The Edit: This review covers our 3-night stay at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort in a Beachfront Villa with a private pool, including arrival logistics, butler service, villa setup, dining costs, and on-property activities. We break down real food prices, service highs and lows, kid-friendly amenities, and how the resort compares to other Bora Bora properties we stayed at during two months of slow travel on the island. Whether you are deciding between villa types, weighing the resort against alternatives, or traveling with kids, this guide covers what the stay is actually like.

St. Regis Bora Bora Quick Tips

Tip	What to Know
Beach Villa vs Overwater	Beachfront villas felt more private, cooler, and had fewer mosquitoes. Better setup for families and easier overall flow.
Coffee Service	Order coffee the night before. Morning delivery can take 30–45 minutes if you wait until you wake up.
Transfers	Using the mainland dock is just as smooth as airport transfers and saves significant money. Plan this ahead.
Transportation Timing	Don’t cut it close. Resort transport isn’t always immediate and you can miss reservations or events.
Dining Strategy	Skip the tasting menus unless you’re fully committed. À la carte gives more control at these price points.
Meal Planning	You don’t need every meal on property. Skipping breakfast or spacing meals helps manage cost without feeling deprived.
Butler Expectations	It’s a rotating team, not one dedicated person. Helpful, but clarify the system upfront so you are not caught off guard.
Call Concierge Early	Phones can ring a while. Plan 15 to 30 minutes ahead for requests instead of relying on last-minute calls.
Bikes	Use the bikes as much as possible. It’s the fastest way to get around and part of the experience.
Kid Perks	Use the scavenger hunt, ice cream access, and activities early so you don’t run out of time.
Extra Guests	Call ahead to confirm occupancy. Booking details aren’t always clear for families or teens.
Slow Down	Don’t overbook activities. Some of the best moments happen just enjoying the villa.

We had only been in Bora Bora for about three weeks when we checked into the St. Regis, but by that point we already had some context. We weren’t arriving straight from the airport wide-eyed and seeing Bora Bora luxury for the first time.

We had already been exploring the island, learning how the logistics actually work, and had also already stayed at InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, so this was our second resort experience on island.

That honestly made this stay more interesting.

Because when people talk about the St. Regis Bora Bora, they usually talk about it like it exists in a vacuum. Just glossy overwater bungalow fantasy, honeymoon energy, champagne, and Mount Otemanu views. And yes, it has all of that. But what surprised me most was how much more balanced it felt in real life.

We stayed in a beach villa with a private pool, celebrated Audrey’s birthday, brought Addison in on a day pass, tested out the butler service, biked all over the property, swam with Moana in the lagoon, and ate meals that were either really good, wildly expensive, or both.

This is the version of what it was actually like staying here, including what impressed us, what felt thoughtful, what could have run smoother, and whether I think this resort is really worth it, especially with kids.

Getting to St. Regis Bora Bora

By the time we checked into the St. Regis, we were already staying on the main island, so we used the St. Regis mainland dock instead of arriving from the airport.

That matters because transfer logistics in Bora Bora are one of those things that can get confusing fast, and pricing changes depending on where you’re coming from. If you want the full breakdown of airport transfers, mainland dock pickups, what the pricing differences are, and how it all works, I covered that in a separate guide so this review doesn’t get buried in transport details.

Arrival at the St. Regis Bora Bora Main Dock

For our actual arrival though, it went pretty smoothly.

We drove our rental car to the St. Regis mainland dock, and one of the staff members working there helped us find a parking spot right away. Before we even fully settled in, he called over and had Alex confirm the reservation name so they could tag the car and connect it to our stay. It felt organized and easy, which I appreciated because Bora Bora logistics are not always as seamless as the luxury marketing makes them sound.

There’s a small air-conditioned waiting area at the dock in a hut-style lounge, and even that space already felt on brand for the resort. It had the same soft, polished, neutral look you see on property, with comfortable seating and pillows that made it feel like the experience had already started before we ever got on the boat.

The shuttle was pretty much on time. Staff loaded everyone’s luggage, helped people board, and within minutes we were heading across the lagoon toward the resort.

That short ride still hits, even when you’ve already been in Bora Bora for a few weeks. The water is unreal, Mount Otemanu starts showing itself in the distance, and there’s always that moment where you kind of sit there thinking, okay, this is actually happening.

