Overwater bungalow of the week: Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach and Private Island

The overwater bungalows here are among the smaller units in Bora Bora, but at over 500 square feet (50 square meters) they are still quite a bit larger than a typical hotel room in a city. Watch the video near the bottom of the main Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach and Private Island page and you’ll see what we mean about there being plenty of space.

Each room is beautifully decorated in rich wood tones with a separate sitting area with a comfortable and large sofa facing a coffee table with a window beneath it so you can look directly down into the lagoon below your bungalow. There’s also a plush kingsize bed, a large desk/table, a minibar, espresso machine, and a huge bathroom.

Best of all there’s a large private deck attached to each unit so you can soak up the rays from the lounge chairs or go snorkeling right below your room. You get everything the other resorts feature for several hundred dollars less per night.

While many go to overwater bungalow resorts for a romantic trip or a honeymoon, it’s comforting to know that there are many options for ways to spend your time in luxury during the day. There’s an infinity pool, scuba diving and a dive center, canoeing, para-sailing, shark and manta ray feeding excursions, and tours of Bora Bora island.

Of course there is also an on-site spa with a variety of treatment and massage options, plus a Jacuzzi and another pool. There are also 2 different restaurants and 2 separate bars so guests can move around to find more privacy or their favorite dishes and ambiance within the resort.

In spite of the luxury and fabulous rooms, the Sofitel Bora Bora is usually the cheapest such resort in Bora Bora. The island bungalows are equally spacious and those start at US$280 per night during the low season, and the overwater bungalows start at only US$396 per night, plus taxes.

When researching these rates in the past the cheapest we’d seen including all taxes and fees was US$550 per night, which is still very affordable for Bora Bora, but they are offering rates well under that during February, 2012, using our booking partner Agoda. You’ll find links to the special rates at this resort on its main page. February is definitely part of the low season in Bora Bora, but the weather is still fantastic and the chance of rain is still minimal on most days.

Rates: Starting at US$396 per night plus tax