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French Polynesia hotels
Any traveler's scrapbook from French Polynesia will inevitably include a photo of an overwater bungalow, or OWB: a traditional thatched hut (or fare) set on stilts over a shallow lagoon. Private OWBs are offered—at a hefty price—at most premium resorts in the islands. The development boom on Bora Bora has quieted with the opening of the newest, and hopefully last, mega-resort here: The Four Seasons Bora Bora, opening in Summer 2008.
If you're on a budget, finding lodging in French Polynesia can be challenging. Your best bets will be family-run properties just outside the most popular tourist areas. A good resource is the Federation Haere Mai, an association of smaller properties throughout the islands. Value conscious travelers should also avoid private island resorts where dining choices are limited to the hotel's pricey venues.
The overwater bungalows with thatched roofs have views of Mount Otemanu. Polished yucca-wood floors, Kaori-wood walls, and floor-to-ceiling louvers create the...more
A 20-minute boat ride from the Bora airport deposits you directly at the Nui's unique floating lobby, where grandiose pearl-and-shell chandeliers hover...more
Overwater bungalows have dramatic views, but for some, "beach or garden suites offer more privacy." "There was a surprise waiting around every corner"—in...more
These three self-contained, thatch-roofed cottages set under a canopy of ironwood trees and palms on a private motu are a simple but comfortable place to go...more
Set on a remote atoll, this property has ten thatched overwater bungalows linked by an arched walkway and perched above a jade-green lagoon. Twenty-five more...more
Whimsical bright colors and modular 60s-style designs meld with Polynesian décor at this sexy, adult beach resort. It's the youngest—in both years...more
Sprawling and opulent, the InterCon is also surprisingly, unabashedly sexy—just check out the bare-chested bellmen bound tightly in their traditional...more
Set on the remote Avea Rahi motu on the south coast of Rangiroa, this property has just five thatched beach bungalows made with precious woods, woven palms, and...more
If the sky's not the limit and you prefer to patronize a local business, this moderately priced option—for Bora Bora, that is—fits the bill. Built...more
Facing Mount Otemanu, this "very Polynesian hotel" on a sandy islet recently started work on a coral nursery. The glass-bottom floors in the overwater bungalows...more
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