Arrival First Impressions and Welcome Gifts

When we arrived at the resort dock, the welcome felt elevated but warm.

The general manager was there greeting arrivals, which immediately gave it a more personal feel, and they welcomed us with leis and drinks as we got settled. She actually guessed who I was, which was kind of funny and unexpected. To be fair, there were not a lot of us arriving at the same time, so it made sense, but it still stood out as a nice touch.

That first impression matters because the St. Regis could have easily felt polished in a way that bordered on stiff. Instead, it felt polished and friendly.

Check-in at the Resort

Check-in was done standing at a desk, and we were given welcome drinks. Which always feels nice after a transfer. While I filled out paperwork, they also gave us a printed rules and policy sheet that covered the resorts various policies and safety rules.

Audrey’s Birthday Welcome

One of the sweetest things about arrival was how clearly they had noted Audrey’s birthday in advance.

She got gifts, including a hat, and one of the best kid perks of the entire stay was introduced right there at check-in. She received an invitation to their Scream for Ice Cream amenity, which gave her access to unlimited homemade ice cream, milkshakes, and smoothies at Aparima Bar from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

That was a huge win.

It sounds small, but it was one of the first moments where the resort stopped feeling like a honeymoon property that merely tolerates children and started feeling like a place that had actually thought through how to make a stay exciting for them too.

She also got handwritten birthday notes, and there was more waiting in the villa later, which made the whole experience feel really thoughtful.

Our Butler Service and Property Tour

After check-in, we were introduced to our butler, Julie, who ended up giving us a really strong first impression of the service here.

Our room was ready immediately, which always feels like a gift after travel, and before taking us straight there, she gave us an orientation tour around the property.

That tour was actually one of the smartest parts of arrival because the St. Regis Bora Bora is large. It’s not the kind of resort where you instantly understand where everything is the moment you step foot on property.

Julie took us around the lagoon area and pointed out the main places we’d want to know, including where to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, where the tennis courts were, where the coral and marine life areas were, where the Moana fish tends to gather, and other points of interest around the resort.

That kind of orientation made a huge difference. Instead of spending the first day wandering around confused, we had a mental map of the property from the start.

St. Regis Butler Service

One thing I didn’t fully understand at first though was how the butler system actually works in practice. Julie was great, and we naturally assumed she was our butler for the whole stay. Then a different butler stopped by, and then another, and it became clear there were multiple people rotating through. I don’t know if that’s the norm everywhere but at first it felt a little disjointed because we had already built a rapport with Julie and then suddenly it wasn’t just Julie anymore.

It wasn’t bad service. It was more of a learning curve.

This was our first time staying at a St. Regis, so I think part of the confusion was simply not knowing what to expect. Once we understood it was a rotating team rather than one dedicated person, it made more sense. But if I stayed again, I would ask upfront how the butler system works so I could adjust my expectations from day one instead of figuring it out as we went.

Our Beachfront Villa With Private Pool

We did not stay in an overwater bungalow here.

We stayed in a beach villa on the sand with our own private pool, and for a family stay, I actually think it was the better call.

The villa felt huge. Not just nice hotel room huge, but genuinely spacious in a way that made it easy to spread out without feeling cramped. It had a large bedroom, a separate living area, a massive bathroom with a soaking tub and vanilla-scented Tahitian bath salts, and a private outdoor area with a plunge pool and direct beach access.

The design felt elevated without trying too hard. There was actual fine art in the room, oil paintings that made it feel more like a private villa with curated interiors than a standard luxury hotel room. It almost felt like being in a museum, but in the best possible way.

Inside the desk area, there was also a whole stationery setup with postcards, envelopes, paper, a notepad, pencil, highlighter, and paperclips. It had that old-school luxury feel that is kind of rare now. On top of the desk there was minibar information and a QR setup where you could scan to see the daily resort schedule. Some activities were just show-up experiences, while others had an asterisk and required calling concierge to check availability and reserve a spot.

The resort WiFi clocked in at around 2.8 Mbps download and an upload speed of 7.3 Mbps during our stay, which was enough for streaming and general use throughout the villa without any noticeable issues.

