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St Regis Bora Bora vs Intercontinental Thalasso: Which Resort Is Better?

If you’re visiting Bora Bora then you might be wondering which is better: St Regis Bora Bora or InterContinental Thalasso?

I was trying to choose between these two resorts myself when planning my Bora Bora trip. Ultimately, I ended up choosing the St Regis.

In the rest of this guide, I’ll be comparing the two to help you decide which one suits you better!

Summary – St Regis Bora Bora vs InterContinental Thalasso

Both St Regis Bora Bora and InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso Spa are 5-star resorts located within Bora Bora’s magical lagoon.

At both resorts you have that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay in an overwater bungalow and vacation in one of the world’s most exclusive & luxurious locations.

But which hotel is better? How do they differ?

Here’s a quick overview of the key differences between the two resorts:

  • St Regis is more expensive than InterContinental Thalasso. You’ll spend a lot more on both your nightly rate and food + drinks.
  • The service is better at St Regis as you get your own personal butler.
  • The overwater bungalows are bigger at St Regis and you also get more privacy. They do cost a lot more at St Regis though.
  • There’s more choice when it comes to food at St Regis as there are more restaurants and a wider range of food options.
  • St Regis has a slightly more upscale and luxurious feel but some things feel a little outdated and in need of some care and attention.
  • St Regis has a more Polynesian feel.
  • The St Regis property is much bigger than InterContinental Thalasso but this does mean it isn’t very walkable (you can cycle or grab a golf cart).

Overall, if you want to save a bit of money but you still want to experience all that Bora Bora has to offer then InterContinental Thalasso is a great choice.

If you don’t mind paying a bit extra and are looking for the ultimate luxury experience and the absolute best of everything then St Regis Bora Bora would be a better choice.

My Thoughts

As I said, I ended up staying at the St Regis as I wanted a little bit more privacy and a slightly bigger overwater bungalow.

I also really liked the idea of having my own butler (which was pretty awesome by the way).

I’m also a vegetarian so it felt like a better idea to go with the resort that had the most food options as I often have trouble finding good vegetarian food when traveling.

I absolutely loved my stay at the St Regis – the entire resort is super luxurious and I definitely felt very lucky to be there.

Having said that, I’ve also heard great things about the InterContinental Thalasso Resort and it would definitely be a dream to stay there (plus my wallet would thank me).

(I also spent a few nights at the Four Seasons).

Location

The locations of the two resorts are similar. They both look out onto Mt Otemanu and Bora Bora’s famous blue lagoon. 

The views at both resorts are absolutely stunning and probably some of the best views you’ll ever see. I was genuinely blow away when I saw the view from St Regis for the first time.

St Regis is slightly closer to the airport but staying there over InterContinental will only shave 10 minutes off your transfer time.

Here’s a bit more information…

  • The St Regis and the InterContinental Thalasso resorts are located very close to each other on Bora Bora’s lagoon.
  • They are located on the islands that surround the main Bora Bora island, both sitting on the eastern side of the island.

Check out the locations of the 2 resorts in the image below:

Image showing the location of St Regis Bora Bora vs InterContinental Thalasso on a map.
Map showing location of St Regis Bora Bora and InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso Spa.
  • St Regis is slightly closer to the airport but only by a short distance.
  • St Regis is 20 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from the main island.
  • InterContinental Thalasso is around 30 minutes from the airport and also just 10 minutes from the main island.

Amenities & Things To Do

You’ll generally find that the service is better at St Regis compared with InterContinental Thalasso as it is more personalized and you’ll not be left wanting for anything.

There are a similar amount of amenities and things to do in each resort however St Regis is bigger and does have slightly more options.

Let’s take a closer look…

Things To Do

Polynesian fire dancing show
  • The main activities available in Bora Bora are snorkeling, swimming with sharks, relaxing on the beach and swimming. You can do all of these activities at both resorts.
  • Both resorts offer a free shuttle service to the main island meaning it’s super easy to access the main island where you’ll find a wider range of restaurants and things to do.
  • Even though the lagoon is smaller at InterContinental, you generally find they have the most fish out of all of Bora Bora’s resorts as the property is the last resort in a long line of resorts and has an open lagoon to one side.
  • Both resorts have a stunning beach area with hammocks and free kayaks, paddleboards and snorkeling equipment.
  • InterContinental Thalasso does feel like it’s tailored more to couples. 
  • Kids would likely prefer St Regis as there’s more to do for children there and it also has a kid’s club.
  • In the evenings, both resorts regularly put on Polynesian fire dancing shows which are super fun to watch.

