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It's hard to imagine that you'd need to leave the Bora Bora Nui resort, with its beautiful beaches and bountiful restaurants — but sometimes you just want to get out on your own. There are three places that are mentioned in every list of non-resort restaurants in Bora Bora: Bloody Mary's, The Bamboo House and La Bounty. You can probably guess what Bloody Mary's is known for, but it's also renowned for incredibly fresh seafood — the day's catch is arrayed on a bed of ice so you can see exactly what's available each evening. The Bamboo House is equally renowned for its fresh-caught seafood (you really have to wonder about places that aren't seafood havens on a tropical island). The Polynesian menu is large and overwhelmingly tempting, and the restaurant is one of the few on the island that is open on Sundays. For a meal on the cheaper side, head to La Bounty, a small open-air restaurant that specializes in pizza — an unexpected but welcome change of pace once you're tired of fish! On the chance you're not sick of seafood, they also make a mean ceviche.
Recently in Bora Bora Category
MoreDestination Spotlight - Bora Bora - Tales of Mutiny & Exploration
Tuesday January 8, 2008
Know the saying "get a little R&R"? Here's a new translation, "go to Bora Bora with a few good books and DVDs." Rest and relaxation at its most divine will transpire on the private terrace of your Over Water Villa at the St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora. Curl up with a classic like Herman Melville's Omoo, a fictional account of the author's adventures around French Polynesia, or Robert Louis Stevenson's In the South Seas, a tale of island travel in the year 1888.
Get in on the action of early explorers with Anne Salmond's The Trial of the Cannibal Dog: The Remarkable Story of Captain Cook's Encounters in the South Seas; Patrick O'Brian's biography of Cook's naturalist Joseph Banks; or In the Heart of the Sea, Nathaniel Philbrick's book about the whaling ship Essex which was sunk by a giant sperm whale, inspiring Moby Dick. Best read in the infinity pool overlooking the lagoon, at the Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa.
When the sun sets over your Le Meridien Bora Bora Beachfront Bungalow, fire up that flatscreen with the 1962 version of Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Marlon Brando. Recognize those palm trees? Though the film was set on Tahiti, some scenes were shot on Bora Bora, as was the 1931 classic Tabu: A story of the South Seas. It dazzles in the way only a black and white silent film can, and its Polynesian tale of love and destiny will set the tone for the rest of your trip. In the morning open your eyes. There it all is. In color.
Destination Spotlight - Bora Bora - Diving Excursions for Everyone
Tuesday January 8, 2008
Bora Bora is definitely a destination for the water friendly. In every guidebook, it's impossible to ignore the disclaimer regarding the fact it's an island without any movie theaters, museums or libraries. While we suggest you bring your own media, though I'm told there's plenty to borrow when you're staying in your spectacular lagoon-perched villa at the St Regis Bora Bora or the Le Meridien Bora Bora, the main reason to visit this stunning destination is to relish in its natural habitat. And there's no way to forget that it's a water-based retreat, with pools, lagoons, waterfalls and all the natural H2O wonders of the world you desire. But not everyone is a dive or snorkel guru and while I don't mind jumping into most bodies of water for a few minutes, frankly, I'm still a little squeamish when it gets to the fish. So yet again, it was wonderful to discover that in Bora Bora, I can spend time frolicking in the legendary lagoon even if I'm one of those outdoor challenged types, thanks to a local outfitter named Aqua Safari.
Aqua Safari specializes in underwater walk experiences with diving instructors. Their catamaran journeys out onto the lagoon where you're provided with wet suits and helmets. Yes, helmets. After watching the entirely surreal video I found, I'm a fan for a number of reasons. First, I really like the idea of wearing my glasses while a 1950s television is firmly attached to my head. It's the science fiction fashion victim in me, and with the resplendent fish nearby, what a photo opp! Plus with the helmet, it's comforting to know that your air supply is connected to the boat's, because sometimes when I'm snorkeling, I get so lost in the beauty of the fish, I have to remind myself to breathe. So Aqua Safari is great for people like myself that love the water, but still aren't yet up to par with the athletic prowess of my normal travel companions. I know you know who I'm talking about - every family has at least one - your zealot athlete types that are up and out at the crack of dawn performing some new feat of aquatic nature while you're thinking, "I'm on vacation in paradise. Why not lie in bed for another hour or...four." Though I never mind when they leave, because that means I can sneak in a few more treatments at the spa and begin plotting about other funny adventures to have on holiday...
