Conrad Bora Bora {PYF} (formerly Hilton)
Mar 22, 2024, 11:32 am
#1606
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 223
Do you have to get the buffet? Someone else mentioned the option of only ordering from the menu and the credit being enough to cover that? I’d be fine with just ordering a menu item. We aren’t big buffet people and neither of us eat a lot first thing in the morning anyway.
The server does ask you each morning if you want the buffet or not.
If you order off the menu without the buffet any drinks, coffees would also be additional (vs everything included if you opt for the buffet)
Mar 22, 2024, 1:55 pm
#1607
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,722
Not sure how much I'd miss completely free breakfast. I often have to cut short my morning snorkeling to go to breakfast in time (shower in between, get to breakfast 1hr+ before close so things don't run out). It'll be nice to not have those competing interests and use the credit for a later meal in the day.
I do wonder for one guest in the room if they still give 7k XPF or half. In every US property I've been, they've given me $50 when I'm alone (always putting 2 guests when making reservation, but here it would be more obvious if alone).
I do wonder for one guest in the room if they still give 7k XPF or half. In every US property I've been, they've given me $50 when I'm alone (always putting 2 guests when making reservation, but here it would be more obvious if alone).
Mar 22, 2024, 2:14 pm
#1608
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 223
Not sure how much I'd miss completely free breakfast. I often have to cut short my morning snorkeling to go to breakfast in time (shower in between, get to breakfast 1hr+ before close so things don't run out). It'll be nice to not have those competing interests and use the credit for a later meal in the day.
I do wonder for one guest in the room if they still give 7k XPF or half. In every US property I've been, they've given me $50 when I'm alone (always putting 2 guests when making reservation, but here it would be more obvious if alone).
I do wonder for one guest in the room if they still give 7k XPF or half. In every US property I've been, they've given me $50 when I'm alone (always putting 2 guests when making reservation, but here it would be more obvious if alone).
I thought the credit was per room so shouldn't matter if one or two or three occupants (is something you should email in advance of your stay to clarify)
As far as skipping b-fast ; for a city stay most anywhere sure, but here you have limited food options throughout the day. Filling up on breakfast even if not great saves you from having to spend on over priced and not very good either lunch food.
Read the menus and see what works for you though.
For us the filling breakfast, sometimes a snack at the pool area or room service small lunch in the afternoon held us over until dinner.
I don't like seafood so my food opinions may not be shared by others and I went there not expecting much so was not displeased with the food as a whole. Was what I expected basically in terms of both price and quality.
Mar 28, 2024, 1:35 pm
#1609
Join Date: Sep 2023
Posts: 40
Does anyone know if you can pay with a Hilton Asprire/ Surpass credit card for dinner/spa etc. to trigger the $200/$50 hotel credit? Or does it all gets charged to your room automatically?
Do they accept Hilton gift cards?
I have a stay spanning end of June and checking out beginning of July.
Trying to see if I can use my Aspire/ Surpass credit for period ending in June and then also at check out for July credit.
Do they accept Hilton gift cards?
I have a stay spanning end of June and checking out beginning of July.
Trying to see if I can use my Aspire/ Surpass credit for period ending in June and then also at check out for July credit.
Mar 28, 2024, 3:26 pm
#1610
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 63
Does anyone know if you can pay with a Hilton Asprire/ Surpass credit card for dinner/spa etc. to trigger the $200/$50 hotel credit? Or does it all gets charged to your room automatically?
Do they accept Hilton gift cards?
I have a stay spanning end of June and checking out beginning of July.
Trying to see if I can use my Aspire/ Surpass credit for period ending in June and then also at check out for July credit.
Do they accept Hilton gift cards?
I have a stay spanning end of June and checking out beginning of July.
Trying to see if I can use my Aspire/ Surpass credit for period ending in June and then also at check out for July credit.
Apr 2, 2024, 8:40 pm
#1611
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Silver
Posts: 472
A few questions while planning details of our trip later this month?
1) Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations for all the nights we want, in advance of our trip?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night. Considered La Villa Mohana but we aren't big on French food so feel like that might be wasted on us (probably too late to get a reservation there anyway). Anywhere else ashore worth paying the $100 evening boat transfer? Our options at the resort that night are the Polynesian Night dinner, Banyan Chinese, sushi at Upa Upa, or room service.
3) Does the spa offer any last-minute specials on site like other resorts? Do we need to bother reserving before we get there or can we wait until we are there to reserve? We like to wait until we're going to have a rainy day for our spa time when possible.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
1) Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations for all the nights we want, in advance of our trip?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night. Considered La Villa Mohana but we aren't big on French food so feel like that might be wasted on us (probably too late to get a reservation there anyway). Anywhere else ashore worth paying the $100 evening boat transfer? Our options at the resort that night are the Polynesian Night dinner, Banyan Chinese, sushi at Upa Upa, or room service.
3) Does the spa offer any last-minute specials on site like other resorts? Do we need to bother reserving before we get there or can we wait until we are there to reserve? We like to wait until we're going to have a rainy day for our spa time when possible.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
Apr 3, 2024, 12:39 am
#1612
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: Hilton
Posts: 14
A few questions while planning details of our trip later this month?
1) Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations for all the nights we want, in advance of our trip?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night. Considered La Villa Mohana but we aren't big on French food so feel like that might be wasted on us (probably too late to get a reservation there anyway). Anywhere else ashore worth paying the $100 evening boat transfer? Our options at the resort that night are the Polynesian Night dinner, Banyan Chinese, sushi at Upa Upa, or room service.
3) Does the spa offer any last-minute specials on site like other resorts? Do we need to bother reserving before we get there or can we wait until we are there to reserve? We like to wait until we're going to have a rainy day for our spa time when possible.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
1) Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations for all the nights we want, in advance of our trip?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night. Considered La Villa Mohana but we aren't big on French food so feel like that might be wasted on us (probably too late to get a reservation there anyway). Anywhere else ashore worth paying the $100 evening boat transfer? Our options at the resort that night are the Polynesian Night dinner, Banyan Chinese, sushi at Upa Upa, or room service.
3) Does the spa offer any last-minute specials on site like other resorts? Do we need to bother reserving before we get there or can we wait until we are there to reserve? We like to wait until we're going to have a rainy day for our spa time when possible.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
Apr 3, 2024, 12:49 am
#1613
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: Hilton
Posts: 14
A few questions while planning details of our trip later this month?
1) Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations for all the nights we want, in advance of our trip?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night. Considered La Villa Mohana but we aren't big on French food so feel like that might be wasted on us (probably too late to get a reservation there anyway). Anywhere else ashore worth paying the $100 evening boat transfer? Our options at the resort that night are the Polynesian Night dinner, Banyan Chinese, sushi at Upa Upa, or room service.
3) Does the spa offer any last-minute specials on site like other resorts? Do we need to bother reserving before we get there or can we wait until we are there to reserve? We like to wait until we're going to have a rainy day for our spa time when possible.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
1) Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations for all the nights we want, in advance of our trip?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night. Considered La Villa Mohana but we aren't big on French food so feel like that might be wasted on us (probably too late to get a reservation there anyway). Anywhere else ashore worth paying the $100 evening boat transfer? Our options at the resort that night are the Polynesian Night dinner, Banyan Chinese, sushi at Upa Upa, or room service.
3) Does the spa offer any last-minute specials on site like other resorts? Do we need to bother reserving before we get there or can we wait until we are there to reserve? We like to wait until we're going to have a rainy day for our spa time when possible.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
Apr 3, 2024, 7:12 am
#1614
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 303
A few questions while planning details of our trip later this month?
1) Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations for all the nights we want, in advance of our trip?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night. Considered La Villa Mohana but we aren't big on French food so feel like that might be wasted on us (probably too late to get a reservation there anyway). Anywhere else ashore worth paying the $100 evening boat transfer? Our options at the resort that night are the Polynesian Night dinner, Banyan Chinese, sushi at Upa Upa, or room service.
3) Does the spa offer any last-minute specials on site like other resorts? Do we need to bother reserving before we get there or can we wait until we are there to reserve? We like to wait until we're going to have a rainy day for our spa time when possible.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
1) Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations for all the nights we want, in advance of our trip?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night. Considered La Villa Mohana but we aren't big on French food so feel like that might be wasted on us (probably too late to get a reservation there anyway). Anywhere else ashore worth paying the $100 evening boat transfer? Our options at the resort that night are the Polynesian Night dinner, Banyan Chinese, sushi at Upa Upa, or room service.
3) Does the spa offer any last-minute specials on site like other resorts? Do we need to bother reserving before we get there or can we wait until we are there to reserve? We like to wait until we're going to have a rainy day for our spa time when possible.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
- Depends how busy it is when you’ll be there, but it’s probably a good idea to have something booked just in case. You can call throughout the day if there’s somewhere you really want to go and people will cancel, especially right at dinner time when they change their mind, so be ready to go.
- Haven’t done it recently. Seems the main opinion is if you’ve already experienced one it’s better to skip it in general. I skipped La Villa because it seemed very difficult to make the return boat given how long the dinner takes. I went to Restaurant St. James instead which was very nice, but some people were on my return boat from La Villa so they made it back in time. It’s a very expensive meal, like $500+ I believe so just be prepared (not including the Conrad boat costs, which have doubled since I was there). I heard it was amazing though.
- Not sure on last minute deals but I kinda doubt it, not many discounts to be found at that resort. 😅
- Theres a Carrefour at the Pacific Plaza Mall like 7-10 minutes away from the airport, it’s a good place to shop in general and I recommend it. We stayed overnight at the Hilton and there’s a bridge to walk between the two. Just make sure the store and shops will be open during your free hours. Four hours is a long time in that airport.
Apr 3, 2024, 8:37 am
#1615
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 26
Does anyone know if you can pay with a Hilton Asprire/ Surpass credit card for dinner/spa etc. to trigger the $200/$50 hotel credit? Or does it all gets charged to your room automatically?
Do they accept Hilton gift cards?
I have a stay spanning end of June and checking out beginning of July.
