Guest reviews Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

by DeanE241 The Woodlands, Texas

Great Property !

I'll try not to repeat a lot of the comments in the past few reviews - overall those reviews look pretty accurate and are good descriptions. The Four Seasons is always great, and Bora Bora was no exception - everything was first class and the staff were terrific. The biggest surprise for us was the property - better than the hotel website pictures and stunning even by F.S. standards. There are lagoons to swim, snorkel and paddleboard...including a protected lagoon with tropical fish and underwater features. We easily spent several days at the resort beaches, pool, spa, tennis courts, and lagoons and still didn't feel like we saw the entire property. There is transportation to the island at about 1:30 pm and back around 4:30 pm, along with an evening dinner version. I would've liked to see a transportation option to the island after breakfast and return either early or late afternoon; the 1:30-4:30 pm didn't leave us enough time to explore much of the island (there might be private transfer options but we didn't try them). Also, many tour operators will pick you up so you don't need the resort transportation for some tours. Once on the island, we walked through galleries and grabbed a cab from Vaitape to Matira beach, which had a small bar and grocery store nearby (we picked up sodas, water, etc. for the room). Credit cards were accepted most everywhere, occasionally for a small minimum. We used USD for tips. We had an overwater bungalow with mountain view that was about half-way out the pontoon and we liked being in the deeper water (like 20 feet deep). Washers/dryers were available out on the pontoons. The staff encouraged us to use the F.S. app to communicate with them (questions, problems, etc.) and that worked really well. We visited in late January (rainy season), and had 1-2 great weather days with tons of sunshine, 2-3 mixed sunny/overcast days, and 1-2 rainy days...but, the weather changed frequently so we just needed to be flexible (one morning it was raining and outdoor activities for the day had been cancelled; but, the we got a break in the weather and the concierge called to get us on a jet ski tour on 15 minutes notice - that was great). The resort seemed about half-3/4 full, most likely because of the rainy season, and that was a nice upside - at times we had the lagoons, paddle boards and jet skis to ourselves. As others mentioned, food and beverages are very expensive, but everything was high quality. Also, as others said, there is little-to-no nightlife, which is a nice change of pace, but just be prepared. We met people who mixed in different resorts during their stay, and we might try that next time because you do go a little stir-crazy eating at the same 2-3 restaurants for a week. I would think the resorts could make lunch/dinner transfers between them cheaper/easier, which would actually discourage people from staying at different resorts over their vacation. Some things were included at no charge, like masks, snorkels and paddleboards; there was a charge for other items. One comment I heard and have seen here is I'd rather pay a little more and have more things included (like the Yoga classes) at no additional charge. Last day checkout was at noon, flight at 4, so we sat by the pool in the afternoon then showered in the locker rooms at the spa before leaving - that was a really nice last day/travel day. Overall, great trip, highly recommend the F.S., and would love to go back.

by WanderlustPartyof4 Indianapolis, Indiana

10 Year Anniversary Trip in Paradise

My husband and I spent 4 nights mid January at Four Seasons Bora Bora to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. When we got married a decade ago, we eloped with no beautiful wedding ceremony and celebration, and we didn't take a honeymoon either. We always said for our 10 year anniversary we would come to Bora Bora, and it was a dream come true to say the least! I was apprehensive to stay at Four Seasons ONLY because of the cost. We had never spent this much money on accommodations, but it was worth every penny. We LOVED our overwater mountain view bungalow (room 305). The private plunge pool was wonderful. We thought the resort was beautiful and especially enjoyed the lagoon. I had the best facial I've ever had at the spa. My only regret is not having spent more time just lounging around the beach, the pool, and our room. There's never enough time it seems! The customer service was perfect. Everyone we encountered was so pleasant and helpful. The app to communicate with the front desk is neat too! We enjoyed meting general manager Diego when he offered us a ride back to our bungalow on a golf cart as well. Thanks again Diego for the champagne. I truly hope that our future travels, next time as a family with our kids, bring us back to a Four Seasons property. Thanks Four Seasons Bora Bora for making our trip special.

