|
We originally called the Westin in Bora Bora to speak with them, they were the ones that informed us they "shared" the reservations person/desk with the St. Regis. So the person we were talking to was in Bora Bora.... but I'm still not 100% confident in any of the answers were received ha ha!
|
Originally Posted by Established1985
(Post 37297827)
On purpose I guess 😏😈
The room occupancy rules, believe it or not, are because the Fire Code for buildings is strictly enforced. Similarly, the minimum wage is 25% higher than in the USA and it is illegal to terminate (or reduce the hours of) a contracted employee who has not failed formal performance appraisals. Which is why Americans are often surprised by the “leisurely” service. And unlike, say, Hawaii, laws cap work at 10 hours per day and 44 hours per week. i guess you would say it’s a culture clash between the American and European ways of doing things. But the room occupancy stuff is not profiteering - it’s a reflection of huge penalties for businesses found with too many occupants in a registered business building. |
Originally Posted by DCF
(Post 37306364)
French Polynesia is a highly developed country - life expectancy is FIVE years longer than the USA.i guess you would say it’s a culture clash between the American and European ways of doing things.
|
Originally Posted by ironmanjt
(Post 37306373)
The comment you quoted was along the lines of it being a good thing that kids are discouraged. What does this have to do with life expectancy or level of development?!
My point was that French Polynesia is not a Third World country but rather an almost excessively bureaucratic one. This property’s bungalows are even smaller than Le Matai’s, and when I stayed years ago the fire certificates on the back of the doors listed a maximum occupancy of 2 people. |
Originally Posted by DCF
(Post 37306523)
My point was that French Polynesia is not a Third World country but rather an almost excessively bureaucratic one. This property’s bungalows are even smaller than Le Matai’s, and when I stayed years ago the fire certificates on the back of the doors listed a maximum occupancy of 2 people.
I'm a bit surprised the local code doesn't make an exception for small children though. For example, our local housing code says no more than two UNRELATED people per bedroom in a rental dwelling plus one child under 8yo per bedroom permitted. |
Originally Posted by Kat1919
(Post 37305641)
I know you posted this awhile ago, but we were running into the same issue. If I did the search one way starting with 3 people (2 adults and kid) it would only give me 2 bedrooms as an option, when I would start with 2 people get results and then try to add my son later it would add $6,000 to the price lol. I called the Westin Bora Bora and they said to book for 2 adults and then call them and they would add our son at no charge and also add our crib request. Hope this is true when we get there!
|
For those that have stayed here and at the Conrad Nui, are the rooms at the Westin really that much smaller?
|
Way smaller - 400sqft and no separation of the bathroom area. Basically a standard hotel room size.
|
Précis of a trip report but with a bunch of pics.
Since we first came to the Resort in Jan 2000 when it was under the Le Méridien brand at which time we were one of the first guests at the property, we returned several times over the next 20 years before it closed for renovations and rebranded as Westin... hence the last two times we came to Bora Bora we stayed at the Four Seasons. We had been waiting several years for the Westin to open and thusly when it finally did last year, we were chomping at the bit to return to see for ourselves how things may have changed since the last time we were here. So to memorialize nearly 26 years of fun in the island sun, we were glad to be back last week. The renovations and transformation since our last stay have certainly been successful. All our staff interactions were outstanding. Was a nice touch to be upgraded to the plunge pool overwater bungalow. The room itself was very functional and comfortable. The entire resort looks new and dazzling. Breakfast at Tipanier was consistently excellent. The Polynesian Show was entertaining and the buffet was great. The dinner menu at Tipanier was not especially to our taste so we preferred the Varavara where the menu was more varied. More in next post… 👇 https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...24c1bfd08.jpeg View from just outside reception https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a7cfde92f.jpeg The islets behind the main structure https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9adca5b5c.jpeg Primary pool area https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6b6fc63d7.jpeg Lagoon in front of Tipanier https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fc5541f16.jpeg Overlooking the central beach https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c053c2694.jpeg Plunge pool OWB afternoon view https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bfdca5c7b.jpeg Good snorkeling area is to the left of the islet https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cf47528ad.jpeg Otemanu awakened by the sunrise as seen from our deck https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bc20e20d0.jpeg Pool looking north |
I do have to say (and being unapologetically biased :)) that we’ve been around the block a bit and this is simply the best view of the Otemanu massif from anywhere around Bora and that’s why it’s our favorite location on the island and maybe in the world. Not that ANY view is less than simply stellar from anywhere on the lagoon or even when you’re driving around the main island, and it’s supernatural how even a little change in location almost completely changes how the mountain looks. Like an illusion.
