Conrad Bora Bora {PYF} (formerly Hilton)
Jun 7, 2022, 1:54 pm
#977
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: JFK
Posts: 192
You should be ok (as long as there are no major delays with your flight to PPT). Took us probably a little under 30mins from the moment we exited the plane to go through customs and grab our luggage.
Jun 7, 2022, 2:18 pm
#978
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 303
Also agreed that your 4:40am arrival flight should be fine to make a 7:00am flight to BOB. If you miss it for some reason there are multiple flights throughout the day. Maybe give Air Tahiti a call and ask in the event you miss the 7am if they would accommodate you on a later flight (space permitting)?
Jun 9, 2022, 10:01 am
#982
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 568
I flew home with United a week or so ago and it was SLOW. Ie. i was ~6th in line at the counter to check in and get documents, but it took almost an hour to get to the front of the line. That was for a 9 pm flight (delayed until 11 pm) so I had plenty of time during my layover to check in and go through security though. I did notice that air Tahiti nui was processing people a lot faster than United though, so maybe Air France will be better? Security lines were busy as well, but I believe that's because both the Air Tahiti and United flights were scheduled to depart around the same time that evening.
Jun 9, 2022, 10:39 am
#983
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 174
I flew home with United a week or so ago and it was SLOW. Ie. i was ~6th in line at the counter to check in and get documents, but it took almost an hour to get to the front of the line. That was for a 9 pm flight (delayed until 11 pm) so I had plenty of time during my layover to check in and go through security though. I did notice that air Tahiti nui was processing people a lot faster than United though, so maybe Air France will be better? Security lines were busy as well, but I believe that's because both the Air Tahiti and United flights were scheduled to depart around the same time that evening.
Jun 9, 2022, 10:45 am
#984
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 44
We arrived about 1.5-1.75 hours before our early morning Air France flight, and we were SWEATING it because of the line. Like you, we had enough time only because they took off late. When we made it through security it was our boarding group, ad we were probably one of the last, if not the last, boarding group.
Jun 9, 2022, 11:01 am
#985
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 303
I know that ATN offered a quicker/dedicated business class line. Premium Economy travelers could use the same line as well, so we were processed super quickly. I can't imagine Air France (or any airline) wouldn't offer a dedicated line for business class travelers.
Jun 9, 2022, 12:02 pm
#986
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 174
Probably, and honestly, that's what was deceiving about the line size. There were two "special" entrances that were very much prioritized, and I would assume one was for higher class service.
Jun 10, 2022, 8:02 am
#987
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Any “priority” option for family with small kid(s)? Flying Air Tahiti Nui but the back.
Jun 10, 2022, 3:16 pm
#989
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 33
Looks like the US/CDC is dropping the testing requirement to return. One less thing to worry about.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...rs-2022-06-10/
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...rs-2022-06-10/
Jun 11, 2022, 4:47 pm
#990
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 11
My DH and I just got back from a 4-night rewards stay at the Conrad. We booked as 3 separate standard rewards nights + 1 free night certificate, each under a separate reservation as reward nights opened up. We received paid upgrade offers for each reservation 1 week before our stay (minimum of 50000 xpf per night for deluxe OWB, no lower categories available). We have Diamond status, and we rolled the dice and figured we could live with a Lagoon View Suite if no complimentary upgrade was available. We e-mailed them about a week before with our flight information for the airport transfer and reminding them that we were there for 4 nights, under 4 separate reservation numbers, and also told them how excited we were to be there for our 20th anniversary. (We had tried to get Hilton to combined into one reservation many months ago, but they couldn't do it.)
The airport transfer was smooth and I saw Room 323 on the luggage tag, but didn't have a property map, so didn't know where that was. When we arrived, we were greeted by our island host, Akane (a lovely Japanese women), who told us we were upgraded to a deluxe OWB (no pool), with partial mountain and sunset views, only a few doors down from the two Presidential villas. She asked the date of our anniversary, and on that day, she sent a personalized anniversary card, a bottle of wine, a cake, and some chocolates to our room. Although the OWB decks have partial screens/walls, because of the curve of the boardwalks, the decks are not as private as you'd expect, plus you can definitely hear your neighbors if they are out on the deck at same time. The room doesn't have a line for hanging wet swimsuits/gear, but the big round bathtub worked great for that. Although the OWB is large, it's starting to show some wear (obvious fading/dings on dark furniture, water stains, etc.), but significantly better than the Hilton Moorea (which is to be expected). That said, I did not find the bed/pillows as comfortable at the Conrad as at the Hilton Moorea. And why do all Hilton properties always use a sheet with a heavy comforter on their beds, even in the tropics? A sheet and light blanket/quilt would be so much better.
I'm glad we didn't get a Lagoon view suite, because those rooms are above the fitness center, kids club, and day-use rooms. I'm not sure if noise is a problem, but I wouldn't want to take chance.
The Golden Hour (Happy Hour) is from 3-4 pm at the Pool Bar and is pretty pathetic. Only 4 drinks at a discounted rate of 1500 xpf, and they were out of coconut puree for the Pina Colada, for duration of our stay, so actually they only had 3 drink specials - Mai Tai, Spicy Margarita (which is only slightly spicy), and the Matie, which is a sweet drink with kiwi.
Also, due to a mechanical issue, the swimming pool was not available for 3 of the days, but they sent a letter to all the rooms and gave everyone an automatic resort credit of 10000 xpf, which was fine with me -- I like the beach rather than the pool. (There is a separate section for Diamond members with loungers, umbrellas, and the blue bean bag chairs are a lot more comfortable than they look!)
