My husband and I are Four Seasons Hotels fanatics and FS Bora Bora does not disappoint. As at other Four Seasons, the service here is absolutely impeccable. Not a grouch in the bunch.
My husband and I spent eight nights here. We had an over the water bungalow with a Deluxe Lagoon View. Most rooms here are over the water bungalows with essentially the same layout except for a few that have a plunge pool(not worth it). The only thing essentially different among the bungalows are the views but there are no BAD views. It all depends on the kind of privacy you might want. All the bungalows are very large with nice outdoor areas ( a lounge area and a covered area with table with two chairs. The bungalow has a nice seating area, refrigerator, two tv's, two bathroom sinks, large bathtub, desk area. They provide two electrical adaptors, a hairdryer, and an ironing board and iron. There is free laundry just a little ways away as well as a laundry service. Fast WIFI is also provided but at a daily price. Usually, this really bothers me but considering the location, I understand. We had 3 sets of windows out onto the lagoon, one from the living room, one from the bathtub, and one from the bedroom. All open. The bungalow sometimes moves a little; the same sensation that you might get on a cruise. We weren't expecting this but it was ok.
There are also a few beach side "houses" that are probably meant for large families . They are very private with nice landscaping and drop dead gorgeous semi-private beaches.
There are many water activities available that are expensive. We went on a snorkeling adventure and were extremely pleased with the director and the boat which was of beautiful quality. Many on-site activities are free like kayaking and use of snorkeling equipment.
You can be transported to the major town of Vaitape(ugly) six days a week during the day for free. There is enough time allotted to shop or eat in town. If you want to go to a restaurant in the evening , there is a fee.
Arrival at the airport is very pleasant and efficient and everyone is given a lei and the Four Seasons people offer to take your picture. Departure from the hotel is equally pleasant and there you are given a shell necklace and staff wave you goodbye.(So different from a cruise where it seems like they can't wait to get rid of you!) There is a round trip fee for the 15 minute boat ride to/from the hotel.
The food and drinks are very good to excellent. My husband I could not believe that the Hotel can pull this off considering how far away they are from everything and everyone. It's truly a major accomplishment by Four Seasons. The food is varied, there are many choices,and even the coffee is very good. We would suggest, however, that there not be so many buffets. Buffet is the only option at breakfast except for room service. We also think that there should not be so many buffets at dinner. There is a "gourmet " restaurant on premises but we had, sadly, a disappointing experience there. The Hotel made good on our disppointment but we decided not to return.
The grounds are lovely and we spent quite a bit of time meandering around and walking. They are not extensive.
The spa is very nice but I would put it in a regular category. There is also a fitness center.
The pool area is near the beach and is very clean and well taken of. The beach is shallow(it's a lagoon), the infinity pool is very large. The chairs are very comfortable and the staff is very efficient about setting up chairs and towels for new arrivals as soon as someone leaves. The service is terrific. One day, we received 9-10 fresh glasses of coldwater. You can eat at the pool and the food is very good. The staff also brings along about every hour a small tropical drink that is very refreshing. The pool area is well shaded. We only found it crowded one day but were still able to find chairs.
The highlight of Four Seasons Bora Bora is the lagoon. It's absolutely gorgeous, clean, and clear. There are many beautiful fish in the lagoon on the property including some you might not find beautiful but interesting like sea snakes. There are also two small beach areas that are not as busy, don't have staff service, but are perfect for snorkelers, and families.
The sevice at this Four Seasons, as at other ones is it's hallmark. Almost all the staff I encountered on my birthday knew that it was my birthday. There are no excuses for any small thing that might go wrong. A person answers the phone promptly at the front desk. You can get a golf cart ride from/to your bungalow. One day, a staff person spent some considerable time looking into where I could find a certain item for purchase. On my birthday, I received free drinks, a crown made of fresh flowers, a birthday cake with a candle, and free massage oil. But, what surpasses everything, is everyone is so pleasant, says hello, and has a can-do attitude. They are polite and accommodating.
This is a quiet resort. Don't expect any nighttime entertainment, dancing, etc. There was one Polynesian show one evening. Essentially, tV is CNN. Many people gravitate to the Sunset Bar and stay for dinner. It's comfortable, casual, with a great view. There are many honeymooners here.
Also, bring your wallet. The resort not only costs alot for the bungalows but for food, cocktails, and activities.
After staying eight nights, one can see a few cracks in the armor. I want to emphasize that the all the positives way outweigh these small matters but in the interest of being complete, I thought they were worth mentioning: one morning, one of the entrees was cold twice(crepes), not all items ordered for room service were brought on several occasions, and one day, it took a while to get our room service dishes cleared, and twice, the turn-down maid forgot to leave face towels.
Also, we suggest, that more complimentary bottled water be available in our rooms. Before I figured out that I could get them at the Business Center or Fitness Center for free, I paid for some extra ones in the room.
This is not a negative but an observation. many of the bungalows are very far out into the lagoon. Ours was at least 1/4 mile out into the lagoon but we enjoyed the walk and exercise. You may want to ask for a closer bungalow to the main area if walking is a problem for you.
We would return here in a heartbeat.