Bora Bora Travel Guide
Tags: Movie Set Hotels / Celebrity Scoop / Bora Bora Hotels / St. Regis Hotels / Vince Vaughn / Jon Favreau / Jason Bateman / → All Tags
Star in Your Own 'Couples Retreat' at the St. Regis Bora Bora
If you’ve seen the previews of the new rom-com Couples Retreat you might have been as mesmerized as we were—and we’re not talking about belly laughs, fine acting, or the dexterity of Jason Bateman in that yoga scene. No, we were too busy looking past the actors at the jaw-dropping scenery. Over-water Tahitian bungalows have had a starring role in our daydreams for years.
But properties like The St. Regis Bora Bora resort have always seemed out of reach, the stuff of movie sets and Hollywood honeymoons. After all, who gets to vacation like that?
You. That’s the hope of the St. Regis Bora Bora anyways. In a not-so-surprising move, the resort is debuting a new Couples Retreat package to celebrate the release of the film—which was of course shot at the super-luxurious resort.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Bora Bora Hotels / Hotel News / Le Meridien Hotels / → All Tags
Le Meridien Bora Bora Adds More-a More-a Villas
Killer View fetishists, get excited: Le Meridien Bora Bora is getting itself a makeover. We've gushed about Bora Bora views before — Intercontinental Bora Bora took home the title of the Best Killer View of 2008 and over at the Le Meridien, you can glimpse the Otemanu Mountain in the distance. Now the Le Meridien folks want to make sure that the view of the inside can stand up to the view from the inside.
The renos have been underway since the beginning of the year, and all 99 of the resort's accommodations have already been equipped with new flat-screen TVs, video on demand, and WiFi. A second infinity pool is being added, a new fitness center is on the way — and so is a new glass-bottom chapel (perched atop the interior lagoon) for couples to participate in a traditional Polynesian ceremony. Unfortunately (or fortunately, maybe), weddings here will have no legal value in the States — but the whole getting-married-in-a-glass-bottomed-chapel thing will still be a cool way to "renew" vows or faux-elope.
Tags: Killer View / Snapshot / Bora Bora Hotels / Four Seasons Hotels / → All Tags
We Can't Ignore-a Four Seasons Bora Bora
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
Alright, alright: we know that we have gushed more than a time or two about the views from hotels in Bora Bora. You already know how we feel about the view from the InterContinental Bora Bora, and since we gave our Best Killer View award to Bora Bora spots two years in a row (IC in '08, Hotel Bora Bora in '07, we think it's safe to say overwater bungalows are kinda our thang.
Knowing this, gracious reader A. from Brazil took the time to send in a few snapshots of her recent stay at the Four Seasons Bora Bora — the room and the views blew us away.
Two more views of the inside and outside of her bungalow after the jump.
Tags: HotelChatter 2008 Awards / Killer View / → All Tags
Best Killer View :: InterContinental Bora Bora
Best Killer View: Intercontinental Bora Bora
After sifting through the dozens of shots of killer views that were in the running for our Best Killer View award (which, by the way, is a task that ends up being wee bit depressing when done from in front of a computer screen), calling the very best of 'em was actually pretty easy. We're total suckers for clear blue water and clear blue skies, so 2008's Best Killer View award goes to the Intercontinental Bora Bora's view of Mount Otemanu.
We liked this scene so much, in fact, that when we first glimpsed it, we even went so far as to declare it better than watching TV and looking at Wentworth Miller's face...which is not something we say too often. Or ever.
This is the second year in a row a Bora Bora hotel has nabbed our Killer View Award (the pricey Hotel Bora Bora's overwater bungalows had us swooning in '07), but get ready to shell out if you want to experience the real-life versions of either breathtaking view. This IC generally runs well above $700 a night, and Hotel Bora Bora may cost you around $1,200 a night.
[Photo: TravelSmith]
Tags: Killer View / Beach Hotels / Bora Bora Hotels / InterContinental Hotels / → All Tags
You Don't Need a TV at the InterContinental Bora Bora
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
Now really, people. If you were lying in bed here in your villa at the InterContinental Bora Bora, would you really be looking at that flat-screen television on the wall? Or would you be sitting up with your mouth open, drooling all over yourself while you gazed out at that gorgeous blue ocean view?
Surely it is nice that the TV is in the room, but we just find it so funny that the television is next to such a breathtaking view. We can't believe we're saying this, but we'd actually rather leave the TV off while Prison Break was on so we could stare at a view of Mount Otemanu rather than at Wentworth Miller. We know — bold statement.
Tags: Movie Set Hotels / Celebrity Scoop / St. Regis Hotels / Vince Vaughn / → All Tags
The St. Regis Bora Bora is on Celeb-Infested Waters
You know, we wouldn't mind going to Bora Bora this weekend. We hear Vince Vaughn is there right now.
And while we're thinking about it, we wouldn't really mind seeing Vince Vaughn swimming around our Bora Bora hotel villa topless -- though we'd probably be more interested in seeing Psycho-era Vince than Wedding Crashers Vince, but beggars can't be choosers.
And hey, according to Page Six, if we hopped a flight out to Bora Bora today, we actually might get a piece of that kind of action:
A slew of A-list comedic actors have taken over the St. Regis Resort in Bora Bora to make Jon Favreau's upcoming flick, "Couples Retreat." The movie pairs Kristen Bell with Jason Bateman, Malin Akerman with Vince Vaughn, and Kristin Davis with Favreau for a story about couples looking to repair their relationships.