When we entered the villa, more welcome amenities were waiting. There were fruits, crackers, dried fruit, chocolate peanuts, bonbon cocoa, strawberry candy, juice, rum, and bottled Evian water. Audrey also had a birthday cake waiting, plus additional welcome cards for both our family and her birthday. It felt intentionally done, not generic.

Beach Villa vs Overwater Bungalow

This is one of the biggest decisions people make in Bora Bora, and because I do not have a separate post for this yet, it absolutely belongs here.

Having now experienced overwater at another resort and a beach villa here, I can confidently say they offer two very different kinds of stays.

Overwater bungalows are iconic. They’re dramatic, romantic, and very much the classic Bora Bora fantasy. There’s no denying the appeal of waking up above the lagoon and having that whole visual experience around you.

But the beach villa worked so well for us.

The Beach Villa

For starters, it felt far more private. The beach villa had a real sense of seclusion, with a full privacy fence and outdoor space that felt completely like our own. From what we observed, the overwater bungalows here seemed closer together. Beautiful, yes, but less private in a practical sense. In the villa, you could genuinely do whatever you wanted in your backyard without feeling like anyone was watching.

Our villa also felt easier with kids. We could move between the private pool, the sand, and the interior without stairs, ladders, or feeling like we had to monitor every movement around open water. It just felt more relaxed.

And there’s another thing that surprised us.

The climate felt different.

The overwater bungalow side, especially around the adult-only area, felt noticeably warmer and had way more mosquitoes. I got eaten up over there, and Alex did too, and he almost never gets bitten. On the beach villa side where we stayed, near the lagoon facing the motu, it felt breezier, cooler, and we barely had bug issues at all.

That matters more than people might think, especially if you’re traveling as a family or if you’re someone who gets eaten alive by mosquitoes.

The villa also had a helipad backdrop, which I thought might be annoying, but it ended up not bothering us at all. No helicopter came during our stay. The first one only showed up after we had already checked out, and Alex literally ran back over to photograph it.

If I went back with kids, I would absolutely pick the beach villa again.

Sleep Setup, Turndown, and Kid Details

One thing families will care about is whether the room actually functions well beyond just looking pretty in photos.

The pullout couch was shockingly comfortable. It opened into what felt like a full king-sized bed, and I actually got into it with Audrey to test it out. It had a thick memory foam topper and did not feel like one of those awful sofa beds that destroy your back. An adult could genuinely sleep there comfortably, which made us realize later that Addison could have stayed overnight with us for an additional fee.

When I booked online it showed the occupancy as more restrictive than it actually was. In hindsight I would just call and ask directly if you’re traveling with older kids or teens. That said, because meals were so expensive we still probably saved money by having her visit on a day pass, so it worked out either way.

St Regis Bora Bora Turndown Service

Turndown each night was thoughtful and they actually changed it up. The first night they placed Monoi Tahiti oil on the bed with a card featuring local dancers. The second night it was a manta ray postcard and pineapple scented Monoi oil, which was a nice detail that showed someone was paying attention rather than just running through a routine. There was also an environmental card asking guests to place it on the bed if they wanted to keep the same linens.

In the bathroom, housekeeping had neatly arranged our things on a folded napkin and tidied everything in a way that felt intentional rather than just cleaned.

Audrey also got child-sized slippers and a robe in her size, which was sweet and again made her feel included rather than like she was just tagging along on an adult trip.

One more thing worth mentioning: the sunrise from our villa was genuinely beautiful. We had a clear view of Taha’a in the distance and Mount Otemanu rising on the other side, and waking up to that every morning never got old.

Complimentary Butler Perks and the Reality of Coffee Service

The butler team explained the complimentary services that came with the villa, which included morning coffee service, hot chocolate for kids, and two complimentary pressings or steamings per day for clothes.

The pressing service was actually very fast and helpful. That part was great.

St Regis Bora Bora Coffee Service

The coffee service was one of those things that sounded luxurious but worked better once we understood the rhythm.

Each morning we ordered French press coffee and Audrey got hot chocolate. The hot chocolate came with heart-shaped sugar cubes, which she absolutely loved. It was adorable and one of those small details that kids remember.

But the coffee delivery was not instant. It took about 30 minutes one morning and closer to 45 minutes another. That does not sound like a huge deal until you are awake, want coffee, and are sitting there wondering where it is.

