The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa overview

After I was little, my dad’s greatest good friend, Douglas, spent three weeks yearly in a seashore bungalow in French Polynesia. And each winter, like clockwork, a colourful stamp-covered package deal would arrive within the mail containing tiny treasures (polished shells, wood collectible figurines, dried hibiscus flowers, and so forth.) collected throughout his journey to paradise. Situated within the higher left-hand nook of every package deal was — in my guide — essentially the most thrilling return deal with: Bora Bora.

Quick ahead twenty years, and I discovered myself strolling alongside The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa’s pristine seashore, looking the pearly white sand for treasures to ship to Douglas after my first journey to the island, utterly in awe of its legendary turquoise waters.

Even for many who have been within the factors and miles world for years, reserving a bucket list-worthy expertise utilizing factors earned from on a regular basis bills by no means loses its wow issue. An ideal instance of stated once-in-a-lifetime redemption: an overwater bungalow getaway in Bora Bora on the first resort to open on the island in eight years.

After I had the chance to test into the not too long ago reflagged Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, which reopened in September 2024 following a head-to-toe renovation, I did not hesitate.

Here is what it is like staying at Marriott’s latest South Pacific getaway, house to the island’s largest assortment of luxurious overwater bungalows.

Associated: 30 greatest Marriott motels on the planet

Getting there

In case you’re touring to Bora Bora from the U.S., it will be an extended journey it doesn’t matter what — however how lengthy you spend on a airplane will differ fairly a bit relying in your origin. I, for instance, was touring from Portland, Maine. This meant I needed to take a six-hour cross-country flight to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to then catch my roughly eight-hour flight to Faaa Worldwide Airport (PPT) in Papeete, Tahiti. I flew Air Tahiti Nui, one of many main airways providing nonstop service between the U.S. and Tahiti. I spent one night time in Papeete at a close-by lodge after which took an hourlong flight out to Bora Bora. In whole, I clocked round 15 hours of flight time.

As soon as on the island’s (very, very small) Bora Bora Airport (BOB), I headed to the Westin’s check-in desk, the place I used to be greeted by a pleasant workers member with a stupendous jasmine flower lei. From there, I used to be guided to Westin’s smooth switch boat for a calming 15-minute journey over the lagoon’s gleaming cerulean waters.

Reserving particulars

After looking the lodge’s web site for charges over the following 12 months, the bottom money charges I may discover for The Westin Bora Bora begin round $623 (for February 2026), and the bottom factors charges over the following 12 months are 67,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors (for January 2026).

Remember the fact that the excessive season is from Could via October in addition to late December, so these months are while you’ll see the steepest charges — cash-wise, these can climb nicely above $1,000 per night time.

The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa prices a $106 every day resort price that features round-trip transportation between the resort and the airport (or between the resort and the mainland) for as much as two company per keep, a welcome bottle of Champagne upon arrival, entry to actions like wine tastings and coconut palm weaving, every day health lessons like Pilates and yoga, a seashore bag and high-speed web entry. (Observe that Marriott doesn’t waive resort charges on award stays.)

When reserving The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, you will need to use one of many bank cards that earn essentially the most factors for Marriott stays, in addition to one which probably gives computerized Marriott Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embrace:

• Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Platinum Elite standing and 25 elite night time credit per 12 months towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite night time credit per 12 months towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit score Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite night time credit per 12 months towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite night time credit per 12 months towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and costs): Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 15 elite night time credit per 12 months towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and costs): Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 5 elite night time credit per 12 months towards a better tier.

The knowledge for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Alternatively, those that maintain a Chase card, just like the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs) can switch their Chase Final Reward factors to Marriott to guide this property. In any other case, card holders can use their Chase Sapphire Most well-liked to guide a keep on the Westin Marriott Bora Bora and get 2 factors per greenback spent on the journey buy.

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Restricted time supply: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked — highest-ever 100,000-point bonus after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening.

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Standout options

• Not too long ago renovated overwater bungalows (a lot of which have plunge swimming pools) function open areas with trendy, beachy decor, floor-to-ceiling home windows and Westin’s iconic Heavenly beds.
• There are a number of lovely seashore areas all through the property, every with unimaginable views and loads of lounge or seating choices.
• The spa gives a domestically impressed wellness menu with tranquil therapy rooms overlooking the lagoon.
• The on-site eco-center is likely one of the main turtle rehabilitation facilities in French Polynesia.
• The up to date landscaping is gorgeous, with plentiful and colourful native wildlife round each flip.