As others have mentioned, the shuttle to Vaitape is now FREE before 6 pm, except on arrival and departure day.
There was excellent snorkeling, and especially healthy reef between approx OWB 321-322 and the presidential villas. They also have coral restoration under the main dock/reception building with plenty of fish, and I even saw a spotted eagle ray close up. We saw a shark pup several days in the late afternoon near the first bridge past the tennis courts going to the OWBs in the 300s. Prior to our arrival we had arranged for a 1/2 snorkel excursion with H2O Bora Bora, which I would highly recommend. David, the French owner/guide is great, no more than 6 people on the boat, and is environmentally sensitive (does not feed the marine life or try to touch them, etc.), but no lunch/alcohol/ukelele music, which is a good for us, but may be disappointing to others. You can easily book online and his wife is English, so no communication barriers for those who do not speak French.
I don't know the exact occupancy rate while we were there, but the property seemed full, although it never felt crowded. Our one disappointment was that we could not get into the Banyan restaurant until our last night. It really does have the best food on property. We had tried e-mailing prior to our arrival, but had sent to request to the reservations email, not the activities email, and they didn't respond.
We also stayed at Le Taha'a for 3 days before arriving at the Conrad and we actually liked that property a bit better. (If I get my act together, I will write up a trip report with all the details.)
Regarding flights home on ATN, we left on a Wednesday, where there are 2 ATN flights departing 11 pm and 11:45 pm, we were in Economy, but have the Priority Pass through our AMEX card and had no problem getting into the lounge. Not only does it have A/C, but it is a much calmer environment than the crazy waiting area downstairs. If you cannot get in, there is some quieter seating upstairs available to everyone (but no A/C).
I hope everyone finds this info useful.
The airport transfer was smooth and I saw Room 323 on the luggage tag, but didn't have a property map, so didn't know where that was. When we arrived, we were greeted by our island host, Akane (a lovely Japanese women), who told us we were upgraded to a deluxe OWB (no pool), with partial mountain and sunset views, only a few doors down from the two Presidential villas. She asked the date of our anniversary, and on that day, she sent a personalized anniversary card, a bottle of wine, a cake, and some chocolates to our room. Although the OWB decks have partial screens/walls, because of the curve of the boardwalks, the decks are not as private as you'd expect, plus you can definitely hear your neighbors if they are out on the deck at same time. The room doesn't have a line for hanging wet swimsuits/gear, but the big round bathtub worked great for that. Although the OWB is large, it's starting to show some wear (obvious fading/dings on dark furniture, water stains, etc.), but significantly better than the Hilton Moorea (which is to be expected). That said, I did not find the bed/pillows as comfortable at the Conrad as at the Hilton Moorea. And why do all Hilton properties always use a sheet with a heavy comforter on their beds, even in the tropics? A sheet and light blanket/quilt would be so much better.
I'm glad we didn't get a Lagoon view suite, because those rooms are above the fitness center, kids club, and day-use rooms. I'm not sure if noise is a problem, but I wouldn't want to take chance.
The Golden Hour (Happy Hour) is from 3-4 pm at the Pool Bar and is pretty pathetic. Only 4 drinks at a discounted rate of 1500 xpf, and they were out of coconut puree for the Pina Colada, for duration of our stay, so actually they only had 3 drink specials - Mai Tai, Spicy Margarita (which is only slightly spicy), and the Matie, which is a sweet drink with kiwi.
Also, due to a mechanical issue, the swimming pool was not available for 3 of the days, but they sent a letter to all the rooms and gave everyone an automatic resort credit of 10000 xpf, which was fine with me -- I like the beach rather than the pool. (There is a separate section for Diamond members with loungers, umbrellas, and the blue bean bag chairs are a lot more comfortable than they look!)
As others have mentioned, the shuttle to Vaitape is now FREE before 6 pm, except on arrival and departure day.
There was excellent snorkeling, and especially healthy reef between approx OWB 321-322 and the presidential villas. They also have coral restoration under the main dock/reception building with plenty of fish, and I even saw a spotted eagle ray close up. We saw a shark pup several days in the late afternoon near the first bridge past the tennis courts going to the OWBs in the 300s. Prior to our arrival we had arranged for a 1/2 snorkel excursion with H2O Bora Bora, which I would highly recommend. David, the French owner/guide is great, no more than 6 people on the boat, and is environmentally sensitive (does not feed the marine life or try to touch them, etc.), but no lunch/alcohol/ukelele music, which is a good for us, but may be disappointing to others. You can easily book online and his wife is English, so no communication barriers for those who do not speak French.
I don't know the exact occupancy rate while we were there, but the property seemed full, although it never felt crowded. Our one disappointment was that we could not get into the Banyan restaurant until our last night. It really does have the best food on property. We had tried e-mailing prior to our arrival, but had sent to request to the reservations email, not the activities email, and they didn't respond.
We also stayed at Le Taha'a for 3 days before arriving at the Conrad and we actually liked that property a bit better. (If I get my act together, I will write up a trip report with all the details.)
Regarding flights home on ATN, we left on a Wednesday, where there are 2 ATN flights departing 11 pm and 11:45 pm, we were in Economy, but have the Priority Pass through our AMEX card and had no problem getting into the lounge. Not only does it have A/C, but it is a much calmer environment than the crazy waiting area downstairs. If you cannot get in, there is some quieter seating upstairs available to everyone (but no A/C).
I hope everyone finds this info useful.