Had Julie been our butler for the whole stay, I probably would have just told her directly to have coffee ready by a specific time each morning. That kind of ongoing communication is easy when you have one person who knows your routine. With a rotating team, that context resets every time, and you end up having to re-explain yourself or just deal with the wait.

If I stayed again, I would schedule coffee the night before for a specific time instead of ordering it when I woke up. That small change would have made mornings feel a lot smoother.

The same friction showed up when calling the concierge. Throughout the stay, the staff kept saying just dial 9 if you need anything. But there were multiple times when I called and the phone rang nine or ten times before anyone answered. Eventually someone always did answer, and once they did, they were helpful. But it made the whole just call anytime thing feel less seamless than you would expect at this price point. Over time that subtle friction makes you start second guessing whether you’re being annoying, even though you were literally told to call for help.

Bikes, Wristbands, and Getting Around

The St. Regis Bora Bora is a bike resort.

Every villa gets assigned bikes and they are labeled with your villa number on a little plaque, which I loved because it meant there was no random bike hunt every time you needed one. They also brought Audrey a bike that fit her size, and they clearly had a range of sizes available for kids, so families do not need to stress about that.

You also get the option of using a wristband or a room key. Audrey did the wristband, which was perfect for a child. Alex and I used room keys, which worked fine for us.

Because the resort is so spread out, the bikes really do become part of the experience. That said, if you have mobility issues or an injury, transportation timing matters more than it should.

At one point I had hurt my ankle, and we were relying on pickup service rather than biking. We were told we’d be prioritized, but when we tried to make the Champagne Sabering Ceremony one evening, I called around 5:00 for a 5:30 event and the pickup did not come until about 5:35 after I called again.

The Champagne Sabering Ritual is a St. Regis signature tradition that happens at properties around the world. A staff member uses a saber to open a bottle of Champagne in one dramatic stroke while guests gather to watch. At the Bora Bora resort it takes place at Aparima Bar on select evenings throughout the week, and it is one of those small moments that makes the St. Regis feel distinctly like a St. Regis rather than just another luxury resort.

We missed the ceremony that first night, which was frustrating because it does not happen every day of the week. Thankfully there was another one the following day and we made sure to plan ahead that time so we did not miss it again.

The Main Pool, Adult Pool, and Overall Atmosphere

The main family-friendly pool was a great spot to spend time during the day.

It was warm, noticeably comfortable, and has a swim-up bar, which I did not realize ahead of time. Sitting in the water with a drink while looking at Mount Otemanu was one of those classic Bora Bora moments that really did live up to the hype. Families naturally gravitated here and the energy felt relaxed without being chaotic.

One moment at the pool that stuck with me was less about the resort and more about a fellow guest. We had set up our chairs, left our towels, and stepped up to the Aparima Bar area so Audrey could swim while we grabbed lunch. We were maybe ten feet away with a clear sightline to our chairs the whole time. When Audrey came back up to me and said one of the towels was missing, I looked over and realized the woman sitting nearby had taken it.

When I walked over and asked about it, she first said no, then admitted she had taken it and said it was not a big deal. Her husband agreed, telling me to just grab another one from the stack. And I thought, why should I have to do that? There were pool attendants literally steps away who would have brought her a fresh towel the second she asked. Instead she chose to take something off someone else’s chairs.

It was one of those moments where you have to decide how much energy it is worth. I said my piece, we went back after lunch, and she ended up leaving. But in hindsight I wish I had just taken my towel back and told her that if it was really not a big deal, she could go get her own.

The adult-only pool is a completely separate experience. Alex and I went over to check it out on our own and it is genuinely beautiful. Quieter, more tucked away, and very much designed for adults who want a different atmosphere. One thing worth knowing is that you will not find kids over there, which is actually a selling point depending on what kind of trip you are on.

The other way to avoid shared pool energy entirely is to stay in an overwater bungalow or a villa with a private pool, which gives you your own space whenever you want it.

One thing we did notice when spending time on the overwater bungalow side of the resort is that it felt noticeably warmer and had more mosquitoes than the beach villa side where we were staying. The villa side had more airflow and was cooler overall, which made a real difference in comfort, especially for longer stretches outside.

The Lagoonarium and Moana

If there is one feature of the St. Regis Bora Bora that earns its reputation completely, it is the lagoonarium.