Drawbacks

• Money charges are usually very excessive year-round, particularly throughout peak season.
• Service was very pleasant (albeit sluggish at instances), even when the eating places weren’t too busy.

The vibe at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa

Toes-in-the-sand, laid-back luxurious was the secret just about in all places in Bora Bora from what I may inform, beginning with the teeny airport the place safety was a breeze (you primarily exit and stroll straight onto a dock to catch a journey to your respective resort) and increasing to the way in which boat captains would exuberantly name out “Ia ora na!” (a Tahitian greeting) throughout the water to different passing boats.

Previously generally known as Le Meridien, the unique property closed through the coronavirus pandemic to bear refurbishments and ended up staying closed — and reflagging to the Westin model — till its grand reopening in September of 2024, debuting as the primary new resort in Bora Bora since 2017. The completion of intensive renovations revealed adjustments like new landscaping that launched dozens of latest crops to the motu (i.e., small islet) and an entire overhaul of the lodging, eating retailers, spa and past.

The format of the resort felt reflective of the vacation spot’s far-flung island magnificence and in addition provided the choice for my keep to really feel as personal or as social as I wished. A protracted wood dock led as much as the sandy shores of the motu, with two stretches of overwater bungalows extending out into the lagoon on both facet of the expansive predominant seashore dotted with loungers and palm timber. There was one other extra secluded seashore on the north-facing facet of the property, which was the place I spent most of my time snorkeling.

The resort’s main complicated was composed of two flooring and provided an open-air really feel. The pool and predominant seashore space (in addition to a number of eating places) sat on the primary stage, whereas the breezy check-in space, concierge, resort retailer and some extra eateries have been on the second stage. Rows of blue and pink Westin-branded bikes could possibly be discovered all through the property for visitor use, making it straightforward (and quick) to get from place to position if I did not really feel like strolling.

By day, company strolled or biked leisurely concerning the resort in swimsuits, typically with out footwear. Within the evenings, individuals would get a bit dressed up in elevated resortwear for dinner, however the vibes have been nonetheless fairly informal. Clientele-wise, unsurprisingly, I principally noticed {couples} younger and previous, from newlyweds and honeymooners to these celebrating thirtieth — even fiftieth — marriage ceremony anniversaries. I noticed perhaps three households whole and just one toddler.

The workers was pleasant and all the time provided a smile and hiya to passersby. The restaurant hosts tended to recollect visitor names and sometimes struck up conversations about how my keep was going and what the day’s actions held in retailer — with a lot of the staffers being native, they have been a superb supply of details about Bora Bora and have been all the time keen to assist reply questions or direct me to somebody who may.

Exploring the resort, with its paths that meander across the property’s bounty of lush crops and flowers (manicured in a manner that also maintains a way of wildness), was a spotlight of my time at The Westin Bora Bora.

The room at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa

With 128 overwater bungalows — a few of which have plunge swimming pools — The Westin Bora Bora stands out as having the best variety of overwater lodging on the island. Moreover, there are 14 seashore villas positioned alongside a sandy stretch that overlooks the property’s serene personal lagoon. All bungalows and villas have views of both the island, the lagoon and/or Mount Otemanu.

My 613-square-foot Premium Otemanu Overwater bungalow was positioned on the farthest level of the wood dock connecting all of the bungalows, permitting me to get as shut as potential to Otemanu, which loomed excessive throughout the lagoon.

The bungalow featured a entrance entrance hallway with a spacious lavatory to the left and an unlimited walk-in closet to the proper (the closet offered an iron and an ironing board, loads of clothes hangers, a secure, slippers, umbrellas and many space for storing).

It then opened into a big suite-style bed room with a king-size Westin Heavenly mattress, a wall-mounted flat-screen TV and a seating space in a single nook with an L-shaped sofa and a espresso and tea station with a minifridge beneath. There was additionally an oblong window in the midst of the ground that exposed the blue lagoon beneath (superb for catching a glimpse of colourful fish, or, if fortunate, a sea turtle).

Upon my arrival, every thing from the toilet counter tops to the mattress linens and the espresso station was adorned with colourful, contemporary hibiscus, frangipani and native greenery.

However the very best a part of the entire area was undoubtedly the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doorways that opened up onto a big deck holding an infinity plunge pool, two white linen-clad loungers, a small breakfast nook and a ladder main instantly into the glimmering blue lagoon.

There have been sweeping views of Otemanu instantly in entrance of the bungalow after which views of the lagoon in each instructions on both facet. Wood partitions on either side of the deck ensured that there was adequate privateness (although typically you could possibly hear music or individuals speaking from neighboring bungalows).

