St Regis Bora Bora pre 2006 [Master Thread]
Dec 30, 2002, 11:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Dallas, TX // AA Plat, DL Gold, SPG Gold, MAR Gold
Posts: 6
St Regis Bora Bora pre 2006 [Master Thread]
For all of the ups and downs of the Bora Bora Nui saga, has anyone actually stayed there or gotten a report from someone who has? Unlike many, I missed the "good" deal (and the subsequent disappointment). I'm booked for a nice week in June for my honeymoon at the normal high rate (avg room rate 100K). I've always generally been happy with SPG hotels, so I'm not expecting to be disappointed, but I just wanted to see if anyone had a first- or second-hand account.
Also, do you think they will be willing to make a deal in regards to the rest of you facing disappointment and give me 40% off rack rate, which would be a nice savings for me? Just curious...
Thanks and regards.
[This message has been edited by BoyWonder (edited 12-30-2002).]
Also, do you think they will be willing to make a deal in regards to the rest of you facing disappointment and give me 40% off rack rate, which would be a nice savings for me? Just curious...
Thanks and regards.
[This message has been edited by BoyWonder (edited 12-30-2002).]
Dec 31, 2002, 7:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Programs: AA Plat for Life, Starwood Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 591
Jan 10, 2003, 12:30 pm
#3
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Flylot's Bora Bora Nui trip report
I sent this to the folks at The Luxury Collection so they could see some positive aspects of the resort instead of all the angst being expressed over the mistaken rate not being honored. Still had the email version. Enjoy.
FlyLots
Posts: 156
From: AA-PLT, UA-PremEx, SWood-PLT, Hyatt-GLD
Registered: Nov 2001
posted 01-07-2003 03:30 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am well aware of the controversy surrounding the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa that resulted from their posting an incorrect rate on their website. I don't want to wade into that mess, but thought that some people might be interested in a trip resort as I have literally just returned from a 4 nite stay there. Let me summarize by saying that this is a world-class, five-star resort that is one of the most beautiful places I have been in my life and once they iron out some of the typical start-up difficulties will garner a fantastic reputation IMHO. (In the interests of full disclosure we paid 80,000CFP per nite for a Horizon Overwater Suite.)
Arrival: Bora Bora is an atoll and the airport is located separate from the main island on its own little island on the reef. The airport terminal is almost literally a grass shack with open sides and a thatched roof. Upon entering the terminal there was a local band playing Tahitian music. Each of the major resorts has their own desk in the terminal and upon approaching the BBN desk my partner and I received a flower lei, a warm greeting and were handed a number of luggage tags and were instructed to proceed to baggage claim (a rack off to the side of the terminal) and simply attach the tags to our baggage. Once tagged the bags are whisked away by BBN bellboys and you don't see them again until you get to your room. You are then taken to the resorts private boat for transfer to the BBN, which is on a different island (not on the main island of Bora Bora). Two observations. First, it seems that every resort uses a slightly different flower/color combination for their leis, making guests easy to spot for the staff that are present. Second, the transfer to the hotel is amazingly beautiful as the lagoon is the most amazing spectrum of blues and greens. Arrival at the resort is at reception which is a separate overwater structure. You then sit in comfortable chairs and sofas with drinks, chilled towels and snacks as the check-in process is handled with the staff tacking care of formalities with little clip boards. You are then taken to your room by golf cart.
Resort: The resort is fairly large for Tahiti (about 120 rooms) divided into four distinct groupings (100, 200 and 300 being three separate overwater bungalow groupings and 400 being the hillside bungalows). Beyond this there is the reception, a large building with the main restaurant, resort shop, black pearl shop and fitness center, a smaller building with a second more casual restaurant (the floor is sand) and the pool area. The pool is truly stunning (I understand it is the largest in Bora Bora) and is an infinity pool with a view over the rest of the resort and the lagoon. Waterfalls everywhere. Lots of umbrellas and lounge chairs are also scattered along the (very long and white) sand beach. There is also a small chapel on the hillside.
