What is the best resort in Bora Bora?

On our criteria, the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora: 108 overwater bungalows and suites, transfers and breakfast included, and Two MICHELIN Keys. The St. Regis is a close second, with larger overwater villas.

What is the most luxurious resort in Bora Bora?

The St. Regis, for the largest overwater villas (from ≈ 144 m²) and butler service; its Royal Estate is a 1,200 m² private compound.

Is this ranking paid for?

No. It is editorial, independent and unpaid: no hotel paid to appear or saw it before publication, there are no affiliate links, and it is not based on hosted stays.

Which Bora Bora resorts have views of Mount Otemanu?

All five motu resorts sell Otemanu-view rooms: the Four Seasons, the St. Regis, Le Bora Bora and the Conrad have named Otemanu categories, and the Westin faces the mountain across the lagoon. The view costs more; check the category, not the resort.

Which resort is best with children?

The Four Seasons: children 17 and under stay free in their parents' room, its suites sleep two adults and two children, and its kids' club takes ages 5 to 12. The Conrad's club is free for the same ages. On a budget, a main-island hotel near Matira keeps the beach on foot.

Is the InterContinental Thalasso open?

No. It closed on 1 June 2026 and is due back as Regent Bora Bora in late 2027.

Are the Sofitels in Bora Bora open?

No. Neither Sofitel appears on Tahiti Tourisme's list of Bora Bora hotels in October 2026.

Is it better to stay on a motu or on the main island?

On a motu for the water and the view; on the main island for Matira, the village restaurants and lower prices. The trade-offs, area by area, are in where to stay in Bora Bora.

Which Bora Bora resorts include airport transfers?

The Four Seasons includes the return airport boat in every rate, through its compulsory 10% resort fee. The Westin's destination fee of 11,550 XPF (≈ US$113) per room per night covers it, with a daily boat to the main island. The St. Regis charges 17,200 XPF (≈ US$169) return and the Conrad 18,000 XPF (≈ US$176) return per person. At Le Bora Bora, ask when you book, and ask everywhere for the time of the last boat to Vaitape.

How do I get from the airport to my resort?

The airport is on a motu. Resort guests are met by the hotel's boat; everyone else takes Air Tahiti's free shuttle to Vaitape, about 15 minutes.

Bora Bora · Rankings

The best resorts
in Bora Bora.

Five resorts on the motu and two hotels on the main island, ranked on the criteria below. Editorial, independent and unpaid.

Otemanu from the outer motu

Stay · Bora Bora · Best resorts

In October 2026 Bora Bora has seven hotels worth ranking: five resorts on the motu, the islets on the reef, and two mid-range hotels on the main island near Matira. That is fewer than most lists suggest, because two famous names are closed and a third has changed its flag. This ranking is built from each hotel's own published information, the official tourism listings, the statistics institute and the MICHELIN Guide. It is editorial, independent and unpaid, and it is not based on our own stays.

01 · How we ranked

Five criteria,
in this order.

1 · Water and view: The lagoon in front of the room and the line of sight to Otemanu. The eastern motu face the mountain; the western ones get the sunset.From the hotels' own room descriptions
2 · The room: Size, private pools, privacy and how many units share the motu. Sizes are the hotels' published figures.Checked on each hotel's site, October 2026
3 · Recognition: The MICHELIN Guide's Keys. Three Bora Bora resorts hold Two Keys in the 2026 selection; none holds three.¹Keys run from one to three
4 · Logistics and inclusions: Boat time to the airport and to Vaitape, whether transfers and breakfast are included, and how late the last shuttle runs.Every motu resort is a boat ride from the village
5 · Reliability in 2026: Fully open, or under works. A resort with construction on site drops this quarter.Reviewed every quarter
The rules: Only properties taking guests in October 2026. No paid placements, no affiliate links, no hosted stays, and no hotel saw this page before publication.Last reviewed 19 October 2026

02 · The ranking

Seven hotels,
best first.

