The Best Resorts in French Polynesia
Image: Conrad Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort
French Polynesia is made up of 118 islands, the region is endlessly varied. With pink-sand motus, volcanic ridgelines, and lagoons so clear they seem lit from below.
Add French cuisine, Polynesian culture, and some of the best diving on Earth, and you've got a place that’s more layered, and more spectacular, than most people realize. And while it’s been famous for years, this is one destination that’s actually better than the postcards.
But with so many beachfront views and overwater bungalows, it’s easy to get lost in the listicles and book something forgettable. We’re here to help, with a sharp, edited guide to French Polynesia’s best stays. The resorts on this list stand out because of their design, their location, their service, or a certain magic you can’t fake. From off-grid luxury in Rangiroa to under-the-radar villas that quietly outshine the rest, this is the Places With Palms guide to the resorts that are truly worth your time.
At Places with Palms, we love sharing our favorite hotel finds with you. Just so you know, we may earn a small commission if you book through one of our affiliate links. Our hotel recommendations are carefully selected by our team of editors, and Places with Palms is independently funded by our readers through these links. Thanks for supporting us while we help you discover your next great escape.
Best Resorts in French Polynesia
Image: The Brando Resort, French Polynesia
The Brando, Tetiaroa
Tiny Tetiaroa looks almost unreal from above, a halo of electric blue wrapped around an emerald-green atoll. Step off the seaplane and onto soft white sand. No check-in desk, just a path that leads straight to Bob’s Bar and your first cocktail.
Marlon Brando fell for Tetiaroa while filming Mutiny on the Bounty and bought the atoll in 1963, envisioning it as a model of ecological balance long before that was a buzzword. Opened in 2014, The Brando is the realization of that vision, 36 villas that hero traditional Polynesian craftsmanship, all powered by renewable energy. The property is LEED Platinum certified and home to the Tetiaroa Society, an on-site research center protecting the island’s fragile ecosystem.
Dining swings from intimate teppanyaki at Nami, to fine dining by French chef Jean Imbert using bounty from the organic garden.
What We Love About It:
Wellness is part of the ethos. Varua Te Ora, the spa set on the island’s serene freshwater lake, is worth the journey alone for its locally inspired treatments and sound baths that melt away the last trace of reality.
Image: Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts, French Polynesia
Le Taha’a Pearl Resort, Taha’a Island
Set on the private islet of Motu Tautau, with Taha’a’s lush shores on one side and Bora Bora’s silhouette on the other, La Taha’a by Pearl Resorts holds the honour of being French Polynesia’s first Relais & Châteaux member. Winner of Tripadvisor’s Traveller’s Choice award eight years running, this is a stay with genuine soul. A strong connection to Polynesian culture touches every detail, from the rustic, traditional villa design to the French Polynesian flavours across its three restaurants.
There’s a truly astonishing abundance of marine life here, and water so clear you can count the sea turtles gliding beneath you. Families will love the Coral Garden, shallow enough for little snorkelers and fascinating enough to keep everyone busy for hours.
What We Love About It:
Guest can immerse themselves in local life here. Spend a day touring Taha’a’s famous vanilla and pearl farms, enjoy fragrant tastings, peek behind the scenes at black pearl cultivation, and gain a deeper appreciation for island traditions.
Image: Four Seasons Bora Bora Resort, French Polynesia
Four Seasons Bora Bora, Bora Bora
An icon on the luxury travel circuit, this is an easy favourite of celebrities and the ultra-rich. Boasting the best views of Mount Otemanu, a lagoon teeming with brightly coloured coral and sea life, and an activities list long enough to placate even the most hyperactive of travellers.
Restaurants include toes-in-the-sand Fare Hoa, with Polynesia cuisine and a creative cocktail list. Overwater spot Vaimati, serves Asian crowd-pleasers like ponzu style Hamanchi and Kung Poa chicken. For Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, settle into the ambient glow of Arii Moana, with mind-blowing ocean views.
What We Love About It:
An extensive range of wellness menu options, from yoga to a decadent spa menu. The Golden Sun Ritual begins with a coconut and gold scrub followed by a massage with a 24k carat gold oil, on brand for this 5 star, no-holds-barred paradise.