Rooms: With the exception of two royal suites, I understand all the other rooms are identical and the only difference is overwater vs. hillside. The rooms are truly suites and are the largest of the rooms we stayed in during our time in Tahiti. They are thatched roof bungalows with the peak of the ceilings being at least 20-25 feet high. Suites are separated into a Living Room area with a couch, chair, coffee table and cabinet housing the minibar and a TV. The couch end tables are glass and you can hinge them open and directly feed the fish from your bungalow. The bedroom contained a canopy bed, another console with TV, end tables, desk and closet space with a safe. The bathroom is marble with a soaking tub, two sink areas on either side of the room and separate rooms for the toilet/bidet and shower. Bath amenities are Aveda products. The room overall is done in dark woods with carving and Tahitian prints on the walls. I can't say enough about the room, from the size of the shower (without exaggeration the size of our bathroom in NY) to the living room couch (oh so comfy) to the quality of the fixtures, etc. There is a large terrace with a table, two chairs, another glass portion in the floor and two lounge chairs (with a roofed portion for shade) and steps lead down to another terrace above the lagoon which is accessible by ladder directly. On the lower deck there is a shower to rinse off after coming out of the lagoon. One thing to be said is the overall design of the room was very unique and hard to describe in that you could pull out partitions that came out of the central console to completely close off the living room from the bedroom. Even with the partitions closed you could access the terrace and bathroom from either room through separate sliding doors.
Food/Drink: Much has been said here recently about the expense of Tahiti. There is no getting around it, this is not a cheap place to go when it comes to food and drink. Having said that, however, I think there has been some exaggeration. We live in Manhattan and our island vacations are usually to St. Barth's so maybe we have a different viewpoint. But, a drink at the pool bar will run you 1000CFP (which is about $10 - try the Tau Here, it's great!), a coke runs about $5, a club sandwich at the casual restaurant is about $17, the breakfast buffet was about $60 for two and appetizer at the main restaurant average about $15-$25 and entrees $25-$40. Again, this isn't cheap but it's not quite so outrageous once you keep realizing where you are. I certainly have paid similar prices at say the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago or at other major resorts around the world. I don't remember the big resorts on Hawaii being THAT much cheaper when it came to food and drink. We probably averaged $300 per day for all food and drink whether that was at the hotel or not. As a final aside this is pretty much the standard for all of Tahiti, with Bora Bora perhaps at the higher end of the range.
Spa: The spa is not yet complete and they are giving treatments in two of the hillside bungalows in the meantime. Wonderful array of treatments and I had a great massage. We did hike up to where the spa will be (buildings are completed but only roughed out on the inside) and I have to say it will be spectacular when done. From the main spa building rock and wood walkways lead to three outer buildings which I assume will be the individual treatment rooms. We looked in and each is huge with a shower/bathroom, a main area and a sunken tub. Each of the treatment room buildings is hidden in the trees and has amazing views from their respective terraces.
Staff: Oh so friendly. They are truly trying hard. They are still trying to settle in (hotel had its soft opening in October and opened an additional 50 rooms on the day we arrived) and in certain areas they are still slightly understaffed. This is where my only complaint about the resort comes in. One nite (given it was New Year's Eve) we had to wait three hours for room service to deliver dinner. We heard similar tales from other guests, but have to say in our case, once the general manager found out he made a call and dinner was there in 10 minutes, he comped it for us and sent a small gift as an apology. Similarly, my mother tried to contact us on New Year's Eve and leave a message and bought a bottle of champagne to be delivered to our room. Neither the message or champagne arrived. My mother, suspecting that something was wrong as we didn't mention it when we called her on New Year's Day or later, contacted the general manager. He immediately called her back in NY, apologized, tracked us down at the Sheraton Tahiti (we had moved on by then on the way home) and had a note of apology and a complimentary bottle of champagne delivered to our room there (which was upgraded to a suite). The next day he had the Front Desk Manager call my mother and apologize once again. I look upon these incidents as "growing pains" for a new resort and the general manager did more than enough to make up for it. Other than that the staff was wonderful, from the pool boys who came around and shook everyone's hand and said Ia'orana (hello in Tahitian) when they came on duty and constantly offered chilled bottles of water around the pool to one special waitress in the casual restaurant. At lunch she informed us that there was going to be a buffet with a Tahitian cultural show that evening and if we wanted she would reserve us a front row table. Well we got there about 15 minutes after our reservation and the manager of the restaurant had given away our seats and put us at a table further back. We didn't complain, but after about 5 minutes the waitress from earlier came by and asked us to follow her. Along with the barman she then proceeded to move a table out of the restaurant onto a little covered area adjacent to the beach where the show was to take place. It wasn't until later that we realized that we were effectively sitting on the bandstand and they had kicked the band onto the beach in front of us and we truly had the best seats in the place for the show!
General: The resort has a wonderful deserted island feel to it despite it's large size. There was never a time when we couldn't get a lounge chair around the pool or a seat in a restaurant and for most of time we never saw more than 10 people at once. Some people worry that there is no view of the main island as you are on the wrong side of the motu for that. That didn't bother us so much and you could hike up the hill (it's steep!) if you really wanted that. We found the view of the motu rising up behind the hotel with its black lava rock and lush green vegitation more than enough.