Although the bed room and deck have been tied for first place when it comes to my favourite place to spend time within the bungalow, the toilet was phenomenal. The spacious countertop featured his and hers sinks set beneath mirrors that would truly slide open to look into the bed room. There have been floral-scented Noa Noa tub merchandise, loads of fluffy white towels of various sizes (in addition to two seashore towels) and two robes hung above a deep soaking tub. On one facet of the bathtub was a bathe (full with each a hand-held wand and a rain bathe fixture), whereas the opposite had a small wash closet. Each of those enclosed areas featured a stupendous geometric, black-and-white tile design.

Food and drinks at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa

When staying at an island resort, I believe it may be straightforward to tire of getting the identical eating choices over and over. However with six eating places and bars on the property, The Westin Bora Bora had one thing to swimsuit each style — and loads of domestically impressed flavors, which was my favourite half (I am nonetheless dreaming of all of the unimaginable fruit!). Plus, in a vacation spot like this one, you are just about assured to snag a stellar view regardless of the place you are sitting.

Tipanier

A French-inspired restaurant, Tipanier was my go-to spot for breakfast most days (there are each buffet and a la carte choices), although it additionally welcomed company for dinner (which is usually a la carte). Professional tip: Ask the concierge about arranging dinner through the weekly Polynesian present, which gives buffet and a dwell efficiency.

I loved breakfast twice. The buffet, which prices $52 per particular person, consisted of an enormous unfold of contemporary juices, pastries, native fruit, meats and cheese, contemporary sashimi, an omelet station, conventional Western scorching breakfast dishes and several other domestically impressed choices.

Throughout the dinner buffet that includes the dwell Polynesian present ($155 per particular person), there was every thing from tuna sashimi and grilled swordfish to barbecued meats, contemporary salad choices and roasted veggies.

Friends can select to take a seat indoors in a high-ceilinged, ethereal area or out on the patio overlooking the personal lagoon and seashore villas.

Maere

Maere, the resort’s extra formal signature restaurant, is helmed by the property’s govt chef, Laurent Brun, who explores world cuisines through a tasting menu (with wine pairings accessible) that adjustments each night time. Overlooking the resort’s personal lagoon, the venue gives company the chance to dine inside or out on the deck.

The night time I dined right here, I loved an Asian market-inspired menu ($130 per particular person) that includes dishes like purple tuna sashimi with nori and thinly sliced swordfish nigiri, white mahi-mahi with white miso eggplant, steamed root vegetable raviolis with inexperienced mango salad and among the greatest Vietnamese beef pho I’ve ever had.

Varavara

With part-indoor, part-outdoor seating in a setting with a thatched roof and loads of greenery, Varavara is open for lunch and dinner on the bottom flooring subsequent to the principle pool space. With a direct view of Mount Otemanu, it is a pretty setting for both meal, however I significantly loved having dinner right here and watching the twinkling lights of the bungalows as night time fell.

For dinner, I had refreshing tuna sashimi ($17) adopted by a Napoletana spaghetti ($28), which was easy however hit the spot.

After I tried the restaurant for lunch, I loved a hearty cheeseburger and fries ($36.50), a super meal after an extended day of snorkeling.

Te Ava, Honu Tiki and ‘O’A

There are three bars at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa: Honu Tiki, which gives beachside cocktails (I had an excellent, very robust mai tai on the seashore right here); Te Ava, the bar on the fringe of the principle infinity pool; and ‘O’A, positioned on the second stage.

‘O’A is a little more formal and gives a classy open-air setting with sweeping views of Otemanu and domestically impressed cocktails. (In case you like rum, that is the time to strive one of many venue’s rum-based concoctions — you may even organize to attend one of many complimentary rum-tasting lessons accessible right here through the day.)

In-room eating

In-room eating (which we should always actually name in-bungalow eating) provided an expansive menu all day lengthy. Service was fast (it all the time arrived inside half-hour of inserting my order), and I opted to take pleasure in these meals poolside at my bungalow.

For one lunch, I loved a crisp and flavorful Caesar salad ($30) with an ice-cold coke ($8.50). I loved the salad a lot that I ordered it for lunch the following day (this time topped with juicy grilled hen) alongside conventional Tahitian dish known as i’a ota ($21.50), which consisted of contemporary tuna marinated in lime and coconut milk with crunchy veggies. I may’ve eaten this daily.

Facilities and repair at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa

Whereas it was tempting to spend the whole lot of my journey in my overwater bungalow, the vary of facilities (some included within the resort price, others at an additional price) was too good to move up.