Service

  • Overall, the service is better and much more personalized at St Regis compared with InterContinental Thalasso.
  • St Regis has a butler service that InterContinental Thalasso doesn’t offer.
  • At St Regis, every guest gets their own dedicated butler who will take care of pretty much anything they ask including restaurant reservations, spa appointments and excursion bookings.
  • They’ll even unpack and repack your luggage for you! Cool right!?
  • The butler service is one of the main things that gives St Regis an edge over InterContinental.
  • It felt so luxurious! My butler was super attentive, anticipated my needs and made the whole experience super memorable.
  • The service is still great at InterContinental Thalasso and the staff are super helpful but it’s less personalized and just doesn’t compare to St Regis.

Amenities

  • Both resorts have breathtaking views of Bora Bora’s turquoise lagoon and the iconic Mount Otemanu so if this is important to you then both are perfect.
  • Both resorts have overwater bungalows available that have views of Mt Otemanu but you usually have to pay extra for mountain views.
  • Pretty much all of the overwater bungalows have views of the lagoon though which is still breathtaking.
  • Both resorts have a 24-hour fitness center and tennis court available for free.
  • St Regis does have 2 separate pools with one being adults-only and the second having a swim-up bar. InterContinental only has one pool.
  • Both resorts also have fantastic on-site spas with a range of treatments available including massages.
  • The spa at InterContinental Thalasso is better as it is world-renowned however the spa at St Regis is still super impressive and luxurious.
  • It’s also worth noting that the St Regis resort is much bigger than InterContinental Thalasso so you will need to use bikes or golf carts to get around.
  • St Regis isn’t very walkable but InterContinental Thalasso is.

Here’s a few things that St Regis has that InterContinental Thalasso doesn’t have:

  • A personal butler service.
  • Complimentary bicycles available so you can easily ride around the resort. You can also get a golf cart to pick you up.
  • Free clothes pressing (2 items per person per day).
  • This is pretty useful if you’ve brought nice clothes to wear in the evenings. You don’t have to worry about them being creased.

Here’s a few things that InterContinental Thalasso has that St Regis doesn’t have:

  • A free stingray feeding session each day at 2PM where guests can get up close and personal with the stingrays that live in the lagoon.
  • If you’re looking for a place to get married then InterContinental Thalasso could be a better choice as they have an overwater wedding chapel with a glass bottom floor.

Check out the best wedding packages in Bora Bora.

Overwater Bungalows

Overwater bungalows in Bora Bora.

Arguably one of the main reasons that people choose to visit Bora Bora is to stay in an overwater bungalow.

You’ll get more privacy at St Regis as most of their overwater bungalows don’t face other bungalows. 

Most of the overwater bungalows at InterContinental Thalasso do face other bungalows due to the layout (there are a few that don’t though!).

Additionally, the overwater bungalows are bigger at St Regis compared with InterContinental Thalasso.

Let’s take a deeper dive…

  • Many of the overwater bungalows at InterContinental Thalasso face other bungalows meaning you might see other people out on their decks whilst you’re out relaxing on yours.
  • You’ll get much more privacy at St Regis as the majority of the overwater bungalows don’t face other bungalows. This is much more ideal for couples (especially honeymooners!).

Tip: If you do choose to stay at the InterContinental Thalasso then book a diamond overwater bungalow as these don’t face other bungalows (they do cost more though).

  • St Regis also feels just that little bit more luxury compared with InterContinental Thalasso. This is mainly due to features within the rooms themselves.
  • The water surrounding the overwater bungalows is shallower at the InterContinental Thalasso. I wrote a whole post on how deep the water is in Bora Bora for more detail.
  • This is great if you’re not a super confident swimmer as the water only comes up to chest-level if you’re standing up.
  • You’ll also find that the overwater bungalows are bigger and more spacious at St Regis compared with InterContinental Thalasso.
  • In fact, St Regis has the largest overwater bungalows in the whole of Bora Bora.
  • The bungalows at InterContinental are still plenty big enough but the ones at St Regis are a bit bigger. The outdoor deck is also bigger at St Regis.
  • At InterContinental Thalasso you can only stay in an overwater bungalow. There are no options to stay on solid ground.
  • You can get a beachside villa at St Regis rather than an overwater bungalow if you prefer.

Quick Tip: If you want to save money at St Regis and don’t mind missing out on the overwater bungalow, stay in a beachside villa as they are the cheapest option.

  • The overwater bungalows at both resorts feature glass panel floors so you can look down and see fish swimming beneath you.