01
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
115 units on a private motu facing Otemanu and Pahia: 108 overwater bungalows and suites and seven beachfront villa estates.² The entry overwater suite is 100 m²; the plunge-pool suites run from 104 m² to 207 m², and the villa estates from 253 m² to 800 m² of floor space.² Return airport transfers and daily breakfast are in every rate, children 17 and under stay free in their parents' room,² and the kids' club takes ages 5 to 12.³ Two MICHELIN Keys, for the second year running.⁴ It ranks first because it does the most things well, for the widest range of travellers. The downsides: a compulsory 10% resort fee and 5% service charge on every booking; the pool and main beach closed for works from 4 January to 24 February 2027;⁵ the guided programme in its Lagoon Sanctuary paused since late September 2026;⁶ and the motu itself, which puts dinner anywhere else on a boat.
02
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
About 90 villas on stilts or on the beach, on Motu Ome'e.⁷ The overwater villas start at 1,550 sq ft (≈ 144 m²), with glass viewing panels in the floor, and Marriott calls them the largest in French Polynesia and the South Pacific.⁸ The resort has a private Lagoonarium with pontoons and free snorkel gear, a spa on its own islet, four restaurants (the overwater Lagoon, Bamboo, Te Pahu and Farniente) and two bars, with butler service.⁸ Two MICHELIN Keys.⁹ The biggest rooms and the best in-resort snorkelling on the island. There is an adults-only pool, the Oasis.⁸ It is second because the boats cost extra (17,200 XPF, ≈ US$169, for the return airport transfer, and 3,600 XPF, ≈ US$35, a person for each main-island run beyond one free shuttle a day, none on Sundays), Otemanu views come only with some categories, and every spa booking requires a day pass.⁸¹⁰
03
Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts
On Motu Tevairoa, 10 minutes by boat from the airport and 15 from Vaitape, with no other hotel in sight.¹¹ 108 rooms and villas: garden villas with plunge pools, beach villas with pools, and overwater bungalows of 851 sq ft (≈ 79 m²), the Lagoon and Otemanu categories with a glass panel at the foot of the bed.¹¹ Three restaurants and the Tāvai Spa, open daily 09:00–19:00.¹¹ Two MICHELIN Keys.¹² The most traditionally built of the motu resorts and the easiest to leave for a dinner in the village. The bungalows are smaller than at the top two, and the lead-in overwater category sits closer to the shore.¹¹
04
Conrad Bora Bora Nui
On Motu To'opua in the south-west lagoon.¹³ It reopened on 1 May 2026 after a renovation.¹⁴ The mix runs from lagoon-view suites to overwater villas, beach villas and hillside suites on what Hilton calls the island's only private motu with a mountain; Hilton says every villa has a private pool, though its room list still sells some categories without one.¹⁵ The kids' club is free for ages 5 to 12.¹⁶ For one night, 19–20 October 2026, its site showed lagoon-view suites from 190,523 XPF (≈ US$1,870) and overwater pool villas from 232,418 XPF (≈ US$2,280), with a 5% service charge included and taxes extra.¹⁵ It would rank higher but for two things on Hilton's own site in October 2026: a notice of construction and enhancement works in select areas,¹⁷ and its signature French restaurant, Iriatai, closed.¹⁸ The airport boat takes 25 minutes and costs 18,000 XPF (≈ US$176) return per person.¹⁹ Older reviews describe the resort before the renovation.
05
The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa
On Motu Tape, in the former Le Méridien, which reopened as the Westin in September 2024 with 128 overwater bungalows.²⁰ Tahiti Tourisme's listing says no Bora Bora hotel has more overwater villas.²¹ The destination fee, 11,550 XPF (≈ US$113) per room per night, covers return airport transfers and a daily boat to the resort's base on the main island.²² It is the most social of the five, with an infinity pool and swim-up bar, three restaurants, three bars, a weekly Polynesian show and an Eco Center for its conservation work.²² Fifth because it is busier and less private than the others, and because the fee comes on top of the rate.
06
Royal Bora Bora
On the main island near Matira. The hotel was built in the 1990s, bought by a Polynesian group in 2017 and reopened in October 2019 after renovation.²³ Rooms sit in a tropical garden on the mountain side; the restaurant and beach bar surround the pool on the sea side, on a white-sand beach facing a motu, with Polynesian bands twice a week.²⁴ In October 2026 its site advertised an early-booking rate from 28,884 XPF (≈ US$283) a night.²⁴ No overwater rooms and no motu romance, at a fraction of the price, with Matira and the village restaurants reachable without a boat.
07
Le Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora
In tropical gardens close to Matira Beach, with two restaurants, two bars and shops on site.²⁵ Tahiti Tourisme sells it on value, which is fair: it is the plain option for travellers who want the beach on foot and a pool, not a motu. It also has the main island's overwater rooms, 13 overwater and 7 Premium overwater bungalows, with published rack rates of 122,999–155,650 XPF (≈ US$1,206–1,526, approximate) a night for two in late October 2026, the lowest overwater rates on the island;²⁶²⁷ for scale, French Polynesia's three-star hotels averaged ≈ 36,000 XPF (≈ US$353) per room-night before tax in July–September 2025.²⁸ Matira is the island's only public beach.²⁹ Also at Matira, the InterContinental Le Moana is open (it is not the InterContinental Thalasso that closed in June 2026), but IHG publishes too little about its rooms and rates for us to rank it yet; see Bora Bora's overwater rooms.³⁰³¹

03 · The most luxurious

The most luxurious
resort in Bora Bora.

