Great video, thanks for sharing! Your hotel in Papeete looks like the Hilton in your video, we were there couple years back. Heading to Papeete, Moorea, and Bora Bora Westin in couple weeks (mi-Jan.2025). Already upgraded to an OWV as Titanium. This Westin (previously Meridien) looks like the Meridien Maldives where we stayed.
We've been to Bora Bora six times in the last 4 years and have pretty much seen the full rebuild progress in every trip. It's looking great and we'll definitely try it out on one of our next trips to paradise! Thanks for the nice video!
I think it's solid for what it is :) F&B can be improved but that's an easy fix. It's not the StR or FS, but that's why it's a Westin and not an RC haha
Thanks for the review! It was very informative. I would have liked to have seen the menu options at the various restaurants, not just what you ordered. I’m a vegetarian, so having a preview of resort menus is of great interest to me. Great review, though! Thanks!!
@@MandyRoams it sure does. i hadn’t realised the bathroom layout for the standard overwater bungalow until seeing your video. i won’t be choosing that one! 😃
I really appreciate your honesty with your rating of the first dinner in this video. That meal did not look appealing or filling. I think I would still be hungry. However, I love the idea of a menu change. Thank you for keeping things real.
Just got back from a 2 night stay using points and a certificate! The charges DID NOT CODE 6x using my Amex card. Had to call and create a case to have adjusted. I also had to use a non Amex card during check in for a hold, but was able to switch to Amex at check out.
Great review! Did you guys get any upgrades with platinum status? Also, did Sebastian book with the premium room or was it an upgrade? If it wasn’t an upgrade was it with points or did you guys pay the cash rate?
Booked both with points. 1st room (Mandy w/ Platinum status) was upgraded from standard OWB to a OWB with better view. 2nd room (Sebby w/ Platinum status) was upgraded to a larger room. There might have been an operational element as well (someone was scheduled to stay in the 1st room and we had to be moved).
(we offered to stay in the first room, thinking that we were going to get a worse room when we moved - "we'd love to keep you there but we actually have to move you since someone else has to stay there") I guess that's the pro of booking shorter stays? Easier to move you around :)
Thank you for such a thorough and honest review!! We are going to BB in December and are booked to stay 3 nights at the Westin and 3 nights at the St. Regis. I thought it would be nice to experience 2 resorts, but now I am thinking about cancelling the Westin and just staying at the St. Regis for the whole time. How is the snorkeling off of the OWBs at the Westin and the St. Regis? It doesn't look like there is much coral around the OWBs, is there anything to see? Thanks!
Snorkeling in StR is better. StR also has the Lagoonarium which makes it nicer too :) Main risk with 6 days at one is that it might feel a bit boring. Maybe 2 Westin + 4 StR? They have a ~5 minute boat since they're right next to each other, so it's an easy move.
We planned on staying 10 nights, cut it short to 3 nights and left due to the major disappointments. We're now at the St Regis across the lagoon and loving every moment of it.
Hi how are you? Iam planning for next year and didn’t finalize where to stay. My wife and I don’t swim and how deep is the water by the bungalow areas st Regis and Westin hope you reply. This will really help us to figure things out. Thank you.
@@MA-zd2yoif ur towards the 100’s in the lagoon it comes close to your waist even in high tide. The premium bungalows are all towards the deeper part of the water which is about 10 ft deep.
Hi Mandy, Great information! Were you able to go over to St Regis for dinner? If so, is the Westin able to make reservations at the St Regis restaurant for you?
Depends! Mixed answers on the "free" shuttle to the St. Regis that's once per day. They're still trying to figure it out. We did inquire about going to Lagoon at St. Regis one night, but they didn't disclose the $75/person boat fee until a few hours before. Cancelled those plans right away. Not worth paying for the shuttle, especially since the prices at Lagoon have increased significantly over the past few years. The Westin concierge team can ask about same day reservations, but nothing in advance since the St. Regis guests are the priority.
@@MandyRoams Thanks, Mandy. That's good to know. We stayed last year at St Regis and ate at the Lagoon for two nights and loved it. However, a $75 boat ride at St Regis is very pricey; we might as well swim over. :)
Thanks for the review! I noticed that you mentioned the standard room is an OWB, what's the difference with the first cash + points redemption option? I think its the same amount of points with an extra charge on top. "Overwater Bungalow, Bungalow, 1 King, Lagoon access, Terrace".
