Dreaming of a vacation in the South Pacific? From Tahiti & French Polynesia, home to places like Bora Bora, to Fiji, the Cook Islands and beyond, the choices for an idyllic, tropical escape are practically endless, but if you’re hoping to stay in a resort that offers the best of the best, these luxurious options are sure to fit the bill.
St. Regis, Bora Bora - French Polynesia
One of the best resorts in Bora Bora, St. Regis Resort in Bora Bora boasts private, overwater villas, the largest of their kind in French Polynesia, located on the secluded northeastern side of the lagoon. For ultimate privacy, reserve a secluded beach villa surrounded by palms trees. It includes a butler, which is a signature St. Regis service available 24-hours a day. You can set sail around the island or explore underwater and see blacktip reef sharks and rays up close. Alternatively, opt for a swim in the Lagoonarium, workout in the fitness center, or treat yourself to a pampering spa treatment. Cool off with a cocktail at the swim-up bar or dig into international and Polynesian-inspired cuisine at one of the multiple restaurants. Complimentary snorkeling equipment, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and bicycles are also available.
The Brando - Tetiaroa Island, French Polynesia
Over a half-century in the making, Marlon Brando’s plans for a sustainable private island paradise were finally realized in the form of The Brando, the most extraordinary eco-friendly escape in French Polynesia. This unique luxury resort set upon the magnificent private island of Tetiaroa, an atoll made up of a dozen small islands surrounding a glistening lagoon 30 miles northeast of Tahiti, features luxe villas on strikingly white sand beaches that are frequented by exotic birds, manta rays and sea turtles. Most villas are spacious one-bedroom retreats with a modern design that brings the outdoors in. They boast large bedrooms with king-size beds and dressing areas, a lavish bathroom with an outdoor bathtub and an impressive media room. Each includes a terraced decking area that stretches for more than 600-square-feet over lush island terrain, leading to a private plunge pool. The Brando is also home to multiple restaurants and bars.
Hanakee Lodge - Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
At Hanakee Lodge you can get up close and personal with nature and classic Polynesian hospitality. Set across from majestic Mount Temetiu, scenic Traitors Bay, the Bordelais canal and the volcanic island of Tahuata atop a ridge above the eastern Tahauku Harbor, it offers incredible sweeping views of the island’s wild beauty. Each room is decorated with creative Polynesian accents from skilled local artisans and features Wi-Fi as well as satellite TV. Guests can enjoy dining at the on-site restaurant with breathtaking views of the tropical surroundings, enjoy sipping beverages at the cocktail bar, take a refreshing swim in the pool, explore the stunning, unspoiled beauty of the island by hiking or mountain biking as well as participating in a host of other activities and excursions.
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort - Coral Coast, Fiji
Many say Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort is one of the best Fiji resorts. Set across 40 acres of pristine Coral Coast beachfront on Viti Levu Island and modeled after a traditional Fijian village, you’ll enjoy perks like signature Talai butlers, traditional bure bungalows, and Meimei nannies. Enjoy a private white sand beach as well as lush surroundings, including soaring palms and tropical, landscaped gardens. Boredom is impossible here, making this resort ideal for families with teenagers. In addition to sweeping views from hilltop Bebe Spa Fiji, families can enjoy the magnificent tropical pool and Kids Eat Free special.
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa - Moorea, French Polynesia
A lavish honeymoon resort in Moorea, Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa is tucked between two bays on the heart-shaped island, often referred to as the “Island of Love,” set against a stunning mountain backdrop that melts into a crystal clear lagoon. This idyllic beachfront resort features stylish bungalows decorated in contemporary Polynesian style with gorgeous beach or garden views from a private terrace. Lavishly furnished, you can enjoy claw foot bathtubs in elegant marble bathrooms as well as flat-screen TVs. Spend your days visiting the lagoon, filled with friendly tropical fish or unwinding under the shade of a swaying palm tree at the outdoor infinity pool. Indulge in treatments at the spa using 100% organic ingredients, derived from exotic fruits and precious barks.
