Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

Omg unbelievably gorgeous !!! We did have a little rough start to our stay but the staff was amazing and they were so kind and definitely went above and beyond to make the rest of our stay as smooth as possible. We were very happy with all of the excursions we went on especially the private sunset cruise dinner, would highly recommend!! My fiancé and I got engaged on this trip - and we loved it so much we are already planning on going back for our first anniversary.

The Four Seasons Bora Bora is exactly what you’d expect — a postcard come to life. The overwater bungalows are stunning, perched above water so clear it looks fake, with views that’ll make you forget your own name. But here’s the thing: for the price you're paying, you start to expect more than just eye candy. The service? It’s fine. But it’s not the kind of service that makes you feel like you're a king — it’s more like they're checking off a list. And the food? Mediocre at best. Overpriced, underwhelming, and not nearly as good as the fresh fish and tropical flavors you could get at a random roadside shack. You’re paying for the view, not the experience, and that’s where the Four Seasons falls short. Gorgeous? Yes. Worth the price? Not really.

My partner and I stayed at the Four Seasons Bora Bora to celebrate a big milestone birthday this past December. From the time we booked in August to the conclusion of our stay it was an incredible experience. The property is absolutely breathtaking - from the sweeping views of the lagoon and the mountain to the private lagoon that is home to coral and over 200 species of fish! The bungalows are also beautiful and incredibly well taken care of. They're something straight out of a movie. Wow! The concierge group made sure our stay was logistically flawless and were a great resource in helping us identify/schedule tours and other local events. Immediately upon arrival and throughout the duration of our stay we were treated with unbelievable service that made us feel special each and every moment. The staff went above and beyond to accommodate any request and they made my partner feel EXTRA special on her birthday with a few surprises throughout the day! A few folks that I would like to specifically thank are Sarabelle from concierge, Laura and Jeanne from Vaimiti, Angele from Arii Moana and Tetu from the beachfront. You were all wonderful and played a big part in making our stay memorable. Thank you! Finally, a special thank you to Adrien Champion. We had so much fun chatting and getting to know you throughout the week! It is evident that you love what you do and truly find joy in providing great service. Building connections with great individuals like yourself is what traveling is all about. Thank you for continuously going the extra mile and spending time with us during your busy day. We hope that our paths will cross again in the future!!!

This was our second stay at the Four Seasons Bora Bora. It is just such a beautiful spot on earth. Everything is perfect in the smallest detail. One example: the material and the colors of the pepper mill, the plates and the tables at the beach restaurant are just beautiful. Everybody is extremely friendly and proactive. They greet you and know your name. You don't have to wait for anything. I had forgotten the charging cable for my electric shaver and they offered to go to the main town and buy one for me (I declined that offer). The food tastes great, the beach is how you would envision one in paradise. Their private snorkeling lagoon is amazing and has clear water with lots of colorful fish. We can't wait to return!

