Villa Yrondi

Valerie greeted us with fruit trays when we arrived, including figs freshly picked from the courtyard tree, then gave us a detailed tour of our Maestro apartment. It’s more than 1,000 square feet, with an open living area, a separate bedroom, and a fully equipped kitchen. There are also five pet parrots. The decor is full of paintings and statues, and the view from the bathtub is especially good. Upstairs, a shared terrace has beach benches and a great sunset view. The mansion was an artist’s home, French in origin, though to me it felt more Italian. It sits beautifully in front of mountain and ocean views. Valerie helped us book a table at La Villa Mahana, virtually next door. It’s said to be Bora-Bora’s only true high-end restaurant. We’d stayed at one of the expensive lagoon hotels, where quite a few guests arranged costly trips there and booked weeks in advance. The food was alright by French standards, and the price was better than in Paris. One practical note: bring a flashlight for walking on the road so you don’t step on snails.

We were blown away as soon as we saw the Maestro suite. We spent four nights here, and since the weather wasn’t great, all that space was especially welcome. Valérie, the manager, is a sweetheart who made us feel at home, always had a kind word, and shared helpful recommendations. We were glad to have a rental car, and there was plenty of parking on site. The apartment isn’t brand new, and I’m sure some people could find things to complain about. For us, it was better than a five-star hotel suite. The photos don’t do it justice. Highly recommended.

The villa feels like living in an art gallery, and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve stayed. Even after an overwater bungalow, this charming, picturesque spot impressed me. The sunsets from up on the hill are especially pretty. Breakfast is worth adding for a few extra dollars. They can share restaurant pickup information and call for you if you ask, and they also have a cab contact for getting to and from the airport or around the island.

We spent five nights at Villa Yrondi and got far more help than we expected. The day before our trip, Valerie messaged that Bora Bora airport staff were on strike. She called the airline three times for us to make sure our flight would still go ahead on time. It all worked out, and she also arranged transport to and from the villa. We could use bikes for free even though they were listed at $10 USD a day, and our room was cleaned daily instead of the every-other-day schedule stated. We didn’t have breakfast because our suite had a full, well-equipped kitchen, but what we saw looked delicious. The villa is exquisite and feels like a home, which it likely was originally, with a Mediterranean feel throughout. The artwork is spectacular, fitting since Garrick Yrondi owns it. Valerie helped with recommendations and suggestions that made our trip special. We also booked a private yoga session through a flyer at the villa with Pauline Jasson, who was fantastic. Having the lesson on the roof deck at sunset, looking over Bora Bora, was a lovely way to honeymoon. A couple of notes in response to earlier negative comments: French Polynesia has bugs, not just this villa. That’s part of being here. Bring tropical insect repellent and a sense of humor and you’ll be fine. It’s also French Polynesia, not the villa in particular, that can be surprisingly loud, with all the roosters and stray dogs. We stayed in three lovely places on three islands and heard them at all of them. Earplugs are a good idea, along with a sense of humor. The rooster closest to the villa has a crow that sounds like the first few notes of the “All’s Quiet on the Western Front” theme. We’d absolutely love to return to Villa Yrondi on a future Bora Bora trip.