The Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is one of Bora Bora's newest premium resorts, having only opened in the summer of 2006. Located on Piti Aau, one of the motus (low sand islands) that form part of Bora Bora's coral reef, this resort offers a truly luxurious experience for those who are looking for that something special.

 

The resort only offers overwater accommodation with several categories of overwater villas; 14 Emerald villas (3 of which are wheelchair accessible), 16 Sapphire Villas, 15 Diamond Villas, 18 Otemanu Diamond Villas, 7 Diamond End of Pontoon Villas, 5 Pool and 5 Premium Pool Overwater Villas, 4 Brando Suites (option of 1- & 2-bed). With the standard villas being nearly 95sqm in size (including the sundecks), these are some of the largest overwater villas in French Polynesia.  They offer a separate bedroom area with a king size bed (can convert into 2 twins) that looks out of a huge glass wall to the lagoon, an ensuite bathroom with double vanities, separate bath and shower, separate toilet, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries, a spacious lounge area with cable/satellite flat screen TV, DVD/CD player, a Bose sound dock for iPod, IDD telephone, In-room electronic safe, Wi-Fi Internet access, tea and coffee making facilities, including an espresso machine, a daily restocked mini-bar, a double sofa bed and chairs, an opening glass floor panel coffee table and wide opening doors onto a 2 tier furnished sundeck with steps down into the warm lagoon.

 

The stunning new Brando Suites are more than twice the size of the standard villa, offering 217sqm/2,335sqft of luxurious space as a 1-Bed, and 322sqm/3,465sqft as a 2-Bed.  They including a generous master bedroom just off the living room, with a King bed (or 2 twins on request) and huge picture window, ensuite bathroom with soaking tub right next to a picture window, double vanity, separate shower and dressing area and doors opening light and spacious living room, with dining, lounge and breakfast bar area, and a furnished deck area that is almost the same size as the living room, with a 19sqm infinity pool and lower deck with access into the water.  If booked as a 2-bed Suite, the additional master bedroom is on the opposite side of the living room, and has the luxury of an upstairs lounge with private shaded sundeck. There is also a small kitchen area accessed just to the side of the entrance door.

 

The main difference between the villas is their location in relationship to the beach and the hotel reception buildings. The Emerald villas are the closest to the beach and their views will be in towards the beach and the Resort. The Sapphire villas are in the middle of the connecting walkways with views mainly along the lagoon roughly 90° to the beach and the Diamond villas are mainly located towards the end of the walkway, though a few are closer to the beach but face directly out to the lagoon.  The Otemanu Diamond villas are close to the beach but face directly across the lagoon to Mount Otemanu and the Diamond End of Pontoon are exactly that and are the furthest out into the lagoon offering the best views across and along the lagoon.  As a consequence of this, they will be in the higher price band.  The new Pool and Premium Pool Villas, located on the south branch of the pontoon, are now completed and available to book

 

Resort has two main restaurants; The Reef, which is open for breakfast and dinner and Sand's which opens from 11.00 am to 9.30pm for casual dining right on the beach. In addition, there is the intimate gourmet dining room, Le Corail, which only seats 24 guests, has a huge fine wine cellar and is open from seasonally from April to November. Le Corail also has a special 7 dish gourmet tasting menu on offer.  As well as the standard dining options there is a popular lounge/bar, Bubbles, which is open from 10.00 am to 11.00 pm and, as well as offering refreshing cocktails and light snacks, it affords great views across the lagoon to Mount Otemanu, the heart of the main island of Bora Bora, and the South Beach Bar, located on the beach and ideal for a casual drink throughout the day.  The resort also offers 24 hour room service.

 

To occupy your days here, there are so many things you can do, you might be spoilt for choice.  There is an outdoor infinity pool with fabulous views straight across the lagoon towards Mt Otemanu plus there are several little inlets of warm shallow water in and around the resort.  The resort has several areas of white sand beach from which you can easily just walk into the shallow water or relax on the sand or in one of the beach cabanas and enjoy the view.  You can swim, snorkel or even feed the friendly rays that swim around you.  Scuba diving trips can be arranged and kayaks and jet skis (escorted) are available for guest to use straight off the beach.  Other activities available in resort are tennis, a well-equipped fitness centre with aerobics classes, walking trails, sailing and water skiing, and dotted around the beautiful, tropically landscaped gardens there are several secluded jacuzzi spas, just to sit, relax and enjoy the views. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in the villas and around the Resort.  Nearby, golf, parasailing, windsurfing and fishing trips are available.  Full and part day trips and excursions can be booked at reception, if you want to go further afield and explore.

 

The resorts' Thalasso Spa operated by Algotherm, located on a small inner Lagoon, offers one of the best Spa options to be found anywhere in French Polynesia. The Spa offers the full range of treatments, in 14 separate treatment rooms, utilising deep ocean seawater, which is rich in essential nutrients and minerals.  There is also a sauna and steam room.  At the end of a very relaxing day soaking up the Polynesia sun, try an even more relaxing spa treatment, a perfect end to a perfect day.

 

If you want to explore their sister property, the Intercontinental Le Moana Resort, there is a daily shuttle boat that can whisk you across the lagoon in just 15 minutes.  You can relax on their beach, be pampered at their spa or just have lunch or dinner in their restaurant, just for a change. The free* shuttle departs at 8.15am, 9.15am 12.15am, 12.45pm, and 2.15pm, and return times are half an hour prior, as the boat is based at the Le Moana.  Then there are later shuttles that they charge for, roughly £12-13* round trip, that leave at 5.00pm, 6.00pm, 7.00pm 9.30pm and 10.30pm, again returning 30 minutes prior to these times, back to the Thalasso Resort.  So you could take the 5.00pm boat over, spend a few hours on the beach or swimming in the lagoon, then have a quick change, enjoy dinner in the Noa Noa Restaurant, then catch the 10.00pm boat back, just in time for bed. Check out the sister hotel here. The Le Moana also runs a twice daily shuttle bus into Vaitape town, for approximately £10* return per person, at 9.45am and 2.45pm, returning 11.00am and 5.00pm, which you can combine with the boat and have a day trip into town.

 

The Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa is the jewel in Intercontinental's crown in French Polynesia, and they offer excellent service, amenities and facilities at a reasonable rate.  If you want a luxurious resort that won't break the bank, then this could be the Resort for you.

 

Click HERE to visit the hotel's own website

 

* Shuttle prices were correct at time of publishing.  Times and prices may change at any time without notice

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