New Conrad Bora Bora

[boomy]

The former Hilton to be rebranded and open as Conrad on April 1 next year, as reported by Lucky on OMAAT.

Conrad Bora Bora Opening Next Year - Great Use Of Hilton Points! - One Mile at a Time

Awesome use of points - 64,000 p/n for 5 nights stay.
Plenty availability at the moment, hurry up and book!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I guess it will depend on how good the reno was. I seem to recall most reports for this property stating something like "nice, but boring and dated". I wonder if they will entertain the upgrade game like Rangali does. I actually think the Rangali upgrade game is pretty good value. When we stayed early last year (peak season) we booked the base beach villa and then paid to upgrade to try differing rooms. From memory, the most expensive upgrade was US$600/night which got us the very desirable Premier Water Villa which retails for circa AU$4000 a night.

Thanks for the heads up. I may make some enquiries. Anyone care to offer some advice on how Bora Bora sits in relation to USA/South American flights ... ie, is there any good value stop over flights there, or is it basically a stand alone destination?

 

[Gold Member]

Anyone care to offer some advice on how Bora Bora sits in relation to USA/South American flights ... ie, is there any good value stop over flights there, or is it basically a stand alone destination?

Very difficult to get decent premium awards to Tahiti. I'd be there in a heartbeat otherwise. Conrad Maldives on the other hand, what with EY First etc, the place just keeps taking my money.

 

[Major]

BOB is an absolute PITA to get to. From Australia you can travel via AKL or NOU to PPT and then to BOB. I could not match up any flights and needed overnights in both AKL and PPT. The cost of the 40 min flight from PPT to BOB is about the same as a BNE - PER flight.

I'm glad we went but would not go back

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The cost of the 40 min flight from PPT to BOB is about the same as a BNE - PER flight.

Return or one way? Sorry for the comparison, but I seem to recall the MLE to Rangali as being about US$580 return on a Twotter. What type of plane does the PPT-BOB shuttle?

 

[Major]

Return or one way? Sorry for the comparison, but I seem to recall the MLE to Rangali as being about US$580 return on a Twotter. What type of plane does the PPT-BOB shuttle?

ATR...I think a 42.

It cost about $1000 for 2 return flights

 

[boomy]

Plenty award availability on QF/TN via AKL if booking ahead but I can't justify spending 125K AA miles for two rubbish J products. This will be one of the trips which are all about the destination and I can survive 8 hours in Y, saving my points for long haul F travel.

The cost of PPT-BOB connection is similar ripoff as MLE-Rangali. The thing I find most annoying is AKL-PPT late arrival and early departure schedules which means wasting time and money spending two nights at an airport hotel. There is a way to avoid the return if visiting Moorea and caching 30min shuttle to PPT.

 

[Major]

Talking of ripoffs, BOB is on it's own little chunk of sand/coral. The only way to reach your resort is by boat and the various resorts are only too happy to pick you up for the appropriate fee.
There is a shuttle to the main Island but you then need to Taxi to your resort, if it's on that Island

 

[Daver6]

I heard about this. Having been to neither BOB or Maldives, which is considered better. If it makes any difference, departing on points? Thinking this is what I'll be saving my HH points for. Or perhaps Conrad Koh Samui?

 

[boomy]

I heard about this. Having been to neither BOB or Maldives, which is considered better. If it makes any difference, departing on points? Thinking this is what I'll be saving my HH points for. Or perhaps Conrad Koh Samui?

All three are excellent use of HH points but BOB is the only one at Cat 9 which practically gives almost an extra free night compared to the other two at Cat 10.

 

[Cynicor]

Maldives vs Koh Samui is apples and oranges. Depends what you are after. I love CM rangali but also enjoy Conrad Nusa Dua and Tokyo. Just depends what mood I am in but don't think you can easily compare them.

 

[kpc]

Having been to both Maldives (Conrad Maldives) and Bora Bora (IC Thallaso / Le Moana)...both places are different and very nice. We used AA miles to fly QF to Akl then TN to Ppt....we stayed at http://www.fare-suisse.com/english/ (cheap with free airport pickup /drop off) in Tahiti at the beginning and end of the trip due to late arrival / early departure. Don't forget to include a visit to Moorea (another island close to Tahiti) as well. We stopped by the then Hilton Bora Bora on our snorkelling tour and perhaps it is not in the absolute best location for views of Mt Otenahu....there is a cheap way to get from BB airport to the Conrad Hotel by the free Air Tahiti ferry. You can't avoid the expensive inter island flight (sit on L) for views) but overall we found BB a bit cheaper than Maldives (bring all your grog to BB from Australia or Papette)...the local currency is pegged to Euro whereas Maldives charges in USD.

Ps been to Conrad KS as well and the Conrad KS is very nice indeed but KS is not in the same league, IMO, as Maldives / BB.....but as boomy points out to me, it is much cheaper to get to KS than the other 2 places!

 

[boomy]

Haven't been to the refurbished Conrad Maldives but judging by the older villas, Koh Samui villas were much nicer IMO. The disadvantage of Koh Samui is the beach compared Rangali Atoll which is far more impressive so, in conclusion, both resorts have their pros and cons. If going back than I'd choose Koh Samui for the cheaper flights and option to get cheap (but good) food and drinks from outside the resort.

Will be interesting to compare both to new Conrad BB.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Haven't been to the refurbished Conrad Maldives

You need to revisit. In my estimation, even the base level accommodation was absolutely magnificent ... and just got more impressive as you escalated in room class.

Hard to imagine better base level rooms, but I'm sure there is somewhere!

 

[hummel]

I'll be interested to see how the Conrad stacks up when it opens, having done BOB before I think we'll do Maldives next, just a much easier place to get to than BOB