It might be worth calling the property to double check, but my understanding is that first level faces towards the beach / property = bad views vs. towards the mountain / water. You you do call, would be curious what they say :)
@@MandyRoams I booked a standard OWB room using 85k FNAs, and when I arrived I was told that I was "upgraded" to an Otemanu view room. (I have Platinum status.) I was so content to have that view, I didn't press further for a room with plunge pool. Maybe I could have moved rooms after 1-2 nights, as you did. So it seems it goes lagoon view → Mountain View → Mountain View with plunge pool. Your video came out a week after we stayed. Had I seen it, I would've tried for a better room. Still, I was thoroughly pleased with the new Westin. Also, by the time we stayed the tote bags had been upgraded to deluxe, woven bags. At the airport we saw passengers with Conrad Bora Bora tote bags of the same make and model, just different hotel branding.
@@MandyRoams The boutique store was fully open, but not much worth buying there. I would have appreciated if they sold some boxes of Rotui fruit juices to bring to your room. The turtle sanctuary was open, but we didn't think it was worth paying $50 per person just to feed turtles. One of the highlights was the weekly Thursday night Tahitian cultural presentation at the Tipaniers restaurant (same location as breakfast). It was $150 per person and well worth it. Music, dancing, and singing throughout the aisles, Tipaniers is well suited for this. Dinner is a buffet, and you get good value as there are many delicious dishes to choose from. We also ate at Varavara, which was okay but not great. I don't think all of the bungalows are open yet. Westin claimed them to be, but we noticed all of our neighbors from the 200s at breakfast and dinner, and very few other guests from other branches of the resort. I booked after one of Sebby's emails called attention to wide availability many months ago. Thanks to you guys we knew when to book. Question: have you visited many other islands? I visited 10 on several trips. Love Bora, but PF offers so much more. PS We took Air Tahiti Nui using Alaska points, and the premium economy was quite comfy.
Nice! We stayed in Tahiti and went on whale excursions in Moorea: ua-cam.com/video/wmt0BA4TShM/v-deo.html Heard some of the other islands were amazing for snorkeling and diving. On our list for next time!
🥥How do you rank it vs Conrad & St Regis? Going for our first time next April and have the Conrad booked on points but tempted to switch over, especially if they have availability for me to use my 85k cert when it posts in Jan/Feb.
Conrad and St. Regis are in a different brand tier than Westin. If I had to rank them: 1. St. Regis 2. Conrad 3. Westin - However, great value for the points, especially if you can find it for 65k points.
How did you get a plunge pool and otemanu view for your points booking? I only see the terrace with lagoon view and no pool. Edit: and did you book the larger villa with points or points + cash?
Does anyone know if there Are any sea life around the property ? can you snorkel in Lagoonarium ? can you snorkel around the property ? and would you stay here or spend a little more money and stay at the Four season Bora Bora
If you want a top tier luxury experience, go for the Four Seasons. The Westin is not a top luxury brand, so you will be disappointed if your expectations is the Four Seasons. It's like going to a Hilton and expecting it to be a Waldorf Astoria.
Conrad and St. Regis are in a different brand tier than Westin. If I had to rank them: 1. St. Regis 2. Conrad 3. Westin - However, great value for the points, especially if you can find it for 65k points.
Great video, thanks for sharing! Your hotel in Papeete looks like the Hilton in your video, we were there couple years back. Heading to Papeete, Moorea, and Bora Bora Westin in couple weeks (mi-Jan.2025). Already upgraded to an OWV as Titanium. This Westin (previously Meridien) looks like the Meridien Maldives where we stayed.
Finally! A review of the new property! Thank you!
Thanks for watching! :)
We've been to Bora Bora six times in the last 4 years and have pretty much seen the full rebuild progress in every trip. It's looking great and we'll definitely try it out on one of our next trips to paradise! Thanks for the nice video!
I think it's solid for what it is :) F&B can be improved but that's an easy fix. It's not the StR or FS, but that's why it's a Westin and not an RC haha
Thanks for the review! It was very informative.
I would have liked to have seen the menu options at the various restaurants, not just what you ordered. I’m a vegetarian, so having a preview of resort menus is of great interest to me.
Great review, though! Thanks!!
Thank God for those Marriott Bonvay points, time to start booking my trip! Great review!
Good use, especially if you can find them for 65k/night :)
the review i was waiting for!! thank you for the detailed presentation of the different room types and restaurants 😍
Thanks for watching :) Hopefully it helps with people debating it!
@@MandyRoams it sure does. i hadn’t realised the bathroom layout for the standard overwater bungalow until seeing your video. i won’t be choosing that one! 😃
I really appreciate your honesty with your rating of the first dinner in this video. That meal did not look appealing or filling. I think I would still be hungry. However, I love the idea of a menu change. Thank you for keeping things real.
