The Brando (French Polynesia)
Sep 22, 2014, 8:16 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
There was quite a big write-up in the Financial Times this weekend, covering the history of the project and a visit to the resort (paywalled): FT write-up
http://www.google.com/search?q=marlo...comes+a+resort
Tetiaroa – a collection of 12 motus, or islets, protected by a coral reef...coral atoll...encircled by a 30km-long reef.
http://thebrando.com/in-the-press/
Sep 22, 2014, 9:01 am
#32
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Here, there … you know how it goes.
Posts: 1,518
I find these quotes worrisome, if not outright depressing:
"It is, however, the resort part that I find a bit underwhelming. All this crazy beauty yet the development’s design, while respectfully low-lying, has failed to retain much of the location’s natural spirit. The manicuring is too tidy, the sand too raked. At lunch, the tinkling of recorded music interferes with the pounding of the surf. The contemporary loungers and beanbags feel like they might belong to any generic beach hotel."
and,
"The most disappointing part is the accommodation. It’s not the slightly bland aesthetic of my €3,000-a-night villa, all taupe and neat-edged perfection, with two TVs and high-speed WiFi. Nor is it the view – all villas look out on blistering white beach. But, noticing pandanus leaves moving in the wind beside my plunge pool, I want to let the breeze into my bedroom. Forget it. The window doesn’t open, and though there are two narrow floor-to-ceiling panels, one won’t open beyond 45 degrees."
"It is, however, the resort part that I find a bit underwhelming. All this crazy beauty yet the development’s design, while respectfully low-lying, has failed to retain much of the location’s natural spirit. The manicuring is too tidy, the sand too raked. At lunch, the tinkling of recorded music interferes with the pounding of the surf. The contemporary loungers and beanbags feel like they might belong to any generic beach hotel."
and,
"The most disappointing part is the accommodation. It’s not the slightly bland aesthetic of my €3,000-a-night villa, all taupe and neat-edged perfection, with two TVs and high-speed WiFi. Nor is it the view – all villas look out on blistering white beach. But, noticing pandanus leaves moving in the wind beside my plunge pool, I want to let the breeze into my bedroom. Forget it. The window doesn’t open, and though there are two narrow floor-to-ceiling panels, one won’t open beyond 45 degrees."
Sep 22, 2014, 7:21 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Kirkland, WA, USA
Programs: Marriott Gold; LEGO VIP, Amex Platinum, HHonors Gold
Posts: 563
I was recently at the Four Seasons Bora Bora, and I was shocked that the main restaurant constantly played some sort of euro-pop music for almost our entire stay. The only local music we heard in the resort was for weddings and on Polynesian Night!
I've been to Turtle Island Fiji a number of times, and they have no piped-in music. It's all made by the staff, on real instruments. That's how it should be done at a high end resort.
Perhaps this is a French Polynesia thing?
I've been to Turtle Island Fiji a number of times, and they have no piped-in music. It's all made by the staff, on real instruments. That's how it should be done at a high end resort.
Perhaps this is a French Polynesia thing?
Sep 23, 2014, 3:33 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,600
I was recently at the Four Seasons Bora Bora, and I was shocked that the main restaurant constantly played some sort of euro-pop music for almost our entire stay. The only local music we heard in the resort was for weddings and on Polynesian Night!
I've been to Turtle Island Fiji a number of times, and they have no piped-in music. It's all made by the staff, on real instruments. That's how it should be done at a high end resort.
Perhaps this is a French Polynesia thing?
I've been to Turtle Island Fiji a number of times, and they have no piped-in music. It's all made by the staff, on real instruments. That's how it should be done at a high end resort.
Perhaps this is a French Polynesia thing?
Sep 23, 2014, 9:09 am
#35
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
This is a thread on "The Brando," which apparently no one from this forum has stayed at yet. Let's keep on topic, however, and hopefully eventually someone will stay there and report on it!
RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels
RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels
Sep 24, 2014, 9:10 pm
#38
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1
Our travel photos of the Brando
http://samyoyobelinda.com/tahiti2014...otogallery.htm
https://www.facebook.com/IslandChicbySamyoyoBelinda
http://samyoyobelinda.com/tahiti2014...otogallery.htm
https://www.facebook.com/IslandChicbySamyoyoBelinda
Sep 25, 2014, 1:09 am
#39
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
Welcome to FT, Belinda Young. I am going to leave your first post as is but please note for future posts that FT rules require that the post stand on its own and not simply be a reference to a blog or Facebook page.
Thanks!
RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels
Thanks!
RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels
Sep 25, 2014, 2:24 am
#40
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Posts: 3,439
I'm guessing that English may not be the first language of Belinda Young despite the Western sounding handle! I can see photos on FB but not on the blog.
Great travels though by looking at the places visited previously. And welcome to Flyertalk Belinda - hope you stay around and post more.
Great travels though by looking at the places visited previously. And welcome to Flyertalk Belinda - hope you stay around and post more.
Sep 25, 2014, 3:02 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Posts: 3,439
For anyone like me who can't see the photos from the website on their iPad - here are the photos on Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/samyoy...7646698957410/
Looks stunning!
Looks stunning!
Sep 25, 2014, 5:45 am
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 1,644
Obviously a game changer for French Polynesia, though it remains to be seen if sufficient numbers want to play. Those rather Disneyfied honeymoon conveyor belts on Bora Bora seem to have things sewn up and this place seems a bit too classy for newly-weds from Minnesota. Dontcha think?
Last edited by Pausanias; Sep 25, 2014 at 7:35 am