Leng, Greg & Ronin: Little Ronin goes to Bora Bora

From the moment Leng contacted us, we knew this was a VERY special trip for her. She & her husband Greg (together with their 5 year old son Ronin) were not only celebrating 8 years of marriage, they were also finally taking the honeymoon of their dreams.

Leng: They don’t call it “A Day in Paradise” for nothing. When I first contacted Claudia, the trip became real -- we were all finally going to BORA BORA. Planning the trip from California through Claudia was rejuvenating, but flying over Mt. Otemanu against the backdrop of the pacific blue water on Bora Bora was even better. Being in the hospitality and culinary industry we have traveled and lived in many parts of the world. The St. Regis made Bora Bora for us.

The St Regis level of attention is mind boggling. Our assigned butler Adrien had high level of attention to detail to our likes from a no wait early check in as a family traveling with a kid to anticipating our needs / wants before we can even think. My five year old son ‘cannon ball’-ed into the ocean twenty times within the first hour after check in. The ocean current was not strong-- instead it felt warm like bath water--and with anniversary luck we saw a large sea turtle swimming by along with a couple of stingrays over sunset. Then there was the French press coffee delivered the next morning as requested with our butler.

Ronin called Antoine the babysitter, ‘teacher’ and they ended up having a play date outside of the Kids Club, exploring the lagoonarium and learning about a giant fish named ‘Napoleon’ and a native one ‘Maeva’. The man-made salt water lagoon near the spa had bountiful of fish to feed and you can even snorkel in it. Don’t miss out on the the complimentary kayaks, paddle boats, stand up boards, canoes, snorkel gear and sunblock at the St. Regis main beach. We vegetated here throughout most of our trip sipping on endless fresh coconuts fallen from the St. Regis grounds itself.

Claudia had arranged a complimentary shark and stingray snorkel tour as part of our package through a local tour boat operator, Raanui Tour. Leo is the owner and snorkel mentor. It was the ‘BEST’ snorkel experience we ever had in our life. Adventurers can jump off the boat and swim with sharks and rays. My husband and I called him the Pied Piper of the ocean as he serenaded us with his ukulele and singing if he wasn’t riding on the shark fins, feeding them and bringing the fish up close to you including hugging a family of stingrays. Our little Ronin even worked up enough nerve to jump into the ocean, and Leo made sure our five year old had the ride of his life in the water with no tears.

Culinary arts is our favorite topic to discuss when it comes to travel. We loved the St. Regis eats, especially 'Lagoon' by Jean George, Sushi Take, and the breakfast buffet at the main restaurant. Sushi Take at the St Regis Bora Bora is a hidden gem. The rolls are beautifully designed with all the colors of the rainbow and the fish as fresh as you can get from South Pacific.

We would only go back to the St. Regis Bora Bora, and they will get us back again. Recently, Ronin told us “Mommy & Daddy, I want to give you all my money in the piggybank to go to Bora Bora again and see my friends at the St. Regis”. Mauruuru!!!