Image: Ora Paraoa, photographer: Emmanuel Speciale
Ora Paraoa, Moorea
Hosting just eight at a time, the newly opened Ora Paraoa is as exclusive as it gets. Tucked into a quiet corner of picturesque Moorea, its exact location is revealed only to guests. Named for Oro, the Tahitian god of love and war, and Paraoa, a nod to the humpback whales that frequent the island., the resort honours land and culture, while upending traditional Polynesian thatch with Nordic-inspired design.
The two villas: garden and pool, are ultra-sleek - with espresso machines, walk-in wardrobes, and integrated audio systems. By day, free dive with whales, lounge on the beach, or enjoy a massage wherever you like, beach, bed or poolside. Dining is tailored to your preferences, with a private chef crafting Polynesian-inspired menus. And if you’re staying in, the 5K private cinema is fully equipped for proper movie marathons.
What truly sets this place apart, the gym. With a set up better than what you’ll find at some of French Polynesia’s most iconic five-star resorts. The Rogue Monster Cave rig, NordicTrack gear, and Apple TV-guided fitness make workouts something you’ll actually want to schedule.
What we love about it:
Resort-level indulgence with the privacy of a standalone villa. Snag both villas and take full command of the place.
Image: St Regis Bora Bora Resort, French Polynesia
St. Regis Bora Bora
It’s not hard to see why The St. Regis is Bora Bora’s only Forbes Five-Star resort, gorgeous overwater bungalows, technicolour waters and insane views of Mount Otemanu. Honeymooners flock here like moths to a flame, and between lagoon dips and lazing in private plunge pools, romance comes easy.
Arrive by boat to a warm welcome with a cocktail and flower lei, then settle into one of 90 villas, many suspended above the lagoon with glass panels for spotting marine life. Days drift between sun lounges and the protected lagoonarium, while the active try diving, fishing, or heli tours from the floating helipad. Dining spans six venues, with Asian-fusion at Lagoon on stilts above the water, an ideal vantage point for the magnificent sunsets. The spa offers a range of treatments followed by chilled champagne on its private beach.
What We Love About It:
Warm, ever-present hospitality and butler service that anticipates every need, daily delivery of French press coffee included.
Image: Conrad Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort French Polynesia
Conrad Hilton Bora Bora
This is where Kim Kardashian famously lost her pearl earring – a bona-fide celeb hotspot. Overwater villas offer the classic thatch-roof, ladder-to-lagoon appeal but add the island’s most stylish interiors, some with butlers and plunge pools. For the ultimate splurge, the two-storey Presidential Villa, the only one in Bora Bora, comes with two bedrooms, three balconies, a sunset and whirlpool, and a hot tub.
Beyond the villas, there’s a palm-fringed infinity pool with in-water loungers, the swim-up Tarava Pool Bar, and Hina Spa sits high on a hilltop with a sensational outlook. Dining spans five venues, from French fine dining at Iriatai to Asian fusion at Banyan, and cocktails over glass floors at Upa Upa Lounge Bar, where spotting a reef shark isn’t unheard of. Easily one of the best resorts in French Polynesia.
What we love: Exclusive access to Motu Tapu, a private islet once home to a Tahitian queen. Claim it for the day, dine with your toes in the lagoon, swim with stingrays, or zip through the crystal-clear waters on a jet ski.
Image: Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa, French Polynesia
Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa, Bora Bora
Set on Motu Piti Aau, InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is a stand-out stay with a prime time position. The sustainability programme plays a serious role in shaping the resort. Deep ocean water keeps villas cool without heavy air-con, and the resort has eliminated single-use plastics across the property.
Inside, the overwater villas come with spacious terraces, freshwater outdoor showers, and glass coffee tables that let you watch the reef life swim beneath you. The showpiece, though, is the Teremoana Pool Villa, among the largest in Bora Bora, with two bedrooms and a private pool that's perfect for balmy afternoons watching the sunset over Mount Otemanu.
Dining covers all moods Reef Restaurant for locally inspired fare, Sands for relaxed seafood lunches, and Le Corail, which houses French Polynesia’s largest wine cellar, making it the address for serious oenophiles.
The activities list ticks all the Bora Bora boxes: snorkeling straight off your deck, scuba diving, and sunset cruises.
What We Love About It:
The Deep Ocean Spa remains one of the island’s highlights, specializing in mineral-rich treatments that draw on seawater pumped from 900 meters below the surface (and yes, you can even access it via transfer from its sister property, InterContinental Le Moana).
