Conrad Bora Bora Nui Review, a family stay in French Polynesia

Visiting French Polynesia, especially Bora Bora, always felt like the kind of trip you dream about for years. In this Conrad Bora Bora Nui review, I’m sharing exactly what it was like to stay here as a family and whether this luxury resort truly lives up to the hype.

I’m walking through everything we experienced firsthand, from how we booked our stay on points to what the rooms, restaurants, beach, and amenities were really like. If you’re researching Conrad Bora Bora Nui and want honest, detailed insight before booking, this is exactly what I wish I had read.

How to book Conrad Bora Bora on points

When people ask how we made Bora Bora work as a family trip, the answer always comes back to points. Staying at Conrad Bora Bora using Hilton Honors points made the entire trip far more doable.

Luckily, we were able to book our stay before the recent Hilton devaluation, when nights at Conrad Bora Bora were around 130,000 Hilton points. Note that now Conrad Bora Bora is 200,000 Hilton Points per night.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui award availability
Conrad Bora Bora Nui award availability

The real savings come from Hilton’s fifth-night-free benefit on award stays. Because you can book five consecutive nights on points, and only pay for four, and that discount alone made the redemption worth it.

Conrad Bora Bora, the overwater boardwalk
Conrad Bora Bora, the overwater boardwalk

Now, how can you earn Hilton points? The fastest methods are Hilton co-branded credit cards that come with a sign-up bonus, Hilton Free Nights, and ongoing Hilton Honors promotions.

Additionally, using eligible American Express cards that let you transfer Membership Rewards to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio. For a high-end redemption like Conrad Bora Bora, these transfers can help you build a Hilton balance much faster and make a luxury stay far more affordable.

When booking the Conrad Bora Bora Nui on points, it’s important to look for the “Standard Room” award. This typically costs 200,000 points (and no additional fees) per night and comes as a King Lagoon View Suite, which is just as gorgeous as other villas.

To upgrade to an overwater villa, we simply emailed the hotel ahead of time and were able to negotiate an upgrade rate.

How to get from Tahiti to Conrad Bora Bora

Now, reaching Bora Bora requires an additional domestic flight from Tahiti, but the process is straightforward. After arriving and overnighting in Tahiti (we stayed at the Hilton Tahiti), we took the first Air Tahiti flight to Bora Bora the next morning.

The flight from Papeete to Bora Bora is about forty-five minutes, and because it’s the only way to access Bora Bora, it runs frequently and is well coordinated with international arrivals.

Upon landing at Bora Bora Airport, Conrad staff were already waiting at the terminal. They escorted us directly to the resort’s private boat, which operates as a scheduled transfer for arriving guests.

Conrad Bora Bora boat shuttle from Bora Bora airport to the resort
Conrad Bora Bora boat shuttle from Bora Bora airport to the resort

The boat ride from the airport to the Conrad Bora Bora takes roughly twenty minutes (note that it requires an additional fee per person, billed to your room at the hotel).

Check in at Conrad Bora Bora

When we pulled up to the dock at the Conrad, a personal concierge was already waiting for us, which made the arrival feel organized and welcoming. Penelope helped with our luggage and walked us straight to the lobby lounge area, where we were offered cold towels and welcome drinks while our passports were checked.

When the paperwork was complete, our concierge took us by golf cart to the villa, which was fortunately ready for us at 11 a.m.

Map of Conrad Bora Bora Nui

Map of Conrad Bora Bora Nui
Map of Conrad Bora Bora Nui

King Overwater Pool Villa at Conrad Bora Bora

We stayed in the King Overwater Pool Villa, which is one of the most spacious overwater options at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui. At 121 square meters (about 1,300 square feet), it felt more like a small home than a hotel room, and the layout worked surprisingly well for a family of four.

King Overwater Pool Villa at Conrad Bora Bora, courtesy of Hilton.com

When we arrived in our villa, the room greeted us with a thoughtful spread of goodies since it was my birthday: a bottle of champagne, a small cake, chocolates, and candy for the kids. It was a lovely personal touch that made the stay feel extra special.

Welcome treats at Conrad Bora Bora
Welcome treats at Conrad Bora Bora

Inside, the king bed faces the water, so you wake up to that classic Bora Bora horizon view. There’s a separate seating area, which is where the resort set up the rollaway bed for the kids. It fit comfortably, and we still had space to move around.

King bed at the Overwater Pool Villa at Conrad Bora Bora
King bed at the Overwater Pool Villa at Conrad Bora Bora

The bathroom is large, with a soaking tub, double sinks, and plenty of room for everyone to get ready without feeling crowded. The villa also has a minibar, tea and coffee setup, a Bluetooth sound system, and an HDTV.