Julie pointed it out on our arrival tour and it became one of the most-used parts of our stay. It is a calm, protected area of the lagoon where you can swim and snorkel without worrying about currents or boat traffic.

The lagoonarium gives you the calm, protected snorkel experience inside the resort, but if you want to get out onto the open lagoon and see the kind of marine life that doesn’t show up at the resort, a half-day or full-day boat tour is how you do it. Our guide to snorkeling in Bora Bora covers every lagoon tour operator on the island. But what made it stand out was not just that it felt safe. It was that it felt genuinely alive.

The marine life there is not something you have to search for. Fish are everywhere and many of them are curious enough to swim right up to you. The coral restoration work happening throughout the lagoon is also visible from the water, which gives the whole experience an extra layer of context beyond just floating around looking at pretty fish.

And then there is Moana.

Audrey had been wanting to see her since we arrived, and when she finally showed up, it completely lived up to the wait. Moana is a Napoleon humphead wrasse, and she is enormous and calm and completely unbothered by people. At one point I dropped a seashell into the water and she immediately moved toward it, which set off this little commotion of fish gathering and darting around. Audrey loved every second of it.

Those are the kinds of things that stick with kids long after the trip is over. Not the room category or the price point. The moment a giant fish tried to eat a shell out of her hand.

The lagoonarium also connects directly to Audrey’s scavenger hunt, which sent her to six points of interest around that area. She had to read the signs, learn about the ecosystem, and actually explore rather than just swim. Once she completed it, she got to choose between a watercolor kit and a bracelet-making kit as her reward. She picked the bracelet kit and was absolutely thrilled.

That combination of marine life, exploration, and a reward at the end made the lagoonarium feel like its own little world within the resort. For families especially, it is the kind of feature that justifies the stay.

The Hammock Island and Little Details That Made the Resort Feel Special

One of the prettiest spots on the property is the little island with the hammock, connected by a bridge.

It is a great photo spot, but it also ended up being more fun than expected because of the small interesting details around it. There was a long sea cucumber-looking creature in the water that was half snake, half alien, and there was even a tiny coconut fairy house nestled into the base of a tree nearby. It made the resort feel playful in a way that luxury properties sometimes forget to be.

We went back to the hammock area multiple times over the course of the stay, and each time there was something slightly different to notice or photograph. It became one of those spots on the property that just kept delivering.

Audrey’s Scavenger Hunt and Kid Activities

Audrey’s birthday gift included a kid’s activity and scavenger hunt booklet, which ended up being one of the best family touches of the stay.

The scavenger hunt sent her to six points of interest around the lagoon area where she could read signs, learn about the ecosystem, and explore the resort. Once she completed it, she got to choose a reward between a watercolor set and a bracelet-making kit. She picked the bracelet kit and was thrilled.

This is the kind of thing that sounds minor on paper but in practice changes the entire family dynamic of a resort stay. It gives kids something to engage with that still fits the property instead of making them feel like luxury is happening around them while they’re just waiting for adults to finish having fun.

She also did flower crown making with us later, which taught a different method than the one we had learned in Tahiti, and we all made crowns. We joined a Polynesian dance lesson, which was fun and relaxed, and later did a poisson cru making class where you actually got to eat it after.

Those little cultural activities gave the stay more dimension and made it feel less like a resort stay and more like an actual experience of the place.

Iridium Spa, Tennis Courts, and Fitness Center

The Iridium Spa is located on its own small private island connected to the main property by a walkway, and the setting alone is worth a walk over even if you do not book a treatment.

The spa menu includes traditional Polynesian-inspired treatments, massages, and full wellness experiences. We did not book anything during this stay, but if wellness is a priority for your trip it is worth planning ahead since appointments fill up quickly, especially during peak travel periods.

The resort also has tennis courts available for guests, and we saw people playing during the cooler parts of the morning and evening. There is also a fitness center on property if you want to keep up a routine while traveling.

Between the spa, sports facilities, water activities, and cultural programming, the St. Regis offers more ways to fill your days than most Bora Bora resorts.

Addison’s Day Pass and Why It Worked So Well

Addison joined us on a day pass rather than staying overnight, and because I have a full separate post for that experience, I am not going to bury this review in every detail of how it worked.

What I will say here is that it worked out really well.