by JohnTripper New York

4/5 Stars But I Would Not Stay Here Again

After waking the first morning we stepped out on the terrace of our overwater mountain view suite to discover that, what we initially thought was a rock, was actually a small sting ray just below our feet. The experience was magical as are the views. The waters around the motu (small island) are clean and pure and your daily walk to and from the main resort area will always involve sightings of tropical fish. The suite was large with great outdoor space (although what the floor plan on the 4S website describes as a lower terrace is essentially a small dock/landing for swimming). The closets / clothing drawers are behind the bed and the space is a bit tight. The bathroom had two separate sinks with vanities and was well lit. Overall the layout of the overwater suite was well designed and comfortable. When in the suite we could hear people walking and talking along the boardwalk as they passed our room as well as the winding torque sound of the motors on the golf carts as the staff drove back and forth. The resort is so remote that your only realistic option for food and drink are to buy them at the resort. You could, in theory, leave the motu but the hotel charges you $25US per person round trip for the daily shuttle which departs at 1:15pm and returns at 4:45pm; so a non-resort dining option starts with a $50 fee for two people and a bit of travel time. They generally supply you with two 33cl bottles of water each night which was so woefully little we continued to ask for extras or refill them with the tap (which seemed to be fine). There were three dining options other than room service: The fine dining Arii Moana: the sommelier Constance is very knowledgeable, and the staff was professional and friendly. The Sunset: the staff here is extremely nice and the food was good although the rice on my nigiri sushi was cold leading me to believe, at least the rice portion, had been made in advance and was chilled like pre-made box sushi one might buy for lunch. They seemed to allow people to smoke on the perimeters of the restaurant which, when seated at the bar anyway, I found offensive. The second time we ate at a table further in and didn’t detect smoke. The Fare Hoa beach bar: fun team working their tails off to make a lot of people happy. A happy hour of half price cocktails from 4pm to 5pm makes this place reasonable during that time. Tere Nui: we only ate breakfast here which was included in our room rate. Apparently it becomes an Italian restaurant at night. As per this review’s title, the primary reason I would not return to this resort is because I felt like I paid dearly for a room only to have my pockets picked for my food and drink. Irrational as it is, I'd prefer to pay a modest premium and have my meals included so I don't feel this way. For travelers who expect this or don’t eat much and don’t drink alcohol, this may not be a big deal so adjust this review accordingly. Just to give you an idea, a bacon cheeseburger with fries is 3900 XPF which, as of this writing, is $35US. It just gets worse from here. I’ve paid less for equivalent meals in Moscow, Tokyo, London and New York. I understand it is challenging to import product to a remote island of Tahiti but… come on. The resort was a mix of primarily American newlyweds, American and French families, and couples of all ages from all over, but mostly English speaking. If you do decide to stay here and you enjoy cocktails or wine I strongly suggest you stop at duty free and grab yourself some supplies.

by crobbio Providence, Rhode Island

The Most Phenomenal Honeymoon

There are truly no words to describe the incredible experience my husband and I had at the Four Seasons Bora Bora. From before we arrived, they began communicating with us regarding activities and transportation, along with a very warm welcome. We spent 4 nights/5 days in an overwater bungalow near the beach, and it felt like a dream. From the minute we stepped off the plane in Bora Bora, the team from the Four Seasons greeted us and we felt so special. The boat ride was so comfortable, with treats for the trip and beautiful views. Once we arrived at the resort, each traveling group was greeted by their own representative, to check us in and orientate us with the resort. They shared the app technology with me, as I was able to communicate with a concierge at any time of the day for any possible need I had. It was amazing! The hotel was beyond beautiful, the grounds, the beach, the lagoons, the views...just everything was so perfect and beautiful. The island itself is incredible to see, and the Four Seasons was the perfect place to stay. I would not stay anywhere else. They had an array of activities, paid and complimentary. We snorkeled almost everyday in the Lagoon Sanctuary, utilized the complimentary paddle boards and kayaks. We went to the pool bar and restaurant daily, the market on site, the champagne party, the live music...even the shops were great. Our bungalow was absolutely stunning and the housekeeping service was outstanding. We ate at just about every restaurant and the food was outstanding, along with the service. The breakfast buffet was absolutely fabulous. The service from the beach and pool staff was beyond impressive, they greeted us every day by name. The spa was stunning as well. All in all, this was probably the most beautiful place i have ever stayed, and I have traveled quite a bit. The level of hospitality and service at the Four Seasons is top notch, and the best I have experienced. Thank you for making our honeymoon so incredibly special.

by judylsch

Paradise

Amazing Four Seasons property. Attentive to every detail. Food and Beverage is pricey, but quality was excellent. Spa, Tennis, Water activities - Concierge attended to every need. We look forward to visiting this property again!