We had a wonderful time at the Bora Bora Nui, would not hesitate to recommend it wholeheartedly and plan on returning at some point again and again. No matter what the price, it was well worth it.
IP: Logged
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 01-10-2003).]
FlyLots
Posts: 156
From: AA-PLT, UA-PremEx, SWood-PLT, Hyatt-GLD
Registered: Nov 2001
posted 01-07-2003 03:30 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am well aware of the controversy surrounding the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa that resulted from their posting an incorrect rate on their website. I don't want to wade into that mess, but thought that some people might be interested in a trip resort as I have literally just returned from a 4 nite stay there. Let me summarize by saying that this is a world-class, five-star resort that is one of the most beautiful places I have been in my life and once they iron out some of the typical start-up difficulties will garner a fantastic reputation IMHO. (In the interests of full disclosure we paid 80,000CFP per nite for a Horizon Overwater Suite.)
Arrival: Bora Bora is an atoll and the airport is located separate from the main island on its own little island on the reef. The airport terminal is almost literally a grass shack with open sides and a thatched roof. Upon entering the terminal there was a local band playing Tahitian music. Each of the major resorts has their own desk in the terminal and upon approaching the BBN desk my partner and I received a flower lei, a warm greeting and were handed a number of luggage tags and were instructed to proceed to baggage claim (a rack off to the side of the terminal) and simply attach the tags to our baggage. Once tagged the bags are whisked away by BBN bellboys and you don't see them again until you get to your room. You are then taken to the resorts private boat for transfer to the BBN, which is on a different island (not on the main island of Bora Bora). Two observations. First, it seems that every resort uses a slightly different flower/color combination for their leis, making guests easy to spot for the staff that are present. Second, the transfer to the hotel is amazingly beautiful as the lagoon is the most amazing spectrum of blues and greens. Arrival at the resort is at reception which is a separate overwater structure. You then sit in comfortable chairs and sofas with drinks, chilled towels and snacks as the check-in process is handled with the staff tacking care of formalities with little clip boards. You are then taken to your room by golf cart.
Resort: The resort is fairly large for Tahiti (about 120 rooms) divided into four distinct groupings (100, 200 and 300 being three separate overwater bungalow groupings and 400 being the hillside bungalows). Beyond this there is the reception, a large building with the main restaurant, resort shop, black pearl shop and fitness center, a smaller building with a second more casual restaurant (the floor is sand) and the pool area. The pool is truly stunning (I understand it is the largest in Bora Bora) and is an infinity pool with a view over the rest of the resort and the lagoon. Waterfalls everywhere. Lots of umbrellas and lounge chairs are also scattered along the (very long and white) sand beach. There is also a small chapel on the hillside.
Rooms: With the exception of two royal suites, I understand all the other rooms are identical and the only difference is overwater vs. hillside. The rooms are truly suites and are the largest of the rooms we stayed in during our time in Tahiti. They are thatched roof bungalows with the peak of the ceilings being at least 20-25 feet high. Suites are separated into a Living Room area with a couch, chair, coffee table and cabinet housing the minibar and a TV. The couch end tables are glass and you can hinge them open and directly feed the fish from your bungalow. The bedroom contained a canopy bed, another console with TV, end tables, desk and closet space with a safe. The bathroom is marble with a soaking tub, two sink areas on either side of the room and separate rooms for the toilet/bidet and shower. Bath amenities are Aveda products. The room overall is done in dark woods with carving and Tahitian prints on the walls. I can't say enough about the room, from the size of the shower (without exaggeration the size of our bathroom in NY) to the living room couch (oh so comfy) to the quality of the fixtures, etc. There is a large terrace with a table, two chairs, another glass portion in the floor and two lounge chairs (with a roofed portion for shade) and steps lead down to another terrace above the lagoon which is accessible by ladder directly. On the lower deck there is a shower to rinse off after coming out of the lagoon. One thing to be said is the overall design of the room was very unique and hard to describe in that you could pull out partitions that came out of the central console to completely close off the living room from the bedroom. Even with the partitions closed you could access the terrace and bathroom from either room through separate sliding doors.
