Formerly known as the Hilton Bora Bora Nui, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui was completely refurbished and reopened in April 2017.
Five nights at the Conrad would the stage for a fulfilling fortnight in French Polynesia, and as our arrival date approached, I was brimming with anticipation at the thought of checking another major aspirational resort off my bucket list.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Booking
I booked this five-night stay for a total of 356,000 Hilton Honors points, taking advantage of Hilton’s Fifth Night Free benefit, and allowing me to finally redeem a big chunk of the Hilton Honors points I’d been diligently accumulating for years.
It’s worth noting that we booked our stay a year in advance, back when this property cost just 89,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Nowadays, expect to redeem 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night, which is quite a significant increase. Still, the Fifth Night Free benefit can be very helpful in scoring the best value when redeeming Hilton Honors points here.
One further complication is that availability for 120,000 points can be quite challenging to find. You’ll just want to keep a close eye on the availability, or use a tool such as MaxMyPoint to set alerts.
Despite the cost and constraints with availability, it’s still a great deal compared to the cash rate, which starts around 140,000 XPF ($1,500 CAD) and goes up from there.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Aerial view
Keep in mind that points bookings will automatically be for the King Lagoon View Suite, which is one of the less desirable room types. As a Hilton Diamond member, I knew that my breakfast would be covered, and I could most likely count on an automatic upgrade upon arrival.
Elite status greatly increases your chances of receiving an upgrade to an overwater or beach villa at this property. However, it’s also possible to secure an upgrade by paying an additional fee during the weeks leading up to the stay.
If you plan on booking a cash rate at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, keep in mind that this property participates in Hilton Impresario , a preferred partner program.
By booking your stay through an authorized travel advisor, you’ll enjoy a suite of extra perks, such as free breakfast, a $100 (USD) hotel credit, and more, all while paying the same as the best available flexible rate.
Book with Prince of Travel and Hilton Impresario
Book a hotel stay with Prince of Travel through Hilton Impresario and enjoy exclusive additional benefits at no cost to you, including:
Daily full breakfast for two guests
Room upgrade, subject to availability at check-in
Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
$100 (USD) property credit (benefit may vary)
Double Hilton Honors points at select properties
Third, Fourth, or Fifth Night Free at select properties
Book Conrad Bora Bora Nui
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Location
Renowned for its remarkable setting, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui is nestled within its own exclusive islet called Motu To-opua. This area is distinct from the bustling main island of Bora Bora, and is one of the main draws to the property.
To reach the hotel, you’ll first need to fly into Papeete (PPT), the capital of French Polynesia. From there, you can embark on a domestic flight with either Air Tahiti or Air Moana, whisking you away to the stunning island of Bora Bora.
Bora Bora itself is a mesmerizing archipelago that originated from an extinct volcano at its core. It’s encircled by a crystal-clear lagoon adorned with picturesque islets along its outer reef.
The Conrad Bora Bora Nui is perfectly situated on one of the southern islets, offering breathtaking vistas that extend beyond the island itself.
This strategic location strikes a nice balance, as it’s still relatively close to the main town of Vaitape on the central island, yet comfortably distant from the Bora Bora Airport situated in the northern part of the archipelago.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Aerial view
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Check-in
Perched on its own islet, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui is accessible exclusively by boat – a novelty that adds an extra touch of allure to the hotel.
Upon touchdown at Bora Bora Airport, we were warmly welcomed by a representative from Conrad Bora Bora Nui, who graciously took charge of our belongings.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Welcome kiosk at Bora Bora Airport
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Welcome kiosk at Bora Bora Airport
Following our warm welcome, we were beckoned to board the resort’s private boat, which served as our means of transportation to our dreamy five-day retreat.
(It’s worth noting that boat transfers between the airport and the Conrad are an additional cost at 7,500 XPF ($90 CAD) per direction per person.)
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Private boat transfer
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Private boat transfer
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Private boat transfer
Although it’s only a 15-minute journey, the private boat transfer from Bora Bora Airport to the Conrad Bora Bora Nui is an experience in itself. Gliding across the turquoise waters, we were treated to awe-inspiring views that left us awestruck.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Private boat transfer
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Private boat transfer view
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Private boat transfer
The Conrad Bora Bora Nui has a fleet of boats that cater to various needs, including airport transfers and shuttles to Vaitape, the main town. Among these vessels, we had found ourselves on one of the larger boats for this initial journey.