If luxury means the biggest room over the water and service to match, it is the St. Regis: overwater villas from ≈ 144 m², a butler, a Lagoonarium and a spa on its own islet.⁸ If it means a resort where nothing is left to chance, from the transfer to the children's programme, it is the Four Seasons, whose overwater suites start at 100 m² and whose estates reach 800 m² indoors.²

The single grandest addresses on the island are the St. Regis Royal Estate, a 1,200 m² compound walled with coral on three sides and opening on its own beach,⁸ and the Four Seasons' five-bedroom beachfront villa estate, 800 m² inside and 3,000 m² outside.² The Conrad's answer is a three-bedroom Presidential Overwater Villa.¹⁵ None publishes a price for these.

Over the country as a whole, the top spot goes to The Brando on Tetiaroa, an atoll of its own and the only hotel in French Polynesia with Three MICHELIN Keys.¹ It is ranked on the national list.

04 · Head to head

Four Seasons
or St. Regis?

Setting: Four Seasons: A private motu facing Otemanu and Pahia.²
St. Regis: Motu Ome'e, 17 hectares, with its own Lagoonarium.⁸
Entry overwater room: Four Seasons: 100 m² suite.²
St. Regis: ≈ 144 m² villa (1,550 sq ft).⁸
In the rate: Four Seasons: Daily breakfast and the airport boat,² the boat through a compulsory 10% resort fee; a 5% service charge on top.⁵
St. Regis: Airport boat extra, 17,200 XPF (≈ US$169) return; one free main-island shuttle a day except Sundays.⁸
Pools: Four Seasons: Plunge pools in the specialty overwater suites and the villa estates.²
St. Regis: A main pool and the adults-only Oasis.⁸
Children: Four Seasons: 17 and under free in their parents' room.²
St. Regis: Families of four fit in the Beach, Reefside and some overwater villas.¹⁰
MICHELIN Keys: Four Seasons: Two.¹
St. Regis: Two.⁹

Verdict. The Four Seasons for a first visit, for families and for fewer separate charges once you are there. The St. Regis for the largest overwater rooms and snorkelling without leaving the resort. Both put every dinner off the property on a boat.

05 · At a glance

The seven
in one table.

Four Seasons: Private motu · 108 overwater, 7 villa estates · Two Keys²¹Breakfast and airport boat included; 10% resort fee⁵
The St. Regis: Motu Ome'e · about 90 villas · Two Keys⁷⁹Overwater villas from ≈ 144 m²⁸
Le Bora Bora: Motu Tevairoa · 108 rooms and villas · Two Keys¹¹¹²10 min from the airport, 15 from Vaitape¹¹
Conrad: Motu To'opua · private pool in every villa¹³¹⁵Reopened 1 May 2026; works notice in October¹⁴¹⁷
The Westin: Motu Tape · 128 overwater bungalows²²²⁰Destination fee 11,550 XPF (≈ US$113) a night²²
Royal Bora Bora: Main island, near Matira · garden rooms, beach and pool²⁴From 28,884 XPF (≈ US$283) early-booking rate, October 2026²⁴
Le Maitai Polynesia: Main island, near Matira Beach · two restaurants, two bars²⁵No published rates found

06 · By kind of trip

Which one
for which trip.

Honeymoon: The St. Regis for the size of the villa and the adults-only pool;⁸ the Four Seasons if you would rather not pay for each boat.More in the Bora Bora honeymoon guide
Families: The Four Seasons, where children 17 and under stay free with their parents,² or the Conrad; both run kids' clubs for ages 5 to 12.³¹⁶ On the main island, the Royal Bora Bora or Le Maitai keep the beach on foot and the boats optional.
Snorkelling without a tour: The St. Regis, whose Lagoonarium has pontoons and free gear.⁸ Elsewhere, ask what is in front of your room: the water under the pontoons varies.
Eating out in the village: Le Bora Bora, 15 minutes by boat from Vaitape,¹¹ or a main-island hotel. The Westin's fee includes a daily boat to the main island.²²
Sunsets: The west side of the lagoon: Le Bora Bora on Motu Tevairoa,¹¹ or the Conrad, which sells a Sunset View overwater pool villa.¹⁵The eastern motu get Otemanu instead
A lively resort: The Westin: infinity pool, swim-up bar, live music and a weekly Polynesian show.²²
The lowest bill: Not a resort at all: a pension at Matira or in the north.See where to stay in Bora Bora

07 · Closed and renamed

Names you'll see
that you can't book.

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa closed on 1 June 2026 for renovation and is due to reopen as Regent Bora Bora in late 2027, with 84 villas.³² Tahiti Tourisme's own listing still showed it as open all year when we checked in October 2026,³³ and so do some booking sites. Trust the operator, not the listing.