Food/Drink: Much has been said here recently about the expense of Tahiti. There is no getting around it, this is not a cheap place to go when it comes to food and drink. Having said that, however, I think there has been some exaggeration. We live in Manhattan and our island vacations are usually to St. Barth's so maybe we have a different viewpoint. But, a drink at the pool bar will run you 1000CFP (which is about $10 - try the Tau Here, it's great!), a coke runs about $5, a club sandwich at the casual restaurant is about $17, the breakfast buffet was about $60 for two and appetizer at the main restaurant average about $15-$25 and entrees $25-$40. Again, this isn't cheap but it's not quite so outrageous once you keep realizing where you are. I certainly have paid similar prices at say the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago or at other major resorts around the world. I don't remember the big resorts on Hawaii being THAT much cheaper when it came to food and drink. We probably averaged $300 per day for all food and drink whether that was at the hotel or not. As a final aside this is pretty much the standard for all of Tahiti, with Bora Bora perhaps at the higher end of the range.
Spa: The spa is not yet complete and they are giving treatments in two of the hillside bungalows in the meantime. Wonderful array of treatments and I had a great massage. We did hike up to where the spa will be (buildings are completed but only roughed out on the inside) and I have to say it will be spectacular when done. From the main spa building rock and wood walkways lead to three outer buildings which I assume will be the individual treatment rooms. We looked in and each is huge with a shower/bathroom, a main area and a sunken tub. Each of the treatment room buildings is hidden in the trees and has amazing views from their respective terraces.
Staff: Oh so friendly. They are truly trying hard. They are still trying to settle in (hotel had its soft opening in October and opened an additional 50 rooms on the day we arrived) and in certain areas they are still slightly understaffed. This is where my only complaint about the resort comes in. One nite (given it was New Year's Eve) we had to wait three hours for room service to deliver dinner. We heard similar tales from other guests, but have to say in our case, once the general manager found out he made a call and dinner was there in 10 minutes, he comped it for us and sent a small gift as an apology. Similarly, my mother tried to contact us on New Year's Eve and leave a message and bought a bottle of champagne to be delivered to our room. Neither the message or champagne arrived. My mother, suspecting that something was wrong as we didn't mention it when we called her on New Year's Day or later, contacted the general manager. He immediately called her back in NY, apologized, tracked us down at the Sheraton Tahiti (we had moved on by then on the way home) and had a note of apology and a complimentary bottle of champagne delivered to our room there (which was upgraded to a suite). The next day he had the Front Desk Manager call my mother and apologize once again. I look upon these incidents as "growing pains" for a new resort and the general manager did more than enough to make up for it. Other than that the staff was wonderful, from the pool boys who came around and shook everyone's hand and said Ia'orana (hello in Tahitian) when they came on duty and constantly offered chilled bottles of water around the pool to one special waitress in the casual restaurant. At lunch she informed us that there was going to be a buffet with a Tahitian cultural show that evening and if we wanted she would reserve us a front row table. Well we got there about 15 minutes after our reservation and the manager of the restaurant had given away our seats and put us at a table further back. We didn't complain, but after about 5 minutes the waitress from earlier came by and asked us to follow her. Along with the barman she then proceeded to move a table out of the restaurant onto a little covered area adjacent to the beach where the show was to take place. It wasn't until later that we realized that we were effectively sitting on the bandstand and they had kicked the band onto the beach in front of us and we truly had the best seats in the place for the show!
General: The resort has a wonderful deserted island feel to it despite it's large size. There was never a time when we couldn't get a lounge chair around the pool or a seat in a restaurant and for most of time we never saw more than 10 people at once. Some people worry that there is no view of the main island as you are on the wrong side of the motu for that. That didn't bother us so much and you could hike up the hill (it's steep!) if you really wanted that. We found the view of the motu rising up behind the hotel with its black lava rock and lush green vegitation more than enough.
We had a wonderful time at the Bora Bora Nui, would not hesitate to recommend it wholeheartedly and plan on returning at some point again and again. No matter what the price, it was well worth it.
IP: Logged
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 01-10-2003).]
Jan 10, 2003, 12:36 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Neat. Many thanks! 
------------------
~ Glen ~
The unofficial, unauthorised, un-necessay, unpaid and unqualified temporary trainee Moderator for the busy and vibrant Ansett Airlines Australia Forum
------------------
~ Glen ~
The unofficial, unauthorised, un-necessay, unpaid and unqualified temporary trainee Moderator for the busy and vibrant Ansett Airlines Australia Forum
Jan 10, 2003, 2:31 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: NY-NY
Programs: AA-PLT, UA-Prem, BA-Silver, SPG-PLT, Hyatt-PLT, Hilton-GLD
Posts: 321
William- Thank you very much for reposting my trip report. I still have the original text but hadn't noticed until now that my original post had been lost.
