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Where to Stay in Bora Bora: What You Need to Know Before Booking
Bora Bora is a tiny island — you can drive around it in 30 minutes. So you are not really choosing a neighbourhood; you are choosing a type of accommodation based on your expectations, group size and budget.
Bora Bora is famous for its overwater bungalows, and that is what gives it its reputation for being eye-wateringly expensive. In reality, prices range from around $100 to over $3,700 a night. There are very good accommodation options in the $200–$400 a night range — you do not need to spend a fortune to enjoy the island.
There are three main categories: luxury overwater resorts, almost all built on the motus (the small islets in the lagoon), mid-range hotels and lodges on the main island, and family guesthouses and Airbnb rentals that are far more affordable.
The 3 Types of Accommodation in Bora Bora
| Type | Location | Indicative budget | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxury resorts | Motus (+ Le Moana on main island) | $1,300 – $3,700/night | Honeymoon, bucket-list experience |
| Hotels, lodges & villas | Main island | $300 – $800/night | Couples, families, freedom to explore |
| Guesthouses & Airbnb | Main island and some motus | Most affordable | Budget travellers, groups, self-catering |
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Luxury Overwater Resorts on the Motus
Bora Bora's most luxurious hotels are almost all built on the motus, the small islets surrounding the lagoon: Four Seasons, St. Regis, Conrad, Le Bora Bora by Pearl and the Westin. This is where you will find the iconic overwater bungalows facing Mount Otemanu — we compare all eight resorts in detail in our complete Bora Bora overwater resort guide.
The trade-off: on a motu, everything requires a boat. You cannot leave on foot, and resort meals, boat shuttles and excursions add up quickly.
The InterContinental Le Moana is the only luxury overwater resort on the main island, at Matira Point. You get the overwater bungalow experience and the freedom to walk out, facing the most beautiful beach on the island.
Hotels, Lodges & Villas on the Main Island
Between the motu resorts and guesthouses, the main island has several 2–3 star hotels, lodges and guesthouses that are far more affordable. Less luxurious — but far freer: you walk out when you want, dine at local restaurants and drive around the island in half an hour. Our addresses, from Matira to Vaitape.
An 80-room hotel right on the water, a short walk from Matira Beach. Pool, restaurant and a small beach in front for swimming and snorkelling — one of the most complete addresses at a reasonable price on the island.
Check Royal Bora Bora pricesPolynesian-style bungalows set directly on Matira Beach. For those who want their feet in the sand, at the heart of the island's most beautiful spot, without resort prices.
Check Village Temanuata pricesA hotel rather than a resort, in the Matira area. Its renovated overwater bungalows are in excellent condition — the most accessible way to sleep above the lagoon, from around $800/night, and around $300/night in a garden room.
Check Maitai prices
The former home of artist Garrick Yrondi, transformed into a small guesthouse surrounded by his sculptures and paintings. Pool, rooftop terrace and a superb view of Mount Otemanu and the lagoon — an unusual, character-filled address.
Check Villa Yrondi pricesEight bungalows on the lagoon, about one kilometre from Vaitape, with a pool facing the water, a dive centre next door and several restaurants within walking distance. Practical for enjoying village life and heading out on excursions from the jetty.
Check Oa Oa Lodge pricesA family-run lodge with an open view of the lagoon from the terrace, a few minutes' walk from the shuttle jetty. Simple and welcoming — a car is recommended to reach the beaches.
Check Bora Bora Lagoon View prices
Want the overwater experience without blowing your entire budget? Book one or two overwater nights, then the rest of your stay at one of these addresses — you keep the defining moment at a fraction of the total cost.
Family Guesthouses & Airbnb
This is the most affordable way to stay in Bora Bora. Family guesthouses give you a local home stay, often with half-board included, while Airbnb rentals (bungalows, fare, apartments) allow self-catering and work well for groups. Ideal for budget travellers, families and friends travelling together.
Pension Alice et Raphaël
Recommended — not personally testedOn Motu Ome, in an old coconut plantation: three bungalows built from natural local materials facing the main island, running entirely on solar power and rainwater. No air conditioning or television — a genuine off-grid escape. Around $310/night for a double bungalow, 3-night minimum, boat transfer and breakfast included.
Staying Near Matira Beach
If you are staying on the main island, Matira Point at the southern tip is our favourite area. The beach is stunning — shallow turquoise water and white sand — and this is where you will find the widest range of accommodation at every level, from the InterContinental Le Moana to the Maitai, family guesthouses and holiday rentals.
And since the island takes just 30 minutes to drive around, staying anywhere else is not a problem either — you will always be a few minutes from everything.
Bora Bora: Luxury Bubble or Authentic Island?
Bora Bora has a reputation for being over-the-top and exclusive — and that image comes almost entirely from the motu resorts. But that is only one way to experience the island.
Stay on the main island and Bora Bora is authentically Polynesian. In a 2–3 star hotel, a guesthouse or a local rental, you live among Polynesian people, close to the village of Vaitape, rather than in a hotel bubble. Your choice of accommodation — far more than the island itself — decides the atmosphere of your stay.
How to Choose Your Accommodation in Bora Bora
The island is so small that location matters less than the quality of the accommodation itself. Focus on recent ratings and reviews on Booking.com, real photos and what is included (breakfast, boat transfers, kayaks, etc.).
It all depends on your expectations, group size and budget
A couple on a honeymoon has completely different needs from a family of four or a group of friends. Ask yourself three questions: do you want the overwater bungalow experience? How many of you are there? What is your nightly budget, all in?
Motu or main island?
On a motu, you have the postcard setting but depend entirely on resort boat schedules. On the main island, you are free, you eat at local restaurants and spend significantly less.
Which Accommodation in Bora Bora Suits You?
A motu resort: Four Seasons, St. Regis or Le Bora Bora by Pearl.
The InterContinental Le Moana — the only luxury overwater resort on the main island, facing Matira.
The Maitai, from around $800/night overwater, near Matira Beach.
An Airbnb, a guesthouse with multiple rooms, or Oa Oa Lodge near Vaitape — more space and a controlled budget.
Village Temanuata or Royal Bora Bora, both close to Matira Beach.
Pension Alice et Raphaël, on a wild private motu — no air conditioning, no television, off-grid.
