses.
One thing I have to do whenever I go on vacation is stop by the hotel gift shop—it’s a great place to find all kinds of mementos to take home as reminders of our amazing adventure. St. Regis Bora Bora Resort’s gift shop has a wide variety of branded merchandise, from sarongs and plastic wine glasses to magnets and hats.
I also stopped by the DIY Monoi Bar, where an attendant helped me custom mix my own blend of monoi oil, which is made from soaking the petals of Tahetian gardenias in coconut oil and is great for hydrating skin and hair. I chose everything from the bottle shape and fragrance to the addition of shimmer—they make amazing gifts and fit nicely into any suitcase.
The gift shop has a DIY monoi oil bar.
For more information, visit the resort’s website and follow them on Instagram: @stregisborabora
[Images by Kamala Kirk]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk