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The Brando Arue Tripadvisor Reviews
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A paradise
A magical place, impeccable service Everything is done to have the best vacation of your life Thank you again to everyone for your kindness, your smile, your availability You are a great team, we will never forget this stay thanks thanks
Be the first to ReplyStay in paradise
Superb hotel with exceptional services The rooms are magnificent with direct access to the beach, you feel like you are alone in the world. A perfectly maintained island at all times of the day A refined restoration The staff is really attentive and very responsive. The Polynesian evening is really very beautiful An unforgettable experience, highly recommended
Be the first to ReplyWhite Lotus-tier
“Have we peaked?” We kept asking ourselves. Damn that’s a beautiful archipelago. We had the honeymoon stay of a lifetime on this remote and incredibly well-maintained (and surprisingly sustainable) resort. From the private flight in to the massive secluded beachside villa to the beautiful outdoor soaking pool, we felt beyond pampered. You want a private beach? It basically feels like your own private island, pure and pristine. You want incredible service? Everyone will know your schedule and will cater to you as such throughout your stay, and you will never wait for anything. You want relaxation? The spa treatments are great and the poolside is serene. You want to spend the day looking at your phone while tanning and getting served a fresh drink every twenty minutes while you post thirst-traps to your followers? Boy, have I got the atoll for you! Kudos to the Tetiaroa Society for keeping the reef, islets, and lagoon pristine and doing so much to protect the nesting sea birds and sea turtles (trip highlight: watching newly hatched baby turtles crawl into the ocean. Amazing!), among other things. There is something like 10:1 staff to guest ratio at the Brando, and it shows. Whenever we called for a golf carts, they appeared instantly. Whenever we ordered room service and it was brought to our private villa, consistently exceeding expectations. Every kitchen and bar was staffed nightly despite the exclusive number of villas. The whole crew works tirelessly, with every path and beach freshly groomed, and every amenity full of beautifully woven leaves and flowers. We often felt like we had the whole island to ourselves (minus the tireless hosts staff who were always serving us, golfcarting us, taking us on an excursion, and generally making us feel like royalty). Thomas and the whole team at Bob’s bar—the defacto watering hole for beachside guests who venture out from their private villas—deserve a special mention, with an incredible cocktail/mocktail menu and a killer kitchen staff (…even the leather bound menu itself feels like a piece of art) served up in the wet heat. Kudos to Hugo, Axel, Paola, and everyone else who kept me and my wife thoroughly hydrated. Get the “real life mounds bar” which is basically hot chocolate inside ice cream inside a coconut. Hell, get two, you’re on vacation. At the Brando, every excursion feels like a private tour, every reservation feels like a private dinner. Usually I’m not one to go all inclusive, but this time we went with it, and it was an amazing decision. It honestly felt like the best value (and considering the staggering costs of the resort itself, that’s saying something). Not only for the sake of never thinking once about whether to order another Strawberry Daquiri, marlonburger, lobster roll etc… especially when combined with the daily activities and spa treatments that are thrown in, it made sense. The reef quest, bird tour, and ultimate tour are all excellent ways to spend some time while here, staffed by incredibly knowledgeable and friendly guides. Tetiaroa offers some of the best snorkeling we’ve ever had, especially in this day and age of bleached coral and overcrowded beaches. We we dozens of types of sea life just by sticking our head in the water on the beach, from flounder and jackfish to stingrays, turtles, octopi, and curious reef sharks. If you make zero plans, you will still have an amazing time. Food was great, especially when you realize you are in the absolute middle of nowhere. They grow so much on the island and every ingredient is so fresh and flavorful, as well as the incredible attention to detail with preparation, serving (and allergy awareness) it’s hard to go wrong. My only real critique is this: let’s face it - If you end up booking here, you are probably some higher tier of food snob (at least I would hope so), and you are spending a nontrivial amount on even a short stay on the island. Les Mutinee (despite the stylized decor and whimsical nautical map menu) did not live up to our (granted, extremely, perhaps criminally high) expectations, given the price point (especially when the price fixe is an upsell even on the all inclusive option). HOWEVER it was still a great night and ended with the best suffle I’ve ever had in my life. Would it be the best restaurant in a major West cost city? Not quite. Is it the best restaurant in French Polynesia? Probably third best restaurant that we went to (right behind to Lagoon