The Best Resorts in Bora Bora, French Polynesia

The St Regis is big on romance, from the private plunge-pool views of the setting sun silhouetting Mount Otemanu, to the huge beds in the gigantic over-the-water villas; not to mention the heart-shaped bathtubs and the private steps from your bungalow into a lagoon of turtles. There are even wedding dresses to choose from in the resort boutique, priests on standby and a full bridal water-chauffeur service in an outrigger canoe accompanied by Polynesian dancers.

This place delivers every luxury you’d expect from the five-star-plus international brand – and more. There are island views from every bedroom, fish flickering over the reef below your private sun deck and the scent of Tahitian gardenia rising from the tropical gardens as the stars twinkle above. As well as doing romance, the Four Seasons extends a welcome to families. Check in for complimentary childcare, a clubhouse for children under 12, a designated chill island for teens and an endless menu of activities, from snorkelling with marine biologists to paddleboard classes.

Like its rivals, the InterContinental has those over-the-lagoon rooms with easy access to snorkel-worthy waters. It has al fresco under-the-stars dining, a beach of sugar-white sand and an extravagant seawater spa. Moreover, it’s romantic almost to the point of excess – there’s even a garden of love, where couples can lock a padlock into a tree. But what really sets the hotel apart is its location in one of the calmest, shallowest and most secluded corners of the lagoon, where the water is waist height and you don’t have to watch out for whizzing jet skis and boats.

Now part of the landscape from the Maldives to the Caribbean, over-the-water bungalows were invented at the Bora Bora Nui. Why does this matter? Because as the pioneer, Conrad bagged the best beach – a half-mile stretch of powdery perfection that makes the island’s other resorts look bonsai by comparison. Better still, as the property is tucked away behind an islet, there are no other hotels to spoil the view.

Set on a tiny coral cay, safely removed from the competition, the Pearl is something of a Bora Bora bargain, with affordable room prices, including unobstructed views of Mount Otemanu. You don’t get the sparkling perfection of pricier properties – the rooms and amenities need refurbishment, and the bars and restaurants will cost you extra.

The Maitai is a resort of simple tiled-floor cubes for rooms, with balcony views over a garden of hibiscus blooms. Rooms are located just metres from the aquamarine lagoon, and they’re under starry skies every bit as beautiful as the ones you’ll see above the glamorous Four Seasons. That said, the beach can’t compare, and you won’t get any mountain or sunset backdrops, as the Maitai Polynesia is on the main island. It’s worth noting, too, that if you upgrade and stay over the water, you’ll pay almost as much as you would in the big-brand hotels.

Kids will love this place, as it’s home to the Bora Bora Turtle Center, which protects and cares for local marine life, including endangered green turtles – and guests can observe and participate. The location is beautiful to contemplate over raw fish marinated in coconut milk at the toes-in-the-sand Le Te Ava, or Le Tipanié, with its metallic lagoon view. Book an overwater premium lagoon-view bungalow; a fixed ladder eases you into deep water for cooling swims.