The views from the VT flights taking off from PPT flying over Mo’orea, Huahine and Raiatea-Taha’a to and from BOB and between BOB and Raiatea are certifiably sensational on a nice day if you sit on the correct side of the plane each way. And speaking of nice days… I will say we were exceptionally lucky with the weather window last week we were on the islands. Over the decades we have found that going around October generally gives us stable weather and sunny days. This time we went at the beginning of November and boy was that just sheer serendipity or what! When we got to the Westin we were told that this past October (last month) had been molto miserabile with buckets of unseasonable rain almost every day and they had had sunshine only for a few days prior to our arrival. We left there to go to Le Taha’a (trip report @ Le Taha'a Resort) for a few days and luckily we had a ton o' sun there too but last Saturday the day we were leaving Taha'a the rain returned with a vengeance and I checked the forecast on www.meteo.pf … yuck! Back to being miserably soggy with no sun in sight for at least a week or two and now it's time for the rainy summer season to officially begin. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5176b961c.jpeg The mountain was absolutely clear each and every day we were there https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...87d4f5f53.jpeg We were just spoiled by a seemingly endless necklace of cloudless days... and... https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...15b97e085.jpeg ... even more cloudless days https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...45fa45d66.jpeg Leaving PPT for BOB with the OWBs of the Intercontinental visible on the left https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...edd20afd4.jpeg Edge-to-edge panorama over Huahine https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b88c54a1d.jpeg Phenomenal view over Raiatea-Taha'a on the approach to BOB https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3385e00ca.jpeg Circling around to align with runway for landing with a sweeping view of every one of the resorts on the eastern motus https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...309b98fc1.jpeg And after the fun'n'done, we had to leave for Le Taha'a ... more stunning views on the short 10 min flight to RFP https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b8a60cddd.jpeg Bird's eye view over Le St Régis with quite a bit of the north assemblage of the Westin OWBs seen and the tippy top of south assemblage OWBs also just visible https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0920544ec.jpeg And our final view over the Westin (and southern neighbor Thalasso)... Ŕ la prochaine fois |
Enjoy exceptional value with our Destination Fee of 11,550 XPF per room, per night, which includes a variety of exclusive perks to enhance your stay. These benefits feature round-trip transportation from the airport to the resort, a traditional lei greeting upon arrival, and daily transport between the resort and its base on the main island. Guests also receive a bottle of Champagne, Chef's delights, and a Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa beach bag per stay. Take advantage of daily cultural activities, wellness classes, wine or rum tastings, a 30-minute water bike demonstration, access to non-motorized water equipment, and enhanced high-speed internet access
Upcoming stay at the beginning of 2026: XPF 11,550 per day x 9 days = XPF 103,950 (USD 1,010) will be a little stiff for the airport transfer and the bottle of Champagne and the beach bag (neither item should be one per day), that are typically part of the amenities (at least for guests with a higher status). The daily round-trip boat transfers between the resort and its mainland dock are usually complimentary and so is the enhanced high-speed internet access (which usually comes with the status). I also never participate in the cultural activities or daily wellness classes and do not use the non-motorized water equipment. "exceptional value" is adding insult to the injury. The only item that had a separate cost was the airport transfer, so, logically, there should be a limit per stay for these destination fees. |
Originally Posted by UASPG
(Post 37451885)
Upcoming stay at the beginning of 2026:
XPF 11,550 per day x 9 days = XPF 103,950 (USD 1,010) will be a little stiff for the airport transfer and the bottle of Champagne and the beach bag (neither item should be one per day), that are typically part of the amenities (at least for guests with a higher status). Taxes & Fees (per night per room) Estimated Government Taxes & Fees 400.00 XPF Destination Fee 11,550 XPF https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/me...0-408454a1e747 https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/me...0-408454a1e747 My point isn't to dispute it's (horrid) value, but simply to say that it hasn't increased. |
When I stayed last December the resort fee included transport to and from the airport.
Worth also noting St Regis next door has no resort fee but had a more expensive transfer. |
Originally Posted by Spinstorm
(Post 37453153)
When I stayed last December the resort fee included transport to and from the airport.
Worth also noting St Regis next door has no resort fee but had a more expensive transfer. |
Does the hotel reach out ahead of time for my flight's arrival time? I only got generic Westin email with hotel information. We are arriving this coming Sunday.
|
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 5:05 pm. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.