in Bora Bora and La Villa Mahana). Is it still special, magical, and captivating in its own stylized way? Absolutely. Something about the menu just didn’t click for us, but both nights we went, it was basically a private dinner in an amazing location, so this “complaint” feels like peak pettiness in the grand scheme of things, but it simply must be mentioned. Every other meal we had at all of the restaurants was memorable and delicious, and the Polynesian firedancing performance night is intense and authentic in ways so many resorts fail to achieve. For couples looking to treat themselves to luxury in private, unless you know a billionaire with a nice island or megayacht of their own, this is pretty much the ceiling of South Pacific exclusive luxury. We asked for extra padding on our bed and got it ASAP. Turndown service was arranged based on our schedule, and our villa was always immaculate. The villa itself (3 huge rooms including a beach facing bedroom, a deck and pool, our private beach, a his and hers closet leading into a massive glass-walled bathroom with an outdoor bathtub) has incredible AC, sound system, and amenities. It was perfect for us as newly weds and we had more privacy than anywhere we have ever stayed, including in our “backyard” beach skinny dipping under the Milky Way. There are large coral colonies literally feet from the shore teeming with life. For solo travelers… you will feel very alone, as chances are there is basically nobody else at any part of the resort at any given time (except peak afternoon at the bar). Take this as you will, but you may make good friends over drinks, we observed many couples stayed to themselves with a few exceptions (.. but that’s the point, is it not?). Fortunately, all staff are incredibly friendly and interesting, from the “lifers” to the newly arrived hosts. I would probably go a little crazy if I was here by myself (even as an introvert) because at times it almost feels like you’re in the matrix/metaverse/mmo server no one else is logged into. But that could be a plus for you, who knows. They say it’s lonely at the top, and the Brando feels quite close. Maybe I was crazy to book here, and I won’t lie that I was keeping an eye out for any celebrities. But during our stay, we felt like we truly were on another level of life in terms of service and comfort and oneness with the pristine environment. All while also feeling keenly aware that we had our own part to play in some new season of TV about privileged yuppies on the ultimate vacation. If you can go, go. You will still have an amazing vacation if you chose other islands or resorts, but this one truly feels one in a million on so many levels. P.s. Please Don’t waste this incredible, exclusive, pristine luxury resort on your kids - enjoy it all for yourself and your spouse!
Be the first to ReplyPLEASE Find a resident Chef...ASAP!
Multiple visits repeat Brando guest again left underwhelmed and disappointed by the food at The Brando. New fancy famous French chef who sold his name to the Brando but is not on sight would be embarrassed to be served many of the dishes…a so called “lobster roll” that is 90 % mayonnaise and 10% lobster with a shallow slit in the bun to give the appearance of an overloaded lobster roll was inedible. A small burger completely lost in an oversized brioche bun. Consumers at this level know all the tricks. So best to deliver quality product. Missing is what you would expect at a luxury resort beach restaurant…lots of crudo and sushi INCLUDED in the daily meal plan, poke bowls with generous portions of locally caught tuna and swordfish, fish tacos, ceviche’s, gourmet flatbreads and creative pasta dishes, DAILY specials… Perhaps abandoning a meal plan and going to an Ala carte would fix the problem? You are trying to profit by cutting corners on quality. Get a chef who will live ON ISLAND and babysit the kitchen staff while executing proper food for a 5 star private island resort. The island is spectacular, the villas are gorgeous and the spa is wonderful. I am not sure I will return until the food is fixed….spoke to many other guests while there and the feeling is mutual amongst most hotel guests.
Be the first to ReplyThe most incredible hotel we’ve ever stayed at
We spent a week at The Brando in October and WOW…our family is still talking about it! The property itself is absolutely stunning and the service is honestly out of this world. Every single detail is thought through. The staff is so friendly and on top of everything. They must study everyone’s itinerary daily because, no matter who you pass, they’ll know your plans for the day and wish you well. We’ve never stayed somewhere with a similar level of service as The Brando. The partnership with Tetiaroa makes the stay even more special. We spent so much time learning and exploring and the positive impact that they’re having on the environment will be felt for generations to come. The Brando belongs in a league of their own but, until that exists, every 5 star hotel GM should stay here in order to raise their own bar of service excellence. We joke that they have ruined us for future travel. 5 stars all around! Our only challenge now is to figure out how to make this “once in a lifetime trip” an annual vacation.
