BoraBora

Sleep Over Ocean Water in Bora Bora

When you visit Bora Bora, in French Polynesia, the thing to do is to book a stay in an over-water bungalow.

Now, no ancient Tahitian lived in an over-water bungalow -- it would have been the height of stupidity, with the problems of the occasional and at that point in history, entirely unpredictable tsunami and cyclones. (Besides, the ocean was considered a God and if you polluted the water you'd be messing with something that might introduce your midsection to a spear, although a person of status could likely get away with it. This I learned from anthropologist Mark Eddowes, aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin, but that's a story for a different day.)

Interim conclusion: Ancient Tahitians preferred to live on higher ground.

Historically accurate in location they may not be -- in fact, over-water bungalows were an import from Southeast Asia some years ago -- but the style of house, called a fare, with its distinctive thatched roof, is definitely traditional. In any event, it's definitely what you want to book, and the InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso Spa has rooms of this sort that are so lovely that it's wrenching to leave.

The bungalows are arrayed in two horseshoes, to maintain some privacy while affording a view of the steep greenly mysterious Mount Otemanu, which defines Bora Bora's geography.

Gallery: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort

Tags: awards-main, bora bora, BoraBora, french polynesia, FrenchPolynesia, hotels, intercontinental, luxist-awards, winter-travel-awards, winter-travel-main

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Cruise Company's Woes Prompt Yacht Discount

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Just around this time last year I wrote about the listing of the Tia Moana, one of a matched pair of mini cruise ships based in beautiful Bora Bora. Tia Moana, a 226-foot beauty with 30 cabins was listed last year at 30 million euros. The ship has five decks including two Jacuzzis and an on-deck movie screen. It includes a library, fitness area and ample dining space. It is one of two ships run by Bora Bora Cruises. According to the Sydney Morning Herald the company recently was placed in receivership by the Papeete Mixed Commerce Tribunal and has been renamed Nomade Yachting Bora Bora. Cruises for the Tia Moana were canceled but the sister ship the Tu Moana should be available for private charters starting in April 2010 after a renovation that will make it more like a private charter yacht, including a large owner's suite, six VIP suites and eight double cabins with a maximum capacity of 30 passengers. Both yachts were built in Western Australia in 2003 by Austal Ships Oceanfast. Tia Moana is now listed for 25 million euros.

Gallery: Tia Moana

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Tags: bora bora, BoraBora, tia moana, TiaMoana, yacht for sale, YachtForSale

St. Regis Bora Bora Couples Retreat Package

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Couples Retreat, the new Vince Vaughn - Jon Favreau comedy that's big at the box office, stars a number of talented actors but they had to work hard not to be upstaged by the beautiful location - the St. Regis Bora Bora in the South Pacific. The lush resort, a favorite celebrity getaway since it opened in 2006 - Nicole Kidman and Keith honeymooned there while Eva Longoria and Tony Parker and others have enjoyed its tropical splendors - is offering an exclusive Couples Retreat package celebrating the film's opening and continuing through May 31, 2010. The package offers guests a four or five night stay in a Premiere Overwater Villa where Vaughn, Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristen Davis, Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell's characters stay in the movie, as well as other experiences seen on the big screen including couples yoga on the lush 44-acre property's pristine beaches, massages at its world class Spa Miri Miri, outrigger canoe lessons, a jet ski tour in the lagoon's pristine crystal waters, and dinner at Lagoon, the St. Regis Bora Bora's Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Bora Bora, BoraBora, Couple Retreat, CoupleRetreat, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean-georgesVongerichten, movie, Nicole Kidman, NicoleKidman, South Pacific, SouthPacific, St. Regis, St. Regis Bora Bora, St.Regis, St.RegisBoraBora

Tia Moana Yacht For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Tia Moana is one of a matched pair of mini cruise ships based in beautiful Bora Bora. Both ships, which are part of a small cruise service, are available as private charters but Tia Moana, a 226-foot beauty with 30 cabins is now for sale as well. The ship has five decks including two Jacuzzis and an on-deck movie screen. It includes a library, fitness area, ample dining area and has a la carte full service spa and massage service. The ship charters for 260,000 euros a week or can be all yours for 30 million euros.

[via Superyacht Times]

Gallery: Tia Moana

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InterContinental Resort and Thalasso-Spa Bora Bora To Open Next Month

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

A while back I mentioned the St. Regis in Bora Bora which was supposed to open this month but now is opening in late June. Another idyllic getaway in this remote location will be the InterContinental Resort and Thalasso-Spa Bora Bora. The $70 million resort should open in May. It has a great feature, an eco-friendly air-conditioning system which uses a 7,874 foot pipe (the deepest ocean pipe in the world) to pump deep sea water through a titanium heat exchanger, which transfers the cold from the sea water into the fresh water circuit that powers the air conditioning throughout the hotel. The water is then returned to the ocean (rerouted to avoid hurting the ocean ecosystem). The resort has 80 over water bungalows. The resort’s Thalassotherapy Deep Ocean Spa which will open in September will use mineral-rich deep seawater extracted from 2,500 feet below sea level in its treatments. It will also have what may be one of the most romantic settings for a wedding, an over water chapel with a glass bottom floor.

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Tags: bora bora, BoraBora, french polynesia, getaway, hotel, intercontinental, resort, vacation