Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa Hotel Review

Worth Traveling For

If you’re flying halfway around the world to Bora Bora, your hotel matters. This isn’t the kind of destination where you spend all day sightseeing and only return to your room to sleep. Your resort becomes part of the vacation.

I stayed at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, which reopened after a complete renovation, and I’d happily book it again (and again). The overwater bungalows are exactly what you came for: access to the lagoon from every point, including your room. I spent mornings drinking coffee on my deck looking at Mount Otemanu, afternoons out on the lagoon swimming with reef sharks and stingrays, and evenings back at the resort for dinner. It never felt like I had to choose between experiencing Bora Bora and enjoying the hotel.

blue water in bora bora — *Image courtesy of Deanne Kaczerski*

The Westin also gives you a reason to spend time on property beyond the obvious. It’s home to Bora Bora’s only sea turtle rehabilitation center, where injured turtles from across French Polynesia are treated before being released back into the wild. It’s one of those experiences that stays with you long after you leave — and one that makes this resort feel different from nearly every other luxury stay on the island. This Eco Center is the only one of its kind in the vicinity, wildlife care specialists travel island to island picking up injured turtles and bringing them back to the center for rehab. You’ll meet their longest-residing resident, Kenoa, who arrived at the center May 2020.

resort view of beach, dining and mountain — *Image courtesy of The Westin* *Bora Bora Resort & Spa*

Hotel Highlights

The renovation gives the resort a lighter, more contemporary feel than many of Bora Bora’s older properties. The overwater bungalows feature glass floor panels, oversized bathrooms, large outdoor decks, and ladders that drop directly into the lagoon. The resort caters to couples so if you want to schedule a boat ride (with Captain Ron, I highly recommend it) or schedule spa treatments every day, they will help accommodate your request. If your idea of a perfect afternoon involves reading a book, jumping into the water, ordering another cocktail, and repeating the process, you’ll fit right in.

spa at westin — *Image courtesy of Deanne Kaczerski*

Dining was another pleasant surprise. One of my favorite meals happened at Maere, an intimate restaurant with only a handful of tables where the chef creates a different tasting menu each evening based on what’s freshest that day. It wasn’t overly formal or fussy. Breakfast at Tipanier was incredible — you’ll find breakfast favorites, any type of pancake, waffle, crepe, or other flour-based breakfast delight you could possibly want, plus Japanese breakfast favorites. Have an allergy? No problem. The chef came out and walked me through what was safe to eat and specially prepared a plate of pastries without nuts. Lunch often stretched well into the afternoon and usually across a daybed, with a glass or two of bubbles, and trying to decide whether the day called for the lagoon or the pool.

The other standout is, as mentioned, the Eco Center, where guests can learn about the resort’s sea turtle conservation efforts and see turtles being rehabilitated before they’re released back into the wild. It’s rare to find a luxury resort that offers something genuinely meaningful alongside everything else.

wake in bora bora — *Image courtesy of Deanne Kaczerski*

Rooms & Experience

My overwater bungalow quickly became my favorite place on property. The room was spacious, and nearly every angle looked out toward the lagoon. I lost count of how many times I climbed down that ladder. Sometimes to swim. Sometimes just because the water was right there. By the second morning, I stopped asking myself whether I wanted to get in the water. The answer was always yes.

ocean villas — *Image courtesy of Deanne Kaczerski*

Despite being one of the larger resorts in Bora Bora, it never felt busy. There was plenty of space around the pool, quiet corners throughout the property, and enough distance between bungalows that it still felt private. I’d recommend it most for couples, honeymooners, or anyone celebrating something special. But honestly, anyone looking for a week where your biggest decision is whether to swim before or after lunch will be perfectly happy here. There’s also plenty to keep everyone busy: paddleboards, jet skis, a platform in the middle of the resort you can swim to, even gear to snorkel.

room at the westin — *Image courtesy of The Westin Bora Bora Resort and Spa*

What to Know Before You Book

Splurge on an Overwater Villa facing Mount Otemanu. You’ll spend far more time on your deck than you think, and waking up to that view never gets old.

Don’t spend your entire trip at the resort. Bora Bora is meant to be experienced from the water, whether you’re snorkeling coral gardens, swimming with reef sharks and stingrays, or simply cruising around the lagoon. The concierge can arrange everything, and it’s worth getting out at least once or twice to appreciate just how extraordinary the atoll really is.

Before you leave, reserve dinner at Maere and make time for the Eco Center. You’ll remember both, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably remember climbing into that lagoon from your bungalow more than anything else.