Be the first to ReplyParadise on earth
10 points are not enough to give this resort a fair rating. A superlative hotel complex at a world-class level. Service from A to Z. Guests are treated like royalty. The accommodation offers everything the South Seas has to offer. Restaurants with Michelin-star chefs. Huge wine/champagne selection. Staff are highly trained and exemplary.
Be the first to ReplyThe Brando French Polynesia
The island wasvery beautiful, we went for scuba diving as they have a dive center, but there was no reef system. So we didn't dive after first 2. We could not enjoy ANYWHERE OUTDOORS due to the flies!!! They make their own compost so there's a major issue! The dinner and lunch menus are very limited. A burger, club sandwich with 4 drinks over $300! It was a total waste, I do not recommend this exclusive island. They did refund us $27,000, but it was not worth the hassle of getting there.
Be the first to Replybest of the best!!
I brought my parents to The Brando to celebrate my Fathers retirement and it was the absolute best choice I could have made. We didn't mention to the staff why we were there but we were of course treated like absolute royalty anyway. I can't even imagine how the service could have been better. It was actually straight up perfection. My parents and I are all well traveled and we all agreed service at the Brando is unmatched. As far as the resort itself I would simply describe it as otherworldly. Its absolutely stunning and picturesque at every turn. Words, pictures and videos truly don't do justice to just how magnificent this place really is. You've got to come see it for yourself. Thank you so much to staff and management at the Brando for an unforgettable trip. We really appreciate you all so much.
Be the first to ReplyBest hotel EVER!!
This is the place of my dreams. Me and my husband visited for our honeymoon and it was beyond our greatest expectations. It is quite literally the best hotel we have visited ever. The rooms were pristine, clean and impeccable, the food was exceptional, but the service was the best of all. Everyone in the island is super exited to be working there, and make you feel at home at every moment. We will definitely be coming back. 10/10 recommend. Sof and Miguel
Be the first to ReplyAn exclusive South Pacific hideaway
The Brando is an uber luxurious resort, and the only one located on the "Motu" (Island) of Onetahi on Tetiaroa atoll, which is a 20 minute (charter) flight from Papeete. It consists of just 35 rooms, but still manages to offer an array of dining and activity options to keep even the most active people from getting bored. We ended our 10 night French Polynesian trip by saving the best for last. This followed our stay at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora - while they are different resorts and offer enough contrasts to make it a great combo stay, if we had to choose one it would be The Brando, hands down. It's less crowded, has better food, more polished service and has an air of luxury that the FS can't match. That said, we did enjoy the scenery and the overwater bungalow experience at the FS, as well as the magnificent shark and ray snorkeling tour, which should not be missed should you pay a visit to Bora Bora. We stayed in a 1BR Beachfront Villa on the Turtle Bay side. Our room (#202) was luxuriously appointed and had most of the amenities (toothbrush, body lotion, face moisturizer, etc.) that one would expect at a world-class resort. Two nits to pick: there was a treacherous step in the room (between bedroom and living room, and between the bathroom and bedroom) which - if you have a misstep - could easily ruin one's vacation. The other was the absence of a washlet toilet, which I feel should be mandatory for all top hotels by now. Our Villa was within short walking distance to everything (all restaurants, concierge, water sports shack, etc.), so we didn't even need to ride the bikes anywhere, which was nice. There are plenty of activities on offer; some of them are guided (most tours that requires a motor boat such as island hopping or snorkeling/scuba diving/fishing further out on the reef), while others can be done on your own, including kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling, among others. We did a half-day boat tour that included a visit to Reiono Island, where we did some light hiking in search of the infamous "Coconut Crab" (yes, we saw a pretty large one.) At the end of the tour we had a private lunch on the beach of an uninhabited island. We also did a tour with a naturalist who took us to the best spots on the atoll for snorkeling, followed by another high-quality lunch in an idyllic setting. One thing that stands out at The Brando is the food quality. Given its remote location and the fact that - generally - tropical seafood just isn't the best (relative to colder water fish like Sea Bass or Tuna, there's only so much you can do with Mahi Mahi or Parrot Fish), we enjoyed most of the dishes that we tried. They largely revamped the dining experience earlier this year - Jean Imbert produced the menu for Les Mutinés, as well as many of the offerings at Beachcomber Cafe and Bob's Bar. The Lobster Roll (on an awesome Brioche roll) was incredible, and the servings at Les Mutinés were very nicely done. The Parrot Fish served at the restaurant was the one