On sundrenched motu Piti Aau, a long flat islet off Bora Bora's east coast, this luxury resort opened in 2007 and quickly won environmental awards for using cold sea water pumped from offshore for its air conditioning and for treatments in the Deep Ocean Spa, the most stunning in French Polynesia and its strongest selling suit.
The resort shares the islet with Le Meridien Bora Bora, and its guests share activities at its sister property, the InterContinental Le Moana Resort.
Guests arriving by boat from the airport are greeted at an overwater pontoon and ushered to the central building containing reception, restaurants, bar, concierge and activities desks, and boutique, all under a soaring thatch roof and espying a brilliant white-sand beach with Bora Bora's mountains emerging across the lagoon. Nearby are a dozen air-conditioned day rooms with showers and lounges.
Largest of the dining outlets is Le Reef, casually serving breakfast and lunch then turning to more formal dining at dinner; it features buffets and Tahitian dance shows two nights a week.
Fine dining is in Le Lagon, either in air conditioned comfort or under a romantic cabana outdoors. The casual Sands Restaurant proffers lunch and dinner. Excellent French fare prevails but all menus range the globe.
The main building opens to a rectangular swimming pool with infinity edge. Guests can also use complimentary kayaks, canoes and snorkeling gear in the lagoon or pay for diving, snorkeling trips, and lagoon and island excursions.
A tennis court and air-conditioned gym let workaholics exercise before having the kinks removed in the Deep Ocean Spa by Algotherm, which has its own lap 
pool, tea lounge, and three rooms with glass floor panels for fish-viewing during treatments.
Brides and grooms seemingly walk on water to the altar of the overwater wedding chapel with glass floor. Meeting space is limited but a self-service business center provides Internet access around the clock.
Two piers lead to the guest bungalows, all standing over the shallow, sand-bottom lagoon. Largest are three villa suites, each with two bedrooms, two baths and full kitchens.
The other 87 units are virtually identical and are priced according to view, those directly facing Bora Bora being the most expensive. These have separate living rooms with sleeper sofas, bedrooms with super king beds, and ample baths with dual hand basins, walk-in showers, and tubs positioned under a window with 
lagoon view.
Air conditioning, TVs, desks, phones, Internet ports, stocked fridges, hair dryers, safes, robes, and large decks are standard throughout. Room service operates 24 hours a day.
Generic tropical furnishings deprive this resort of the Polynesian charms possessed by the Pearl and other Bora Bora properties, but the spa sets it apart from the St. Regis, Bora Bora Nui and others at the top.
As with the St. Regis and Le Meridien, guests are landed at Anau village, which is inconvenient to restaurants and other facilities on the main island.