Yeah, same thing Sebby thought. Sebby ate la LOT of bread lol.
🥥 Fantastic review, I like that you call it like you see it. It looks very nice and fun! We've never been to Bora Bora but maybe someday...
Glad you liked it! Hopefully one day you'll get to experience it!
Do you have a price list of the restaurants and activities? I know in the Maldives you can scan a QR code and all the price shows up. Thank you.
Just got back from a 2 night stay using points and a certificate! The charges DID NOT CODE 6x using my Amex card. Had to call and create a case to have adjusted. I also had to use a non Amex card during check in for a hold, but was able to switch to Amex at check out.
Thanks for flagging! Just noticed it didn't code as 6x on my account. Will be opening a case 😬
SEBBY! Looking good!
🥥 Great review of this property.
Thank you! :)
Great review! Did you guys get any upgrades with platinum status? Also, did Sebastian book with the premium room or was it an upgrade? If it wasn’t an upgrade was it with points or did you guys pay the cash rate?
Booked both with points. 1st room (Mandy w/ Platinum status) was upgraded from standard OWB to a OWB with better view.
2nd room (Sebby w/ Platinum status) was upgraded to a larger room. There might have been an operational element as well (someone was scheduled to stay in the 1st room and we had to be moved).
(we offered to stay in the first room, thinking that we were going to get a worse room when we moved - "we'd love to keep you there but we actually have to move you since someone else has to stay there")
I guess that's the pro of booking shorter stays? Easier to move you around :)
Thank you for such a thorough and honest review!! We are going to BB in December and are booked to stay 3 nights at the Westin and 3 nights at the St. Regis. I thought it would be nice to experience 2 resorts, but now I am thinking about cancelling the Westin and just staying at the St. Regis for the whole time. How is the snorkeling off of the OWBs at the Westin and the St. Regis? It doesn't look like there is much coral around the OWBs, is there anything to see? Thanks!
Snorkeling in StR is better. StR also has the Lagoonarium which makes it nicer too :)
Main risk with 6 days at one is that it might feel a bit boring. Maybe 2 Westin + 4 StR? They have a ~5 minute boat since they're right next to each other, so it's an easy move.
We planned on staying 10 nights, cut it short to 3 nights and left due to the major disappointments. We're now at the St Regis across the lagoon and loving every moment of it.
10 nights is a lot 😬 Can’t beat the St. Regis! Loved our stay there.
Hi how are you? Iam planning for next year and didn’t finalize where to stay. My wife and I don’t swim and how deep is the water by the bungalow areas st Regis and Westin hope you reply. This will really help us to figure things out. Thank you.
@@MA-zd2yoif ur towards the 100’s in the lagoon it comes close to your waist even in high tide. The premium bungalows are all towards the deeper part of the water which is about 10 ft deep.
Hi Mandy,
Great information! Were you able to go over to St Regis for dinner? If so, is the Westin able to make reservations at the St Regis restaurant for you?
Depends! Mixed answers on the "free" shuttle to the St. Regis that's once per day. They're still trying to figure it out.
We did inquire about going to Lagoon at St. Regis one night, but they didn't disclose the $75/person boat fee until a few hours before. Cancelled those plans right away. Not worth paying for the shuttle, especially since the prices at Lagoon have increased significantly over the past few years. The Westin concierge team can ask about same day reservations, but nothing in advance since the St. Regis guests are the priority.
Ironically, we enjoyed the land items at the Westin beach restaurant more than Maere, the signature restaurant (and I usually love seafood).
@@MandyRoams Thanks, Mandy. That's good to know. We stayed last year at St Regis and ate at the Lagoon for two nights and loved it. However, a $75 boat ride at St Regis is very pricey; we might as well swim over. :)
@@MandyRoams We are going to the Westin in June 2025, so hopefully, the food will continue to be good at the beach hotel.
awesome clip Mandy. Did you get a complimentary upgrade to overwater? (with booking the standard room with points)
Standard room is overwater :) imgur.com/a/uH335rV
Thank you. Been waiting for this. For a honeymoon trip in July of 2025, would you recommend the St Regis or Westin if points/cash wasn’t an issue?
St Regis for sure. Westin is not in the same luxury brand tier.
🥥 good review
Thanks!
Thanks for the review! I noticed that you mentioned the standard room is an OWB, what's the difference with the first cash + points redemption option? I think its the same amount of points with an extra charge on top. "Overwater Bungalow, Bungalow, 1 King, Lagoon access, Terrace".
