SD › Bora Bora Hotels › Sofitel Marara Beach Resort Review
Updated: November 26, 2020
By Santorini Dave
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Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort – Opulent French-themed resort with luxurious bungalows.
On the main island, and less remote than its atoll-based sister resort. The recently refurbished overwater bungalows accessible along curved walkways are luxurious, offering sweeping views across the turquoise lagoon, which is accessible from steps on the sundeck. Bungalows facing the beach don’t offer views as spectacular, but the setting is still flawless. Those in gardens are delightfully Polynesian and more spacious, though most overlook the back of others that boast envied ocean frontage. And the beach is perfect: curved, with views across to alluring atolls, and lined with angled palms. Additional features include tropical gardens with lily ponds and a beautiful infinity pool with edges that seem to merge into the horizon.
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort – The Basics
- Location: At the northern edge of Matira, along the east coast of the southern part of the main island. About 1.2 km northeast of the village center, 6 km from Vaitape, and 40 minutes by boat and taxi from the airport.
- Guests: Most guests seem to be older couples and honeymooners, but a few families are happy to be staying there.
- Beach: Idyllic, with calm blue-green waters, white sand, and plenty of shade.
- Views: Views from the overwater bungalows are broad. Only a few on the land directly front the beach, while most face the back of these and other bungalows.
- WiFi: Available throughout the resort for free.
- Parking: Some limited free and secure parking at the main entrance.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: (689) 4060 5500
- Email: reservation.tahiti@sofitel.com
- Website: sofitel-marara.com
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort – Amenities
- Pool: Lovely infinity pool which gets busy quickly. Fabulous views from the lounge chairs on the wooden deck.
- Spa & Fitness Center: Both are available at the sister resort (Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island) for an extra transfer fee.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pool or jacuzzi.
- Activities: Water-sports such as kayaking and parasailing can be arranged (chargeable).
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort – Food and Drink
- Restaurant & Bar: Latitude 16° – Wonderful setting under a traditional roof and facing the beach, with al fresco seating. Intimate, yet relaxed. Menu is mostly French and Polynesian, with themed buffet nights. Open only for breakfast and dinner. • Hurricane – Ocean-facing bar for imported beers and signature cocktails. Happy hours at sunset and live music some nights. Also, a snooker table and library.
- Breakfast: Not usually included, depending on the type of booking.
- Room Service: Available 24 hours.
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort – Rooms
- Room Types: Standard Bungalow • Overwater Bungalow • Superior Beach Bungalow • Garden View Bungalow • Lagoon View Bungalow
- Smoking Rooms: Not permitted in the rooms and public areas, but allowed elsewhere.
- Best Room: Although the Superior Beach Bungalows are larger, there isn’t much point being at a resort on Bora Bora without staying in a bungalow above the sea. The Overwater Bungalows are luxurious and feature steps from the sundecks to the lagoon below.
- For Families: All bungalows easily accommodate 1 extra child on the sofa beds; ask the management about including another single bed.
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort – What’s Nearby?
Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars
- Hotel Maitai – Offers Haere Mai Restaurant for French and Polynesian meals, with themed buffets and a children’s menu (but dinner only), and Tama’a Maitai, open all day for salads, pizzas, and fish. About 600m towards the village center.
- The Lucky House (40 67 68 08) – Bistro-style meals, including wood-fired pizzas and a children’s menu. Next to the InterContinental. Free transfers.
- InterContinental Resort – Has Noa Noa, an intimate beachside setting for Polynesian décor and haute cuisine (breakfast and dinner only) and Vini Vini, shady and beachside for light meals and drinks all day. At the village center, 1.3 km away.
- Roulotte Matira – Quaint setting with a few tables for burgers, crêpes, fish, and steaks. Mostly for takeaway, with fairly random opening hours. Virtually opposite the InterContinental.
Nearby Market or Grocery
- A reasonably well-stocked shop is about 200m towards the village center.
Local Transport
- There is no public transport anywhere on Bora Bora. Taxis (unmetered) can be organized through the resort, but rates are extortionate, which is why many visitors hire a car, scooter, or bicycle.
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort – The Hotel
The Sofitel provides an adorable tropical island setting.
All sorts of water sports can be arranged at the resort, including kayaking and parasailing.
The beach is idyllic with clean white sand and calm blue water.
The pool features infinity edges.
Facing the sea, the pool is surrounded by wooden decking and lined with lounge chairs.
The resort features lovely tropical gardens.
The Hurricane bar contains a library and snooker table.
Many seats in the bar also face the sea.
The bar is airy, breezy, and under a huge circular roof.
The hotel restaurant – Latitude 16° – offers seating in a traditional-style building.
The menu at the restaurant is predominantly French and Polynesian.
There are many traditional-style decorations around the resort.
Many of the overwater bungalows have been recently renovated.
Bungalows feature a traditional design with thatched roofs and wooden walls.
Overwater Bungalows are accessible along curved wooden walkways.
Some of these bungalows are more secluded than others.
The Lagoon View Bungalows also offer delightful sea views.
Lagoon View Bungalows have also been recently renovated.
The lagoon under the bungalows is calm, shallow, and bright blue.
The Garden View Bungalows don’t offer the same sort of views as those above the water, but are still agreeable.
Garden View Bungalows are separate and reasonably secluded.
All bungalows feature a modern décor with traditional touches.
The resort is about 1.2 km from the center of the Matira beach region.
One of the best places to eat in Matira is The Lucky House, which specializes in pizza.
The Lucky House offers free transfers for guests who have made reservations.
The InterContinental, in the village center about 1.3 km from the Sofitel, offers 2 classy but pricey places to eat and drink.
Only 600m from the Sofitel, Hotel Maitai offers the lovely Haere Mai Restaurant.
Tama’a Maitai café at the Hotel Maitai provides a wonderful beachside setting.
Vaitape, the only town in Bora Bora, about 6 km from the resort, provides some modest facilities for tourists and amenities for locals, such as the Police Station.
The airport is on an atoll, linked to the main island by a free boat transfer.
Bora Bora is about 45 minutes by air from Tahiti’s capital, Pape’ete.
The island is located about 260 km northwest of the main island in Tahiti.
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