Image: Westin Resort Bora Bora
The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, Bora Bora
Debuting in September 2024, the former Le Méridien has been reborn as the Westin, and regulars have already ear-marked it as their resort of choice. With 128 overwater bungalows (the most in Bora Bora) plus a smattering of beach villas. Guests can enjoy private plunge pools, glass panels for sea-life spotting, deep tubs, modern interiors, and those all-important ladders into the lagoon.
A pristine, parasol-dotted beach, a swim-up bar, and live music will tempt you from your bungalow, while dining ranges from French-Polynesian bistro fare at Tipanier to seasonal Mediterranean at Maere, with frozen cocktails on swings at beachside Vara Vara.
What we love: Heavenly by name and by nature, the Heavenly spa offers treatments with a three-stone ritual symbolising hope, gratitude, and love, you’ll be floating for hours. Add a yoga or Pilates class and that’s what we call a balanced vacay.
Image: Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, French Polynesia
Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, Bora Bora
This locally owned favorite delivers an authentic Polynesian setting without skipping a beat on style or comfort. Located on Motu Tevairoa, it’s a breezy oasis with a casual-cool island feel, earning consistent love from TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Designed in classic Polynesian style, thatched roofs and flourishing gardens set a scene for a stay that's both laidback and lush. Recently joining the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection, this property has upped its game after a top-to-toe renovation.
Dining-wise, Otemanu Restaurant is a hit, combining fresh seafood and Polynesian-inspired flavors with postcard-perfect lagoon views. Don't skip Miki Miki Bar & Grill for a toes-in-the-sand casual lunch, the grilled mahi mahi is a standout. Come evening, hit up the Poerava Gourmet Restaurant for a romantic dinner beneath the stars.
Their renowned Tāvai Spa is known for its heavenly hot stone massages and invigorating Vichy shower body scrubs. Adventure enthusiasts can explore nearby coral gardens, while the eco-conscious can join a coral restoration tour. For the ultimate treat-yourself moment, book a dual stay package with their sister resort, Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts, for a double dose of island paradise.
What We Love About It: It’s a resort that feels welcoming, authentic, and refreshingly unpretentious.
Image: Villa Yrondi, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Villa Yrondi, Bora Bora
Originally the home of French artist Garrick Yrondi, this eclectic villa is a rare find in a destination dominated by traditional bungalows. Terracotta walls draped in fuchsia bougainvillea open to blush-toned interiors, patchwork tiles, and Romanesque arches and pillars. A slice of the Amalfi Coast in the South Pacific. Bursts of colour bring a refreshing contrast to the island’s typical vernacular craftsmanship, while Yrondi’s original artworks add a personal touch to every room. There’s a large central patio with a pool, where you’ll often cross paths with fellow guests.
You’re still in beautiful Bora Bora, of course, so expect sensational lagoon views, beach access, and a rooftop terrace for taking in Mount Otemanu in all her majesty.
What we love: Staying on the main island means you’re free to roam at your own pace. Explore local dining, Matira Beach the coral gardens, and experience Bora Bora beyond the resort bubble.
Image: Villa Yrondi, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Image: Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort, French Polynesia
Sofitel, Moorea
Everything here conspires to lull guests into calm: the gentle lap of waves, swaying palms, the heady fragrance of tiaré flowers. Overwater bungalows rise above water so radiant it’s almost kryptonite-coloured, and hours slip by watching marine life glide past from your balcony.
K Restaurant is an experience in itself - under a cathedral ceiling of Kahaia wood, the soft glow and lapping waves frame a seven-course degustation or a dedicated lobster menu. Chef Frédéric Gigou serves Tahitian-Asian fusion perfection, paired with an excellent French wine list. Le Jardin Spa takes a holistic approach with traditional Polynesian rituals; follow a yoga session with a massage and drift into the day.
What We Love About It: This resort caters to both couples and families, but the latter wins here: a kids’ club, playground, and resident clown Nani, an ace face-painter, keeps little ones entertained, while fire-dancing and Tahitian performances captivate grown-ups & kids alike.
