LUXURY

lined with hand-woven pandanus and
floors of Malaysian yellow willow wood,
contrasted nicely with the rich dark wood
of Bora Bora’s camel-humped Mount
Otemanu. More importantly, the cuisine
did not disappoint. After dinner, a cocktail
being the half-day reef tour to get up
close with the stingrays and reef sharks –
not as scary as you would expect, and an
St. Regis Bora Bora
at a glance
of the elegant furnishings. The decadent
out on the deck was a magical way to
amazing experience. On the way back we
marble bathroom was impressive and
complete a wonderful evening.
stopped off at what has to be one of the
the oversized deck was the perfect spot
world’s best beaches. It turns out to be a
Arrival is via a private boat and the trip is
a mere 10 minutes from the airport. Bora
Bora is quite a sight to fly into and it’s also
a novel experience to touch down on a
small motu, collect your bags and then
walk out to a small wharf to board the
boat to your resort.
After the mandatory ice-cold towel and
tropical cocktail on arrival, we checked in
and were escorted to our over-water villa
by our private butler. Talk about the wow
factor: at 1550 square feet, these villas are
absolutely massive and easily twice the
size of many of the competing options.
And if that’s not palatial enough for you,
how about the 13,000 square foot Royal
Estate (a celebrity favourite – think Nicole
Kidman’s honeymoon). It’s a bargain at
just NZ$20,000 per night.
As well as being very generous in size, the
interior quality of the one-bedroom villas
did not disappoint. Cathedral ceilings,
to enjoy a quiet drink, perched over the
lagoon where the water is so tranquil and
luminescent, it looks too incredible to be
real. When it’s time for a swim, you can
simply step down to the lower deck and
dive straight into the lagoon.
When it comes to dining, St. Regis offers
three quality options, including the
only sushi restaurant in Bora Bora and
the Lagoon Restaurant, an over-water
fine dining experience and the 16th of
celebrity chef, Jean-George’s seventeen
restaurants around the globe. It’s hard to
imagine a more outstanding location for
a dining room, with the floor to ceiling
windows affording an uninterrupted view
“Arrival is via a private boat
and the trip is a mere 10
minutes from the airport.”
If you feel like a little spa pampering,
the Balinese-inspired 13,000 square foot
spa and fitness centre is located on its
own private island. After a quick workout
in one of the best-equipped resort gyms
I’ve seen, it was rather pleasant to walk
across the manicured lawn and dive
straight into the private lagoonarium that
surrounds the spa.
We took the opportunity to sample the
excursions on offer, with the stand-out
private bay owned by our guide’s uncle.
His home was a simple structure right on
the beach, and a more perfect location I
could not imagine. Our guide also proved
to be a great host as he spoilt us with a
refreshing selection of tropical fruits.
If you are escaping to Tahiti and looking
for the most luxurious resort, then it is
unquestionably the St. Regis. Yes, it is the
most expensive of the 5-star options, but
when you weigh up the massive villa size
and the overall quality of the property,
in our opinion it is well worth the extra
cost. The only slight negative, is that after
a visit here, future stays in other resorts
may disappoint in comparison!
Category: Beach Resort
Suite Reviewed: Over Water Villa
What’s great? The massive and luxurious
over-water villas; there is nothing in this
part of the world that compares.
What’s not so great: In general, it can be
an expensive exercise to eat and drink
anywhere in Bora Bora and St. Regis is
certainly no exception. The food quality,
however, is a step above many others.
Editor’s tips: The standard over-water villas
are basically the same in size and fit-out
and located on a more sheltered lagoon,
just without the mountain view.
Rate: From NZ$1600; AU$1255 per villa
per night.
Website: www.stregis.com/borabora
Reservations: For more information or
enquiries please contact United Travel
on 0800 730 001.
Location
Villa size
Villa interior
Overall service level
Food & beverage
Hotel pool
Business needs
Recreational facilities
Spa facilities
Value for money
One of the most
93.5% magnificent locations
imaginable.
108 Your ultimate luxury and corporate travel resource. Your ultimate luxury and corporate travel resource. 109