The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa evaluation

Getting there

Standout options

• Just lately renovated overwater bungalows (lots of which have plunge swimming pools) characteristic open areas with trendy, beachy decor, floor-to-ceiling home windows and Westin’s iconic Heavenly beds.
• There are a number of lovely seaside 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 beautiful, with plentiful and colourful native natural world round each flip.

Drawbacks

• Money charges are typically very excessive year-round, particularly throughout peak season.
• Service was very pleasant (albeit gradual 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 all over the place in Bora Bora from what I might inform, beginning with the teeny airport the place safety was a breeze (you primarily exit and stroll straight onto a dock to catch a trip to your respective resort) and lengthening to the best way boat captains would exuberantly name out “Ia ora na!” (a Tahitian greeting) throughout the water to different passing boats.

Previously often known as Le Meridien, the unique property closed throughout the coronavirus pandemic to endure 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 recent crops to the motu (i.e., small islet) and a whole overhaul of the lodging, eating retailers, spa and past.

The structure of the resort felt reflective of the vacation spot’s far-flung island magnificence and in addition supplied 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 aspect of the expansive essential seaside dotted with loungers and palm bushes. There was one other extra secluded seaside on the north-facing aspect of the property, which was the place I spent most of my time snorkeling.

The resort’s main advanced was composed of two flooring and supplied an open-air really feel. The pool and essential seaside space (in addition to a number of eating places) sat on the primary degree, whereas the breezy check-in space, concierge, resort retailer and some extra eateries had been on the second degree. Rows of blue and pink Westin-branded bikes may very well 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 sneakers. Within the evenings, folks would get a bit dressed up in elevated resortwear for dinner, however the vibes had been nonetheless fairly informal. Clientele-wise, unsurprisingly, I principally noticed {couples} younger and outdated, from newlyweds and honeymooners to these celebrating thirtieth — even fiftieth — marriage ceremony anniversaries. I noticed perhaps three households whole and just one toddler.

The employees was pleasant and all the time supplied a smile and hi there 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 many of the staffers being native, they had been a superb supply of details about Bora Bora and had been all the time keen to assist reply questions or direct me to somebody who might.

Exploring the resort, with its paths that meander across the property’s bounty of lush crops and flowers (manicured in a method 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 seaside 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 supplied 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 (excellent for catching a glimpse of colourful fish, or, if fortunate, a sea turtle).

Upon my arrival, every little 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 one of the 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 aspect. Wood partitions on all sides of the deck ensured that there was enough privateness (although generally you possibly can hear music or folks speaking from neighboring bungalows).

Although the bed room and deck had 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 really slide open to look into the bed room. There have been floral-scented Noa Noa bathtub merchandise, loads of fluffy white towels of various sizes (in addition to two seaside towels) and two robes hung above a deep soaking tub. On one aspect 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 lovely geometric, black-and-white tile design.

Food and drinks at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa

When staying at an island resort, I feel it may be straightforward to tire of getting the identical eating choices again and again. However with six eating places and bars on the property, The Westin Bora Bora had one thing to go well with 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 irrespective 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 throughout the weekly Polynesian present, which gives buffet and a stay 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 a number of other domestically impressed choices.

Throughout the dinner buffet that includes the stay Polynesian present ($155 per particular person), there was every little 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 seaside villas.

Maere

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

The evening I dined right here, I loved an Asian market-inspired menu ($130 per particular person) that includes dishes like crimson 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 a few of 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 beautiful setting for both meal, however I significantly loved having dinner right here and watching the twinkling lights of the bungalows as evening fell.

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

Once I tried the restaurant for lunch, I loved a hearty cheeseburger and fries ($36.50), a perfect 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 seaside right here); Te Ava, the bar on the fringe of the principle infinity pool; and ‘O’A, positioned on the second degree.

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

In-room eating

In-room eating (which we must always actually name in-bungalow eating) supplied 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 rooster) alongside conventional Tahitian dish referred to as i’a ota ($21.50), which consisted of contemporary tuna marinated in lime and coconut milk with crunchy veggies. I might’ve eaten this daily.

Facilities and repair at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa

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

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

As beforehand talked about, company might 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 choice), and there was additionally a volleyball web on the principle seaside. Friends might pay to rearrange a Jet Ski journey or boat excursions to snorkel with native sea life.

I used the Westin’s health middle 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 a fantastic place for a exercise. Friends might 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 rest areas (one open-air and one enclosed with air-con) and its personal personal lagoon-facing infinity pool and waterfront therapy rooms, this was probably the most tranquil area on the property. It was a perfect 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 methods and native oils for optimum rest. 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 middle’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.

By way of the concierge, company might 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 outside deck, having fun with a fast trip 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 actually the kind of resort the place you probably will not really feel the necessity to go wherever. In truth, company might discover it tough to go away 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 completely satisfied 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 would 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 charge), because the concierge had helped me guide a motor scooter through Avis, the rental firm that companions with the resort, so I might discover the principle island alone. (There may be one essential highway that encircles the island, so it is fairly straightforward to navigate.) Nonetheless, because of the unpredictable nature of the climate and the way brief my journey was, I in the end selected to forgo this outing.

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

Accessibility

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

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

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

Testing

To say it was tough to half with my overwater bungalow and its knockout view of Mount Otemanu can 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 bought 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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