The two Sofitels, Marara Beach and the Private Island, are closed and no longer appear on Tahiti Tourisme's list of Bora Bora hotels.³⁴ Older guides still recommend them.

Le Méridien Bora Bora is now the Westin, after the change of brand in September 2024.²⁰ Bloody Mary's Hotel, a newer listing beside the famous restaurant, was shown as temporarily closed in October 2026.³⁵

08 · What it costs

The most expensive
hotel island.

Bora Bora's hotels averaged ≈ 137,000 XPF (≈ US$1,340) per room-night before tax in July–September 2025, more than twice Moorea's ≈ 60,300 XPF (≈ US$590).²⁸ Tahiti Tourisme puts the overwater bungalows at ≈ 50,000 XPF (≈ US$490) to well over 200,000 XPF (≈ US$1,960) a night.³⁶

Few resorts publish rates, so dated samples from their own booking engines are the best guide. For one night on 15 February 2027, checked on 19 October 2026 for two adults: the Conrad's overwater pool villa from 188,228 XPF (≈ US$1,845), with service but before tax;³⁷ the Four Seasons' cheapest overwater suite 216,876 XPF (≈ US$2,130), fees included, tax extra;⁵ the St. Regis's entry overwater villa from 269,500 XPF (≈ US$2,640), before tax.³⁸ On the main island, the Royal Bora Bora advertised an early-booking rate from 28,884 XPF (≈ US$283) a night.²⁴

Then the extras. The Westin's destination fee is 11,550 XPF (≈ US$113) a night;²² the St. Regis charges 17,200 XPF (≈ US$169) for the return airport boat;⁸ the Conrad 18,000 XPF (≈ US$176) return per person.¹⁹ Taxes come on top of all of them.

The full bill, from the flight to the last boat, is in what a Bora Bora trip costs; room prices and fees in detail are in the overwater cost guide.

09 · Questions

Questions.

01
What is the best resort in Bora Bora?
On our criteria, the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora: 108 overwater bungalows and suites, transfers and breakfast included, and Two MICHELIN Keys.²⁴ The St. Regis is a close second, with larger overwater villas.
02
What is the most luxurious resort in Bora Bora?
The St. Regis, for the largest overwater villas (from ≈ 144 m²) and butler service; its Royal Estate is a 1,200 m² private compound.⁸
03
Is this ranking paid for?
No. It is editorial, independent and unpaid: no hotel paid to appear or saw it before publication, there are no affiliate links, and it is not based on hosted stays.
04
Which Bora Bora resorts have views of Mount Otemanu?
All five motu resorts sell Otemanu-view rooms: the Four Seasons, the St. Regis, Le Bora Bora and the Conrad have named Otemanu categories, and the Westin faces the mountain across the lagoon.²¹⁰¹¹¹⁵²² The view costs more; check the category, not the resort.
05
Which resort is best with children?
The Four Seasons: children 17 and under stay free in their parents' room, its suites sleep two adults and two children,² and its kids' club takes ages 5 to 12.³ The Conrad's club is free for the same ages.¹⁶ On a budget, a main-island hotel near Matira keeps the beach on foot.
06
Is the InterContinental Thalasso open?
No. It closed on 1 June 2026 and is due back as Regent Bora Bora in late 2027.³²
07
Are the Sofitels in Bora Bora open?
No. Neither Sofitel appears on Tahiti Tourisme's list of Bora Bora hotels in October 2026.³⁴
08
Is it better to stay on a motu or on the main island?
On a motu for the water and the view; on the main island for Matira, the village restaurants and lower prices. The trade-offs, area by area, are in where to stay in Bora Bora.
09
Which Bora Bora resorts include airport transfers?
The Four Seasons includes the return airport boat in every rate, through its compulsory 10% resort fee.²⁵ The Westin's destination fee of 11,550 XPF (≈ US$113) per room per night covers it, with a daily boat to the main island.²² The St. Regis charges 17,200 XPF (≈ US$169) return⁸ and the Conrad 18,000 XPF (≈ US$176) return per person.¹⁹ At Le Bora Bora, ask when you book, and ask everywhere for the time of the last boat to Vaitape.
10
How do I get from the airport to my resort?
The airport is on a motu. Resort guests are met by the hotel's boat; everyone else takes Air Tahiti's free shuttle to Vaitape, about 15 minutes.³⁹

Sources · last verified 19 October 2026(39)

The best resortsin Bora Bora.

Five criteria,in this order.

Seven hotels,best first.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort

Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts

Conrad Bora Bora Nui

The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa

Royal Bora Bora

Le Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora

The most luxuriousresort in Bora Bora.

Four Seasonsor St. Regis?

The sevenin one table.

Which onefor which trip.

Names you'll seethat you can't book.

The most expensivehotel island.