Hotel Royal Bora Bora: Affordable Beachfront in Bora Bora

Hotel Royal Bora Bora is a 3-star beachfront property on the main island’s Matira Point, offering one of the few genuinely affordable ways to wake up with lagoon views in a destination dominated by overwater-bungalow luxury. With 80 rooms set across garden grounds and a private beach facing Motu Piti Uu’Uta, it targets travellers who want direct lagoon access without the private-motu price tag. Moana Voyages categorises it as a mid-range, 3-star style property, distinguishing it from the 5-star resorts that define most Bora Bora itineraries.

Last checked: 2026-06-23

Hotel name: Hotel Royal Bora Bora · Location: Bora Bora, French Polynesia · Star rating: 3-star · Key feature: Private beach, outdoor pool, garden-view rooms

What is the best resort to stay at in Bora Bora?

The answer depends heavily on budget, expectations, and willingness to trade private-motu seclusion for main-island convenience. Hotel Royal Bora Bora positions itself as a 3-star beachfront property on Matira Point, roughly 2.5 miles from the public Matira Beach strip. Moana Voyages describes it as “mid-range” and notes that the hotel is divided by the coastal road: most rooms sit in garden bungalows on the inland side, while the bar, restaurant, pool, and private beach are on the lagoon side. Guests cross the road to reach the water — a minor trade-off that several TripAdvisor reviewers mention but generally accept given the rate difference versus 5-star resorts.

How Hotel Royal Bora Bora compares to luxury resorts

Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, a 4–5-star overwater-bungalow property, commands nightly rates several times higher than Royal Bora Bora’s. TripAdvisor listings place Le Bora Bora in a distinctly higher price tier, with overwater suites starting well above Royal’s promotional rate of 33,698 XPF. TripAdvisor categorises Le Bora Bora as a “luxury” option, while Royal Bora Bora is classified as a budget-to-mid-range choice. The trade-off: Royal Bora Bora gives you beachfront lagoon access and a restaurant, but you forgo overwater villas, private motu transfers, and the hyper-turquoise shallows that luxury resorts can guarantee.

What makes a resort “best” for different travellers

For first-time visitors who want easy access to local restaurants and shops in Vaitape, a main-island hotel like this one avoids the boat-transfer costs that private-motu guests face every time they leave the resort. Returning travellers on the TripAdvisor forum (2025 thread) describe Royal Bora Bora as “very nice” and note that breakfast is included and “very good.” Families appreciate the 16 interconnecting rooms listed on the official site, while couples seeking quiet often book garden bungalows away from the road. The bottom line: There is no single “best” resort — Royal Bora Bora suits travellers who prioritise beachfront access, walkable local culture, and a significantly lower nightly rate over the private-island fantasy.

How much does it cost to stay at a Bora Bora resort?

The range is vast. At the top end, 5-star overwater-bungalow resorts regularly charge 100,000–200,000 XPF per night or more. Hotel Royal Bora Bora sits at the lower end of the spectrum. Its official website advertises an “Early Booking” rate from 33,698 XPF per night (Royal Bora Bora official site), which includes breakfast in many room packages. A 2026 Reddit r/Tahiti guest praised the property as a “money-saving option” on an island where even basic hotels command premium rates.

Typical rates at Hotel Royal Bora Bora

Beyond the promotional Early Booking rate, prices vary by season. The official site offers a “Best rate guaranteed” for direct bookings, and OTA platforms like GuestReservations list “our lowest prices” for specific dates, though neither publishes a standard rack rate. Expedia’s 2026 listing notes that breakfast is frequently bundled into the room rate, while other meals and drinks are extra — a key detail for budget planning. With dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant on Matira Road possibly adding 8,000–12,000 XPF, the total daily cost remains well below that of a luxury resort where a single overwater suite can exceed 150,000 XPF.

How costs vary by season

Bora Bora’s high season (May–October, southern winter) coincides with drier weather and higher demand. Low season (November–April) brings more rain and lower rates. Royal Bora Bora’s Early Booking promotion suggests the hotel uses advance-purchase discounts to smooth demand, but no official seasonal rate table is published. The implication: Travel during the November–April low season and book directly on the hotel’s website for the best chance of securing rates near the 33,698 XPF promotional level.

“We stayed at the Royal Bora Bora and it was very nice. Breakfast included and very good. Rooms are in nice gardens across the road from the beach area.”

— Return traveller, TripAdvisor forum (2025)

What happened to the hotel Bora Bora?

The original Hotel Bora Bora — a historic, mid-century property that once hosted celebrities — closed years ago and is a distinct entity from the current Hotel Royal Bora Bora. Confusion arises because both properties share the island’s name. The Royal Bora Bora that operates today on Matira Point reportedly was acquired by a Polynesian group in 2017 (as noted in the property’s background materials), and it continues to run as a 3-star beachfront hotel under that ownership.

The story of the original Hotel Bora Bora

That original hotel, sometimes referred to as “Hotel Bora Bora,” was a landmark property that opened in the 1960s and hosted figures like Marlon Brando and James Michener. It closed around 2014 and was later demolished. Its site on Point Piti Uu’Uta is separate from Royal Bora Bora’s location at Matira Point. Our Pacific’s fact sheet places Royal Bora Bora “in the south of the main island at Matira Point,” confirming the geographic distinction.

How Hotel Royal Bora Bora is different

Unlike the legendary closed property, Royal Bora Bora is a modest, operational, 80-room hotel that emphasises garden bungalows and direct lagoon access rather than overwater villas. Its 2017 acquisition by a Polynesian group brought renovations and a renewed focus on the local market. The pattern: The name similarity is coincidental — travellers searching for the historic “Hotel Bora Bora” will not find it, but the Royal Bora Bora offers a grounded, affordable alternative on the same island.

Is Bora Bora cheap or expensive?

Bora Bora is generally an expensive destination. A meal at a mid-range restaurant, a lagoon tour, and a basic hotel room add up quickly. But “expensive” is relative. Hotel Royal Bora Bora’s promotional rate of 33,698 XPF per night is roughly one-third to one-fifth the cost of a standard overwater-bungalow room at a 5-star resort. For travellers willing to stay in a garden bungalow, eat at local restaurants, and use free self-parking, a week on the island becomes far more accessible.

General cost of living in Bora Bora

French Polynesia imports most goods, so groceries, fuel, and construction materials carry a markup. A beer in a resort bar can cost 1,200 XPF; a main course at a restaurant on Matira Road might run 3,500–5,500 XPF. Excursions such as a half-day lagoon tour typically cost 8,000–15,000 XPF per person. These numbers are consistent across listings on TripAdvisor and traveller forum posts.

How Hotel Royal Bora Bora fits the budget spectrum

By offering a 3-star experience with private beach access, it fills a gap between backpacker guesthouses and luxury resorts. The official site’s 33,698 XPF promotional rate, plus free Wi-Fi and parking, makes it one of the lower-cost beachfront options on the main island. The trade-off: You trade overwater villas and snorkelling-right-off-your-deck convenience for a quieter, more local atmosphere and a price that leaves room in your budget for excursions and eating out.