A bathtub at King Overwater Pool Villa at Conrad Bora Bora
A bathtub at King Overwater Pool Villa at Conrad Bora Bora

The villa opens with fully retractable windows that blur the line between indoors and outdoors. The terrace is where we spent most of our time: an infinity-edge pool overlooking the lagoon, a floating overwater hammock, two loungers, and direct access to the water right from the deck.

The kids used the ladder constantly, snorkeling, swimming, and jumping in again and again, while we enjoyed the sunset views from the catamaran nets.

Pool at the King Overwater Pool Villa, Conrad Bora Bora
Pool at the King Overwater Pool Villa, Conrad Bora Bora

Overall, it felt private, quiet, and incredibly comfortable for two adults and two younger kids. If you’re deciding between room types, this one delivered exactly what you imagine an overwater bungalow experience to be.

Dining options at Conrad Bora Bora

We tried nearly every restaurant at Conrad Bora Bora, and each one offered a different style and atmosphere.

Breakfast at Conrad Bora Bora

Breakfast at Iriatai became our daily ritual. Thanks to Hilton Gold status, it was complimentary for the 4 of us. The spread was exactly what you hope for in a tropical setting: fresh fruits, pastries, plenty of savory dishes, and made-to-order items.

Sitting outside with lagoon views made it feel like a long, slow morning rather than a rushed hotel breakfast.

Final breakfast special fruit plate at Conrad Bora Bora
Final breakfast special fruit plate at Conrad Bora Bora

Lunch at Conrad Bora Bora

For lunch, we often went to Tamure Beach Grill, which sits right on the sand and has that relaxed, beachside feel that just works in Bora Bora. The kids loved the complimentary fresh bread—those little warm baguettes were gone within minutes every time.

Grilled tuna with coconut rice at Tamure Beach Grill, Conrad Bora Bora

The menu at Tamure Grill is casual but surprisingly good. We ordered the grilled tuna more than once because it was so fresh and perfectly cooked, and the fries were honestly some of the best we’ve had.

Grilled seabass at Tamure Beach Grill, Conrad Bora Bora
Grilled seabass at Tamure Beach Grill, Conrad Bora Bora
Shrimp pasta at Tamure Beach Grill, Conrad Bora Bora
Shrimp pasta at Tamure Beach Grill, Conrad Bora Bora

The kids’ menu had reliable options like chicken nuggets, pasta, and simple grilled fish, which made ordering easy on long beach days.

We didn’t make it to Tarava Pool Bar, but it’s available if you want smoothies, snacks, or lunch without leaving your pool lounger.

Dinner at Conrad Bora Bora

Dinner at Iriatai (French Restaurant)

For dinner, our favorite meal was at Iriatai, the French restaurant. The scallops in lobster sauce were excellent, rich, balanced, and beautifully prepared, and the lamb chops were another standout.

Prices lean higher here, which is expected for Bora Bora, but the quality matched the setting. The kids ordered from the children’s menu without any issues

Dinner at Upa Upa (Sushi Lounge)

We also tried Upa Upa, the sushi option at the resort. The sushi itself was fine, fresh enough, but the menu is fairly limited, so don’t expect a full Japanese-style selection.

Upa Upa (Sushi Lounge), Conrad Bora Bora
Upa Upa (Sushi Lounge), Conrad Bora Bora

It’s technically a lounge rather than a sit-down restaurant, so the seating is more casual and not the most comfortable for a full dinner. It works if you’re in the mood for something lighter, but it wasn’t a standout meal for us.

Chinese Restaurant – Banyan

We didn’t have a chance to try the Chinese restaurant at Conrad Bora Bora during our stay, but it’s another dinner option on the property if you want a different cuisine without leaving the resort.

The Polynesian Show at Conrad Bora Bora

One of the highlights of our stay was the Polynesian show and buffet dinner. Pricing is family-friendly: children 6 and under are free, and kids under 12 receive 50% off, which makes it much easier for families to enjoy the experience.

The Polynesian Show at Conrad Bora Bora

The dinner is buffet-style with a mix of classic Polynesian dishes and more familiar comfort food. We loved the octopus and shrimp in coconut milk, the poisson cru was incredibly fresh, and there were plenty of options for guests who prefer simpler dishes.

The dessert table was the clear winner, with beautiful pastries, tropical flavors, and things the girls went back for more than once.

The show itself was wonderful for both adults and kids. The dancers, music, and storytelling created a really warm atmosphere, and at the end, guests were invited to join in. The girls absolutely loved dancing with the performers.