I just wrapped a 10-day trip to the Four Seasons where we were celebrating a friend's 40th birthday. Our entire visit was exceptional - everyone on staff is incredibly kind and helpful. Breaking out the review to include dining at the resort and excursions, with shout outs to our favorite people on staff. DINING - Breakfast at Tere Nui - there is a massive breakfast spread every day, and you can also order custom eggs, crepes, etc. Fan favorites on the buffet included: fresh coconut water (as someone who doesn't drink the packaged kind in the States, this stuff is incredible), and the pan coco ipo and nutella doughuts on the pastry table. The fresh coconut milk is also fantastic, and I used it in my morning iced coffee. Julien is the restaurant manager, and a delight. Angel was our go-to server throughout the trip. We asked to be sat in her section each morning - if she's working, I encourage you to do the same. - Poolside lunch + drinks - Tini (said like martini) takes excellent care of everyone at the pool from consistently providing ice water, to drinks and lunch service. He and the team also made sure we always had enough umbrellas to stay shaded. Every cocktail we tried on or off the menu were amazing. - Arii Moana - we ate more dinners here than any other restaurant on premises. First- Aure and the managers are the best! The sommelier has curated fantastic wines - I enjoyed the selection here most of any restaurant at the resort. Standouts on the regular menu: the tomato & burrata salad and the lobster risotto. On La Bella Vita nights, I recommend the white pizza (we split it as an app), and quite literally ALL of the desserts. The panna cotta, the tiramisu and the limoncello cup were all fantastic. You also can't go wrong with the chef's pasta any evening, and the foccacia and olive oil to start every meal is delicious. Chef Cyndie is primarily based here and she is incredible. We did a cooking class with her and made poisson cru (more on that below) and became fast friends. We wound up seeing her several more times at dinners and she was always helpful in making suggestions on the menus. - Vaimiti - we ate here 3 times, all on the regular menu (we did not do the wok/sushi night). Menu standouts: the salmon on sushi rice appetizer, and the stir fry beef entree. Cocktails are the strong suit at this spot- don't sleep on the mocktails (which are named after Disney princesses) - they're a good option to have as is or add some liquor to. Fare Hoa - This spot just reopened during our stay. We had 2 dinners here- one of which was an amazing Christmas Eve buffet. I am not sure if they do one of these dinners weekly, but if so, I encourage you to try it. They had tons of sushi, shellfish, ceviche, and an enormous cheese platter (technically part of dessert but we had it during apps), chateaubriand and pumpkin risotto made in a cheese wheel. They also did flambeed fruit and had tons of dessert options. On the regular dinner menu, we loved the lobster, the octopus, and the Polynesian bruschetta on coconut bread. Side note: the coconut ice cream is amazing. Make sure to order a scoop at any restaurant that has on the dessert menu. EXCURSIONS/ACTIVITIES - Shark + Rays snorkel trip - this was by far my favorite activity of the trip. The snorkeling is amazing and bests anything you've likely done in the Caribbean/Atlantic Ocean. The boat makes 3 stops - sting rays in shallow lagoon water where they swim around you, then reef sharks in the open ocean where dozens of sharks are swimming, followed by a reef snorkel where you can see tons of different fish and sea life. Tau and Tama were our guides - we had a blast with them, they played ukulele and sang while we sailed between stops and were especially kind and helpful with any of the more timid folks on the boat. We did the option with a private lunch on a motu at the end. You have the island to yourself, and the spread is amazing. Plus, you can eat at a picnic table in the lagoon with your feet in the water/sand. FYI - there's a cute shop on the motu and they take Apple Pay. - Jet Ski Tour - another top activity of the trip. Our tour was 2.5 hours, with lunch at the Bora Bora Beach Club. Renzo was our guide and he was fantastic. You spend about an hour riding around the island to lunch, then an hour at lunch (there's also a shop here so bring cash + cards), and a 30 minute ride back to the resort. Super fun and not challenging - this is coming from someone who had been on a jet ski one time, a decade ago, prior to this trip. - Sunset sail on a catamaran - the Vitamin Sea boat is lovely. We sailed with Thelma and Alex and had a gorgeous evening. They served rum punch and snacks (French macarons at the end were my favorite). As someone who loves a good sunset sail, this is one to put on your itinerary for one night. - Cooking class at the Four Seasons - we did a cooking class with Chef Cyndie and her sous chef Tony, where we made Poisson Cru. First we learned how to crack coconuts and scrape out the coconut for pulp and milk. Cyndie and Tony are the best- we had so much fun with them and they made sure to find us throughout our stay and check in. Each person in the class makes a sizable portion of poisson cru, which you then enjoy with complimentary wine. We each received a Bora Bora cookbook and apron to take home. OTHER INFO - Fitness center - a big FYI - the gym is open air, which means you're working out in the heat and humidity of the island. I was sweating just standing there when we swung by to see it one morning. The long walks to and from the bungalows provide ample exercise during the trip, but I can see the fitness center as a good option on a rainy day. - Free activities - be sure to check the resort app or the surfboards at reception with the day's activities, as there's usually 1-2 complimentary ones happening daily. We did the flower crown making class on the night of the Polynesian dinner which was easy and provided the ultimate accessory for dinner attire. My friend and I also got to paint our own pareos (small sarongs) one afternoon and they turned out lovely. - Reception - Theirry and Louise at reception are absolute gems. They were helpful to our party throughout the trip. - Ferry ride to Vaitape - we took a boat from the resort to Vaitape to go shopping and have lunch. I do not recommend it- there are no sidewalks and you're walking in the street with cars in either direction. It will be challenging to find enough to do during the 3 hours before your ride back to the hotel. This is not your typical downtown/stretch of retail that one might find on other islands you've visited. We happened upon Bora Healthy for lunch which was great, and wound up finding souvenirs at Bora Bora Original (the store's air conditioning was a godsend). Bora Bora is a literal paradise. Any watersports or excursions are the best way to spend your time, beyond simply looking around and soaking in the 360 degree picturesque surroundings. Pack a ton of sunscreen and enjoy!