InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa: Where Every Room Is an Overwater Villa

Stay Here For

The quintessential overwater bungalow experience you’ve been daydreaming about.

Getting to French Polynesia takes some work—we aren’t talking about a quick hop to the Caribbean. You’re looking at two or more flights in each direction, so it's worth the extra effort (and expense) to book the right resort.

And that might just be the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa (or just “Thalasso,” as it’s known colloquially), which sits across a sparkling turquoise lagoon from French Polynesia’s famed Mount Otemanu. It’s exactly what you’re probably picturing in your mind when you think of a resort in Bora Bora.

It’s a family-friendly property adults will love too, offering a large pool with stunning mountain views, sandy beaches, and a large Lagoonarium—a dedicated area to snorkel alongside tropical fish.

There are also plenty of off-property excursions. Leaving directly from the resort’s main dock, scuba and snorkeling trips are a must for marine lovers. Or, hop on the regular ferry service to the property’s sister hotel on the main island, InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora, where you can catch a taxi to local restaurants or join an ATV tour.

It may take some effort to get here, but you’ll forget about the journey the moment you hear the conch shell trumpet your arrival.

The Essentials

The Location

The InterContinental is a short boat ride from the main island of Bora Bora, which is a 45-minute turboprop flight from Tahiti. From there, you’ll meet the resort’s ferry for a 20-minute ride to the property, which you’ll arrange directly through Thalasso. The resort’s regular ferry to Le Moana makes it easy to get to restaurants, local bars and land tours. Snorkel, scuba and jet ski excursions leave directly from the resort, as do a wide array of other ocean adventures, from sunset cruises to deep-sea fishing trips.

The Bars and Restaurants

The resort has both casual open-air restaurants and a fancier one with a large wine cellar and tasting menus. Reef Restaurant is where you’ll start your days. The breakfast buffet, included when you book through The Edit, has hot dishes that range from fried rice to crepes, an endless array of pastries (this is French Polynesia, after all) and an ice-chilled sashimi spread and poisson cru (raw fish marinated in citrus juice and coconut milk).

Drop by Sands Restaurant for lunch (a burger, fresh fish or lobster on the beach); happy hour, which is often accompanied by live music; or a Polynesian dinner with tiki cocktails, Tahitian wines and a fire show. Le Corail should be your first choice for something more elegant—book the multicourse “Table du Sommelier” for a private wine-focused dinner (and don’t hold back when the cheese cart comes around).

The Room

Every guest at Thalasso gets a lagoon villa with direct access to the warm, shallow waters below. Most villas are nearly identical inside; as with many resorts in Bora Bora, what you’re really paying for when you move up in category (and price) is a Mount Otemanu view.

Villas feel spacious, with generous floor plans and vaulted wood panel ceilings. They’re clearly designed to direct your attention to the stunning lagoon views—where you might otherwise find Polynesian artworks, there’s a giant floor-to-ceiling window in the bedroom, and an oversized sliding glass door in the living room. There’s even a glass floor beneath the coffee table, bringing in more natural light, and an opportunity to catch a school of fish swimming by.

You may spot families sharing a villa; they each comfortably accommodate either three adults, or two adults and two children. For couples, the villas have more than enough space, with huge separate living rooms and oversized sliding doors that open to the deck, plus bathrooms with dual vanities, shower stalls and soaking tubs that face the lagoon.

The Standout Feature

Leaving directly from the resort’s main dock, scuba and snorkeling trips are a must for marine lovers.

Absolutely everything about the water. Take a swim in the Lagoonarium, grab a paddleboard or kayak, speed around Bora Bora with a full-island jet ski tour or book a snorkel or scuba tour for a chance to swim with the island’s famed manta rays and reef sharks. You can even book a spa treatment in a glass-bottomed treatment room, followed by a journey through the outdoor leg-massaging Deep Chiller Walk and a session in the jetted hot tub (which, naturally, overlooks Mount Otemanu).

The Time to Go

The weather is warm throughout the year, with the clearest conditions from May through October. You’re more likely to encounter rain during the rest of the year, which means lower prices, except for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The Vibe

You can enjoy breakfast at Reef Restaurant, or have it delivered directly to your villa in a traditional canoe.

The highly specific reason you’d come here: Your teen saw the floating canoe breakfast online three years ago and hasn’t stopped talking about it since.

What are you packing? You won’t feel out of place wearing a collared shirt at dinner (and they’re required at the date-night restaurant, Le Corail), but overall, you can expect a supremely laidback vibe. The resort is a place to be the most casual, comfortable version of yourself. Just don't forget to bring lots of sunscreen, or make frequent visits to the oversized dispensers by the pool.

What are people drinking? A local Hinano beer at the pool, a Mai Tai at happy hour or the Tiki Boom during themed dinners (it’s strong, like a Polynesian take on the Long Island iced tea). Your room includes a minibar with beer, juices and water, and the first round is on the house.

Staying in or going out? You’re here to relax. There are restaurants to explore on the main island and at other resorts, but there’s no need to leave the property—you can always splurge on a private dinner on the beach if you’re looking to shake things up.

The thing your kids won't stop talking about: The swim lessons they took with all of their new friends from around the world. When it comes to Bora Bora getaways, this one is particularly popular with families.

Everything Else

• Number of rooms: 84 villas
• Number of pools: 2
• Fitness center? Yes
• Spa? Yes
• Salon? No
• Number of bars/restaurants: 6
• 24-hour room service? Yes
• Childcare and kids club? No