Related Post: Best Overwater Bungalows In Bora Bora

Food & Drink

Whilst food is often very subjective as different people have different tastes, the general consensus is that the food is better at St Regis.

I deduced this from literally reading through hundreds of forums and reviews (you’re welcome!)

Overall you’ll spend less money on food at InterContinental Thalasso however there’s also less choice available compared with St Regis.

Let’s take a closer look…

  • The food is better at St Regis compared with InterContinental Thalasso.
  • There are more dining options at St Regis as it has a choice of 4 restaurants.
  • InterContinental Thalasso only has 3 restaurants.
  • Both resorts also offer 24-hour room service.
  • You’ll also find that the menus are a bit more varied at St Regis and have a few more options.
  • Both resorts mainly offer French and Polynesian cuisine however they do also both offer some international options including Asian cuisine.
  • Both hotels also offer traditional Polynesian dancing and fire shows on selected evenings at their restaurants. These are super fun and something you shouldn’t miss.

Related Post: What Kind Of Food Do They Eat In Bora Bora?

Food & Drink Cost

  • Overall the cost of food and drink is similar in both resorts however St Regis is slightly more expensive.
  • As a comparison, a coke costs $6 at InterContinental Thalasso but costs $8 at St Regis.
  • Food costs are also similar. A standard main course would cost you between $35 and $50 in both resorts.
  • Breakfast is definitely more expensive at St Regis. The standard buffet breakfast costs $50 at St Regis but just $35 at InterContinental Thalasso.

For more information, check out my guide on food & restaurant prices in Bora Bora.

Atmosphere

Bora Bora beach

You’ll find a similar atmosphere at both resorts however overall St Regis feels just a little bit more upscale.

This was another one of the key reasons that I ended up picking St Regis over InterContinental Thalasso.

Here’s a little bit more information…

  • St Regis feels a bit more upscale and luxurious compared with InterContinental Thalasso.
  • St Regis also tends to feel much quieter than the InterContinental Thalasso. This is mainly due to the fact it’s much bigger so guests are more spread out.
  • St Regis has more of a Polynesian feel compared with InterContinental Thalasso. They try hard to feature Polynesian decor throughout the resort.
  • Some things at St Regis are a little bit outdated and need a freshen up. For example, some of the bicycles look a little beaten up as do some other amenities around the resort.

Cost

St Regis is much more expensive than InterContinental Thalasso. You’ll spend more on both your nightly accommodation and food & drinks.

I definitely could have made a decent saving by choosing InterContinental.

Let’s take a closer look…

  • On average, staying at the St Regis Bora Bora is more expensive than staying at InterContinental Thalasso.

This does, of course, depend entirely on which room you choose but for the same room at each location, St Regis always charges more.

  • You’ll get better value for money at the InterContinental Thalasso so it’s ideal if you’re on more of a budget.
  • You’ll pay significantly more to stay in an overwater bungalow at St Regis compared with InterContinental Thalasso.
  • For a standard overwater bungalow at InterContinental, expect to pay between $1,250 and $1,600 per night.
  • For the equivalent at St Regis, you would pay between $1,700 and $3,000 per night.

The cost per night varies based on the time of year and day of the week that you visit.

  • To put this into perspective, you can get an overwater villa with a private pool at InterContinental Thalasso for the same price as a standard overwater villa (without a private pool) at St Regis.
  • Food and drinks do cost slightly more at St Regis but there isn’t a huge difference between the two.

Check out my full cost breakdown of a trip to Bora Bora to budget for your trip.

Overall

Taking everything into account, arguably St Regis Bora Bora is better than InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso Spa.

Of course, this also entirely depends on the person.

If you have lots of money to spend and don’t mind paying more for a few extra amenities and a slightly more luxurious feel then St Regis is perfect for you.

If you want to experience all that Bora Bora has to offer but want to save a bit of money then InterContinental Thalasso is a great choice.

The truth is that you can’t make a wrong choice. Both are remarkable 5-star hotels and you’ll have a memorable vacation in whichever resort you choose.


Thanks for reading this post on St Regis vs InterContinental Thalasso.

Hopefully you now know which hotel you should spend your Bora Bora vacation at.

I also wrote a post comparing InterContinental Thalasso vs Four Seasons.

Need more help planning your Bora Bora vacation?

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Megan Jones is a travel expert and founder of Traveller's Elixir who has been travelling the world full time since 2021. Megan's travel tips been featured in numerous media outlets including Metro, Timeout, Thrillist and more.

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