If you’ve been dreaming of visiting Bora Bora, there is currently an amazing opportunity to do so at a fairly reasonable cost via points. No, it won’t be cheap, and you have to factor in additional costs, like separate flight from Papeete to Bora Bora, boat transfer to the resort and very expensive food.
That said, Bora Bora lives up to the hype. In short, it’s the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life (so far). My husband and I had a chance to stay two nights in Bora Bora in 2018, and it’s a memory I will always treasure. In fact, I even used one of our photos to order this print and hang it in our bedroom as a reminder:
If you do decide to go, I recommend overwater bungalow option. It’s a special/unique experience, and French Polynesia is the perfect place to enjoy it. Fortunately, just a few days ago an incredible option became available for a fairly reasonable cost: The Westin Bora Bora Resort and Spa
I saw a Reddit discussion on it and decided to investigate further. I was surprised to find out that if you book 5 nights (last one is free), the cost per night can be as low as 57k Marriott points:
Of course, you can plan a shorter stay, though the rate per night will be higher. Availability looks great so far, though prices vary. I did find that most dates cost 312k-360k points for five nights, which is still excellent. Again, this rate books directly into overwater bungalow, not beachside villa.
Cash rates start at $1,300 per night, so you are getting 2 CPP (cents per point) in value. That’s excellent! If you have Marriott certificates, this is a perfect place to use them as long as it’s something you’ve been thinking of doing anyway. Update: our reader Ltl mentioned in the comments that you can’t use certs on overwater bungalows.
As far as I know, Westin resort is currently the best points option for Bora Bora, especially if you insist on staying in an overwater bungalow. Other good deals exist, like Conrad Bora Bora where you can get a beach villa for 120k Hilton points per night. Upgrading to overwater bungalow reportedly costs $350 extra. So Westin resort wins here, hands down.
How you can acquire Marriott points in a hurry
The problem with outsized redemptions like this one is that they may disappear tomorrow. I can’t guarantee that you will get this rate by the time you acquire Marriott points. The safest bet is to simply purchase them, and Marriott points happen to be on sale at the moment and will cost you 0.89 cents apiece through September 23rd:
Keep in mind that your account has to be open for at least 30 days before you can buy points. Also, if you need enough for five nights, you will have to purchase points from several accounts and then combine them for free. If you are starting from scratch, the cost of the bungalow will be around $550 per night on certain dates. Not cheap, but you won’t get a better deal in Bora Bora.
If you are willing to roll the dice on award pricing, you may want to consider applying for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex card (our affiliate link) that offers 185k points after spending $6k in 6 months. The annual fee is $650, but you get $300 annual dining credit, Priority Pass membership and Marriott Platinum status. The latter should give you free breakfast at Westin Bora Bora, a significant perk. Granted, this isn’t the card we recommend to beginners or those without a specific plan for Marriott points. However, this is an excellent option if you have your heart set on Bora Bora.
Getting to Bora Bora from US
The flight to Tahiti from Western United States is only two hours longer compared to Hawaii. So it’s way easier than getting to the Maldives. You can use AA or Alaska miles on Air Tahiti Nui from LAX or Seattle. United flies there from San Francisco, and Delta from LAX. Air France is a good option for LAX as well, and you best bet for finding award availability in business class if that’s a non-negotiable factor. We flew 8 hours in economy from LAX to PPT and survived. But I get that others won’t be willing to go through that.
French Bee offers good deals from San Francisco if you don’t mind paying cash, but keep in mind that seats are reportedly super narrow. All things considered, you have many options for getting to Tahiti, and the separate flight to Bora Bora should cost you around $350 per person roundtrip.
This may sound crazy, but I’m almost relieved I don’t currently have any Marriott points because I would be so tempted to plan a trip to Bora Bora right now. This is a one-of-a-kind place of unmatched beauty. Bora Bora is splurge-worthy, and I hope to help some readers make a trip there a reality. Got a ton of Marriott points and a special wedding anniversary coming up? This is your chance. 
Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
@Ltl Thanks for letting me know! I was under the impression that it’s considered a standard award. I also thought as long as points price fell under the limit, you could use the cert. Marriott program is super confusing, and I’m not an expert on it for sure.
You will not be able to use certificates for an overwater bungalow!
Free night certificates are only valid on standard rooms . Even if the “upgraded” room costs less than your certificate value, you cannot use the certificate.
Nancy, do it!
Tempting! One of these years I will make it to Bora Bora.