Lizard Island Resort - Great Barrier Reef, Australia
With 24 beaches at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island Resort is in a category all its own. The beachfront suites and ocean villas are serene luxury, with hammocks and decks discreetly hidden from view. Accessible only by private plane, guests can enjoy snorkeling the coral gardens right off the beach as well as world-class big game fishing. Choose from rooms with a view to the magnificent “pavilion” that’s perched high above the Coral Sea offering total seclusion and unsurpassed panoramic views as well as a private plunge pool with day beds and a sun lounger. Indulge in 5-star dining from sunrise to after dark, including private romantic dinners, a picnic for two on an empty beach and sunset beachside libations. A long list of activities is also included, like exploring the bay on a glass-bottom boat, snorkeling gear and lessons, nature walks and paddle ski tours. Diving and snorkeling excursions to the inner or outer reef as well as game fishing and sunset cruises are also offered. If that’s not enough, the on-site spa offers a full range of treatments too.
Dolphin Island, Fiji
Dolphin Island is a stunning 14-acre private retreat offering the ultimate luxury “castaway” experience available to a maximum of only eight guests on an exclusive-use basis. Located just 30 minutes via private boat from shore on the tip of Viti Levu, you’ll be immediately enveloped by scenic beauty, including crystal clear blue waters, golden sand, palm trees and fragrant flowers – as well as the incredible hospitality that Fijians are so well known for. Delicious meals feature the freshest of produce and ingredients unique to Fijian cuisine. Freshly caught fish is brought daily to the island, allowing guests to select their favorites from the catch. You’ll stay in bure suites, perfectly suited for the Pacific Island lifestyle with timber floors, stone tiles, high ceilings and wooden shutters. The well-appointed bathrooms feature a traditional shower as well as an outdoor shower and a sculptural free-standing tub.
Conrad Bora Bora Nui - Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Located on a private island – Motu To’opua, Conrad Bora Bora Nui boasts the longest private stretch of soft white sand beaches nestled between the soaring backdrop of Mount Otemanu and the mesmerizing lagoon. You can enjoy the ultimate place to relax and take in a dramatic tropical landscape in spacious Lagoon View Suites perfect for families or spectacular overwater villas and extravagant Presidential Villas. You’ll find multiple restaurants and bars, a luxury spa and the hotel even has a private islet to sip champagne and take in the scenery. Of course, all of the usual South Pacific activities await too, including snorkeling and diving, jet-skiing, sailing and more.
Tokoriki Island Resort, Fiji
If you’re looking for more affordable indulgence in paradise, this boutique island resort may be ideal. Here you’ll find plenty of Fijian hospitality as well as luxury villas and bures, surrounded by lush, tropical gardens with fabulous views of South Pacific sunsets. All bures and villas accommodate are air-conditioned and feature both indoor and outdoor showers, while the spacious Beachfront Pool Villas boast a separate living area and spacious deck with a private infinity-edge pool, cabana and double day bed. Enjoy snorkeling the brilliant coral reefs and diving as well as exploring all sorts of interesting sites, including a Giant Clam Farm. If you just want to relax, indulge in the day spa or soak up the sunshine next to the horizon edge pool. Dining options abound, including romantic oceanfront decks, underneath the shade of swaying palms or a blanket of stars after dark, with meals that feature Asian and South Pacific influences with a modern international twist.
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, French Polynesia
The Four Seasons Resort in Bora Bora features exotic overwater bungalows that allow guests to watch the schools of fish below, as well as luxe rooms scattered across the beachside and lagoon of its private small islet. Walls are made of volcanic stone, while thatched-roof spaces are decorated with teak and timber furnishings along with mother-of-pearl accents. All offer amazing views over the cerulean-hued South Pacific, some also include a glimpse of the black-rock peaks of Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia. Enjoy outings on the resort’s catamaran as well as fresh mojitos at the pool bar. Gourmet cuisine is served at multiple restaurants, while the spa is also a highlight, surrounded by awe-inspiring views of lush tropical valleys and Mount Otemanu.