time where the tropical fish dish was exceptionally done. However, a few days later we tried a different Parrot Fish dish at Beachcomber Cafe, but it was not something we'd care to have again. It was also nice for The Brando to offer Teppanyaki, which was a nice change of pace. Nami is not going to win any awards and won't remind you of similar establishments in Tokyo, but since we were there for 4 nights, it was good to have something different. Nami only serves 8 people in one sitting, so I'd suggest you reserve early if you'd like to dine there during your stay. Service was also a highlight at The Brando. Even though many of the front-line staff have not been at the Resort for a long time, everyone was charming, elegant, attentive and professional - nobody forgot any of our requests or preferences, unlike at the Four Seasons Bora Bora, where mishaps were all too common. Overall, our interactions were positive. If there was a nit to pick, our "Butler" (she introduced herself as the main point of contact for anything we needed during our stay) was only around for the first day. When I asked what happened to her afterwards, she had a day off on the second day and then became ill. Although that's understandable, I was curious why they didn't provide a replacement butler, or - at the very least - inform us of the situation rather than leaving us guessing. We've stayed at some of the world's finest tropical island/beach resorts, and while there are still many on our to-visit list, so far we'd put Brando at the top of the list, leapfrogging Amanpulo as our favorite to date.
Be the first to ReplyBeautiful and remote
An excellent hotel with top notch service. My wife and I started our Polynesian vacation here (after a brief night in Tahiti) and everything was truly first class and white-glove. It was the perfect start for us, as we really needed to just relax after a busy year (and a long trip). Many others chose to end their vacations here but, for us, starting here was the right call. The hotel is very special with unique excursions built around the remote location. I would especially like to thank Lourine (I hope I spelled her name correctly) for her commitment to excellence.
Be the first to ReplyThe "ALL INCLUSIVE". that does NOT include MUCH and what is .... is not much!
I have been an almost annual visitor to THE BRANDO since it first opened in 2014. Missing a few years for Covid/etc, it WAS my #1 resort worldwide, and being a 2 million miler on Delta for leisure travel and visited every continent including Antarctica; I have experienced evergthing from really bad to amazing. Prior to this nightmare, I stay at the Brando in March of 2022 and just now returned in 2023 Brando nightmare. What a difference a year makes and in every possible bad way. While the prices remained the same or higher (approx $3500-$4000/night all inclusive), they have quietly removed everything possible from their "included" amenitites. It WAS my #1 favorite resort, I had paid for 11 night stay, but left after 2 nights in disbelief and disgust. After they have your money and after you fly from the main island to arrive, you are pressured to sign a "PRIVACY POLICY" saying "What happens at the BRando stahys at the Brando". It only purpose is to try and prevent honest reviews about how exorbitantly overpriced it is. It was never cheap, but I happily paid because the service and amenities WERE unparallelled. Before: You got a spa credit for each days stay and you could combine them if you wanted a more high end spa service. Massages, yoga, and a few other random things were even offered originally. It was never a full service spa, and that was ok. NOW: You can only use the credit for a very limited selection of massages that i am not sure who would even want. Each body part seemed to require its own slection and credit. Before: They had both lunch and dinner menus that numerous options and I never thought to even count them. If you wanted something not on the menu, their team would do a good job of creating it for you. NOW: the lunch menu has a total of 6-7 options. Now the menu is dozens of pages long, the drink selection went from its own extremely limited number of options. (my guess would be 12 or so total selections) Before: They offered new releases in a VOD format (included) NOW: Nothing Before: Satellite TV. with as best i recall. 4-6 English language channels. NOW: Only CNN in English, so you need to speak French or your out of luck. Before: Internet was a P2P connection that couldn't handle more than basic surfing on its best day, but was sufficient. NOW: messaging is about all you can count on, and you can forget "streaming" Before: You were pampered and catered escpecially for meals. Even the breakfast menu was two pages of options from polynesian to French options. NOW: Its a buffet serve yourself Continental Breakfast where your "VIPd" by selecting how you want your eggs prepared, otherwise.. help yourself....... On the second and last night of my prepaid 11 night stay I called from room service. She was kind enough to read me both entree options and all 3 side selections the were offering. For dessert their "Michelin" star rated chef.............. offered ice cream or sorbet each with 2 flavor options. If the NOW descriptors listed above is worth $4,000 nightly to you, then this is the resort for you.
