Originally Posted by Pausanias

I know Bora Bora very well. First visit back in the 1980s when it was truly paradise. The main thing here is the view across the lagoon to Mt Otemanhu. Without question the hotel with the best view is the Pearl Beach Resort. That has the absolute no-contest classic view. Next best view is probably the Four Seasons. Worst views are the Thalasso and the Meridien. None of the 'mainland' hotels like the IC and Marara have great views. The St Regis is only so-so.

The next thing to realise is that all the hotels are over-priced, under-achievers aimed 100 percent at honeymooners from Alabama and Idaho. So I don't think it's worth paying top dollar rates for the FS or the St Regis when you will spend every minute of every day getting angry about being ripped off.

So my advice is go to the Pearl. Best view. Nice beach. It's alone on its own motu and doesn't overlook other hotels which is another bug-bear of the FS etc. And the Pearl is realistically priced and also has some attractive packages linked to their other hotels, such as the one on Tikehau (they also own The Brando).

None of these are luxury hotels in the sense recognised by this Forum. These hotels are machines with a massive turnover of guests.

My other advice is Le Tahaa or Vahine Island. The best view of Bora Bora. And no need to go there, although I still think, despite the over-development of hotels, that Bora Bora is one of the most exquisitely beautiful landscapes on Earth.