Jeff

I have a Honeymoon planned for September 2000. After extensive research on the web I have turned to the opinions of vactioners like yourself to influence my final decision on where to stay. Both the Beachcomber Parkroyal and Hotel Bora Bora got great reviews but personal experiences count the most. We definately want an over-the-water bungalow. All feedback is greatly appreciated.

Peggy

Without a doubt, Hotel Bora Bora. But will they be re-opened after renovations?

Jeff T.

Beachcomber is a wonderful hotel, almost next to a market, which is very convenient. However, it is on the island of Bora Bora. It makes things accessible, but it does not give you the same exclusive feel to the property or your experience. There is a long fence along the one side of the property which separates other personal and pension properties. <BR> The Hotel Bora Bora is consistently ranked among the top hotels in the world. The hotel is on its own motu, or island. The staff is professionally trained to make your experience excellent. If you can swing it, I would go there. All the resorts on the motus have regular shuttle service to the main island that takes 5 minutes. <BR> FYI, we stayed at the Pearl Beach Bora Bora--also on a Motu. It is only a year old, and is a beautiful resort. They spared no expense in making that one. We liked it considerably more than the Beachcomber. The best OW rooms are 34 & 35 (at the end of the pier & most private).

Peggy

The Hotel Bora Bora is on the main island, not on a motu.....unless they moved it! You may be thinking about the Bora Bora Lagoon resort.

Suehunter

I entirely agree about the sentiments about Pearl Beach Resort by the way. <BR>Wonderful property. Having said that and IF you were planning to be on a motu vs. <BR>main island (the Hotel Bora Bora vs. Bora Bora Lagoon. It is confusing.), remember that you will be at the mercy of those little boat shuttles. We ended up stuck on the dock when an activity pick-up "forgot" us and had to wait about an hour in the middle of nowhere for the next little boat, no phone, no radio, no anything to call the hotel or the activity to find out what was happening and fix it. Having said that, <BR>if I recall, some of the hotels have a dock closer to a phone or at least something to do to kill the time. <BR>Just a tip. <BR>

Debi

If the Hotel Bora Bora is open - go there. We had lunch at the Beachcomber on Bora Bora - and it was nice - - but everyone I have talked to about Hotel Bora Bora say that is the absolute best. It should be done with renovations by now. We drove to it while we were there - but it was blocked off. The grounds were gorgeous. I would pick there over any other place. The Pearl is very pretty - and Le Meridien is also gorgeous - but I'd go for HBB.

C&J

We stayed at a Beachcomber in Morea but also met numerous others during our three weeks in FP that had stayed at the Beachcomber in Bora Bora and in Tahiti. One thing is clear with all of the Beachcomber resorts: they stink. The guidebooks must be receiving considerable kick-backs if they have ANYTHING positive to say about ANY Beachcomber hotel. As one guest at the Hotel Bora Bora told us (they had just spent a few days at the Beachcomber BB) "the Hotel BB is like the Ritz while the Beachcomber is like a Holiday Inn." The Beachcomber hotel bungalos are pre-fabricated, just like the food. The service reached lows that I didn't know existed, for a room that cost as much as their rooms, or even a room at 1/3 of the cost. <BR> <BR>We too struggled with the two hotels in BB because of what the guidebooks said. I am sending letters to a few particular guidebooks are what I think of their ratings, because it became to obvious that they had only read what the hotel PR put out. We laughed with a few couples who had visited one "ultra-deluxe" resort (now closed) that was drooled on by many of the guidebooks. The guidebooks talked about Diana Ross and others staying there as well as lavish settings. What they FORGOT to mention was that Diana Ross and company were eaten alive by the bugs, as the clowns that designed the hotel put a pond in front of the dining room, which became a breading ground for mosquitos. They also forgot to mention that getting to the toilettes in the middle of the night required you to find your way down a stream with no lights. <BR> <BR>So, don't believe what the guidebooks tell you and read more from others that have actually visited these places. Avoid the Beachcomber at all costs and go with the Hotel BB. It's a class act that is well run, has fresh food and has a lot of fun activities available. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Ted

So CJ, did you stay at the Beachcomber AND Hotel Bora-Bora while on Bora-Bora? I thought the BB was closed for renovations at this time, or is that not true? At the BB, how did you deal with the lack of air-conditioning -- and at those prices, no less?!? Thanks!

Alyce

When you research the properties on Moorea, you will see that there aren't to many nice properties to choose from. Basically you have the Sofitel and Parkroyal. After much research, I decided on the Parkroyal, because the property is suppose to be newer and alot nicer than the Sofitel. I was also told that most properties on Moorea, are considered a 4 star while Bora Bora resorts are a 5 star. <BR> <BR>I'm going to these islands on my honeymoon, so when I return, I'll be able to give my opinion firsthand.

Paul

It really depends what you are looking for in your hotel stay. The Parkroyal is newer, larger, and in some way's "fancier". However, the Hotel Bora, Bora was the first, has the best location, and I'd say if you want a quiet romantic stay it would be my clear choice. <BR>

nancy

I vote for the Pearl Beach Bora Bora. Its absolutely gorgeous! and brand new. it is on a private motu also and the best rooms have gorgeous views of the mountain. The rooms were fabulous. We stayed in an overwater bungalow which was incredible (the rooms on the beach were really beautiful too however). We also spent one night at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort which was voted one of the top one or two resorts in the World by Travel & Leisure (or one of those top travel magazines). Anyway, the Bora Bora Lagoon is owned by the Orient Express Hotels and I understand it is for sale. They obviously have not maintained it, the rooms were large but quite dark (we also stayed in an overwater bungalow here). Pearl Beach wins by a mile. the rooms are light and beautiful, they have many more of the glass tables to view the underwater life. one note: Pearl beach bungalows are over white sand...gorgeous we saw lots of beautiful sting rays...but it does not attract the abundant colored fish that the bora bora lagoon does (which is built over coral reefs). Pearl Beach also has a gorgeous pool which echoes the shape of the lagoon. the hotel also offers a private boat to and from the airport. its a lot more fun than getting on the larger water taxi's taking large groups of people. one last note, we went in September also and had bad weather. hope yours is much more beautiful. One last tip, there's a private catamaran you can rent for the day with a captain out of the Pearl beach (i think he services a couple of other hotels too). anyway we rented it for the day with one other couple and it was fantastic (not too expensive -- and well worth the money) enjoy paradise!