Be the first to ReplyWonderful week at The Brando
My wife and I just returned from our second trip to Tetiaroa and had a wonderful week. As before, the staff and the spectacular surroundings make a stay at The Brando a truly memorable experience. This time around we were able to discover new things about the island. We were able to take part in a release of newly hatched baby turtles (really fun), kayaked around the island, and did daily walks around the beach perimeter (cool to see all the sharks near the beach). Two of our expeditions had no other guests so the guides took us to some special spots that normally aren't visited. We met the head of the Tetiaroa Society (Frank) who organized two talks by scientists about projects that they are working on (rat eradication and mosquito abatement) that have potential global impacts. The service was fantastic (ok, a few minor glitches with room service orders but partly due to language barrier and pretty nitpick-y). We were impressed at how well they remembered our preferences from our last visit in 2019 (same villa, mini bar stocked with our preferred drinks, etc). The staff rapidly gets to know your name and your preferences - interacting with the staff was lots of fun and helped make the trip special. Guides are great. The Friday night Tahitian show was neat - various staff members are the dancers and musicians and are both very talented and really are enjoying their performance. We had one quite rainy day that cancelled lagoon trips so they organized several other activities (ukulele lessons, tahitian language class, etc). We almost exclusively ate the fresh seafood for all meals (though their french fries are great!). Usually had the breakfast buffet at the Cafe and had lunch delivered to our villa. Had a fun dinner at the japanese restaurant (great venue to meet others) and several really good meals at the high-end French restaurant. After a week the limited menu can get repetitive, but they are very willing to tweak things and respond to requests you may have. Just ask! We were impressed that at our last breakfast we were asked by the day manager for feedback about our dining experience and how he took copious notes about our few suggestions. We're pretty social people, something that's not entirely consistent with the ultra-private accommodations and seclusion that is the core offering of the resort. It's easy to stay in your villa and not interact with other guests and staff. While this may be just what some guests want, if you're more social like us it's largely on you to meet other guests at the bar, on excursions, or over meals. We really enjoyed doing so as most people were more than happy to share a drink or a meal. I'd strongly recommend that visitors not be too passive in meeting others, interacting with the staff, or asking for anything that would make their stay more enjoyable. While things seem "fixed" (menu, activity, or otherwise), they are really more more flexible if you just ask. The colors of the lagoon are simply impossible to describe. It is without doubt one of the most beautiful places we've ever seen. Once you've been there it's hard not to want to return.
Be the first to ReplyAwful stay away
Apologies for the late review we have been travelling since October. This place was such a disappointment, we stayed for a week in November - wow I really wish we had stayed at home. We arrived and checked into our lovely villa, stunning views and it has the ‘Wow’ factor, our Villa appeared to have a staff member who was going to look after us during our stay - the only time we saw him was him dropping us at our villa The three restaurants on island all Sounded lovely - the downside was on arrival we were told only one would be available for the week - what is that about?!?!? The Beachcomer restaurant which was our only option was simply awful. We did manage to shame them into getting into the French restaurant’once’ food was excellent but service was arrogant and slow The Japanese restaurant which we managed to get in on our last night was very average For what you pay this place was a total disgrace, we figured it was down to us being a gay couple and they simply had issues with us The positive point of our visit - the Bar - we spent most of our time with these guys as it was easier just to drink yourself to oblivion Would never return and have already persuaded several friend not to visit I could mention the lack of daily room service ( they missed us one day) the coffee station was often missed and the mini bar was filled maybe 3/4times during our 7 day stay - they kept forgetting to refill - we needed the drink to deal with this place We visit the Turks and Caicos Islands on a regular basis and this experience has taught me stick with the best and ignore these wannabes Ps. The international airport is also an absolute nightmare and another reason to keep away from FP
Be the first to ReplyStolen Passports and Fitbit. Put your passports and valuables in the safe when you arrive
The Brando is a paradise island but it turned into a nightmare for us when our passports were stolen. When we arrived at the Brando we were shown where the mini bar was but not the safe. A few days after we arrived a Fitbit was missing. I rang reception and was told they would get back to me but nobody did. Nobody in our group put their passports in the safe but it was mine, my husband and daughter's that were stolen. You are made to feel you're in the safest place on earth but you're not. Worst of all I have rang twice and e-mailed three times but the Brando doesn't want to know.