Jan 10, 2003, 3:15 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,080
Wow! After reading this report it may be time to cash in the points and live it up in Paradise.
Dan
Dan
May 10, 2003, 4:39 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 1,094
Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa
I know this has been reviewed somewhere in these forums but cannot find it. Has anyone stayed here and is it as heavenly as it looks? Should I post this instead in the Luxury Hotels section? Thanks a lot!
May 10, 2003, 6:18 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Posts: 22,297
<Duck>
...
And then answers question with some links:
Flylot's Bora Bora Nui trip report
Needed: Reviews of Starwoods in Tahiti
Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa
------------------
View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets
...
And then answers question with some links:
Flylot's Bora Bora Nui trip report
Needed: Reviews of Starwoods in Tahiti
Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa
------------------
View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets
May 10, 2003, 8:37 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,080
I know I shouldn't be posting if I can't add anything constructive but; I have one thing to say...
Sure would have been nice going to Bora Bora at $85 for an overwater bungalow, instead of going elsewhere this summer on vacation.
Dan
Sure would have been nice going to Bora Bora at $85 for an overwater bungalow, instead of going elsewhere this summer on vacation.
Dan
May 15, 2003, 7:14 pm
#10
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
Programs: All Airline & Hotel Programs (POINT JUNKIE!)
Posts: 806
I spent a day at the Bora Bora Nui Resort in March. The resort is so fantastic and beautiful it defies description!
As an aside, I also spent 4 days at the Sheraton Moorea Resort and Spa in an Overwater Bungalow....I can't rave enough about this experience! The bungalows are heavenly, we thoroughly enjoyed the buffet dinners and the show at the dining room ---- the staff couldn't have been more pleasant and accomodating - Truly a 6 Star Stay!
As an aside, I also spent 4 days at the Sheraton Moorea Resort and Spa in an Overwater Bungalow....I can't rave enough about this experience! The bungalows are heavenly, we thoroughly enjoyed the buffet dinners and the show at the dining room ---- the staff couldn't have been more pleasant and accomodating - Truly a 6 Star Stay!
May 16, 2003, 1:21 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2002
Programs: UA 1MM, JAL JGC Diamond, SPG Lifetime PLT, AMEX PLT
Posts: 1,231
As a Platinum member, if I book a least expensive category room at Bora Bora Nui or Sheraton Moorea, can they still upgrade to the overwater bungalow if those category is available?
Thanks!
Thanks!
May 16, 2003, 7:37 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 63,621
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Tak:
As a Platinum member, if I book a least expensive category room at Bora Bora Nui or Sheraton Moorea, can they still upgrade to the overwater bungalow if those category is available?
Thanks!</font>
As a Platinum member, if I book a least expensive category room at Bora Bora Nui or Sheraton Moorea, can they still upgrade to the overwater bungalow if those category is available?
Thanks!</font>
May 16, 2003, 12:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Titusville,Fl. 32780 USA
Programs: Marriott Gold,United Silver,Delta Silver,Hhonors Diamond., SPG platinum, Priority Club Plat.
Posts: 270
Stayed at Bora Bora Nui & Sheraton Moorea in Feb. As Gold, received beachfront bungalow(superb) at BBNui & over water bungalow in Moorea(a true delight with glass bottom viewing area).
Jun 2, 2003, 10:13 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: MCO
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum / Titanium, AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 959
Can you use SPG pts to stay at Bora Bora Nui ?
If you look at the Bora Bora Nui resort on the spg website, it does not list an amount of points to use to stay there. I think it used to be a Cat 6 hotel. Can one still stay there with points? If so, how many?
Jun 2, 2003, 12:56 pm
#15
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
The only award you can book at this hotel using Starpoints is the SPG6SU rate plan. Since these awards cannot be booked online, you would have to call in order to book it. The room type attached to this rate plan is a one bedroom, air conditioned bungalow suite situated on the beachfront with a private balcony. This is not an over-the-water bungalow.
Other SPG-related rates are SPG35%Off and SPG35PL. The SPG35PL is the same as the SPG35%Off, but it is exclusively for Platinum members who get a 2,500 Starpoints bonus for booking this rate plan - at least until the offer expires June 30th.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 06-02-2003).]
Other SPG-related rates are SPG35%Off and SPG35PL. The SPG35PL is the same as the SPG35%Off, but it is exclusively for Platinum members who get a 2,500 Starpoints bonus for booking this rate plan - at least until the offer expires June 30th.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 06-02-2003).]