The day before, I arranged a taxi at the mainland terminal for her. It was $40 each way from Vaitape to the St. Regis dock, so $80 round trip. The driver spoke English, was reliable, and followed through on everything exactly as arranged. I paid him upfront, gave him Addison’s number, gave her his, and he was there for both pickup and return without any issues.

When Addison arrived, she was greeted by a guy playing ukulele and singing, which was a really nice touch, and then we took family photos together in front of the mountain.

The resort handled the logistics of her day pass seamlessly. We all sat at the same table for lunch and they easily separated her day pass inclusions from our overnight benefits without any fuss. They also let her join the Polynesian dance lesson, the botanic tour, and the Champagne Sabering Ritual with us, which I really appreciated. They even let me charge her day pass to our room so it counted toward our stay and points earning.

We had decided to skip breakfast that morning since Addison was arriving at 11 and we knew we would all eat together. By the time she arrived we were still full from the night before anyway, so waiting and making it a late brunch situation worked out perfectly.

After she left on the 5:45 boat, we went to the boutique, had a look around, and then ended up at Bamboo for dinner, which turned out to be a really solid choice.

Dining at St. Regis Bora Bora

Dining is one of the biggest planning points at this resort because the pricing can add up very quickly.

Since I already have a dedicated dining post, I am not going to turn this review into a giant spreadsheet of every food cost and strategy here. But a few real examples belong in this review because food is part of the actual stay experience.

Lagoon Restaurant

Julie noticed we did not have dinner plans on arrival and proactively got us a 5:30 reservation at Lagoon, which was genuinely helpful because otherwise we probably would have scrambled later.

Lagoon is stunning. It sits at the base of Mount Otemanu right next to 727 Bar, and has glass floor panels where you can see fish swimming beneath you. Audrey loved that part and honestly so did I. It felt like eating in a giant overwater bungalow.

When we sat down, they immediately brought around a champagne cart. The lowest glass was around $29 USD and the next tier up was somewhere around $53 to $59 a glass. Absolutely wild. We passed.

The tasting menu was around $250 per person and we skipped that too. Not because we do not appreciate chef-driven dining, but because at that price point I want to know exactly what I am ordering. A mystery meal where you might not love half the courses is not something I am interested in gambling on when the bill is already going to be significant no matter what we do.

We ordered à la carte instead, and they hit us with an $11 Evian water before we had even thought about it.

Before the mains they brought complimentary starters, including hanging beef jerky, fish bone-shaped crackers with pâté down the middle, and a tropical ceviche. Presentation was beautiful. The dinnerware was stunning, with little oyster plate details that made everything feel considered. I did not love the fish cracker thing, but the rest was genuinely good and Audrey was impressed.

The truffle mashed potatoes were one of the best things I ate during the entire trip. They had a cured egg yolk tucked inside and were just perfectly executed. The kind of dish where you take a bite and then immediately take another before you have even finished chewing the first one.

Our bill included mahi mahi for $76, catch of the day for $78, a kid’s tomato pasta for $19.20, and truffle mashed potatoes for $23.30. Total came to $207.50 without alcohol.

Service got a little slow as the restaurant filled up. We tried to leave twice not realizing they were trying to do one more birthday moment for Audrey, and eventually they brought out a candle with a jelly-looking dessert that said happy birthday. It felt a little underwhelming in the moment, but the full birthday cake waiting back in the villa made up for it entirely. That was the better birthday moment anyway, and it was the perfect ending to the night.

The lagoon was glowing on the walk back and you could still see fish moving below the lit panels as we left. It is the kind of thing that just stays with you.

Bamboo Restaurant

Bamboo ended up being a really good dinner choice and honestly one of the highlights of the stay from a food perspective.

The food was strong, the cocktails were beautiful, and watching sunset from there was a whole vibe. It felt a little more relaxed than Lagoon but still very much in line with Bora Bora luxury pricing.

We ordered edamame for $20, which was just plain edamame with no seasoning or salt, which honestly felt a little absurd for that price. A spicy ahi tuna roll for $38 that was genuinely one of the best bites of the whole trip, it just melted. A kid’s fried rice for $17.20, teriyaki chicken teppanyaki for $60, sweet and sour fish wok for $55, and cocktails at $26 each.