Destination Spotlight - Bora Bora - Mountain Climbing, Polynesian-style
Tuesday January 8, 2008
If you're in Bora Bora and can somehow tear yourself away from the powdery white sand beaches and beautiful turquoise lagoons, you just might enjoy a day of Polynesian-style mountaineering. Mount Pahia (658 meters) and Mount Otemanu (727 meters, pictured) offer hikers a rugged and rewarding adventure through one of the world's most colorful and diverse ecosystems. Since the trails aren't well marked and conditions can change, it's best to have a local guide, and you can't do much better than Hubert Temarii of Pahia Heights Adventure. The guided hike to the summit of Mount Pahia winds through verdant orchards and lush forests, culminating in a spectacular view of Bora Bora and its surrounding motu (barrier islands). If you're not much of a hiker, you might prefer to join a 4x4 tour of the island's interior. Outfits such as Tupuna Safari 4x4 and Vavau 4x4 Adventures will take you along old dirt roads that were built during the peaceful American occupation of the island in World War II. The guide will be glad to point out long-abandoned bunkers, artillery cannons overgrown with vegetation, and other relics of the Pacific War that stand to this day as a tribute to the island's strategic importance. Starwood has three properties on this island paradise: the St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora, Le Méridien Bora Bora, and the Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.
Paddle an Outrigger Canoe in Bora Bora
Thursday August 30, 2007
This looks like a heck of a lot of fun: Guests at Starwood's Le Méridien Bora Bora resort have a great opportunity to try a unique water activity and learn about the seafaring traditions of the ancient Tahitians at the same time. The hotel's Kaïnalu Canoë Club offers guests the chance to go out on the ocean in traditional dugout canoes (pictured), a symbol of Polynesian heritage and an impressive example of the sophisticated boat-building skills of the South Pacific islanders. Adventurous guests paddle to the rhythm of the wind and waves on guided canoe trips, enjoying amazing views of the island and exploring what many consider the most beautiful lagoon in the world. Le Meridien Bora Bora is the first hotel to reintroduce the outrigger canoe, but it's just one of many ways guests can connect to this magical environment, with its lush tropical rain forests and azure lagoon. Over water bungalows feature a glass-bottomed floor, perfect for observing the sea life from the comfort of your room, and those guests who want to get even closer to the undersea world can swim with graceful sea turtles in the resort's Turtle Sanctuary, which is dedicated to saving the magnificent green sea turtle. Whether you're looking for action, relaxation, or a blend of both, you'll find it in abundance at this Pacific paradise.
A Spicy Margarita Worth the Flight
Wednesday August 1, 2007
Bora Bora might seem like a long way to go for a margarita, but the way Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten makes his Ginger Margarita at his new Lagoon (which we've mentioned once before), it's worth it. Here's the recipe, courtesy of Forbes:
Juice from one lime
1 1/2 oz. Sauza Tres Generaciones añejo tequila
1/2 oz. Cointreau
3/4 oz. ginger-lime simple syrup
Combine ingredients and ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a salt-rimmed, ice-filled rocks glass with a lime wedge garnish.
If that sounds familiar, it's because that's the recipe Vongerichten uses for the drink at his popular Spice Market in New York; for Lagoon, the drink gets an added kick — a slice of thai chile. Both get mention in Forbes' roundup of 10 Margaritas with a Twist. But it's not the only reason to visit Lagoon: Vongerichten has put together a tantalizing menu including fresh mahimahi in tomato sauce and tomato jus, locally caught moonfish with a popcorn ponzu broth, and incredibly fresh sashimi (possibly from a catch brought in by fishermen that morning). Not to mention the restaurant's exceptional view, perched as it is out over its namesake. And lucky for you, Lagoon is the restaurant of the house at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort; that long way for a margarita just got a little easier, didn't it?
[Photo courtesy of Forbes.com]
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