Soon, we began to approach the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, and the beauty of our surroundings struck us with sheer amazement.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Resort view
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Resort view
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Resort view
The clear-blue waters and breathtaking scenery served as a reminder that this incredible paradise of French Polynesia would be our home for the forthcoming two weeks. It was quite a surreal moment, filling us with anticipation of the idyllic days that awaited us on our “pre-honeymoon” adventure.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Welcome sign
Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by a welcoming committee who introduced us to Lawrence, our dedicated butler for the duration of our stay.
Lawrence graciously invited us to take a seat at the front of the dock for the check-in process, while offering us refreshing welcome drinks and adorning us with beautiful flower leis.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Check-in dock
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – Welcome drinks
Lawrence then took us on a tour of the property in a buggy. Our villa wasn’t quite yet prepared, as we’d arrived around 9am in the morning.
As a Hilton Diamond member, we were initially upgraded to a Garden Villa. However, just five days prior to our arrival, the stars aligned, and we were treated to a further upgrade to one of just two King Beach Pool Villas at the property.
Additionally, Lawrence informed us that my Diamond status entitled us to enjoy breakfast on five mornings during our stay, and the hotel kindly allowed us to have breakfast on the morning of our arrival in place of one of the mornings designated for our stay.
Thus, we decided to indulge in breakfast while waiting for our villa to be ready, and we made plans to take the boat into Vaitape and savour some local cuisine in place of having breakfast during one of the other mornings of our stay.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa
As I mentioned, we were fortunate to be assigned one of just two beach villas available at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui for our five-night stay. These exclusive villas occupy a prime location on the resort, nestled amidst tropical vegetation with expansive views of the pristine turquoise waters.
(While I could’ve also pursued an Overwater Villas as my preferred upgrade, we’ve already experienced numerous overwater villas on previous visits to the Maldives , so I made the decision this time to venture into the realm of beach villas this time around.)
Heading to the King Beach Pool Villa, we embarked on a leisurely journey along a stone path, meandering past lush foliage until we reached our home for the next five nights.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa entrance
Upon our arrival, we noticed that the King Beach Pool Villa clearly draws inspiration from Polynesian roots, adorned with a thatched roof reminiscent of the iconic Bora Bora huts.
Entering our villa, we saw that the room had a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, with an attractive balance between traditional and modern elements.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa bedroom
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa bedroom
The room is adorned with mahogany and rattan furnishings, as well as hand-printed tapa cloths. Small touches, such as sconces and chandeliers crafted from oyster shells, added a touch of cultural artistry.
The focal point of the room is a magnificent king bed, which commands attention as it faces expansive windows that stretch across almost the entire wall. Delicate flower petals adorned the top of the bed for our arrival.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa bed
The headboard, crafted from black-painted wood, not only adds elegance but also serves as a room divider.
At the foot of the bed, discreetly nestled within what initially appears to be a simple wooden box, lies a surprise: a flat-screen TV that gracefully ascends when summoned.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa flat-screen TV
To the right of the king bed, a charming love seat and table came proactively set up with our Hilton Diamond welcome amenity. The table was set with still and sparkling water, as well as a bottle of wine, which was very appreciated and we sipped on over multiple evenings.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa seating area & welcome gifts
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa welcome gifts
Positioned on the left side of the room is a cozy seating area with an armchair and a beautifully woven ottoman. Adjacent to it, a pantry features a minibar and a Nespresso coffee maker.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa seating area
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa armchair & ottoman
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa pantry & minibar
As we explored the villa further, we found a spacious walk-in closet, with wood finishes and ample storage space for all of our belongings.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa walk-in closet
Nestled in the right-hand corner of the closet, a well-appointed desk provides a dedicated workspace.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa workspace
The bathroom was well and truly a highlight of the villa. Two dual vanities face each other, complemented by striking large circular wooden mirrors and vessel sinks below.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa bathroom
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa vanity
The symmetrical arrangement within the bathroom draws your gaze toward the deep circular bathtub positioned at the rear, which serves as a striking centrepiece.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa bathtub
The toilet is concealed behind a frosted glass door, while a spacious walk-in shower is located in its own compartment, and comes complete with both a rain shower head and a handheld option.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa toilet
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa shower
As for the bathroom amenities, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui offers Byredo’s Mojave Ghost line of products.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa bathroom amenities
Turning our attention back to the main area of the villa, floor-to-ceiling sliding doors opened up to the beach outside. In this picturesque setting, we had our very own private outdoor deck, complete with a refreshing plunge pool hidden from view.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui – King Beach Pool Villa outdoor deck
