Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts

This resort is absolutely outstanding. We went for our honeymoon and were informed that this is a 4-star resort, but it felt like 7-star. The staff remembered our names, knew our allergies and preferences by heart, laid out our pajamas before bed, and greeted us with smiles, love, and friendliness. I’m blown away by their dedicated service, amenities, and experiences. The cuisine was divine, the views incredible, and again, I can’t get over how amazing the staff was! We have decided to make this our go-to vacation for life!! Also: we went to other resorts to pick up guests for group excursions, and Le BB was the BEST resort out of all of them, including the St. Regis and four seasons. Le BB exceeded expectations and overshadows the other resorts by a long shot. (Linda, the bartender, was a highlight for us!)

Lovely place on a historic Tahitian bay. The staff is wonderful, helpful and cheerful. Rooms and common areas have been recently renovated to a modern yet comfortable Polynesian style. Pool area is excellent and the smallish grounds are very walkable. Direct access to a stunning black sand beach. Pretty close to the main town of Papeete, making it a convenient place for a stopover before you head to one of the smaller, more resort oriented islands. Only one restaurant. Buffet breakfast is pretty decent with a wide selection of fruits, breads, proteins, juices, etc. Menu is the same for lunch and dinner. Well prepared items and excellent service. Selections are generally diverse, but with only one menu, it made multiple mealtimes a bit redundant over our 3 night stay. That, and the property location is not terribly convenient to walk to other food options. Ultimately, a rather nice place for a short stay.

We recently stayed here on our honeymoon and unfortunately found that it falls well short of being a true luxury resort. While the overwater bungalows and water activities center were beautiful, and the views and snorkeling were undeniably stunning, the overall experience was lacking—especially in food and service. SERVICE & EXPERIENCE: From the start, there was no welcome orientation or information provided about the resort’s amenities or activities. We consistently experienced slow service and had to flag down staff. Many employees hadn’t tried the food and couldn’t make recommendations. At the wine bar, there was no sommelier—just a basic bar setup with no guidance. FOOD & DRINK: The biggest disappointment was the food. It was hit-or-miss at best—you have to know exactly what to order to avoid a bad meal. We even had to send a cocktail back, and drinks were weak and overpriced ($25 each). One night, we walked past a paella station that no one seemed to know about, and no one encouraged guests to try it. Food quality didn’t meet the expectations of a high-end resort. NICKEL & DIMING: We were surprised by how often we felt upsold or misled: • The minibar was complimentary but never restocked. • We arrived early and were charged $50/person for breakfast. • An ice cream cart was pushed around the pool—it felt like a treat, but guests are billed for it. • We paid $110 per couple for festival tickets that were announced as $20 at the event itself—a huge markup. • Shuttle service back from town ends at 5:30pm, seemingly to keep you on the property (where dining is overpriced and underwhelming). AMENITIES & ATMOSPHERE: By 5pm, the resort felt dead. If there were any evening activities or experiences, they weren’t communicated or you were charged for them. The unheated pool was mostly used by kids and bar patrons—another missed opportunity. One night at a restaurant, we saw families with reservations turned away because tables were full so their reservations couldn’t be honored. Bottom line: This resort has a gorgeous setting and potential—but it operates more like a mid-tier property with luxury prices. If you’re coming to Bora Bora, enjoy the natural beauty, but we’d recommend staying elsewhere or at least venturing into the city for food and real hospitality.