The ahi roll alone was worth going back for. The edamame was a perfect example of the kind of thing that makes you laugh a little in disbelief while still being aware that you are, in fact, eating $20 edamame in Bora Bora.

Breakfast and Why We Skipped It

We intentionally skipped breakfast both mornings.

The first morning it came down to timing since Addison was arriving at 11 and there was no point eating a full breakfast only to turn around and do a late brunch two hours later. The second morning we looked at the spread, which leaned more continental with a lot of breads and basic buffet staples, and nothing about it felt exciting enough to justify another expensive meal.

We have had better breakfast spreads elsewhere, and at these prices I would rather skip it and time lunch strategically than force a meal just because it is available.

That was one of the ways we kept spending a little more reasonable without feeling deprived or like we were missing out.

The Signature Bloody Mary and Elite Perks

At check-in, they gave me a sheet outlining our Silver Elite benefits. It was not life-changing but it was nice. It included a 10% discount at the resort boutique, 20% off Bloody Mary cocktails at Aparima Bar and breakfast at Te Pahu, 20% off the cocktail of the week, and 15% off selected spa boutique items.

The cocktail discount dropped the drink of the week from around $19 to about $15, which was actually noticeable in the moment.

We also learned that every St. Regis property has its own signature Bloody Mary variation. Bora Bora’s version is the Bora Mary and it includes watermelon. It was interesting, worth trying at least once just for the experience, and I am glad we did. Not necessarily something I would order twice, but a fun detail that makes the St. Regis feel like its own thing rather than just a generic luxury brand.

Our Final Morning and Late Checkout

On our last morning, Alex and I biked over to the adult pool to take photos and film, then swung through the breakfast area one more time. After looking at it again, I still was not convinced. Lots of bread, basic setup. We have had better. We skipped it again.

We went back to the hammock area for more photos, back to the villa for more photos, and called for coffee one more time. It took another 45 minutes. Audrey took a bath while we waited, and once the coffee arrived we did photos of all of us enjoying it together in the room, which ended up being some of my favorite images from the trip.

The late checkout ended up being one of the most appreciated service wins of the whole stay. I originally thought we would have to be out by noon, but they extended us to 3:30 p.m., which made the entire last day feel relaxed instead of rushed.

It also gave us time to finish Audrey’s scavenger hunt around the lagoon, which we had not quite completed yet. It started raining partway through and we used the umbrellas the resort had provided, which was a nice touch. We got all six points done and she turned in her booklet and collected her bracelet kit reward.

From there we did flower crown making, where we learned a totally different technique than the one we had learned in Tahiti, which was a fun surprise. Alex made one for Addison to take home. We all made crowns. Then we did the poisson cru class, ate it after because it was included, and it was so good.

Audrey got her fifth smoothie of the trip at Aparima, we sat by the pool while the pool attendants came around with fruit, chatted with the girl we had met in the dance lesson a couple days earlier, and just let the last few hours breathe.

Then I went and checked out, settled the bill, and we waited for the shuttle.

Checkout and Departure

When it was time to leave, after checkout they gave us seashell necklaces, which was a sweet departure touch.

We waited for the shuttle and a different butler who was handling our departure came out with cold Evian waters while we sat outside, chatted with us, and just made the waiting feel easy rather than like we were being ushered out. Then they loaded our luggage and we left on one of those sleek polished resort boats that somehow makes even departure feel expensive.

It was a genuinely nice send-off.

Service Highs and Lows

There were a lot of thoughtful service moments in this stay.

Julie’s arrival tour was genuinely helpful and set the whole stay up well. The birthday touches for Audrey were sweet and felt personal. The pressing service was fast. Letting Addison join our activities and charging her day pass to our room was flexible and appreciated. The late checkout made our last day feel full instead of rushed. The cold waters on departure were a nice final touch.

The biggest misses were not about attitude. Nobody was rude. It was more about timing and communication gaps.

The long ring times when calling concierge stood out across the whole stay. Having to plan 15 to 30 minutes ahead for simple requests made things feel less seamless than I expected. Missing the sabering ceremony the first night because transport came too late was disappointing, especially after I had already explained the timing and mentioned my ankle.

The rotating butler system is something worth understanding before you arrive. It is not a bad system, it just requires more active communication from the guest than a single-butler setup would. If you go in knowing that and build those communication habits from day one, the stay runs more smoothly.