The infinity pool on the heart of the resort, which featured six cabanas and loads of loungers and umbrellas, neglected the principle seashore, the lagoon and Otemanu past. This was undoubtedly the hub of exercise and the first hangout spot throughout the resort. It was the place to be for many who wished to socialize beneath the solar with a cocktail in hand.

As beforehand talked about, company may use the on-site bikes to navigate across the property. The nightly fee included nonmotorized water sports activities (I kayaked and snorkeled many instances, however paddleboarding was additionally an possibility), and there was additionally a volleyball web on the principle seashore. Friends may pay to rearrange a Jet Ski journey or boat excursions to snorkel with native sea life.

I used the Westin’s health heart a few instances throughout my go to. Absolutely air-conditioned and with excessive ceilings, three full partitions of home windows and loads of cardio and weight-lifting tools, it was an awesome place for a exercise. Friends may additionally join complimentary morning yoga or pilates lessons.

After all, one of many highlights of The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa was the Heavenly Spa.

With two leisure areas (one open-air and one enclosed with air con) and its personal personal lagoon-facing infinity pool and waterfront therapy rooms, this was essentially the most tranquil area on the property. It was a super place to unwind after a day within the solar.

I opted for a 60-minute Aito therapeutic massage ($253), whereby my therapist used deep tissue strategies and native oils for optimum leisure. I particularly appreciated that she used a domestically made lotion to deal with my sunburn after the therapeutic massage.

As quickly as I heard concerning the resort’s on-site eco-center, I used to be very excited concerning the alternative to spend an hour studying concerning the heart’s conservation efforts — it is one of many largest eco-centers in French Polynesia and one of many area’s main care facilities for injured sea turtles.

Friends can tour the middle and study concerning the essential work that its specialists are doing to rehabilitate sea turtles and revive marine ecosystems in Bora Bora and past.

After all, you get to spend a while with turtles, too, which was a magical expertise.

Through the concierge, company may organize actions each on and off the resort. I opted for a morning boat and breakfast expertise ($133) that concerned being picked up in an outrigger canoe proper from my bungalow’s out of doors deck, having fun with a fast journey via the lagoon after which coming again to my bungalow for an unimaginable breakfast of espresso, pastries, fruit and eggs.

Out and about

The Westin Bora Bora is definitely the kind of resort the place you seemingly will not really feel the necessity to go wherever. In actual fact, company could discover it troublesome to depart their overwater bungalow, not to mention the motu.

Nonetheless, for these with a way of journey and time to discover this little pocket of paradise, the concierge desk might be glad to help with planning, from snorkeling journeys within the surrounding waters (I snorkeled with black tip sharks and a few very pleasant stingrays) to guided excursions of Vaitape, the principle island’s largest settlement, and even all-terrain-vehicle journeys.

I might been hoping to take the boat from the resort to the principle island (which runs a number of instances a day and is included within the resort price), because the concierge had helped me guide a motor scooter through Avis, the rental firm that companions with the lodge, so I may discover the principle island by myself. (There’s one predominant street that encircles the island, so it is fairly straightforward to navigate.) Nonetheless, because of the unpredictable nature of the climate and the way quick my journey was, I in the end selected to forgo this outing.

For these looking for a thrill, it is price trying into climbing Otemanu, however take into account that summiting the height can take over 4 hours and entails some difficult terrain.

Accessibility

The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa gives two accessible room sorts: Plunge Pool Seashore Villa and Lagoon View Overwater. Each choices supply mobility-accessible areas with roll-in showers; nonetheless, the lodge web site notes that these rooms are usually not outfitted with hearing-accessible options.

I didn’t discover a raise on the predominant pool. The overwater walkways resulting in the bungalows on either side of the resort have been huge sufficient for a wheelchair, however I observed that there have been many staircases all through the resort to get from ground-level amenities to the second-floor amenities (the place the check-in desks and concierge have been positioned, along with a resort retailer and one of many main bars).

Provided that this resort is just accessible through boat, it is best to contact the resort forward of reserving to make sure it may accommodate any particular accessibility wants.

Trying out

To say it was troublesome to half with my overwater bungalow and its knockout view of Mount Otemanu could be an understatement — having spent solely 3 1/2 days in Bora Bora, I left keen to return again for an extended journey. However even throughout such a brief journey, I obtained a way of how particular this French Polynesian vacation spot is — and why Douglas made the epic journey from the East Coast 12 months after 12 months. I hope to take a leaf from his guide subsequent time and return for 3 weeks.

Within the meantime, I will be dreaming of sunsets over Otemanu and stockpiling my Marriott factors to redeem one other overwater bungalow keep at The Westin Bora Bora.

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