Be the first to ReplySecond trip, of many to come
Second trip review… The Brando is the only beach destination resort we will ever go again. The temperature is always perfect. Rain is actually nice because the clouds cut the heat up. We did a boat tour in a small rain storm and it was still tolerable and fun, just a good challenging swim in turbulent waters. Second time there was just as fun as the first, even if we just did the same activities over again. Definitely sleep early and wake up early for sunrise, take full advantage of everything the island has to offer. A hike around the island by beach is about 2 hours with some stops to see sand sharks and sting rays along the way. Definitely do the tour to see the tree, it’s iconic and a photo spot must. Most valuable part of the trip is no mosquito bites. Biologists (w/ Brando’s kid) got rid of female mosquitos which are the ones that bite. You can tell the difference as soon as you take a tour to a neighboring island where mosquitos eat you up. The most bland part is actually the food- no unique options since it’s a private island and the fare is high end but very generic- probably to cater to visitors from around the world. There’s a small local workers bar at the end of the island that we wanted to try but ran out of time. Time is both fast and slow here. If you’re here, you’re already paying a lot so just be ready to enjoy without worrying about costs. We will likely make this an annual trip, or at least every other year. Coming from west coast USA, Maldives is just not appealing since the long fight ruins any relaxation. A direct from LAX is just right, about 8-8.5 hours. Air Tahiti is not the best but neither are alternative airlines and their flight schedules are superior. We did the day room package at IC Tahiti and are glad, having a couple hours in a room with AC, bed and Wi-Fi kept the trip memory nice. First trip we did a stop at the pearl shop but this time we already got souvenirs at The Brando so the day room was a much better choice.
Be the first to ReplyThe Brando: Perfectly Relaxing
The perfect place to unwind and recharge. Beautiful accommodations and the staff is endlessly friendly and happy to help make your stay memorable. We were fortunate enough to stay during the green sea turtle eggs were hatching and requested to be woken up if eggs hatched and were being released to the lagoon. What an incredibly special experience to witness. Our trip to Bora Bora Intercontinental Thalasso and The Brando was arranged by Venture Tahiti and they were so helpful and answered every question we had prior to leaving. We unfortunately missed our flight out of San Diego and our travel agent helped us make all the necessary changes to hotels/ inter-island flight, etc so leaving a day later caused a minimum of headaches.
Be the first to ReplyDoesn’t live up to the hype
Not at all what I expected The airport pickup was perfunctory insofar as they hired a taxi driver to tell us we were on our own for two hours Arrival to resort ruined by asst manager and then valet asking insensitive personal questions Valet (Max) very creepy. Inappropriate and kind of socially unaware. Sent a follow request to my girlfriend on Insta! Stalker? Room lovely Housekeeping good The whole place has a big brother vibe. A waitress at breakfast asked if I wanted a dirty martini… which I’d identified as a drink I liked (but hey, I don’t usually get started at breakfast!) Food atrocious (Japanese restaurant barely edible, beach restaurant blah, room service poor quality) with two exceptions: Mutine, the fine dining venue, was very nice, proving it can be done; and the beach bar had good drinks and poke The beach by our villa was not easily swimmable due to currents and dead coral At one point, we wanted to buy some Tylenol. Incredibly, the only way to get Tylenol is to pay $50 for a nurse visit!! We made do without until we returned to Tahiti All in all, very disappointed. Will never return
Be the first to ReplyMost beautiful location…
The Brando doesn’t disappoint. From the private plane to Tetiaroa island herself, every step is the ultimate experience. It is a wondrous example of luxury resort, scientific research and leading environmental abilities all symbiotically working together. I can’t explain better than the website itself, I highly recommend the Green Tour, Tehoni (sp?) is the best, he made learning ALL that happens so interesting and fun! And it is amazing! I definitely recommend being woken in the middle of the night (if you can) to see the sea turtles nesting and/or hatching! It is magical! Staff is amazing and so courteous and friendly. Be open…and the island will not disappoint.