Image: Manava Beach Resort and Spa, Moorea
Manava Beach Resort and Spa, Moorea
Nestled between Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay, Manava Beach Resort & Spa occupies prime oceanfront real estate, tucked among lush coconut trees and thick jungle. Surrounded by tropical gardens and the luminous sapphire lagoon, its spacious bungalows with private plunge pools are perfect for sunrises and catching the gentle trade winds.
Explore Moorea’s lush interior, enjoy Polynesian dance and buffet nights at Manaha’i Restaurant, or sip global rums at Matihana Rum Bar – the island’s first. The atmosphere feels relaxed and genuinely local.
What we love: EarthCheck Silver certified, the resort integrates sustainability into every facet of the experience. Guests can join coral grafting workshops, transplanting coral cuttings into vulnerable reef areas to help regenerate marine habitats and attract aquatic life back to the reef.
Image: Hotel Kia Ora Rangiroa courtesy of Expedia
Hotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa, Rangiroa
On the remote atoll of Rangiroa, Hotel Kia Ora is our recommended remote escape for divers and nature lovers. The luxury isn’t in-your-face, but it’s there where it matters. beachfront villas and overwater bungalows drop you straight into the turquoise lagoon, whether you’re snorkelling with manta rays, diving with sharks, or paddling alongside icing-sugar-soft sand.
Deeply rooted in local culture, the resort showcases traditional décor and offers va'a (Polynesia canoe) rides across the lagoon – this is an authentic, true-blue taste of French Polynesia.
Dining focuses on local bounty. The main restaurant Te Rairoa, serves fresh fish, seafood, vanilla, and Rangiroa honey, while Miki Miki, a bar on stilts, is the perfect spot for a cold Hinano beer.
What we love: After a day on the lagoon, the Pokura Spa, tucked among coconut groves, offers treatments from around the world - including Balinese and hot stone massages, Japanese rituals, and Taurumi, traditional Polynesian massage.
Image: Intercontinental Tahiti Resort & Spa, French Polynesia
Intercontinental Tahiti
Often skipped for the outer islands, Tahiti deserves more than a layover, and this resort makes the case. The InterContinental Tahiti is set on 32 acres of tropical gardens with panoramic views across to Moorea, and it’s easily the best full-service stay on the main island.
There’s a saltwater lagoonarium filled with tropical fish, two infinity pools, and one of the strongest spa programs this close to the airport.
Rooms are quietly elegant, with Polynesian design details and balconies facing the sea or garden. It’s also home to Le Lotus, one of the better French fine dining options in the region, perched over the water.
If you're starting or ending your trip in Tahiti, this is the place to do it properly.
What we love about it: It's the rare resort that makes a red-eye feel like a soft landing. If you're arriving late or flying out on the overnight to SFO, this is the place to do it properly.
Image: Hilton Tahiti Hotel, French Polynesia
Hilton Tahiti Hotel
Just five minutes from Tahiti’s international airport, the Hilton Tahiti is your gateway to Polynesia. A fuss-free stopover or business base that still ticks all the island-getaway boxes. With sensational views of Matavai Bay and Moorea, and excellent dining from French-Polynesian fusion to San Sushi, one of the island’s top restaurants. Our pick? La Strada, the overwater Italian bistro with all the charm of the Amalfi Coast.
The hotel also features a day spa and a well-equipped fitness centre, conference facilities, and a boutique for souvenirs. And across the road you’ll find a supermarket, and small shopping mall, perfect for stocking up on supplies before heading to more remote islands in French Polynesia. All the convenience you need, with plenty of island indulgence.
What we love: The palpable buzz, guests are either just arriving, excited for the journey ahead, or soaking up their final island moments. The Vipuna Pool Bar is the place to be.Swim up, sip from an inventive cocktail menu, and mingle with fellow travellers.
More articles you might like
Check In Here | Bora Bora’s Best Resorts
We’ve rounded up all the best places to stay in Bora Bora from boutique villas to overwater bungalows. So you can skip the guesswork and go straight to tropical nirvana.
A Week in Paradise | The Ultimate 7 Day Bora Bora Itinerary
Consider this your no-stress guide to seven days in paradise. Your insider tips on where to dine, dive and find the best bloody mary in Bora Bora.
An Insider’s Guide to Bora Bora | Where to Eat, Stay and Play
Everything you need to know before you go to Bora Bora. From delicious local dishes to worth trying, to what to pack in your carry-on.