MARCH 2019 globaltravelerusa.com 81
many U.S. hubs make this Polynesian paradise
more accessible for solo travelers and business
men and women looking to kick back and escape
the grueling 9 to 5. The island sits within the
French overseas territory of French Polynesia,
a country divided into five groups of islands:
the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Islands, the
Marquesas Islands, the Austral Islands and the
Gambier Islands.
Only 67 of the country’s 118 islands and
atolls are inhabited, with the majority of Tahi-
tians residing within the Society Islands, home
to French Polynesia’s most famous islands of
Tahiti, Moorea, Tetiaroa and Bora Bora. With
a larger-than-life reputation as the Pearl of the
Pacific, Bora Bora consists of a series of smaller
islands (motus) and a main island encompassing
less than 15 square miles in total. Most of the
resorts in Bora Bora reside on their own private
motu, a short boat or helicopter ride from Bora
Bora’s main port of Vaitape. The main island
centers around a dormant volcano that rises
dramatically above the lush jungle floor into
two peaks, Mount Pahia and the showstopping
Mount Otemanu.
The most sought-after accommodations
within Bora Bora feature views of Mount
Otemanu, Bora Bora’s unofficial icon, and no
resort offers a better view than Le Méridien Bora
Bora. This Marriott-owned resort features 98
bungalows; the overwater offerings feature un-
obstructed views of Mount Otemanu and direct
access to the water from each private outdoor
deck. The resort’s casual restaurant, Le Te Ava,
allows guests to dine in the sand in the shade of
a traditional Polynesian thatched roof as they
sample one of the most beautiful renditions of
Tahiti’s national dish, poisson cru, a ceviche-like
item prepared with raw tuna marinated in lime
juice and coconut milk.
The resort also hosts French Polynesia’s only
turtle sanctuary within the on-site Ecological
Center. Le Méridien offers free tours of the
center to educate guests on the protection andLODGING
FOUR SEASONS RESORT
BORA BORA
Little details create
the base for the Four
Seasons Bora Bora expe-
rience, where interiors by
local architect Pierre-Jean
Picart welcome guests
into the 107 bungalows.Motu Tehotu, Bora Bora
$$$$$LE MÉRIDIEN BORA
BORA
Each of the 98 bunga-
lows of this retreat offer
stunning vistas, but the
overwater bungalows
with Mount Otemanuviews earned this resort
the reputation of having
the best ones in Bora
Bora.Motu Tape, Bora Bora
$$$$$THE ST. REGIS BORA
BORA RESORT
No wonder many celebri-
ties frequent this luxury
resort. The attention
to detail and discreet
service pair perfectly with
the 90 sumptuous suites,
including the largest
overwater bungalows in
the South Pacific.Motu Ome’e, Bora Bora
$$$$$