Be the first to ReplyFour and Counting
My SOLO trip to French Polynesia and The Brando was a wonderful adventure. My husband gifted me the trip to French Polynesia and The Brando. WE have traveled together to French Polynesia annually for the past seventeen years. This was my fourth stay at The Brando. Our first stay was six months after its opening. I stayed in Villa #102 on Mermaid Bay. I asked to be placed close to the beach activities and restaurants. From arriving at the Air Tetiaroa Terminal and being warmly greeted by the pilot to the beautiful short flight to Tetiaroa all was a dream. Upon landing I was greeted as though it was 'my' private island and all was magical. My husband had prearranged with the General Manager to completely decorate the bedroom as a surprise. My breath was taken away as I walked into the bedroom and found color photos of my entire family(husband and me, children and grandchildren)covering the bed along with a card from my husband, flowers and beautiful birds and baskets created from leaves. It was just overwhelming. In the living room on the dining table was a bottle of wonderful champagne along with a welcome card from The Brando. Anything I asked for during my stay magically appeared. I asked for popcorn and it was delivered daily in the late afternoon. I asked for a special menu item for lunch at the pool and it was perfectly delivered. The pool staff is extraordinary. Olivier, Pascal and Brian are true Ambassadors for The Brando. They appear out of nowhere and take care of all and every need you may have while lounging under an umbrella at the pool. The F&B staff is marvelous. No one at the property could have done anymore than they did for me. Breakfast was a beautiful experience each day. I was so warmly greeted, my iced cappuccino appeared without my asking as well as my 'well done egg white omelet'. Thomas, the main barman is lovelyl and quite experienced; he takes his position quite seriously and does it well. The housekeeping staff takes care of your villa with expert precision. I can go on and on and on extolling the virtues of The Brando. IT is truly a remarkable property and my adventure is one I will always remember. I have sealed photos of my 'island' in my mind until my next visit.
Be the first to ReplyDisappointing 25th Anniversary Trip
We spent a week in Tahiti (July 2022) - Started with 3 nights at the Brando and 4 nights at the 4 seasons. Very different resorts. We went to the Brando first since it was touted to be the most exclusive and our 25th Anniversary fell early in the week and that's where we wanted to spend it. While at the Brando, we were warned by 2 or 3 couples that the food and the service were below par at the Four Seasons - our next destination in comparison to the Brando. In actuality, we had a very different experience. For the cost and exclusivity of the Brando, I was very disappointed. I would have thought the staff would be better trained and responsive and anticipate the desires of guests -- this was not the case and their were only 3 restaurants at the Brando, (a Teppanyaki one, the casual one which doubled for breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- all with the same menu, and the fine dining one with a tasting menu. Much to our chagrin, we only learned on the first night that the fine dining restaurant was closed on Tuesdays -- which happened to be our 25th Anniversary. We had done Teppenyaki the first night, so stuck at the casual beach restaurant to celebrate. The staff did nothing to recognize or celebrate the 25th anniversary - no special champagne, rose petals, desserts.....nothing. Very disappointing. The Brando should be better than that. The actual villas were beautifully appointed and very secluded and luxurious - a big plus. Each has its own plunge pool overlooking the ocean -- only used it once. While we were on the beach, the flies were a real nuisance and hindered our ability to just chill out for long periods of time on the lounge chairs. After 3 nights at the Brando, we were actually ready and excited to leave for the Four Seasons. Despite what the other couples at the Brando told us, the Four Seasons really lived up to our expectations and my wife and I had a great time. Their concierge texting through the App was very convenient and they actually had champagne, flowers, and chocolate waiting for us with a nice welcome note from the management and happy anniversary wishes. Very different !!! Four Seasons was a much larger property with more guests. They were at 95% capacity, yet it felt like they were at 50% capacity with no issues in getting seated at restaurants. The staff was extremely friendly and the rotating staff at the included buffet breakfast were even able to anticipate our repeated orders and preferences without us asking more than one time for something special. I gave the Brando 2 stars for the cost of the vacation without providing the experience that should accompany it -- especially for the cost. When we had conversations with the rare English speaking staff, they admitted that the Brando management were aware of the issues and were trying to figure out how to fix the broken resort. By the way -- best part of the Brando were the bartenders. Unique and innovative drinks that were awesome and very friendly! Probably worth giving it 1 more star just for the bartenders, but nah.... At $4000+/night, they should be great.