Tags: Le Merdien Hotels / Bora Bora Hotels / Hotel Pets / → All Tags
Le Meridien Bora Bora Hatches Some New Baby Turtles
In our interview with Le Meridien Bora Bora's Sales and Marketing Director, Nicolas Orget, he was very enthusiastic about the hotel's Turtle Sanctuary which helps baby turtles mature away from harm.
And some good news: this past weekend 59 baby green sea turtles were born at the resort.
The turtles weigh less than 1 oz and are about 2 inches in length. These eggs were actually brought to the Turtle Sanctuary by poachers and the Sanctuary's caretaker made a nest for them at the resort. The baby turtles will stay in the nursery for one year and in the resort's interior lagoon until they are 2 or 3 years old.
Awwww....
Tags: 2007 Awards / Killer View / → All Tags
Best Killer View: Hotel Bora Bora's Overwater Bungalow
Best Killer View: The Hotel Bora Bora
We have seen a lot of great Killer Views over the past year but looking back through all our stories, we kept coming back to this one.
It's the view from an overwater bungalow at the Hotel Bora Bora(We have a bit of an overwater bungalow obsession here.) The picture was dropped into the HotelChatter Flickr Pool by an employee of the resort which would normally raise our suspicions but this Aman Resort gets consistently good reviews.
If you do want to stay here, these overwater bungalows cost around $1,200 a night (!), so we say heed a recent guest's tip to book a bungalow further out as some of the over water bungalows near the docks have less privacy.
Tags: Killer View / Bora Bora Hotel Reviews / Overwwater Bungalows / → All Tags
Room with a Killer View: Hotel Bora Bora
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
This Killer View was dropped into the infamous HotelChatter Flickr Pool by member SuperStar Fish, who took the shot from overwater bungalow #110 at the Hotel Bora Bora.
In the Hotel Bora Bora set, SuperStar Fish writes:
This is the hotel that I work for... and LOVE! It was the first resort built in Bora Bora back in 1961 so it is 45 years old this year. I am the Sales Manager and one of my favourite feelings is walking through the grounds with guests or travel agents on site inspections and seeing how they are affected by the hotel's old soul. This special vibe of peacefulness and serenity that emanates from the most beautiful surroundings touches everyone!
Ok so Hotel Bora Bora despite being tucked away in French Polynesia, is certainly hip to the newfangled ways of hotel promotion on the internet. However, this set includes 96 photos of life at Hotel Bora Bora that are artistic and all sorts of pretty to look at. But they still give you a real sense of what your trip there would be like--except for maybe what the food tastes like, which one reviewer highly disliked.
Related Stories:
· Hotel Bora Bora reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Overwater Bungalows / Bora Bora Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Searching for the Perfect Overwater Bungalow: Bora Bora Pearl Beach
Just looking at this picture of the overwater bungalows at Bora Bora Pearl Beach, we only have one question--aren't these bungalows just a little too close to each other?
When we hit up the reviews over at TripAdvisor, no one seemed to mind about such proximity to one another, although they did complain about some conditions of the bungalows not being up to par. Also, the restaurants got major thumbs-down.
If you are keen on booking here, take the advice of this guest:
We stayed on the farthest premium overwater bungalow and had peace and quiet.
In the end, this may or may not be a perfect overwater bungalow, but it probably depends on which one you get and that's hopefully the newly redecorated one furthest away from the rest.
Related Stories:
· Bora Bora Pearl Beach reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Overwater Bungalows / Honeymoon Resorts / French Polynesia Resorts / → All Tags
Searching For The Perfect Overwater Bungalow: Brand New Bora Bora
As winter storms brew here in the Northeast, our search for the perfect overwater bungalow is intensifying. Know an overwater bungalow resort hotel we need to check out? Hit us on the tip line.
Bora Bora is the undisputed king of overwater bungalows, they practically invented the things there.
The InterContinental Thalasso-Spa Bora Bora, which opened in May 2006, is a French Polynesian resort where all 80 rooms are overwater villas.
The bungalows come equipped with Internet access (if you use it your significant other will throw you out of the villa), two flat screen televisions (one on a swivel so you can watch it from the bath tub), a dvd player, a bar, a hot water kettle, wine glasses, and a see-through coffee table for viewing sea life right from your temporary living room.
The resort also uses deep ocean water to power the AC units for all the villas, so being eco-friendly as you cool yourself down.
What's the downside? This place is ultra modern luxury, not for the visitor that wants to experience Polynesian style and décor.
Check out the YouTube video of this resort--looks like it was uploaded by InterContinental themselves. Either way, if you mute the annoying music it gives you a nice overview of the resort.
[Photo: Pierre Lesage]
Picture taken from a remote camera suspended on a kite.
Related Stories:
· Overwater Bungalows [HotelChatter]
Tags: Killer View / → All Tags
The View From St. Regis Bora Bora
Usually we reserve our Killer Views for Thursday, but since Divine Madmen dropped this photo in our Flickr pool, we thought we'd share it with you.
This is the view from one of the overwater bungalows at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. Is it us or does that cloud look like an airplane?
Related Stories:
· St. Regis Bora Bora reviews [TripAdvisor]
· HotelChatter Photo Pool [Flickr]
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