Namale Resort & Spa - Savusavu, Fiji
Namale Fiji Islands Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive, internationally award-winning resort and spa that offers true paradise in Fiji. Nestled within Namale’s pristine beaches you’ll find luxurious accommodations set among a stunning tropical setting, in Fijian bures and villas overlooking the Koro Sea. Honeymoon Burres are designed for maximum privacy, with one-bedroom villas featuring a raised king four-poster bed with a sunken sitting room that opens to a private deck. It also includes a large two-person shower, Jacuzzi, hot tub and a mini-plunge pool. Activities include freshwater pools, snorkeling, horseback riding to a hidden waterfall, guided reef walks and scuba adventures in the sea. Right on site you can take a dip in the pools, play a game of volleyball, basketball, Frisbee golf or tennis, go kneeboarding or reef and tide pool exploring.
Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji
Stays at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, built on the site of a former coconut plantation, and unwind in one of the spacious free-standing thatched-roof huts built of local timbers. You’ll enjoy 5-star lodging combined with the best in Fiji Island serenity, with each accommodation including a plush king-size bed, rattan furnishings and a private deck with ocean or garden views. All meals, based on Fijian cuisine, South Pacific and Asian-inspired delicacies, are included in this all-inclusive resort, served in its on-site restaurant overlooking the bay, or al fresco poolside. Musicians serenade guests with traditional Fijian songs and you’ll even have the opportunity to participate in a Kava Ceremony.
Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa Taha'a - Tahiti, French Polynesia
Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa Taha’a is situated on the secluded Motu Tautau islet in the Society Islands facing the lush island of Taha’a on one side, and the majestic silhouette of Bora Bora on the other side. The resort is inspired by traditional Polynesian architecture and style and boasts an array of remarkable suites and villas. All are built in the Polynesian tradition which exquisitely blends thatched pandanus roofs, exotic woods, stones, corals, bamboo, tapa cloths and woven coconut, or “nape,” ropes, located either above the glistening lagoon or on the beach. You’ll be steps away from pristine waters and a spectacular coral garden that allows you to get close to the multitude of sea life. Choose from a wide variety of excursions, from hiking, scuba diving and snorkeling to exploring virgin islets, wave runner adventures, jeep safari tours, nature discovery, sunset cruises, helicopter tours and more. When you want to relax, head to the spa, tucked within a beautiful, exotic garden offering an array of massages, wraps and other treatments.
Laucala Island, Fiji
Laucala Island is a beyond-five-star, luxury, private island resort set on 3,200 exclusive acres in the Fijian Pacific archipelago. Set among coconut plantations, lush green mountains, sandy beaches and turquoise lagoons, some refer to it as the veritable Garden of Eden of Fiji. The luxe villas, all glamorous versions of traditional Fijian dwellings, offer unparalleled privacy in various locations throughout the northern coast of the island. Eleven can be found amid a coconut grove adjacent to a private beach, while some villas are perched atop a mountain at the heart of the island, framed by rainforest and providing uninterrupted sea views. The remaining villas line a powdery white beach, with the Overwater villa set above an emerald-hued lagoon. Activities include everything from horseback riding on the beach to golfing, all types of watersports and more. Meals, which are included, can be enjoyed at multiple restaurants and bars featuring everything from fine dining to beachside barbeques.
Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, Cook Islands
Located on a private island 400 miles southwest of Tahiti, the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort is the only resort in the Cook Islands with overwater bungalows, direct access to the lagoon and all types of activities, including snorkeling, kayaking and motu walking, or wading through the shallow, clear waters between islets. The panoramic vistas from this luxurious property are hard to beat anywhere else on earth. Champagne-colored beaches are perfect for a romantic stroll as well as for watching glorious sunsets, with the lagoon transformed into a blaze of pinks, yellows, reds and oranges playing across its surface.
Dine on fresh, innovative cuisine at the Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill, with a quintessential island-style sand floor and more stunning views across the lagoon. Enjoy island nights which features a lively show of Cook Islands culture, singing, drumming and dancing. A variety of activities are included in your stay, like complimentary kayaks, bicycles, outrigger canoes and snorkeling gear. Join in on hula dancing lessons, lei making, crab racing and fish feeding too.