At this price point, a little more proactive coordination from the resort side would go a long way.

Is St. Regis Bora Bora Actually Family Friendly?

This question deserves its own full breakdown, and I did write one, because family friendly means different things to different people.

But the short answer is yes, more than I expected.

This is not a giant kids club resort with nonstop child programming. It still feels like a luxury Bora Bora property first. But what it does really well is integrate kids into the experience in a way that feels thoughtful rather than performative.

For us, that looked like smoothies and hot chocolate, a scavenger hunt, bracelet kit rewards, child-sized robes and slippers, flower crown making, dance lessons, easy bike access, and a villa setup that genuinely worked well as a family.

It did not feel like kids were treated as an inconvenience.

That alone sets it apart from a lot of luxury properties.

Who This Resort Is Best For

I think this resort works best for people who want Bora Bora luxury but still want the trip to feel livable.

It works really well for families who want a calm, high-end trip where kids are part of the experience rather than shipped off to an entirely separate world. It also works for honeymooners, couples, and older travelers because the vibe really did feel balanced. We saw all of the above during our stay and nobody felt out of place.

If you want a loud, activity-heavy, super kid-centric resort, this is probably not it.

But if you want beautiful surroundings, privacy, family inclusivity, and little thoughtful touches that make the stay feel memorable, this is a strong option.

Would I Choose St. Regis Over InterContinental Thalasso for Families?

Right now, yes.

InterContinental Thalasso is beautiful, but for families I would pick the St. Regis.

The beach villa setup felt easier and more private. The scavenger hunt, unlimited smoothies and ice cream window, child-sized amenities, and overall kid integration gave the St. Regis the edge for me. And with the added safety concerns and construction we experienced at the Thalasso, the St. Regis felt more family-friendly without sacrificing the luxury atmosphere.

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa Review

Coming Soon: St. Regis vs Westin and St. Regis vs Four Seasons

We are also working on full comparison guides for St. Regis vs Westin Bora Bora and St. Regis vs Four Seasons Bora Bora, which are the two most searched comparisons for this resort. If that is the decision you are currently trying to make, those guides will go much deeper into the side-by-side differences across room types, pricing, dining, and overall experience. We will link them here as they go live.

St Regis Bora Bora Map

Here’s the St Regis Bora Bora Map. It’s easiest to take a screenshot and leave it in your notes. The QR code on the map will take you to where you can book activities, see a digital map, and book reservations. You can also dial 9 at anytime to get in contact with the concierge from your villa.

Our Honest Take

What surprised me most about the St. Regis Bora Bora was how balanced it felt.

It still delivered the beauty, privacy, and elevated atmosphere people come here for. The villa was gorgeous, the property was stunning, and there were absolutely moments that felt very this is why people dream about Bora Bora. But it also made space for families in a way that felt real instead of forced.

It wasn’t perfect. The concierge response times were slower than I expected, coffee required more planning than I would have liked, and a few service moments did not feel quite as seamless as the price point suggests they should.

But overall, yes, I would go back with kids.

I would choose the beach villa again.

And I do think the St. Regis Bora Bora is one of the better options in Bora Bora for families who want a beautiful, high-end stay without feeling like their child is an afterthought.

Oh, and one last thing I found out during the stay: Couples Retreat was filmed here. The St Regis bora bora actually has a dedicated TV channel to it! We confirmed it. So naturally I drew a bath, poured in the Tahitian vanilla salts, and watched it that night. Highly recommend as a way to end a day in Bora Bora.

More From Our St. Regis Bora Bora Guide

Planning a stay at the St. Regis Bora Bora? We spent two months slow traveling Bora Bora and stayed at multiple resorts on the island. These five posts cover everything you need to know before you book.

• St. Regis Bora Bora Resort Review: Every Detail You Need Before You Book
• St. Regis Bora Bora Boat Transfer Guide: Airport vs Mainland, Prices & Shuttle Schedule
• St. Regis Bora Bora Dining Guide: Restaurants, Real Prices and What to Expect
• Is St. Regis Bora Bora Actually Family Friendly? What It’s Really Like With Kids
• St. Regis Bora Bora Day Pass: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Stay at the St. Regis Bora Bora for Free: Our Points and Loyalty Strategy