Trying to see if I can use my Aspire/ Surpass credit for period ending in June and then also at check out for July credit.
Do they accept Hilton gift cards?
I have a stay spanning end of June and checking out beginning of July.
Trying to see if I can use my Aspire/ Surpass credit for period ending in June and then also at check out for July credit.
Apr 3, 2024, 12:03 pm
#1616
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: SFO
Posts: 49
A few questions while planning details of our trip later this month?
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
2) Has anyone done the Polynesian Night recently? Debating about this. Our anniversary is that night.
4) Are there stores in or really close to the Papeete airport where we could pick up a few mixers, some beer/wine, and snacks or should we wait and go ashore on day 2 to stock up on those things. We'll have about 4 hours to kill in Papeete before our transfer flight. Plan to pick up a few bottles at LAX duty free on our way out.
One suggestion I have is to head to St. James for lunch. You can not only take advantage of free Conrad boat during the daytime but also enjoy a very scenic view ! It is a short walk from the Vaitape harbor. I believe St. James offers a transfer as well if you don't want to walk.
You can pick up groceries and drinks at two supermarkets in Vaitape. There is also a nice wine shop next to St. James, it is managed by the same owner as is an excellent bakery. The prices at the Vaitape supermarket are a bit higher compared to Bora Bora.
For alcohol, consider stopping by the duty free shop in Bora Bora on arrival, on the left just before leaving the secure zone in baggage claim. The taxes on alcohol in French Polynesia are very high and this may be the least expensive option to purchase wine or liqueur.
Apr 3, 2024, 1:29 pm
#1617
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Silver
Posts: 472
Thank you for the reminder about the carry-on limitations on the island hop flights!
Apr 3, 2024, 1:44 pm
#1618
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Silver
Posts: 472
- Depends how busy it is when you’ll be there, but it’s probably a good idea to have something booked just in case. You can call throughout the day if there’s somewhere you really want to go and people will cancel, especially right at dinner time when they change their mind, so be ready to go.
- Haven’t done it recently. Seems the main opinion is if you’ve already experienced one it’s better to skip it in general. I skipped La Villa because it seemed very difficult to make the return boat given how long the dinner takes. I went to Restaurant St. James instead which was very nice, but some people were on my return boat from La Villa so they made it back in time. It’s a very expensive meal, like $500+ I believe so just be prepared (not including the Conrad boat costs, which have doubled since I was there). I heard it was amazing though.
- Not sure on last minute deals but I kinda doubt it, not many discounts to be found at that resort. 😅
- Theres a Carrefour at the Pacific Plaza Mall like 7-10 minutes away from the airport, it’s a good place to shop in general and I recommend it. We stayed overnight at the Hilton and there’s a bridge to walk between the two. Just make sure the store and shops will be open during your free hours. Four hours is a long time in that airport.
Apr 3, 2024, 1:46 pm
#1619
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Silver
Posts: 472
For the Polynesian Night, please be aware that it may be indoors at the Iriatai restaurant when there is a chance of rain. This happened during our trip and inside the ambience is not comparable to the show on the beach. The drums get very loud inside the building. You may just want to walk by if you happened to be on property that night or have a drink at the bar.
One suggestion I have is to head to St. James for lunch. You can not only take advantage of free Conrad boat during the daytime but also enjoy a very scenic view ! It is a short walk from the Vaitape harbor. I believe St. James offers a transfer as well if you don't want to walk.
You can pick up groceries and drinks at two supermarkets in Vaitape. There is also a nice wine shop next to St. James, it is managed by the same owner as is an excellent bakery. The prices at the Vaitape supermarket are a bit higher compared to Bora Bora.
For alcohol, consider stopping by the duty free shop in Bora Bora on arrival, on the left just before leaving the secure zone in baggage claim. The taxes on alcohol in French Polynesia are very high and this may be the least expensive option to purchase wine or liqueur.
One suggestion I have is to head to St. James for lunch. You can not only take advantage of free Conrad boat during the daytime but also enjoy a very scenic view ! It is a short walk from the Vaitape harbor. I believe St. James offers a transfer as well if you don't want to walk.
You can pick up groceries and drinks at two supermarkets in Vaitape. There is also a nice wine shop next to St. James, it is managed by the same owner as is an excellent bakery. The prices at the Vaitape supermarket are a bit higher compared to Bora Bora.
For alcohol, consider stopping by the duty free shop in Bora Bora on arrival, on the left just before leaving the secure zone in baggage claim. The taxes on alcohol in French Polynesia are very high and this may be the least expensive option to purchase wine or liqueur.
Apr 4, 2024, 12:23 pm
#1620
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 303
Thanks for the tips about the St. James and the wine shop. I didn't realize St. James was walking distance. Our plan right now is to take the shuttle over on our first morning to get supplies there unless we find enough to get us by a few days in Papeete. We're planning to grab some duty free liquor at LAX. Do you think the Papeete duty free is cheaper (I'm guessing not)?
St. James is walking distance but I wouldn’t recommend it at night. I had the Conrad concierge communicate with the restaurant to arrange a transport, just do that and bring some tip money imo.