Be the first to ReplyIncredible Location, Beautiful & Secluded, but not amazing F&B
We arrived back after a seven night stay at this property on the all-inclusive package. It is amazing. Gorgeous, secluded, wonderful villas, super pleasant staff. Was the most relaxing vacation. I am rating it four stars b/c of the food service. This is a private island so you can only eat at their 3 restaurants. Breakfast is the same each day, lunch and dinner are the same menu at room service/cafe and there are two reservation restaurants for dinner. Over the course of 7 days, we had at least 8 errors in our meals - generally with room service. Sometimes in our favor (delivering double orders of french fries), but majority of time they forgot something, didn't follow the instructions, etc. At any other property, I would say, "oh well still amazing 5 stars" but this place is $4,000 a night - so you expect no mistakes. Not a mistake with every meal. Hence the four stars. Other small negatives, the spa was not great. I had 7 treatments included in my stay - and only used 5 of them. The have water stations throughout the property, but no cups. Apparently they have a reusable water bottle in the rooms - but one wasn't in our room and no one told us this for 3 days. Other positives, the property is incredible. The barrier reef makes the island so quiet and peaceful. The employees are super friendly and nice. The other guests are very low key (even the celebrity ones didn't seem to make a fuss). Riding the bikes around all week is nice and provides a little movement. We played tennis most mornings and enjoyed the court. I also thought it would be interesting to compare this hotel to FS Bora Bora where we stayed last year. Brando is all inclusive but about double the cost of the Four Seasons Bora Bora. Unless you want or need super seclusion, we did not think the Brando was worth 2x the price of the Four Seasons.
Be the first to ReplyWonderful stay....BUT it should be nearly perfect for the price
We just returned from a 3 night stay at The Brando. It was really nice, and I am a bit torn about whether to give 4 or 5 starts. Overall it is really spectacular, but for the price it should be close to perfect. There were a few glitches that pushed it down to 4 stars. As most of the review note, the villas are beautiful...all on the beach (which is effectively private other than a few other guest who might stroll by). The water is beautiful and warm, and the room amenities are excellent. The staff is generally incredibly friendly and helpful. Here are the negatives: 1) My wife has a sesame seed allergy, which we told them prior to arrival as well as during our check in. We ordered room service for lunch that day and again reminded them of this fact. The meal came covered with sesame seeds. 2) On our last night, we went to the Beach restaurant and ordered a bottle of champagne. It took more than 45 minutes to get! Even after asking a few times, there was never an apology. 3) Overall, the food is pretty average. On a few occasions it was also rather cold. One morning our coffee was really lukewarm. I realize that these comments may seem a bit picky, but at $4,000 per night I think that these issues shouldn't be acceptable. Lastly, I would recommend a villa on the Turtle Beach. The snorkeling is much better there. We were on the Mermaid Beach, and in addition to be a less swimmable location, it was very windy while we were there...whereas on the Turtle side it was quite calm (I don't know if this is common or not).
Be the first to ReplySeven star!! simply amazing
This was our second stay it was just as magical as our first stay .I would give it seven stars if I could . The attention to detail from staff was amazing. The spa ,restaurants excursions just as epic as our first stay which is hard to do .Thanks to Pacific For Less for setting up this special trip back to the Brando for us they are amazing as well
Be the first to ReplyParadise
We spent 3 nights at the Brando in early June. It was great and I highly recommend - although of course pricey. We did the full board package which was great as you could eat and drink without worrying about pricing. Arrival by small plane and met by local singers and ukelele. Our villa was huge - 4 rooms, private pool, never anyone else on the beach. Service impeccable, especially the new manager Frank. The bars both fun, dining wise we especially enjoyed the Nami and a private dinner at our villa. Gym fully equipped. Diving well done too with Manni. Mainly a place to rest and relax and have every whim taken care of!
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