Beach at Conrad Bora Bora

The Conrad Bora Bora Nui has two main beach areas, both located near the arrival lobby, and each offers something a little different. One side is better for snorkeling, with coral formations close to shore and clear visibility on calm days.

The other side is more suited for swimming, with softer sand and gentler, shallow water. This is also where the kayak launch is, and it’s the spot our younger one enjoyed the most.

Beach at Conrad Bora Bora
Beach at Conrad Bora Bora
Beach at Conrad Bora Bora
Beach at Conrad Bora Bora

Because our overwater villa sat above deeper water, we often skipped the beach entirely and just jumped straight from our deck into the lagoon. 

Activities at Conrad Bora Bora

We used the complimentary water equipment at Conrad Bora Bora almost every day. Kayaking across the lagoon in the early morning became one of our favorite routines, because the water was glassy and still, and it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves.

Kayaking at Conrad Bora Bora
Kayaking at Conrad Bora Bora

Good news is that Conrad Bora Bora offers snorkeling gear too, and it made it easy to hop in and explore the corals and fish right off the beach or our villa.

The Conrad Bora Bora Nui also offers a variety of complimentary classes for families, including yoga, paddleboarding, and even leaf crown making, which was a fun hands-on activity for the kids to try a bit of Polynesian culture.

The resort provides bikes for guests, making it easy to get from your villa to other parts of the property while enjoying the lagoon views.

For guests who want more adventure, the Conrad Bora Bora offers jet ski tours, boat trips, diving, and lagoon excursions.

Pool at Conrad Bora Bora

The main pool at Conrad Bora Bora is a standout, large, beautifully designed, and set right along the lagoon with plenty of loungers and shaded spots. It’s an easy place to spend a full afternoon, especially with the calm, shallow entry that works well for younger kids. 

Kids Club at Conrad Bora Bora

Even though Conrad Bora Bora isn’t specifically marketed as a family resort, a complimentary kids club was a great surprise. It’s designed for children five to twelve, and the staff goes out of their way to make the activities fun without feeling overly structured.

Kids club at Conrad Bora Bora
Kids club at Conrad Bora Bora

Our youngest spent time crafting, playing games, and doing simple cultural activities. One day, she even had a coral reef conservation presentation all to herself.

Things to do in Bora Bora with kids

Even though the resort is so beautiful that it’s tempting not to leave, we did participate in some activities outside of the property.

Stingrays at the snorleking tour in Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Stingrays at the snorleking tour in Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Things to do in Bora Bora with kids:

  1. Snorkeling in Bora Bora Lagoon – Explore vibrant coral reefs and tropical fish on a Bora Bora family snorkeling adventure. Kids will love seeing colorful sea life up close, either from the resort or on a guided snorkeling tour in Bora Bora.
  2. Lagoon Tour to Swim with Sharks and Stingrays – A safe and unforgettable Bora Bora kids activity, letting children experience gentle sharks and stingrays in the shallow lagoon.
  3. Kayaking in Bora Bora – Paddle through calm waters on a family-friendly kayaking tour, perfect for kids and parents alike.
  4. Overwater Villa Swimming – Many overwater villas, including at Conrad Bora Bora Nui, offer direct lagoon access. Kids can enjoy safe swimming right from your deck.
  5. Jet Ski Adventures – Older kids and teens can try Bora Bora jet ski tours, a fun way to explore the island’s turquoise waters.
  6. Beach Time at Matira Beach – Take the free resort shuttle to Matira Beach, one of the most beautiful public beaches in Bora Bora, ideal for building sandcastles and wading in shallow waters.
  7. Polynesian Show & Dinner – Enjoy a family-friendly Polynesian show in Bora Bora with traditional dance, music, and a buffet with kid-friendly options.
  8. Exploring Vaitape – Use the Conrad Bora Bora Nui shuttle to Vaitape to explore the town, grab snacks, or stroll along the waterfront.
  9. Hiking Mount Otemanu – Older kids can join Bora Bora hiking tours, offering incredible views of the lagoon and surrounding islands.
  10. 4×4 Island Tours – Take a Bora Bora 4×4 adventure tour to explore viewpoints, cultural sites, and the island interior with the family.

Bottom line

The Conrad Bora Bora Nui is an ideal choice for families seeking a luxury overwater villa experience. The resort offers spacious King Overwater Pool Villas with direct lagoon access, a dedicated kids club, and several dining options including French, sushi, and beachside meals.

Between snorkeling, kayaking, and lagoon tours, there are plenty of family-friendly Bora Bora activities, all complemented by the resort’s exceptional service. Overall, this Conrad Bora Bora review shows the property delivers a perfect mix of comfort, adventure, and unforgettable scenery for families.

Leave a Comment