It might be worth calling the property to double check, but my understanding is that first level faces towards the beach / property = bad views vs. towards the mountain / water.
You you do call, would be curious what they say :)
@@MandyRoams I booked a standard OWB room using 85k FNAs, and when I arrived I was told that I was "upgraded" to an Otemanu view room. (I have Platinum status.) I was so content to have that view, I didn't press further for a room with plunge pool. Maybe I could have moved rooms after 1-2 nights, as you did. So it seems it goes lagoon view → Mountain View → Mountain View with plunge pool. Your video came out a week after we stayed. Had I seen it, I would've tried for a better room. Still, I was thoroughly pleased with the new Westin. Also, by the time we stayed the tote bags had been upgraded to deluxe, woven bags. At the airport we saw passengers with Conrad Bora Bora tote bags of the same make and model, just different hotel branding.
Thanks for the data points! Glad to hear they've upgraded the bags :) Was everything fully open during your stay?
@@MandyRoams The boutique store was fully open, but not much worth buying there. I would have appreciated if they sold some boxes of Rotui fruit juices to bring to your room.
The turtle sanctuary was open, but we didn't think it was worth paying $50 per person just to feed turtles.
One of the highlights was the weekly Thursday night Tahitian cultural presentation at the Tipaniers restaurant (same location as breakfast). It was $150 per person and well worth it. Music, dancing, and singing throughout the aisles, Tipaniers is well suited for this. Dinner is a buffet, and you get good value as there are many delicious dishes to choose from. We also ate at Varavara, which was okay but not great.
I don't think all of the bungalows are open yet. Westin claimed them to be, but we noticed all of our neighbors from the 200s at breakfast and dinner, and very few other guests from other branches of the resort.
I booked after one of Sebby's emails called attention to wide availability many months ago. Thanks to you guys we knew when to book.
Question: have you visited many other islands? I visited 10 on several trips. Love Bora, but PF offers so much more.
PS We took Air Tahiti Nui using Alaska points, and the premium economy was quite comfy.
Nice! We stayed in Tahiti and went on whale excursions in Moorea: ua-cam.com/video/wmt0BA4TShM/v-deo.html
Heard some of the other islands were amazing for snorkeling and diving. On our list for next time!
Did you get a chance to checkout the pool, pool beverage service, swim up bar? Did you like any/all of that? How were the drinks? Thanks!
Pool service was great! Very attentive and friendly staff. Drinks were also good.
@ Thanks for the prompt reply. Your videos are great, BTW.
@@MandyRoams What were the cocktail prices like at the pool?
If you can only pick once place in bora bora which are you going with?
St. Regis! Or if there's no budget, then Four Seasons.
Is transit room free of charge?
I think it's reserved for guests with status, otherwise there might be a charge.
🥥How do you rank it vs Conrad & St Regis? Going for our first time next April and have the Conrad booked on points but tempted to switch over, especially if they have availability for me to use my 85k cert when it posts in Jan/Feb.
Conrad and St. Regis are in a different brand tier than Westin.
If I had to rank them:
1. St. Regis
2. Conrad
3. Westin - However, great value for the points, especially if you can find it for 65k points.
How did you get a plunge pool and otemanu view for your points booking? I only see the terrace with lagoon view and no pool.
Edit: and did you book the larger villa with points or points + cash?
All complimentary upgrades due to low occupancy and Platinum status. YMMV.
Does anyone know if there Are any sea life around the property ? can you snorkel in Lagoonarium ? can you snorkel around the property ? and would you stay here or spend a little more money and stay at the Four season Bora Bora
If you want a top tier luxury experience, go for the Four Seasons. The Westin is not a top luxury brand, so you will be disappointed if your expectations is the Four Seasons. It's like going to a Hilton and expecting it to be a Waldorf Astoria.
Interesting, cheers🙂
Thank you! :)
How does this compare with the Conrad or st Regis for a points redemption?
Conrad and St. Regis are in a different brand tier than Westin.
If I had to rank them:
1. St. Regis
2. Conrad
3. Westin - However, great value for the points, especially if you can find it for 65k points.
Here's the Bora Bora playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLmGS_nhmYN8lNDpIXpUPGuMn5sd05xQGx.html
How do rank Westin Bora Bora to the Ritz Carlton in Waikiki?
Those are two very different experiences. One is in a city, and the other is an overwater bungalow on a remote island.
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Wooowwww Amazing, we are visiting westin for 5nights dec 1-6❤❤❤
Enjoy! Hopefully everything is fully open when you visit :)
@ wow exciting thank you